Seneca Valley Raiders

01/02/04 ~ Franklin and Baldwin battle to a 1-1 deadlock ! Delmont ~ Franklin Regional has had an interesting season in the first half of 2003-2004 and head coach Jim Damp is hoping for a little better finish to the season and maybe a repeat of last season for his Panther. FR will undoubtedly run away with the South Division title but may face a strong surge from Penn Trafford, who looks to be making noise in Class AAA after a strong December. The Panthers will be looking to get healthy and have a full lineup for the first time all season and while doing so may be looking to secure a first round home ice advantage. Baldwin on the other hand is one of those schools which is on the rise after its first playoff appearance in 11 years, coach Mike Cox’s crew is hungry for more in 2004. The Highlanders are a team which has a recipe for upsets with an excellent goaltender in Matt King and a few budding superstars in sophomore’s Lou DelGreco and defenseman Denny Urban, who are gaining notice among Class AAA’s most steady performers. Baldwin gave Plum a little taste with a 4-3 upset before the halfway break and was looking to do the same on the road at Franklin Regional. This game would be a game of goaltending as Franklin’s Chris Fonzi and Matt King would be nearly perfect throughout regulation and in overtime. A mistake apiece by the goaltenders led to two empty net goals from bad clearing attempts as Denny Urban scored at 7:06 of the first period and Franklin’s Joel Sirianni scored into the open pantry with 2:51 remaining in the opening period. Baldwin out shot FR 24-22 on the night and had a chance to win it in overtime on the power play as Joe Jena was stopped on a golden opportunity in front by Fonzi in the extra frame.