Content about Phil Coffin

04.22.11

Antelopes improve record with three wins

By JIM RUMBLE

It's been one heck of a week for the Avonworth baseball team, one that saw the Antelopes pick up three wins and improve their overall record to 4-2 and 4-1 in the section .

The highlight of the week came on Thursday, April 14, when senior Nick Hobbs, pitching in his first ever start, threw a no-hitter in a section game at home against Elderton while registering 10 strike-outs.

After the game, coach Phil Coffin said, "It's the first time all year and we've been working with him since he was a sophomore. He was able to come around with his curve ball."

01.07.11

The Wall

Walls have often been the objects of symbolic significance.

In his poem, "Mending Wall," Robert Frost wrote, "…something there is about a wall that wants it down…"

Then there's Pink Floyd's wall and President Reagan's end-of-the-Cold War-cry, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

And so on.

04.23.10

Execution a problem for Avonworth baseball

By JIM RUMBLE

"It all comes down to execution," said head coach Phil Coffin, and that seems to be a major concern at this point for the Avonworth baseball team.

In their game against Cornell at home this past Monday, the Antelopes produced only two hits while the Raiders’ pitching accounted for 12 strike-outs in the game that led to a 3-0 Cornell victory.

"Errors killed us," Coffin stated after Avonworth was defeated 12-2 this past Wednesday when they traveled to Vincentian.

The 'Lopes, who committed nine errors, need to get their act together when it counts.

04.16.10

Climbing to fitness

The newest goal of Avonworth teachers Phil Coffin and Mike Lincoln is the construction of an indoor climbing wall. The Avonworth School Board voted Monday to authorize the teachers to write a grant application in an attempt to get $50,000 in funding for the project from the Highmark Healthy High 5 program.

Coffin and Lincoln have been responsible for obtaining grant funds and instituting other programs designed to promote physical activity and fitness among students.

04.16.10

Cool bats cost Avonworth section opener

By Jim RUMBLE

Struggling to find some consistency from the plate this past Monday, the Avonworth baseball team lost their section opener at home to Sewickley Academy 6-3.

Although the team was limited to four hits, Antelope starting pitcher Frank Restelli did a good job through the first five innings, giving up five hits while recording seven strike-outs to keep the contest close until late in the game.

"You can't win a baseball game if you can't swing a baseball bat," said coach Phil Coffin after the game.

04.09.10

Young Antelopes open season with nonsection losses

By JIM RUMBLE

Although the Avonworth baseball team lost its first two games -- nonsection contests against AA teams -- it’s too early to tell how well the season will go for the young team.

Last year Avonworth lost a handful of games at the start of the season, but turned things around and went 10-0 and undefeated in the section to win the 4A championship.

01.22.10

Avonworth Coaches

A number of Avonworth coaches were hired at the school board's regular meeting on Jan. 18.

Phil Coffin will be the varsity baseball head coach.

Jamie Frantz was hired as an assistant baseball coach. The J.V. baseball coach will be Matt Wintermantel.

Douglas Pastore was hired as a middle school head baseball coach, with Jason Smith as an assistant coach.

Melissa Costantino will return as the middle school girls' volleyball head coach, with Kristen Buttenfield as an assistant.

Chris Knox will remain the varsity softball head coach, with Breanna Maisner as an assistant.

05.29.09

Coffin named baseball “Coach of the Year” in Class A

Avonworth’s varsity baseball head coach Phil Coffin learned last week that the WPIAL Baseball Coaches Association had selected him as Class A “Coach of the Year.”

The first-year coach received the honor based upon voting by fellow coaches.

Coffin began his coaching career five years ago when he was hired by Avonworth. “I took over as the middle school head baseball coach for three years and then moved up to become the varsity assistant for two years. In this time, I also ran the J.V. program.”

05.15.09

Avonworth coaches hired

Coaches for Avonworth's fall sports were hired at the school board’s regular meeting on May 11.

Jason Kekseo will return as varsity head football coach. Justin Grady, Duke Johncour, Ed Malsch, Mark Knochel and Joe Zeglowitsch were approved as varsity assistant football coaches. John Aguiar will be the seventh/eighth grade head football coach and Phil Coffin the seventh/eighth grade assistant football coach.

05.08.09

Antelopes take undefeated section record to playoffs

By Tom HRICIK

With an 18-3 win over Vincentian High School last Tuesday, the Avonworth baseball team earned its page in the school’s sports history books, becoming the only team in memory to finish the season with a 10-0 season that earned them the Section 4, Single A championship.

The team, however, had no real reasons to be optimistic during the pre-season.

In fact, the team was 0-5 in non-section games, but those games are not part of the record book because all of the teams played were from much larger schools.