West Allegheny

The past week: Sinclair pitched a three-hitter and struck out 11 in a 4-1 victory against Trinity in the WPIAL Class AAA championship May 27. He hit a solo home run in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Monday.

Check this out: Sinclair, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior, is 8-1 with 86 strikeouts in 53 innings and his four-year record is 23-5. He has signed with North Carolina State.

Were you a dominant pitcher in Little League? Actually, yeah. I was a little wild, though. I would hit a couple guys every game. I actually broke a couple wrists and elbows, but not on purpose.

You might be taken in the Major League Baseball draft. What would it take for you not to go to N.C. State? I'm not really worried about the round. I would just want something that would make my family and myself happy. If I get drafted, awesome. It would be a childhood dream come true. But I can still go to school on a sizeable scholarship and try again in three years.

How many graduation parties will you go to? If I don't sign after the draft, probably about 50. Sometimes there are five or six in a day.

You just pitched and you are thirsty. You will drink ... Water. I'm not much on Gatorade after pitching.

People might be surprised to know that you ... Lick my glove once before the start of every game that I pitch.

-- By Mike White

Vincentian

The past week: A senior right-handed softball pitcher for the Royals, Melvin struck out 17 batters in an 11-inning, 3-2 victory against Leechburg in the WPIAL Class A championship game. She followed that with a two-hit shutout against Fannett Metal in the PIAA playoffs.

Check this out: A Brown University recruit, Melvin is scheduled to pitch today's PIAA quarterfinal against Cambridge Springs where she will look to add to her 278 strikeouts and 19-2 record.

The fastest one of your pitches has been clocked? 63 mph.

People say the high school pitching distance (40 feet) is too short; your take? In college it's 43 and I think that is better. In high school, if you have some junk, it doesn't move around as much because it doesn't have a chance to.

Your sister is your catcher, ever shake off her signs? I actually get the final say. But if I shake her off and someone gets a hit, I never hear the end of it. Sometimes I will go into a count and say, 'Who would ever call for that pitch in this situation?' Then she calls for that exact pitch. It is strange, I just shake my head no.

Did you stay up to watch that marathon Game 5 of the Penguins Stanley Cup series? Yes I did. I fell asleep in the second and third overtimes, but I saw the last goal go in.

-- By Colin Dunlap