High school notes: Lange brothers make college choices

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

Brothers Jason and Matt Lange of state Class B cross country champion Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons have committed to Northeastern University and Furman University, respectively.

The twins and fellow senior Jordan Pantalone played a key role in the Golden Knights cross country resurgence, which included three straight 8-0 Big 10 seasons, and three consecutive league meet championships. Bishop Gibbons won its first Section II title since 1982 last fall before running to its first state banner.

Jason Lange made the all-state third team afterward, and Matt Lange made the all-state fifth team.

Matt Lange had Queens and Kentucky on his consideration list, while Jason Lange’s choice list included Yale. Both distance standouts will also compete in indoor and outdoor track.

“They’re smart kids. They know they don’t have to go in and try to kill it their first year,” said ND-BG coach Jon Broderick. “It’s a process for all runners going from high school into college, and in the long run, they’ll make out just fine. I just tell them, ‘Listen to the coach.’ ”

Last outdoor season, Jason Lange won the Eddy Meet and Section II Class B 3,200. He later placed ninth in the state in the event.

Pantalone previously committed to George Washington University.

Patriots football

Two-time Daily Gazette All-Area first-team lineman Tyler DePasquale of Schenectady has made a commitment to Utica College of the Empire 8.

DePasquale helped Schenectady reach the Section II Class AA semifinals last fall with his efforts on both sides of the football.

“He was the unquestioned leader of our line group,” Schenectady coach Jim Kramer said of the three-year varsity starter. “He has a competitive fire that’s tough to equal.”

Utica went 6-4 last season and tied a program record for victories, one of them coming against Union College.

Schenectady’s Trent Wheeler, a Gazette All-Area second-team receiver, is headed to Milford Academy. Two other Patriots, Alex Phann and Nakia Boozer, will attend Hudson Valley Community College.

Rivals collide

One of Section II’s richest baseball rivalries will resume today at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy when Saratoga Central Catholic takes on Fort Plain for the top spot in the Western Athletic Conference Northern Division.

The 4:30 game will not only match unbeaten WAC teams, but also two coaches who have amassed over 1,100 wins in Fort Plain’s Craig Phillips and Phonsey Lambert of Saratoga Catholic. Phillips is Section II’s all-time victory leader with 688 to go with nine area championships, and Lambert is No. 5 on the Section II list with 441 to go with five area titles.

Their teams have squared off 84 times since 1990, and each has prevailed 42 times in a series marked by close games.

In the most recent state sportswriter’s baseball rankings, Fort Plain (10-0, 11-0) is No. 6 in Class C and Saratoga Catholic (9-0, 10-1) is No. 7 in Class B.

What they’re doing

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake graduates Mike Pelletier (Springfield College), Alex Houghtalen (Nazareth College), Matt Bynon (Riveir College) and Mike Coniglione (Endicott College) competed in the NCAA Division III men’s volleyball championships that wrapped up last weekend.

Pelletier helped Springfield capture its third title in four years with 13 kills, three digs and two assists in a 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 victory over host Nazareth. Houghtalen had two kills in the match.

Pelletier was selected the tournament MVP after Springfield’s title run in 2012.

here and there

The Johnstown girls’ lacrosse team is hosting a “Go Gray for May” Coaches vs. Cancer game Tuesday to raise awareness of brain cancer. Clinton, from Section III, will play Johnstown at 5, and funds generated through concessions, awareness cards and donations will go to the American Cancer Society. . . .

Queensbury will hold its annual athletic awards program Tuesday, June 4, in the high school auditorium starting at 7. Teams and individuals will be honored.