Westmoreland County campus clippings: Franklin Regional grad Dan Luko transfers to Grove City

Seeking a better comfort zone and opportunity to play, Franklin Regional baseball alum Dan Luko announced he plans to transfer from John Carroll to Grove City.

Luko was one of 63 players on the JCU roster and more were expected to be added.

He did not appear in a game last season at John Carroll. He will be a sophomore outfielder.

Grove City nibbled on the line when Luko put his name in the NCAA transfer portal.

“A few guys that I’m really tight with from my summer ball team play ball for Grove so that played a big factor,” Luko said. “Coach (Matt) Royer is willing to give me a fair and honest chance to compete for a starting job in left field. Aside from that, campus just really felt like home and I’m excited to get back to work this fall.”

Luko believes he has plenty to give to the college game.

“In all honesty I feel like I’m just getting started,” he said. “I view this opportunity as a fresh start and a chance to prove it to myself.

“Having older siblings play college sports and to have gone through this process myself I understand how big of a challenge it is to receive an opportunity to play at any level the first time around. Not everyone gets a second chance, and being a part of the select few that do feels fantastic.”

Football

Seton Hill: The Griffins are picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West, according to conference coaches.

A 6-5 team last season (4-3 PSAC), Seton Hill posted its first winning season in conference play.

The team is set to return seven starters, including six linemen under coach Dan Day, who is 15-29 in five seasons.

Running back Ky’Ron Craggette, a redshirt junior, returns after leading the Griffins in rushing with 809 yards and nine touchdowns.

Quarterback Hayden Teska (Greensburg Salem), a redshirt sophomore, passed for 1,136 yards and five touchdowns in seven games, while sophomore Cody Rubrecht (Greensburg Salem) is the top returning receiver with 20 catches for 229 yards and five scores.

Ritchie McCormack, a junior, also is set to return after making 69 tackles.

The Griffins open the season Aug. 29 at Fairmont State. Their first home game, at Offutt Field in Greensburg, is set for Sept. 5 against Ohio Dominican.

Slippery Rock is the favorite to win the PSAC West, with Kutztown the top vote getter in the East Division.

Men’s soccer

Memphis: Junior Anthony DiFalco (Franklin Regional) joined the roster as a transfer from Duquesne.

The midfielder and former high school All-American played in 16 games last season, starting 13, and registered two assists.

He is looking to score his first goal at the college level.

Softball

Seton Hill: Kristen Hawkins is joining the Griffins’ coaching staff as an assistant.

Hawkins was an assistant for the last two years at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Miss. A former four-year catcher at Virginia, she also was an assistant for one season at Division I New Mexico, along with Alderson Broaddus, Western Illinois and Midwestern State.

She is an Elizabeth Forward graduate.