Seneca Valley graduate Kevan Smith has wasted little time in getting himself familiar with minor league baseball.

In his first 21 games with Bristol of the Rookie Appalachian League, Smith — a catcher who was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago White Sox last month — is leading the team in batting average (.392), hits (31), RBI (21) and slugging percentage (.633).

BLAWNOX — Brett Rinker of Slippery Rock captured first- and quarterfinal round victories at the WPGA C.R. Miller Match Play Invitational Thursday at the Pittsburgh Field Club.With the wins, Rinker will compete in today's semifinals and finals.Rinker defeated Nicholas Joseph of new castle 1-up, then defeated Brent Rodgers of Cranberry Township 3 and 2.Rodgers had defeated Steve Thomas of Upper St. Clair 4 and 2 in the opening round.Stefan Carlsson of Butler lost to Garrett Browning of Coraopolis 7 and 6 in the first round.

Former Pittsburgh Pirate slugger Frank Thomas will be on hand for the Butler BlueSox-West Virginia Miners game Aug. 5 at Pullman Park.Thomas played for the Pirates from 1951-58, hitting 23 or more home runs for six straight years. He hit 286 homers in the big leagues, including 34 with the expansion New York Mets in 1962.Game time is 6:35 p.m.

NEW ALEXANDRIA — Michael Gagliardi of Butler and Gary Garritano of Sarver finished second in their respective divisions on a recent racing card at New Alexandria-Pittsburgh Raceway.Gagliardi finished second in the trophy division while Garritano was second in the motorcycle division.