Central York's victory snatched from jaws of defeat

A few days have passed since one of the most unbelievable things I have witnessed in more than two decades of covering sports in this town and to tweak to the quote from the late, great announcer Jack Buck, "I still can't believe what I saw."

Central York was literally a half a foot away from getting swept by Penn Manor in last Friday's District 3 Class AAA championship match at Dallastown.

After already surviving several championship match points, the Panthers were on the defensive. A Comets shot was tipped at the net and heading out of bounds, which would have ended the contest.

However, Central's Landon Shorts had other ideas and while leaning over the scorer's table somehow got to the ball with his back to the court. Shorts' over-his-head shot flew towards the net and missed the antenna by a mere 6 inches. Had it clipped the antenna it would have been blown out of bounds and Penn Manor would have been crowed district champs.

But the ball made it over, the Panthers wound up winning that point, and survived yet another scare before taking that third set 35-33. Central then won the next two games and what looked like a sure loss ended up being a second straight district title.

I've seen a lot of great volleyball over my years here, but never anything like that match, or that play in such a crucial spot wiht everything on the line.