Mike O'Reilly, our intrepid TWI Sports Intern, has some strong feelings about this year's crop of MLB free agents. In this opening installment of our "Hot Stove Report," Mike discusses the fates of players like Matt Holliday, John Lackey and Jason Bay.

Entries must be received at the Wayne Independent office by  5 p.m. on the Friday before the games are played. Mail or drop off entry to Pigskin Pick’em, The Wayne Independent, 220 8th St., Honesdale, PA 18431. No e-mails or faxes, please.

Five Wildcats are among those local players honored with selections to the 2009 Lackawanna League Division Two All-Star Team. Danny Fernandez, Andrew Green, Zachary Clookey, Billy Gillette and Anthony Kovaleski join "Coach of the Year" Matt Fitzsimmons on the mythical squad.

Wallenpaupack Area fell victim to a powerful Parkland team in the quarterfinals of this year's Class AAAA Subregional play-offs. Despite one last 100-yard performance from Joey DeFebo, the Bucks suffered a 49-6 loss to the Trojans.

The Honesdale Missy Basketball Association officially brought down the curtain on the '09 campaign this week by hosting its annual banquet. The Celtics went undefeated en route to the Junior Division title, while the Stars won a thriller in the Senior Division championship game.

Western Wayne's freshmen football team finished up the '09 season with a lopsided loss to Scranton Prep. Coach Gary Enslin's Wildcats moved the ball at will on offense, but self-destructed by committing six turnovers in a 42-16 loss.

Summer Hill and Erin Craig represented Honesdale and District Two at this year's edition of the PIAA State Cross Country Championships. The Lady Hornets each turned in a solid performance on the Hershey lay-out: Craig finished 65th and Hill 78th in the Class AAA race.

Local youngsters traveled down the Scranton/Carbondale Highway on Sunday to participate in the Anthracite Youth Leader Program at Ide Hours. Wallenpaupack Bowling Center once again sent a full contingent of teams.

The Wildcats put up a gallant struggle in their Week 10 LFC battle with Scranton Prep. Western Wayne lost this Division Two encounter, but still finished the season on a positive note. Coach Allen "Butch" Keller's lads won four games this fall, their most in nearly a decade.

Several of the area's top high school basketball teams will be here in the Maple City this winter to compete in the 50th Annual Honesdale Area Jaycees Holiday Tournament. According to Jaycees officials, Honesdale, Paupack, Western Wayne, Forest City and Nazareth are in the bracket.

If you'd like to see Wallenpaupack Area take on Parkland Friday night in an exciting District Two play-off game, a spectator bus is being organized by the school district. According to Athletic Director Mark Kristen, the bus will leave the high school at 4:15 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. kick-off in Allentown.

Wallenpaupack Area is already deep into preparations for Friday night's District Two play-off battle against Parkland. Dr. Mark Watson and his coaching staff have reviewed film and put together a gameplan geared at stopping the Trojans' vaunted ground attack.

Honesdale's Ben Krempasky carded a birdie and an eagle en route to a round of 35 at this year's Simons Cup. The 13th Annual Lackawanna League All-Star event was once again hosted by Woodloch Springs and attracted senior golfers from all over the area.

Entries must be received at the Wayne Independent office by  5 p.m. on the Friday before the games are played. Mail or drop off entry to Pigskin Pick’em, The Wayne Independent, 220 8th St., Honesdale, PA 18431. No e-mails or faxes, please.

Carbondale Area's 35-21 win at Holy Cross gives CA a berth in the Eastern Conference Class AA playoffs.