April 2023

Local schools face active shooter hoax

CHRISTOPHER DENKOVICH Managing Editor (Print)

Schools, both local and around the country, are facing an increasing number of threats and violent events. On March 29, Hopewell School district, as well as several others across Pennsylvania, received threats of an active shooter. These threats quickly flooded social media and caused widespread panic all through the county and state. False information about the threats also quickly spread. Several students posted a faux number of victims that had supposedly been injured or killed. These rumors caused nothing but more confusion, panic and concern. Rumors of an active shooting in a nearby district quickly reached Freedom’s administration.

“When information is received that a local district has received a threat, or is in danger, the Freedom School District Administration and New Sewickley Township Police Department will work together to confirm information and evaluate the situation. We will use this information to take appropriate steps to ensure

the safety of students and employees. This may include going into restrictive movement or shelter/evacuation and an increased police presence on campus,” School Resource Officer Greg Pullen said. Making the decision to go into restricted movement in exactly what the Freedom administration did. Restricted movement means that teachers must keep all students in the classroom at all times. No trips to the water fountain or bathroom are

permitted. However, teaching inside those classrooms is to continue as normal.

It wasn't until midway through 3rd Block that administration came over the intercom to officially announce that the rumors of an active intruder in Hopewell school were false. This announcement also ended the restrictive movement. There was also, however, an increased police presence at the school. Though greatly relieved, students and teachers were still tense and on edge for the rest of the day. Any event of this nature, whether real or a hoax, causes many to wonder what they would do in the event of an active intruder. The second any threat is received, the administration would contact local police.

“We are fortunate to have School Resource Officers at the High School and Middle School/Elementary School who will immediately engage any threat to students and staff. Any time information is received indicating a threat, the safety of students and staff will be our priority. A police investigation will be conducted to determine if

Freedom Focus Media students participate in annual state competition

MADISON SANDERS News Editor

On Thursday, March 30, 11 members of Freedom Focus Media competed in the Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA) state finals. This is a yearly competition where students from all eight regions around the state meet at Penn State University’s main campus to compete in their designated contest categories. Before the state event, students from all over the state meet up with other schools in their regions for the regional event. This is where students compete to move on to the state competition.

The 16 contests span the spectrum of scholastic journalism with yearbook, newspaper, broadcast, photography and literary magazine categories. For most competitions students get sent to a competition room, where everyone is given one hour to complete their entire given entries, surrounded by other student competitors. There are a few competitions where students are given all of the day to collect videos and pictures, then given a week to edit and choose what content they would

like to submit. This year, Freedom had more state qualifiers than any other competing school in Pennsylvania, three of whom were defending state champions from 2022. Senior Kaylee Ostrowski brought home the gold for Freedom again this year in her category, “Yearbook Spread Design,” making

her the first Freedom student to win multiple journalism state titles.

“I was honestly shocked when I was handed my award this year, there was a ton of great competition. It feels exciting to have won twice,” Ostrowski

Pg.

Most doors to the high school are unlocked in the morning with a faculty member there to greet students. As part of his morning routine, Officer Greg Pullen as well as other faculty members lock the doors after the 7:50 a.m. start time.

Photo Submitted

Photo Submitted

SEE SHOOTER HOAX

, PAGE 3 SEE

Debate over sex education in schools takes center stage in Florida

JANEY PARKS Photo Editor

Many students across the globe dread that notorious talk discussed in, what is most often, a middle school health class. Frequently, kids of middle school level education do not want to talk about reproductive health and sexual orientation in a formal way among themselves, let alone teachers. Although it is frowned upon by students, it doesn’t deny the impact and importance of having that particular talk.

Having “the talk” has been helpful and informative for millions of students across the country. It leaves students with at least a small grasp of the facts, and gives a better understanding of themselves, how their body works and what is safe or what is not. It teaches teens to make safer choices and results in less unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

“Students feel more informed, make safer choices, and have healthier outcomes. This results in fewer unplanned pregnancies and more protection against sexually transmitted diseases and infections,” Planned Parenthood said.

Most teenagers received formal sex

education before they were 18. That is 96% of all teenagers who have had sex education talks in school according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is four percent away from nearly every teenager learning about reproductive health and sexual orientation in a formal setting, where all of the questions can

be asked up front, or in private, and be returned with an informative answer or solution. What would happen if students did not have the opportunity to learn and gain an understanding of the potentially dangerous side effects of being sexually naive?

In March 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that

forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has since drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who have said it aimed to shun LGBTQ+ identities from classroom content and discussion. Many have dubbed the bill the “Don’t say gay'' law to push back from the government and showcase that the bill is excessive. Since the law is being discussed again in Congress, it is bringing back some attention to this bill and the effects it can have on sex education and students in Florida.

Recently, the Florida House voted to extend a prohibition on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity all the way through high school, reviving this debate from last year when the bill was initially signed by DeSantis, who argued at the time that young children should not be exposed to concepts such as gender identity.

If this new addition to the bill is passed, this means any employee or student may not refer to another person using their "preferred personal title or pronouns" if it does not correspond to that person's assigned

NEWS IN BRIEF

MADISON SANDERS News Editor &BRIGETTE RICHARD

STUDENTS PRESENT AT AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSN. CONFERENCE

Being one of 13 different schools worldwide, seniors Carter Altvatter, Brandi Bonzo, Leannah Messenger and Ana Shipman, along with Meadow Ging-Wargo presented their educational research at the American Educational Research Association Conference in Chicago on April 14. They were advised by physics teacher, Dr. Brian Wargo, and also chaperoned by middle school teacher, Ms. Ging.

SMITH NAMED 'ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR' BY PA SCHOOL PRESS ASSOCIATION

During the Pennsylvania School Press Association State Finals held on March 30, former middle school principal Dr. Ryan Smith was named Administrator of the year after being nominated by FMS journalism advisor Ms. Sara Miller and FHS Press Managing Editor Christopher Denkovich. Smith was recognized for his tremendous support and advancement of scholastic journalism throughout his time at the middle school.

FREEDOM BIG RED MARCHING BAND TRAVELS TO ORLANDO

Through the dates of April 15 through April 21, the high school's Big Red Marching Band traveled to Orlando, Fla. On April 17, the band performed in a parade around Universal Studios, then spent the rest of the day at the park. The group was also able to spend two days at Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios parks before returning home the evening of April 20, after a day's worth of bus travel.

HIGH SCHOOL ADMIN. NAME APRIL STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

High School Administration awards students in each grade for April's Student of the Month award for "Dependability." Students awarded were freshman Mackenzie Mohrbacher and Leo Kaleugher, sophomores Riley Tokar and Isaiah Leasha, juniors Josephine Brenkle and Wyatt Boyer and seniors Megan Evans and Evan Blinn.

Graphic: Janey Parks

A recent Florida law that will ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all public school grades was labeled by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

the threat is real and the information will be shared with the school district administration,” Pullen said.

If a student notices something suspicious or something that doesn't seem right, the best thing to do is to stay calm and inform a teacher, principal or SRO immediately. In the event of an active intruder the best way to stay safe is to get into a classroom where the doors can be barricaded and locked. If for any reason this is not

said.

As of now, Ostrowski is the only state champion. Judges from PSPA have not released the scores of the yearbook photography, newspaper photography or the broadcast categories. Sophomore Lainey Tusynski, and seniors Madison Sanders and Brigette Richard competed in those events. Even though Ostrowski was the only one who brought home the championship from Penn State, every student who went gained valuable skills and lessons from this trip. Outside of the competition, the day is full of workshops, talks and practices planned by PSPA president Mr. Aaron Fitzpatrick and state competition chair Paul Fantaski that can help any student journalist, no matter if they are competing or not. Students had the chance to attend a press conference featuring former Nittany Lion Michael McDermott, heard from last

year's student journalist of the year Lucy Bickel, had round table discussions with other publications and heard from students running the New Voices campaign in Pennsylvania.

“It was great to talk at the round table conversations with other publications because it made me see how lucky we are to be able to have a class where we get to complete the newspaper and yearbook. It was also great to see what other schools are doing and being able to be able to bring that home to make our publications better,” junior Skylar Scobbo said.

With students from all over the state coming together for this competition, it was a very beneficial and enjoyable day for all students and staff involved. Even with the competition, the events gave students experiences that they would not get in the classroom, and that will help them for years to come.

possible, be aware of your surroundings and use the information you have to make the best decisions that you can whether it be to evacuate or barricade your position. yearbook@freedomarea.org

SEX EDUCATION, FROM PAGE 2 sex at birth.

"There is no reason for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to be part of K-12 public education." DeSantis spokesperson, Bryan Griffin, tweeted recently.

The side of the debate that is in favor of restricting students from discussing sexual orientation and identification is heavily supported by many Florida residents, but many Floridians are opposed and will stick together through this new fight brought on by legislation. Those on the opposing side of this bill being passed

by congress argue that the bill is discriminatory and will most certainly fight neck and neck to be thought of as equals in public settings. People will not simply stand by while the government attempts to erase the identities of those who are different.

“That's their point. It's to push us out of the school system (and) to push us out of any safe place that we're supposed to have,” Rain Weinstein said.

FEATURES

Students prepare to present at science conference

MIKALAH SMITH Features Editor

Every year, physics teacher Dr. Brian Wargo holds a science conference. This involves all physics classes that he teaches, along with alumni who come back to watch presentations and network with students for the day. Each student presents a long-term project,, where they prepare a presentation to discuss the studentrun project they worked on for the entire year. This year, the conference will take place on May 5. It will run all day, and students not in physics will get to watch their classmates show off their hard work.

There are different presentations in rooms throughout the high school, and even some at the middle school. Students are able to watch presentations, based on where their teachers decide to go, giving peers the opportunity to watch a number of presentations. At the end of each presentation, students can ask the presenter questions, which are advised by student moderators

A long-term project is where students use time all year to come up with an idea and create it. It's an individual project with minimal intervention, allowing students to do

their own authentic research. The students come up with an idea or topic they are interested in and then try to answer a question or figure a problem out. They make claims about what will occur throughout their experiments. Their long-term proposals are due during the fall and go through several checkpoints to make sure it works. They can range from hair projects to engineering, allowing for a wide range of topics.

“My favorite part is definitely seeing all of the hard work come

together and pay off. Everyone is proud of what they've done, and it's really cool to see original work,” senior Brandi Bonzo said.

Some sixth-grade science students also work to put on a presentation of their long term as well. They look up to the older high school students to aid the kids and to show off what they have also learned in their science classes.

“My long term is on smoke patterns and how it affects your lungs,” senior Dakota Reinhart said.

Alumni are also invited back to present to students. They normally range anywhere from 2-15 years out. They present on many different topics, like their careers, specific job implications, how their lives are going and what they have been up to post Freedom. There is also time for students to ask questions and time in order to get to know them more.

“The science conference is one of the coolest things I have ever got to be a part of because it just shows how big the world is, and how extremely small things can make a difference in jurassic ways. I love seeing others present and show interest in different fields,” junior Logan Bickerstaff said.

The conference is a great experience for students to show off their own original work that takes all year to plan and build. It helps students who are interested in the engineering or STEM field, but also any students with their presenting and communication skills.

“I am looking forward to the alumni coming back seeing the younger generation present the project they have been working on. Also excited for our first-time presenters to get the feel of what it is like to present at a real science conference,” Wargo said.

Student hobbies benefit mental health

LEANNAH MESSENGER

Editor-in-Chief (Print)

SARA MEYER

Contributing Writer

Hobbies allow students to have an outlet after school, sports, extracurriculars and in everyday life. They let students entertain themselves with activities they enjoy and provide them with a way to learn new skills. Whether they become useful life skills or are purely for entertainment, hobbies help students expand their horizons and knowledge. There is also no limit to how many one can have! But what are some of the hobbies students here at Freedom Area High School have?

Many students have hobbies, as they can be a way to relieve stress from a rigorous schedule or work load. Many of these hobbies are shared by students and engaged in together. One of these groups includes senior Carter Altvatter, who likes to skateboard alongside his senior friends Chaz Chandler and Zach Edwards.

“I like skateboarding because it keeps me active and it encourages me to push myself to new limits. Skateboarding has introduced me to so many new cultures and has allowed

me to connect with some genuine and talented people,” Altvatter said.

Being with a group of people can allow students to be more active in their hobby endeavors and make new friends. Many students enjoy art related activities like drawing, painting, sculpting and more. Students like juniors Lilly Burgess and Vera Armenio both enjoy engaging in art activities.

“I like to draw a lot, whether it's on my ipad or a full blown painting. I do it because it's just so fun to be able to express myself and draw anything I think of. Plus, it’s just pretty cool to make something completely original and unique to me,” Burgess said.

Drawing and art in various forms can be therapeutic for many. According to psychology.org, “Art therapy is a tool therapists use to help patients interpret, express and resolve their emotions and thoughts.”

“My biggest hobby is definitely art! I’ve been trying not to constrict myself to a certain style recently, but I really enjoy painting cinematic photography scenes. Art allows me to express myself and as a student. I think that having a creative outlet is really healthy, and it makes me very happy to do so,” Armenio said.

There are a number of other hobbies students enjoy, from baking,

playing games and being a plant person. Each of these are unique in their own sense and can be very beneficial to student mental health.

“Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood and depression. Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Group activities like team sports can improve your communication skills and relationships with others,” headtohealth.gov said.

Sports and group activities are also very common hobbies. Several students enjoy engaging in sports in and outside of school, from club teams to simply playing with friends at a local park.

“My hobbies are track and baking because they keep me occupied, and they give me something to do because I like to challenge myself and achieve my goals,” sophomore Autumn Taylor said. “I started track this year because

Luke Snavely/FHS Press Archives

Junior Lilly Burgess paints a balck and white portrait on her personal canvas. Of the many hobbies students enjoy, drawing, painting and other artistic activities are among the most popular stress relievers.

Photo Submitted

Jessica Majors ('22) presents her long-term on physical therapy at the May 2022 science conference.

Seniors complete wide variety of graduation projects

LEANNAH MESSENGER Editor-In-Chief

Every year at Freedom Area High School, seniors are set out with the task to complete their senior projects. These projects are composed of several sections, but first, students pick between the Post-Secondary Education Pathway or the Workforce Career Pathway. They are then given a teacher advisor, who is then their senior project advisor, aiding them in the process of getting each section done and finishing the project on time. As the senior project is required to graduate, it is not optional for students. Students differ on their idea of the project and opinions on each section.

For the Post-Secondary Education pathway, students must complete four sections. The first is made up of a Job Shadow, Post-Secondary visits (college tours) and Financial Aid Night or compilation of financial aid, evidence of scholarships and cover letters and resumes. Digging deeper into the job shadows, students are to seek out a job of interest and shadow a professional in the field for at least eight hours. This also requires students to interview their professional and learn more about the career they are interested in.

The second section of the

Post-Secondary pathway is community service. Students have the choice between completing 10 hours of community service or completing a fundraiser or service project. This year, there was a wide variety of Fundraisers, like senior Ana Shipman’s and senior Janey Parks’ March Madness volleyball tournament, which was broken up between classes and supported the Women’s Shelter in Beaver.

“We chose the Women’s Shelter because it’s local, and we felt like it would make a bigger impact there

than if we were to donate to a bigger organization… I enjoyed conducting the whole thing and participating in it as well. It was a huge accomplishment and a lot of good came from it,” Parks said.

Other fundraisers this year included Kendal Komara’s fundraiser collecting bottle tabs and cans for the Ronald McDonald House, Hailey McClain’s shirt fundraiser to support the Women’s Shelter in Beaver, Journey Welling’s Teacher vs. Student Volleyball tournament to support the MakeAWish Foundation

and Luke Snavely and Katrina Adams’ Alzheimer’s Awareness t-shirt fundraiser, where they donated the money from their hand-made and designed shirts to the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in Pittsburgh.

“My father was diagnosed about six years ago, and Luke also has family members who have been affected. There are always shirts about breast cancer awareness, but there isn’t a whole lot for anything else. Breast cancer awareness is important, but we wanted to base our project on another disease that affects a lot of people in the world and local area,” Adams said.

There were many other fundraisers completed, as well as community service, providing seniors with an outlet in their community and showing support for said community.

The last two parts of the Post-Secondary Education pathway are the government meeting and artifacts. Students are required to attend a government meeting, take notes and write a reflection. As for the high school artifacts, students are required to take samples of work from each four years in high school.

Students can also choose the Workforce Career Pathway for their senior project. This pathway is for students looking into joining the workforce as soon as they graduate.

Seniors are provided many resources to complete the senior project, including an online portal that provides all the rubrics and papers needed for each aspect of the project.

Leannah Messenger/FHS Press

Students have mixed opinions on all-night prom

Seniors reflect on final year of high school

As the school year begins to wrap up, students look forward to getting dressed up with their friends and going to the prom. The dance is a very popular event among the upperclassmen and some underclassmen as well. Freedom’s prom consists of picture taking, a grand march and an all night dance with food, music and other activities. With prom being held all night, some students find this to be a very long and tiring night, while others don’t want the night to end. Some students have spoken about having prom end earlier, such as 1 or 2 a.m. Others are perfectly fine with the way it is. There are pros and cons to both scenarios.

With having prom all night long, it keeps participants from doing things such as going to afterparties and driving under the influence. A lot of people are tired by 5 a.m., and they are just ready to head home and go to sleep. Freedom is also one of the only schools in the area that has an all night prom; it makes it unique from other schools. However, students tend to get tired and worn out through the night. The staff tries to keep the crowd going with music and other activities through the night, but people are still tired and exhausted by the end of the night, which could become dangerous when

HOBBIES, FROM PAGE 4

I’ve always loved to run, and I figured, 'why not.'”

Sophomore Payton Bickerstaff also enjoys her sports and team related hobbies, like gymnastics.

“I started gymnastics when I was four, and I started track freshman year. I like being with my friends, but I also like the challenge and being

trying to drive home.

“I personally think a half night would be better, only because you don’t have tired teenagers driving,” senior Leia Mosconi said.

Mosconi attended Central Valley’s prom her junior year, but will be attending Freedom’s prom for her senior year. She will get to experience both sides.

Some current juniors and seniors have also gotten to experience the difference between the dance times at Freedom as well. The 2021 Prom was not all night due to a venue change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The students at the time were only freshmen and sophomores.

While most other schools have proms that do not last all night, those dances still tend to have pros and cons as well. Students are able to go home and get rest, but not everyone makes smart decisions when it comes to having a good night. The law in Pennsylvania also states that students on a juniors drivers license are not permitted to drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Having a half night prom could lead to more students being pulled over on their way home.

While looking ahead to future proms, there are many pros and cons to both scenarios. Some students love the all night prom and prefer it that way, while others express their concerns about shortening the time and not having it last all night.

good at them,” Bickerstaff said. No matter the hobby or activity, students should enjoy doing what they love and having outlets to do so. Hobbies can be a relaxing way to do physical activity or get one’s mind off a crazy schedule, any time of the day.

As the weather warms up, summer approaches, which, ultimately, is the end of high school for seniors. With the endings and new beginnings, seniors can reflect on their past year. The last year of high school is supposed to be one that they will remember and cherish as they go on in life. Senior year, the best year of high schoolers’ lives, people say. Senior year is said to be the year everything is fun and easy going, but is senior year really everything it is said to be? What is it really?

Some students do have a great time their last year. From scheduling easier classes to the rush of leaving high school, senior year can be everything it’s said to be.

“I mean, it’s been pretty fun. I don’t really like school, but it’s really easy for me this year. Most of my classes are electives, and I have two study halls to work on stuff. I only have one core class; I just have math. I think the senior project is kind of lame. But other than that, I think it’s pretty fun,” senior Nicholas Giovengo said.

So, students can lighten the load for themselves by taking easier classes, which can help relieve stress. But many seniors also take challenging classes to prepare themselves for what they want to do later in life. Senior Dakota Reinhart took difficult classes to push herself, and she even suggested the same path for others.

“I would suggest trying to get in as many classes as you can, just so that you don’t have to take them later in college,” Reinhart said.

Going along with difficult classes, many seniors tend to find their last year to be exhausting. Some even mention having “senoritis,” which Dictionary.com describes as a decline in motivation or academic performance that supposedly afflicts some seniors in high school, especially in their last term.

“It can be really easy to get unmotivated to do your work towards the end. You just want it to be done and over with,” Reinhart said.

This feeling can add to the stressfulness of an already stressful year.

“Senior year is not as exciting as everybody always said it would be. There’s a lot of work with our senior project. It’s really stressful, and I have really bad senioritis,” senior Megan Jones said.

Many students feel the same, especially about the senior project.

“The senior project has become increasingly stressful, as I continue to delay my completion of it. It’s really hard for me to complete the job shadow because I don’t know any engineers to shadow,” senior David Denkovich said.

However, many can agree that even though the project is stressful, it is beneficial.

“The project has been very beneficial in figuring out what I want to do after high school with the job shadow and college visit requirements. It’s been a little stressful as the due dates approach, though,” senior Brandi Bonzo said.

Many also feel that the year moves at a more rapid pace than a normal year.

“It’s been about the same as the other three years, but it feels like it’s a lot more rushed than the other years because of having the senior project and graduation to worry about,” senior Evan Blinn said.

Along with all of this, college and future decisions can also lay heavily on students. However, no matter what each senior feels about their last year, most can’t deny the bittersweet feeling of leaving high school.

“It’s exciting to see all of the endings. They make me feel a little sad, but it’s kind of relieving to see that I still have the friends I made in high school, even after all the endings,” senior Finley Paxton said.

PAIGE YOUNG Editorial Editor

Then-juniors Katrina Adams and Luke Snavely sit while a caricature artist draws their portraits during the 2022 prom.

Janey Parks/FHS Press

MEGAN EVANS Copy Editor

Whether students find their last year to be fun or really stressful, the feeling and relief of graduating can be rewarding.

Leannah Messenger/FHS Press

Freedom Area High School 1190 Bulldog Drive Freedom, PA 15042

www.fhs-press.com • @fhspress

Artificial intelligence: Is new technology more problematic than helpful?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a tool that is becoming more widespread around the world every day. New software is continuously being developed, and people are trying to find better ways to accurately assess if the tool is helping or not. While many come into contact with artificial intelligence in a multitude of different ways, there is more complexity behind AI as a whole.

Some may argue that if it were not for artificial intelligence, we would be lost as a society. Throughout the United States, people from all places, backgrounds, social statuses and even wealth are seen using artificial intelligence. Whether this be Google, Youtube, Instagram or another form of AI, artificial intelligence is always underlying in any application that we use. It is helpful that nowadays we can communicate effectively with the press of a button or the touch of a screen. While this is certainly an intriguing part of technological advancement, AI can be used in more ways than we may recognize.

The United States Medical Licensure Examination Step One (USMLE-Step 1) is a test that all students enrolled in medical school must take in order to advance within their respective programs. However, it seems as if non-medical students, or more accurately, nonhumans, can also pass this dreadful exam. A new artificial Intelligence software named ChatGPT was able to successfully take and pass the USMLE-Step 1. Not only this, but in universities and high

Illustration: Ana Shipman/FHS Press AI continues to develop, and the world continues to change. New AI software is being developed every single day, and new purposes for AI continue to emerge.

schools around the globe, students and their peers have AI, such as ChatGPT, to write essays and do other assignments for them. This has become an unfavorable issue for educators worldwide because if their students can cheat this easily, are they really teaching? Are students, far and wide, actually learning from the efforts of their teachers? The answer is increasingly becoming less obvious day by day.

Anyone who pursues education beyond high school and successfully passes any sort of secondary education program can go into the working field. These very people are our future doctors, lawyers, journalists and world leaders. But what if it were for nothing?

What if the only reason someone gets a degree is that they cheated their way through school? More importantly, what does this do for our world and our future? Some students spend years of their life exhibiting outstanding virtue and grit to obtain a degree of any kind. While others cheat their way through education, living an insouciant lifestyle to just end up obtaining the same piece of paper and wearing the same cap and gown as the rest of the men and women who exemplified true resilience. This is not only jeopardizing whatever company the lazy student chooses to work for, but it also puts the future at risk.

The cost of priceless memories

From store to store, you spend the day searching for the perfect prom dress. After looking at each and every one and grabbing hold of only your favorites, you take the time to try on and deliberate your choices. Finally, you pick your favorite and leave with the perfect dress. Unfortunately, you will most likely wear that dress once and may even leave the store with hundreds of dollars less.

Prom is a tradition within many schools and has been for decades. Year after year, social media and marketing is filled with “prom season” content.

Many students look forward to the time where they are finally able to attend this long awaited event. While

prom creates lasting memories for those attending and those helping to prepare, prom lasts only a few hours. Once it's over, many dresses hang in a closet for the years to come.

In today's age, there is an unspoken standard for women, and sometimes men, to not wear the same thing twice. With this in mind, girls who attend prom all four years of their high school career will buy four separate dresses. This can add up to a costly expense that may not be feasible for some families. In addition to the dress, some spend hundreds on accessories such as hair, make-up, shoes and jewelry. Many

SEE PROM DRESSES, PAGE 7

Press is a monthly print publication, distributed to students and staff on the Freedom Area School District campus and to the community at a number of local businesses. If you would like to display or distribute the FHS Press at your business, please submit your request via email to fhspress@freedomarea.org, and our staff will do its best to accommodate.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The views presented herein are not representative of the school, faculty or administration; they are solely the views of individual student writers. The unsigned editorial board story represents the consensus of the entire student Editorial Board. It is the policy of the Freedom Area Board of Education that the FHS Press and its affiliated website reproductions have been established as forums for student expression and as voices in the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussion of issues. It is the aim of the Editorial Board to represent a variety of viewpoints with fairness and equity.

SUBMISSIONS

The FHS Press accepts and strives to publish signed letters to the editor under 250 words, which can be sent to fhspress@freedomarea.org or submitted electronically at fhs-press.com. The FHS Press is a public forum and accepts story ideas, stories, photos and art submissions from all Freedom Area High School students. All publication determinations are at the discretion of the editors. To submit comments, questions or press releases, email fhspress@freedomarea.org.

ADVERTISING POLICY

Because the FHS Press exists in a public school setting, we maintain high standards for the content and types of advertising we accept. General guidelines appear below; however, FHS Press reserves the right to reject any advertising on any grounds, as deemed appropriate by editors, the newspaper adviser or the school administration.

Generally Accepted Advertising:

■ Locally-operated businesses, charities or institutions with a legitimate interest in reaching students

■ Colleges, Universities, the Armed Services and businesses seeking to recruit graduates

Government entities seeking to inform students about a program or promote responsible decisions

Students or faculty members who wish to communicate an appropriate message to the student body

Prohibited Advertising:

Any product or service not permitted on school grounds, or not legally available to all of our students

Any advertisement designed to deceive readers

Ads designed to influence public opinion on controversial or highly political issues

Any product or service deemed inappropriate for any reason by the advisor or school administration

Submitting Ads:

We accept correctly-sized ads in a variety of formats, including TIF (TIFF), JPEG (JPG) or GIF, or printed ads/business cards, which we can scan; however, to ensure high-quality prints, we require all ads to be at least 300 dpi (resolution). Ads should be emailed to ads@freedomarea.org with specific information about dates scheduled to run, as well as whether the ad is complete as is or if it requires design work by our students.

Ad Design Services: Students will design ads to your specifications, within the limits of software and training available. If you provide an email address, we will gladly provide proofs of the ad if you request them below. Proofs are considered approved if modifications are not requested within two days.

Ad Placement Requests: Due to our small size, we can’t guarantee a specific page/location for your ad.

UPDATES & CORRECTIONS

New information may be published at is arises. Verified print inaccuracies will be corrected in the next print publication. Verified online inaccuracies will be corrected as they are discovered.

JOINING OUR STAFF

Production of the FHS Press is a collaborative effort by students enrolled in Print Media Workshop, Freedom Area High School's advanced journalism course, available to sophomores, juniors and seniors. While staff positions are reserved for students enrolled in the course, all students are welcome to work with our staff to contribute stories, photos, artwork, etc. Each newspaper print issue is planned near the beginning of each month and is published near the end of each month, with several rounds of edits taking place in the interim. Students interested in contributing to the FHS Press are welcome to join the staff for any planning meeting and are encouraged to contact any member of our staff for an up-to-date meeting schedule If you are interested in becoming a part of the FHS Press staff by enrolling in Print Media Workshop, please contact Mr. Fitzpatrick or visit room 226 at any time.

OUR STAFF

Leannah Messenger Editor-in-Chief (Print) Christopher Denkovich Managing Editor (Print)

Ana Shipman

Editor-in-Chief (Digital) Luke Snavely Managing Editor (Digital)

Madison Sanders News Editor Brigette Richard Asst. News/Business Manager

Mikalah Smith

Features Editor Skylar Scobbo Asst. Features Editor

Editorial Editor Calla Reynolds Asst. Editorial/Copy Editor Troy Pawlowski

Paige Young

Sports/Copy Editor Chase Grable Asst. Sports Editor Megan Evans

Copy Editor Kaylee Ostrowski

Photo Editor

EDITORIAL BOARD

Christopher Denkovich

Chase Grable

Leannah Messenger

Kaylee Ostrowski

Janey Parks

Calla Reynolds

ADVISER

Mr. Aaron Fitzpatrick, M.Ed., MJE afitzpatrick@freedomarea.org

Brigette Richard Skylar Scobbo

Ana Shipman

Luke Snavely

Lainey Tuszynski

Freedom Area High School, Room 226 (724) 775-7400, x581

AFFILIATIONS

Lainey Tuszynski/FHS Press

among other clothes, hang within the Bulldog Boutique. The clothes are available to any one who is in need.

'Protecting' the children States wrong to ban drag shows

rather than guns

ANA SHIPMAN Editor-In-Chief

(Digital)

Racing thoughts of the nearest classroom or exit, rapid fingers texting loved ones and the silent, fearful sobs of many are just a few results of lax laws. In America, massive shootings are devastating, yet are nearly ignored by the law. Many states ban other “issues." It is almost ironic how they speak on these bannings, yet they never shed light on the countless lives lost due to a firearm.

Many states have been putting the human rights of many under fire, stating that it is protecting the children. However, they are ignorant to the true issue: guns. A hot topic for the past few months has been the bannings of public drag shows where children are involved. As many drag queens enjoyed reading children's books for little ones, they can now be charged as a felon. Since the beginning of this year, at least 32 bills have been filed in Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia targeting drag performances, with more on the way.

In addition, one state has actually made guns easier for someone who is deemed as dangerous to keep. Multiple states within the United States (US) have a Red Flag Law,

PROM DRESSES, FROM PAGE 7 families cannot afford such expenses for a one night occasion.

As an alternative to this issue, families should consider second-hand dresses or more cost-effective items. These dresses can be found within thrift stores, others’ closets and within places like the Bulldog Boutique. The Bulldog Boutique is a designated area within the nurses office that is designed as a place for students to get

which states that police and, or family members may be able to petition one’s possession of a firearm if that person seems dangerous, to themselves, or to others. Oklahoma senator Nathan Dahm argued against this law and passed his “Anti-Red Flag” bill.

When interviewed by Fox News, Dahm stated, "the Second Amendment says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," Dahm said. "If the federal government tries to infringe on that right, we have a duty and obligation in Oklahoma to uphold the constitution first."

Within an interview, from the

clothes if they need. All clothes within it are donated from people within the community. Students are strongly encouraged to donate as well.

“The bulldog Boutique is something we started for students who need some clothes. When something happens, like a student spills something, they can go there instead of going home or having a parent drop something off,” Alyssa Young said.

television show “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” Stewart interviews Dahm. Within the interview, Stewart outright states that Dahm does care about these children, on top of their protection.

Countless times in the interviw with Stewart, viewers could see the hypocrisy flowing out of Dahm’s mouth, as he stated that bannings of drag shows ensure the protection of children.

“Because the government does have a responsibility to protect children,” Dahm said. Immediately after, Stewart snaps back with,

The boutique is filled with new and gently used clothing items. They have socks, underwear, personal hygiene products and many other necessities. In fact, some students use this resource for special occasions like speeches or ceremonies. They can turn here instead of spending money on something new for prom as well.

“We have a variety of sizes for suits and prom dresses. They all have been

“What’s the leading cause of death amongst children in this country?”

Stewart asked Dahm. “And I’m gonna give you a hint, it’s not drag shows reading to children – so what is it?” Shortly after, Stewart does in fact state that the leading cause of children is firearms.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non profit that specializes in national health issues, guns became the leading cause of death of children in 2022, and that other countries do not have this issue.

“In each of the peer countries, guns kill fewer children than motor vehicles, cancer, congenital diseases, and other injuries, and often behind other conditions such as heart disease. The U.S. is the only country among its peers that has seen a substantial increase in the rate of child firearm deaths in the last two decades (42%).”

Gun safety laws do not interfere with the Second Amendment, and on top of that, the Second Amendment does not guarantee the right to own a gun. According to the US Department of Justice, they state, “Former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Warren Burger argues that the sale, purchase, and use of guns should be regulated just as automobiles and boats are regulated; such regulations would not violate the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” Although the second amendment is very important, so are the lives of countless people who did not deserve to die at the hands of a “bad apple.”

donated gently. They are all clean and have no stains. If anyone is in need of one, they can come check it out in the back of the nurses office or stop in the guidance office,” Young said.

Students can save money and cut down on unused clothing in their closet through looking into alternate prom dress options. Every student deserves the chance to feel included no matter their financial status.

Illustration: Ana Shipman/FHS Press Oklahoma, as well as several other states, are banning drag queen shows to “protect” children, rather than guns.

Prevention demands equity

Bringing awareness to sexual assault

BRIGETTE RICHARD Asst. News/Business Manager

The first rape crisis center opened in 1971. It aimed to provide counseling and aid to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Oakland, California. Sexual Assault Awareness Month started as a month in 2001 to bring awareness and prevention of sexual assault, violence, harassment and abuse.

Sexual violence can be defined as sexual activity when consent is not obtained or given in any matter. In a majority of cases, the offender is someone that the victim knows, such as, but not limited to, a past or present friend or intimate partner, a coworker, neighbor or family member.

This year, Sexual Assault Awareness Month showcases “Drawing Connections,” with the slogan “Prevention Demands Equity.” With that slogan, it recognizes taking an ending to all forms of oppression and to end sexual harassment, assault and abuse. Sexual violence affects people, regardless of geography, race, age, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or even economic background. According to whitehouse.gov, about one in four

women and one in 26 men have survived a rape or an attempted rape.

Abuse leads to more trauma than just in the moment; it can lead to depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and different emotional or physical issues. Physical issues may include bruising and genital injuries, while some other consequences may be chronic, such as reoccurring reproductive problems, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular or sexual health problems. In some cases, sexual violence can lead to negative health behaviors from the victim, including smoking, abuse of alcohol, drug use or engaging in risky sexual activity.

With statistics in raw numbers, of the 41 million women who have experienced rape in their lifetime, 13.5 million had experienced it between the ages of 11 and 17, and 5.1 million had experienced it before the age of ten. Out of 31 million men that have experienced rape in their lifetime, 825,000 experienced it between the ages of 11 and 17, and another 825,000 experienced it before the age of ten.

In some cases, offenders may carry out drug-facilitated sexual assault, meaning the assault occurs when alcohol or drugs are used to compromise the individual’s ability to consent

to any sexual activity. The most commonly used drug in these crimes is alcohol, but other drugs can include Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB), Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), Ketamine or typically any drug that offenders feel will leave you helpless. Different products including a “nightcap drink cover scrunchie” allowing men and women to safely cover their drink while at a party or anywhere in public, in case of one of

these drugs being put in a drink. Ways to help coping include the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which is the nation’s first decentralized hotline. The hotline was created in 1994, and it has helped more than three million people affected by sexual violence.

Better mind with outdoor time

Time

in nature improves health, wellness

KAYLEE OSTROWSKI Photo Editor

With the sun up longer, the Ultraviolet (UV) rays higher and the temperature warmer, now is the perfect time to consider spending more time outdoors. Some of the obvious benefits of spending time outside include stimulating Vitamin D in the skin and increasing physical activity levels. The less obvious benefits regard how nature can support better mental health.

To begin, Vitamin D can be obtained when spending time in the sun. The vitamin is not only important because it helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, but it also can reduce cancer cell growth, according to Harvard. Vitamin D is found in few foods, so spending more time in the sun is the cheapest way to stimulate it. While getting vitamin D through being outdoors works, it is important to protect your skin with sunscreen while outside in order to decrease the risk of skin cancer. Besides not being outside, someone could be not getting enough Vitamin B because they may have darker skin and pigment melanin acts as a shade to the sun, or there simply is not enough sunlight in their area. In these

cases, it is important to take a vitamin supplement.

Next, spending time outdoors can allow for an increase in physical activities. Whether going on a run, playing basketball or walking a dog, there are multiple opportunities to exercise outside. Of course, exercise itself can boost one’s mood and help people achieve personal goals, but outdoor

exercise can make one feel more lively and allow them to push themselves even further. Not to mention exercise in nature can feel more approachable than walking into a gym; it can also be more enjoyable and relaxing. One does not need a membership to gain fitness skills outside. Also, activities such as tennis, hiking or volleyball can help people build communities, and

their competitive nature allows for the exercise to feel more like a game.

Lastly, time in nature can improve one’s mental health. Sitting in nature can bring a sense of tranquility and peace. It gives one time to reflect and relax. Watching a bee pollinate a flower or listening to the bird chirp can take a person away from the stress of their lives and back to the simplicity of the natural world. It is essential for people to take moments to reject technology and enjoy what is right in front of them.

Getting outside can be difficult with a busy schedule, but making it a priority can have many benefits. Laying out in the sun to relax is a simple way to spend time outdoors. Exercising outside can be made easy when it involves doing something that one finds enjoyable. Playing a pickup basketball game in a park or going for a bike ride are exercises that don’t feel like punishment. Making it a point each day to spend time outside with no technology can decrease stress. Adding this to one’s daily habits can bring them back to reality and not worry so much about superficial things.

There is so much to take away from nature, so go outside and enjoy the great weather.

Sexual assault awareness month helps raise awareness around the country for those who have been affected, how to prevent it and how to support.

Spending time outdoors can be beneficial for both one’s physical and mental health. Going kayaking on a lake is an example of a way to both get exercise and relax outside.

Kaylee Ostrowski / FHS Press

Mad March Madness 2023 men's college basketball tournament makes history

BRYSON DEAL Contributing Writer

College basketball fans rush to fill out their brackets each year in hopes of constructing the first perfect bracket. But, upsets occur left and right. A No. 16 seed could beat a No. 1 seed in an instant. This is what March Madness is all about, and as the name suggests, this year’s tournament was quite “mad.”

March Madness is a college basketball tournament that occurs once a year. It is a single-elimination tournament with 68 of the top teams battling for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship trophy, with the teams divided into four different regions. Four of the teams are eliminated before the first round, known as the First Four, bringing the total to 64 teams.

Seven rounds of inter-regional games ensue until there is one team remaining from each region. These last four teams are fittingly known as the Final Four. The West region plays the East region, while the South plays the Midwest. The winners of those games face off for the national title. The setup is like any other bracket; the chances of guessing the results of this bracket, however, are slim to none.

There is a one in 9.2 quintillion

chance of guessing a perfect March Madness bracket. With one No. 4 seed, two No. 5 seeds and one No. 9 seed making it to the Final Four this year, brackets quickly went down in flames. Very few could have possibly predicted such an outcome. Junior Chase Grable did not achieve perfection, but he did pick enough winners to reign victorious in the annual Print Media Workshop bracket challenge.

“I didn’t really know much about

basketball, but I picked the teams that I liked the most to win, and somehow that ended up winning for our class,” Grable said.

With such a bizarre Final Four, surely someone new would win the championship game. Three out of the four remaining teams had never made the Final Four before this year. However, as luck would have it, No. 5 UConn won the tournament, winning their fifth title.

Also, in the tournament’s history, there have only ever been four years without a single first seed making the Final Four, this year being one of them. When No. 16 Fairleigh Dickenson beat No. 1 Purdue in the first round, many brackets were already doomed to fail. Then—to add to the cacophony of sadness for bracket-makers—No. 1 Kansas lost to No. 8 Arkansas, and No. 5 San Diego State took down No. 1 Alabama. For the final blow, No. 1 Houston fell to No. 5 Miami.

“My work has a March Madness bracket competition every year, so I get invested in the tournament easily. Once No. 1 Houston lost, I had no shot of winning,” senior Luke Snavely said.

Although the chances of guessing all outcomes of the tournament correctly are slim, this does not stop millions of people from trying. Roughly 70 million brackets were created and sent in for a chance to win the potential $1 billion grand prize. Nobody on record has even gotten close, let alone guessed all of the correct results.

With magical runs like No. 15 Princeton making the Sweet 16 and No. 5 San Diego State making the finals, “bracketeers” were destined to fail. However, there is always next year for one person to finally predict the unpredictable.

Track and Field starts season making, achieving goals

AIDEN POURNARAS Staff Writer

After months of practice and hard work, the track and field team began attending meets to kick off their season. With a bit of experience under their belt now, track members have high hopes for themselves and the team as a whole for the remainder of the season.

“For me, I am excited for the four by eight and how far we will go this year. I know we are going to the [Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) finals]. I am looking forward to it and seeing whether or not we will place,” junior Jaden Winterhalter said.

Being able to see glimpses of success in their first few meets, the team can confidently set goals for themselves that they hope to achieve by the end of the season. Many members have set big goals for the team and themselves, such as placing highly in the WPIAL finals. Most even have more minor achievements they

hope to accomplish, such as winning their event in their next meet or breaking their personal records. All of the athletes on the track team have many things they are hopeful to achieve during this track season, and they plan to make these milestones come to fruition.

“This year, I hope to break my personal best in discus at my next track meet. For the team, I hope that we can get as many people to win their events as possible,” junior Jenna Haskey said.

With the beginning of the season underway, the track and field team has found themselves making progress during their meets. To prepare for the regular season, the team competed in a scrimmage held at South Side on March 15. During this meet, the Bulldogs went up against the South Side Rams and the Central Valley Warriors. A week later, on March 22, the team jumped into their first home meet, where they took on the Beaver and Beaver Falls track and field programs. These two matchups gave the team a great

baseline of competition to make goals and depict how their season could play out. On Apr. 4, the team hosted their first section meet of the season. This meet consisted of Rochester, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) and South Side.

Though there are many things that the members of the track team want to accomplish this season, it is important to acknowledge the things they have already accomplished. It is crucial to celebrate achievements, otherwise the achievement may feel less fulfilling. Many of the athletes on the team have already accomplished some of their goals, such as breaking their personal records or placing highly in events. Even first-year members have already impressed themselves by the multitude of feats they have accomplished. For example, Haskey, who just joined the team this year, was proud of the score she achieved in the discus throwing event. Setting goals is important, but completing and acknowledging them is as well.

“A goal we have achieved this year

was getting more girls to compete in each event so that we can make it to the team playoffs. We have a girl in almost every event this year, and we have beat every team in our section so far,” junior Madison Meyer said.

Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in March Madness history, No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson University defeated No. 1 Purdue in the Round of 64 in the 2023 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Adam Bouse/Unsplash

Running during a boys' relay, junior James Couch keeps his head held high as he sprints down the track.

Softball team exceeds expectations

CHRISTOPHER DENKOVICH Managing Editor (Print)

The softball team showcased their talents many times throughout the season thus far and are showing signs of improvement. After their 2-12 season last year, an all new coaching staff and a team consisting of several new players, many did not know what to expect out of the Bulldogs this season. However, all expectations were beyond met. The softball team has stepped up to the plate this season with outstanding team and individual performances.

With a small and interconnected team such as Freedom, one small change disrupts the entire dynamic. With three injuries to start the season, the Bulldogs had several issues to work through. After junior Shaye Bailey and sophomores Annabelle Komlos and Haydan Baucan were injured, the small team became even smaller. Shortly after returning to the field due to a collarbone injury, Bailey hit an inside the park homerun, helping lead the Bulldogs to an 18-0 victory over the Aliquippa Quips on Friday, April 14. With Baucan also recovering and

returning, the team had an influx in options allowing them to elevate their performance to the next level. Not all games, however, have gone entirely according to plan for the Bulldogs. After beating the Quips, they fell to both Shenango and Riverside at their following home games on April 17 and April 19. Despite these

losses, the team has shown great improvement throughout the season both in performance on the field and in relationships amongst the team members. After banding together enough girls to play, the softball team and the new coaching staff formed a family. No matter the score of a game, winning or losing, constant cheers can

be heard from the Freedom dugout. Positive affirmations, nicknames and jersey numbers are called out with each swing of the bat. Even after a strikeout, players are met by supporting teammates that never fail to look on the bright side. The steady progress of the Bulldogs has definitely caught the attention of its supporters, and even taken some of the players by surprise as well.

“Though you need offense and defense to win, we have a really strong defense,” sophomore Isabell Bonzo said. “Every position has its strengths and time when it's needed on the field, so everyone is equally important.”

Regardless of certain ups and downs of the season, the girls can look at the immense amount of progress that they have made. With this being said, the season is still not over, as anything ahead of them is possible. The great teamwork, effort and leadership displayed by the Bulldogs on the field gives hints to what they could possibly accomplish in the future. Whether on the field or off, the girls are sure to find success.

Baseball team works hard to make playoffs

Features Editor

As the season continues, the team has developed a strong foundation for the rest of the season. The improvement from the team, as a whole, since last season to this season has been seen within just the first couple of games. The bonds that have been created amongst the players have helped in building teamwork. Both on and off the field, the team encourages one another. Most importantly, the incoming freshmen have great talents to bring to the table.

“I like being able to play on the varsity team, and I’m looking forward to us getting back on track and start winning games and making playoffs,” freshman Boden Hilliard said.

The boys started their season off with a great first two games against Carlynton winning 18-0 and 17-0 respectively. They were back again on March 27 when they lost to OLSH 3-5. The following day the boys played OLSH again, falling 1-12. For the last game of March, the boys played Burgettstown, unfortunately losing after a tough fight 9-6.

Although the boys were losing

their games, they made sure to enjoy every game to the fullest. For some players, this will be their last season playing baseball, while others may continue at a college level. From being freshmen to now almost graduating seniors, the players reflect on their many years of playing.

“Playing baseball means a lot to me; ever since tee-ball I've enjoyed the game and the challenges it has brought me,” senior Isaac Barry said. Continuing the season, on April 3 the boys played a rough two games against South Side losing 0-15 and 0-10 respectively. They faced off against New Brighton on April 11, where they put up a good fight; however, it was not enough, falling 0-5. They hosted New Brighton at the high school on April 12 where they fell 5-15. The boys were on the up when they played Aliquippa on April 17, coming on top 18-3.

Overcoming challenges this season is something that the team is beginning to become familiar with. At the start of the season, both junior Logan Bickerstaff and freshman Garrett Drutarsky were not able to play due to ACL injuries. Later as the season progressed, the primary catcher, sophomore Thomas

Ward, injured his arm. The team has tried both senior Daniel Lewis and freshman Xavier Robbins in the position.

The team still has a chance to make it to the playoffs. In order to achieve this, they can only lose one more section game until the end of the season. At this time, there are nine games left in the season, seven of

which are section games.

On May 1, the boys travel to Laurel and then host them on May 2. On May 4 they play Western Beaver in a home game. The final two games of the season will be on May 8 and May 9, when they will take on Northgate. Come out and support the boys as they work harder to make it to the playoffs.

Senior Kiersten Ferrell throws a pitch towards the Riverside batter on April 19. Ferrell and all infield players have facemasks to protect them since they are close in proximty to the batter.

Christopher Denkovich/FHS Press

Skylar Scobbo/FHS Press

SKYLAR SCOBBO

Asst.

Sliding back into the bag, Caleb Cox slides back to first base as the pitcher throws the ball to the first baseman.