VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2014
2014
• In a game delayed almost two hours due to a lack of umpires, Jake’s Pizza handed Mitch’s Bail Bonds its third consecutive loss in Fayette County League play. Jakes started off strong in the first inning with Shawn Sheponik singling in
Sam Bashioum to make it 1-0. Two batters later, Dave Gacsy drove home Joe Simsic with a single. An error from the Jailbird’s shortstop Jason Paris allowed Scheponik to score from third. Three of the four hits were bloop singles that fell in front in of Jailbird outfielders. Mitch’s player-coach Ryan Encapera said, “A lot of baseball games are won because of one inning. We held them after that be we just couldn’t get a hit.”
• Dr. Randolph Magone will hold an open-floor seminar on bodybuilding and weightlifting at the Mon Valley YMCA. Magone is an experienced bodybuilder who has competed in 47 local weightlifting contests. Magone said, “I am happy to be hosting this event and I am grateful to the YMCA for allowing me to do so…I want to training and techniques handed down to me by the champions. Their wisdom was acquired by trial and error and their advice helped me. It is important for people to understand the importance of dieting and eating right.”
2004
• Ringgold’s Neil Giles doesn’t have a lot in common with his South teammates for the eighth annual Tri-County Football Coaches Association All-Star Classic. For starters, Giles is better known for another sport, track and field. Giles also started his sports career playing baseball. The 5-11, 230-pound Giles, who will be starting as nose guard for the defense, explained how he became a football star. “I used to be a baseball player. My father talked me into playing football and I started in the eighth grade as a defensive end.” Giles said that the Tri-County Classic is more than summer recreation, “I’d love to play football in college and want to make a good impression here.”
• Thanks to Ricky Bartman, the losing streak for Charleroi in the Fayette County American Legion League ended. Bartman blanked Point Marion allowing just one hit in the final 5 1/3 innings as Charleroi overcame a 4-0 deficit to pick up a 6-4 road win. Bartman struck out two and walked two came in after Jody Wilkerson injured his back. Charleroi won with two runs in the ninth inning with Mitch Pankiewicz scoring the go-ahead run on the catcher’s short hop throw to the pitcher. Adam Zewe’s double accounted for the final run. Point Marion did all its scoring in the second inning. Charleroi started its comeback in the fourth inning with two runs on doubles by Eugene Lancas and Jason Grant.
1994
• Just-A-Tavern remained hot in the Rostraver-Belle Vernon Softball League with a 19-7 win over Collinsburg. The win was the ninth straight victory for Just-A-Tavern as Collinsburg fell to 12-4. For the winners, Doug Indof and Shelbert Rhodes had four hits each while Jon Miller had two singles and a triple. Jeff Seich, Tim Evans and Brian Franks each had three singles. Collinsburg was paced by
Joel Koricich with two doubles and a single and Abby Yazzini with a single and a double. In another big game, Monessen PNA defeated Newell Santa Barbara 2019 in a long-ball contest which featured 16 home runs.
• Beer Arena upped its record to 2-0 with a 127-120 win over Giannini’s in the Mon Valley Merchant’s Summer Basketball League Friday. The winners were led by Joe Wall (32 points) and Lyndon Henderson (31 points), who combined for 63 points. Rick Puskar scored 28 and
Steve Shields added 14. Giannini’s was paced by Darryl Tolliver with 34 points.
Chris Grogan and Mike Horan each had 22 points and Darrin Gillespie finished with 21. In another game, Tark’s evened its record to 1-1 with a 127-97 romp over Smitty’s.
