VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2014
2014
• Even a little bit of extra motivation couldn’t help Mitch’s Bail Bonds snap their losing streak. The Jailbirds losing streak extended to five games as they suffered a 4-1 loss to Company G at Vet’s Field. It was the first win of the season for Company G. Mitch’s player-manager Ryan Encapera said, “I think it may be their first win in the league period. It’s sad and it’s embarrassing. I’m not one to make excuses but we do have a lot of high school players playing for us right now. We had a few opportunities but we didn’t cash in.”
• The Belle Vernon American Legion baseball team upped its record to 5-1 with a 20-8 win at Carmichaels. Dylan Stark and Tyler Simsic each went 3 for 3, Matt Bashioum went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and Josh Kucmeroski went 3 for 5 for Belle Vernon. Belle Vernon scored seven runs in the fourth inning, only to have Carmichaels score eight runs in the bottom of the inning. Dylan Pietrantoni picked up the win on the mound, scattering five hits and striking out seven batters in six innings.
2004
• Talk about coincidence. What are the odds that two of the greatest Donora baseball stars would be looking on as
Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 500th home run on Father’s Day in St Louis’ Busch Stadium? Naturally, Ken Griffey Sr. was in the stands to cheer his son on as the joined the 500-homer club. The other superstar was Stan Musial, who had longterm ties to the Griffey family. Musial was born on the same day as Griffey Jr. 49 years apart. Musial was a teammate with Griffey’s grandfather on the Donora Dragons baseball squad. While Musial went on to greatness on the baseball diamond, Joseph Robert Griffey went home to Donora after a brief football career.
• The Tri-County Classic turned into an exciting high school football game. As the lights came on at Bill Powers Stadium, South quarterback Parke Biongiorno (California Area) felt like June had been transformed to September. He said, “In the beginning it felt a little weird being back on the football field, but when we came off after halftime everything started clicking and it felt like Friday nights in the fall. Led by Biongiorno, the South squad scored 21 points and generated a tremendous pass rush in the second half to win 29-12.
1994
• Scratch Union Grill from the list of unbeaten teams in the Mon Valley Merchants Summer Basketball League. Giannini’s narrowly defeated them 115-114. James Tolliver poured in a game-high 40 points including eight 3-pointers. Chris Grogan added 28 points and Levon Kincaid 10.
Mike Bright topped Union Grill with 35 points followed by Terry Wilkins (22),
James Satterfield (21), and Bill Greco (19).
• Charleroi Ponderosa took sole possession of first place in the West Division of the Fayette County League after knocking off Canonsburg, 5-3, at Vet’s Field. Ponderosa grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed throughout the game. Christian Conte led off with a single and scored on Gary Riley’s double. Riley later scored on a groundout by Mike Conte. Charleroi scored once in the fourth before adding two insurance runs in the fifth.
