VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2013
2013
• It was an uphill climb in the Grebb League for Union Cleaners. The winless squad was only able to field five players for their game against Dairy Queen but made a gallant attempt to claim the win. At one point during the game they even took the lead. With just 2:16 remaining in the clock Union Cleaners was ahead 4544 on two free throws by Tyler Yuille.
Yuille fouled out with 1:31 to play leaving his team with just four players on the court which allowed Dairy Queen to score four points to win the game, 48-45.
• The Union-Finley Athletic Association Under-10 girls softball team won the postseason tournament at Brownsville. Team members include Danielle Bagnell, Paige Wallace, Jenna Brooks, Victoria Mamie, Samantha Bagnell, Sarah Middlemiss, Zoey Mundorff, Taylor Brooks, Olivia Vecchio, Autumn Levers, Taylor Pelliserro and Julie Vecchio.
2004
• Hopefully the Charleroi American Legion team will get to play a full game sometime soon. They went down to a 9-6 defeat to Connellsville in Fayette County Baseball League action. A frustrated Charleroi manager Tom Hartman said, “Guys made silly errors, guys drop easy balls, and infielders overthrow bases. It’s the same thing almost every game. We also let two leadoff batters walk and a hit batter score. It can be frustrating. It seems every time we would score they would score more. We have to cut down on our strikeouts. We had 11 strikeouts.”
• Maybe Dan Palm should chew his Rostraver team out more often. Two days after getting on his squad following a lackluster loss to Mario’s in a Fayette County baseball game, Rostraver put on an offensive show in a 12-3 triumph at Waynesburg. Palm said, “I am happy with the turnaround after the way we played against Mario’s. We hit well, got runners home when in scoring position and we had really good base running. We did all of the little things you need to win a game.” Ryan Russell scored in the first inning and then Rostraver took a 3-0 lead when Dustin Schwab singled in Brian Horner.
1994
• Wally Malinchak pitched a complete game shutout as The Mint defeated PNA, 10-0, in Belle Vernon-Rostraver softball action. In the Mint victory, Chris Smuzinick (two singles and a double), Pete LaBrasca (three singles) and Brian Corrin (a single and a double) led the offensive attack. Rick Tyburski had three singles to pace PNA. In other league action, Step II topped Just A Tavern. 10-6, Collinsburg beat Baker’s Pub, 11-7, Newell Santa Barbara beat Family Vision, 12-4 , and Belle Vernon Moose defeated Lowber 10-8.
• It is no secret that Kenny Toomer has been one of the standout players in the Mon Valley Merchants league. For example, this year he has been averaging 40 points for Foster House. Toomer’s days of playing in tbe Mon Valley may be over. Toomer admitted, “This will probably be my last year playing in Monessen.” Toomer who poured n a school single season record of 342 points playing for Cal U, leading it to the best campaign in school history with a 31-2 record in 1992. For the last two winters he played in Europe, first in Switzerland and then in Croatia.
