VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2013
2013
• Over the years, Ringgold High School has produced some outstanding athletes such as NFL star Joe Montana, Scott Zolak and Ulice Payne. You can add Olivia Warner’s name to the list. The 15-year-old freshman has already made a big splash in her sport of women’s tennis.
• Monessen and California officially have an open spot on their fall football schedules. As expected Imani Christian has discontinued their gridiron program. WPIAL Director Tim O’Malley gave Imani until Monday to decide if the school was going to field a football team this season. Imani, which joined the WPIAL just last year, never held a practice due to a lack of players going out for the team. O’Malley said, “I received a fax Monday from Imani stating that they are ceasing their football program due to a lack of student participation. They are claiming that they will still play basketball, That’s three months away, so we’ll see.”
2004
• There are several ways to look at the upcoming season for the Ringgold girls soccer team. On one hand, the Rams have gone undefeated in the section for the last three seasons with 44 straight league victories. On the other hand, the Rams have lost five three-year starters to graduation. Despite the loss of the experienced players, those who know the Rams say that good coaching and talent will take the Rams back to the playoffs again. Seventh year coach Dave Molisee said, “We’re looking pretty good but we are kind of young. We should have some firepower and after losing most of our defense to graduation, the firepower will help.”
• George Overton had to step down as seventh-grade football coach at Ringgold for health reasons. He was hired but had to turn down the job before the start of the season. Overton has a long history of coaching in the area starting at Mon Valley Catholic in the early 1980s and did a coaching stint at Ringgold.
1994
• The Mint Lounge and the Monessen PNA advanced to the next round of the Belle Vernon-Rostraver Softball League playoffs with contrasting victories. While the Mint was using an outstanding defensive effort to nip Just-ATavern, 5-4, Monessen PNA was rolling over visiting Newell Santa Barbara, 19-8. The Mint turned four double plays which made the difference in the one run game as they swept the best-of-three series in two games. Offensively Pete LaBrasca had three singles and Al Davis and PJ Jones had two each for the winners. PNA won the rubber match of its series as Jim Smith had a home run, a double and two singles while winning pitcher Rick Tyburski had four singles.
• At Motordrome Speedway in Smithton, five drivers took the checkered flag during the NASCAR Winston Cup Racing Series Action. In the first feature of the Gatlings Auto Parts Late Models, Barry Awtey picked up the win holding off Charlie Cragan, who came in second. In the second late models feature, Cragan got revenge as he won with Glenn Gault coming in second and Tom Erikson taking the third position. Other winners included Butch Derkas (Snyders of Berlin Pro Stocks), Rick Meehleib (Stoney’s Light Street Stocks) and Mark Corden (Pepsi Pure Stocks).
