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Gasti inducted into Washington-Greene HOF

By George Von Benko, For The Greene County Messenger 5 min read
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The Washington-Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame will induct 12 new members this summer at their banquet on June 12 at the Double Tree by Hilton in the Meadow Lands.

Former Carmichaels and Pitt softball star Nikki Gasti is in the group of inductees that includes four from Washington High School.

Gasti is thrilled to be part of the 2015 class.

“It was a surprise,” Gasti said. “I knew I was nominated, but I didn’t think I was a shoo in. It was real exciting to get that phone call and know that I had been selected. It’s an honor, it’s exciting, it’s humbling. I have all kinds of different emotions.”

Gasti has top notch credentials to back the selection. Gasti’s career numbers at Carmichaels are breathtaking. She was 68-7 and tossed eight perfect games and 13 no hitters. In 455 career innings, she recorded 850 strikeouts and allowed only 15 earned runs for a 0.23 ERA. Even more impressive she only issued 27 walks.

Gasti was voted the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year in 1998…twice named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Star team…four-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Athlete of the Week…four-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Washington/Greene Player of the Year…chosen as a Fox 53/Tribune Review Athlete of the Week…Greene County Messenger Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999…honored guest at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan dinner…received the Special Recognition Award at the Washington/Greene County Coach of the Year banquet.

When she graduated from Carmichaels in 1999, Gasti accepted a softball scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. She started off slowly at Pitt, losing her first four starts, before finishing her freshman year with a 10-10 record. She followed that with 7-17, 10-17 and 15-16 records for the Panthers.

“It is pretty exciting because of my daughter, Bailey, who wasn’t around during my softball career,” Gasti explained. “She thinks that mom is pretty cool now. It’s pretty cool that she is getting to see some of this stuff and it’s not just me or my mom or dad telling her about it. It’s actually in the papers.”

Joining Gasti in the 2015 Washington-Greene County Sports Hall of Fame class are:

Dan Alderson of Chartiers-Houston for baseball: He was 15-1 in his high school career and was 1990 section MVP. Pitched at Ashland University where he has a career 3.50 ERA.

Was head baseball coach at Chartiers Houston from 2001-2009 and compiled a record of 133-44 with three section titles.

Tim Bennett of Fort Cherry for football: Bennett was a two-year first team All-Black Hills Conference selection, First team All State — 1998, First team All American — 1998 and a Big 33 selection, starting at nose guard.

At Wake Forest he was a three-year starter and team captain as a senior.

The late Richard Devore of Trinity for softball: Touted as a home run hitter, played for some of the area’s most successful teams, including: 1969: Sol Mintz: World Runner-up, 1973: Sol Mintz: World Champions, 1976: Lone Pine: Ten Mile Valley Champions, 1980: American Glass: Ten Mile Valley, National League Champions, 1982: Union Grill: Ten Mile Valley Champions.

Michael Ferrari of Trinity for wrestling: Record: 79-7-1, California Christmas Tournament Champion: 1984, 1985, Section Champion: 1985, 1986, WPIAL Champion and PIAA qualifier: 1985, 1986, Outstanding Wrestler – 1986 Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic-Pennsylvania All-Star Team — 112 lbs. United States Military Academy — Wrestling: Three year starter at 134 pounds. Record: 29-12-1.

Bob Patnesky, of Canon-McMillan, for wrestling: Three time section champion, WPIAL champion, PIAA state runner up, two-time PIAA fifth-place finisher, three-time Junior Nationals All American and National Finalist. Wrestled at West Virginia University: To date, the most successful wrestler at WVU in the 126/133-pound weight class, over 100 college wins, Eastern Wrestling League champion and three-time NCAA qualifier.

The late Charles Ream of Washington & Jefferson for football: Head football coach: 1960 — 1972, Brought first PAC Championship to W&J — 1970. Inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the W&J Sports Hall of Fame.

Maria Gemma Ross, Washington High School, for youth service: She has given of her time over the past 40 years to organizations throughout Washington.

Chris Tarr, Washington High School for wrestling: Career Record: 112-19-1, three-time Burgettstown tournament champion, three-time Keystone Oaks tournament champion, 1992 — Section tournament runner-up, 1992 — WPIAL champion, 1992 — Southwest Regional tournament runner-up. Accepted a wrestling scholarship to Lock Haven, winning a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar / Athlete Award. Transferred to W&J in 1996 and named team MVP, Ranks on the all-time list at W&J for career take downs and takedowns in a season.

Travis Thomas, Washington High School, football: Scored the 2001 PIAA Championship winning touchdown, team captain as a junior and senior, rushing and scoring leader — 2002, 2003, Big 33 game, Collegiate Sports of America — All-American, first team All State. Played football at Notre Dame: 3 year team captain, featured on the college preview issue cover of Sports Illustrated — 2006, Offensive MVP — Notre Dame Blue-Gold game — 2006, Recipient of the Nick Pietrosante Award for courage, signed by the Cleveland Browns as a free agent — 2008.

Norris Vactor, Washington High School, football: Three year starting running back: 1961 — 1963, All-Western Conference: 1963, All-WPIAL: 1963, Big 33 Honorable Mention. Played football at Parsons College/Southern Illinois.

Mike Vernillo, of Fort Cherry, for football: WPIAL all-time leading rusher with 7,646 yards and 102 touchdowns — 1999, Big 33 selection — 2000, USA Today Top High School Players in Pennsylvania – 2000, Pennsylvania Football News All-State — 2000, AP first team all-state running back — 1997, 1999, AP second team all-state running back — 1998, WPIAL Hall of Fame Inductee — 2014.

The Washington-Greene Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be held June 12 at the Double Tree by Hilton in the Meadow Lands.

Tickets are $45 apiece and can be obtained by calling 724-678-4320.

George Von Benko’s “Memory Lane” column appears in the Monday editions of the Herald-Standard.

He also hosts a sports talk show on WMBS-AM radio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

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