Commissioners, Herald-Standard ready for charity softball game
The third time will be the charm for one of the teams in tonight’s charity softball game between the Herald-Standard and the Fayette County commissioners. The series between the two teams is tied at 1-1, with the Herald-Standard winning the first game and the commissioners taking the second contest last year.
The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Bailey Park in Uniontown. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, which will be held Aug. 9-10 at Laurel Highlands High School.
Admission is $1, and food and refreshments will be served.
With tonight’s game being the tiebreaker in the series, both squads have vowed to give everything for a victory.
“We’re ready for another big win,’ said Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites, who anchors his team as a third baseman. “That was the best feeling in the world last year when we won, and I’m certain that we’re going to win again this year.’
“We were a little complacent, but that’s not going to happen this year,’ said Mark O’Keefe, dayside managing editor for the Herald-Standard and manager for the team. “We’ve been working hard to turn this thing around, and I’m sure we’ll come out on top this year.’
O’Keefe said the newspaper’s team figures to be better this year with the addition of former University of Pittsburgh and Carmichaels Area High School softball star pitcher Nikki Gasti. Gasti led Carmichaels to the 1998 Class AA state championship and was one of Pitt’s top pitchers the past four years before graduating last spring.
While O’Keefe said Gasti probably won’t pitch because the game is slow-pitch softball, he said her overall skills will help the team, and she could be used on the mound if necessary.
O’Keefe said other newcomers to the team include News 19 anchors Amy Lutz and Anthony DeNunzio and feature reporter Carrie Lenardo. He said Lutz and Lenardo will be doing double duty as they’ll sing the National Anthem before the game.
Among the returnees on the team are Assistant Sports Editor Rob Burchianti, sportswriters Dave Stofcheck and Ed Kolencik, and staff writers Steve Ferris and Josh Krysak. Rounding out the roster are Bobby Warman, Dale Johnson, Mark Haines, Joe Augustine, Phil Sperry, Bill Palya, Jeff Hager, Dee Crockett, Greg Ayersman, Butch Minerd and Jerry Dean.
Vicites said he was still juggling his roster, noting he didn’t want to tip his hand too much. Among the players already committed to the team are state Sen. Richard Kasunic, state Rep. Peter J. Daley, Fayette County Chief Detective Larry Curry, Fayette County Children and Youth Services Director David Madison, Fayette County Warden Larry Medlock, and Tammy Shell, executive director of the Fayette County office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development.
Other members of the team are Leroy Townsend, Darek Eberhart, Scot Sage, Ron Sibolt, Matt Marsiglia, Russ Kefover, Jack Flowers and Jim Palmer.
HSTV will tape the game for later broadcast, with former Uniontown High School basketball stars Jes Hudson and Emile Etheridge Sr. doing the announcing. Wave Systems will handle the public address system.
The winner of the game will receive a trophy donated by Carr Trophy and Plaques in McClellandtown.