Connellsville should name field after ‘Sank’
An era is coming to an end in Connellsville athletics, and we may never see its like again. However, there is a way that the man who engendered that era can be remembered, at least every time that his sport is played at home.
A few days ago, prior to a game at CAHS, Tom Sankovich was honored by the school board with the presentation of a plaque recognizing his teams winning 422 games, four WPIAL pennants, 10 section titles, and in 1989 the biggest prize of them all, a state championship.
When Connellsville started its successful baseball program in 1971, “Sank” was the choice as first coach, a position he held until the end of the 1990 season, when he stepped down and the current coach, Bob Renzi, took over and continued the long run of Falcon successes.
It came as no surprise in this corner that Sank would be so successful as a baseball coach. He has been involved in the sport almost from the day he could pick up a ball. His dad, the late Anthony (Lefty) Sankovich, was affiliated with local baseball for many years, as a player and manager, and was in the first group inducted when the Big 10-County League Hall of Fame was organized.
I recall once discussing with “Mr. Sank” (as I called him) Tom’s success as a coach, and he looked at me with a big smile and said, “He should be a good coach. I taught him everything he knows about the game.” Then he added, with a wink, “but I didn’t teach him everything I know.”
It felt good to see Sank honored by the school board. I have been involved with him ever since the program started at CAHS, first as Connellsville sports editor and continuing in my present spot with the Herald-Standard.
There was never a dull moment, on or off the field, when his teams were playing. There were a lot of funny moments, some not so funny, a lot of big wins, a few losses that hurt, championships and near misses. But always there was the championship stamp on the Falcons, and so many times when it was learned that you were from Connellsville, the reply would often be “you have a pretty good baseball program there.”
Connellsville made winning baseball a byword around the WPIAL, and now I think it’s time that success was recognized in another form.
Ever since the baseball field back of the Senior High was laid out, it has been known only as the High School Field, the baseball field or some other plain designation. But now it can be given an official name.
Why doesn’t the Connellsville school board name it the Tom Sankovich Baseball Field and erect a sign there denoting such an honor. It can be done. When Shaler High’s new field was built, there was no question about its name. It was unanimously christened Jerry Matulevic Field, honoring the coach who will be retiring this year after compiling a 519-189 record in 31 seasons, and one of the most personable men I have ever had the honor to be associated with in sports.
Jerry’s teams won three WPIAL championships and they got to the finals three other seasons. One of those latter three was in 1973 when Connellsville beat Shaler for the championship.
Not too many coaches can ever say that they own a career edge over Matulevic, but Sank can. At last count, it was 5-3 in his favor over Jerry.
My question is why doesn’t the Connellsville school board recognize Sank now by naming the field in his honor.
Do it while he is still alive to enjoy the honor and know that his name will be recognized as long as the field and the baseball program exist.
All too often, organizations or communities wait too long to recognize somebody, and then when the time comes, it has to be posthumous as far as the honoree is concerned. So let’s do it now while Sank will be able to join in the festivities. Generations to come will never know the experience of playing for Sank, but his name will be there, recognizing the honors his teams have brought to the school.
Let’s recognize those honors now, not some time down the road when it’s too late.
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent and columnist.