Out of the Past
1965: Uniontown Colt League in championship finals For those of us who really like the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, this time of the year begins to take on a new meaning about now.
The days are still nice, but you know that when the last of August rolls around, those lovely fall days are still ahead, but the thought somehow sneaks in that the miserable spectre of winter is hiding back there around the corner, waiting for his unwelcome turn on the stage.
But for the moment, away with such thoughts. Look what we have around us. Cool evenings to enjoy a corn roast, sunny mornings to make an early relaxing visit to your favorite trout stream and swish a fly or two, or sit back in the late afternoons and watch the playoff games that are now decreasing in number each day as the respective seasons are closed for another year. Enjoy what you have at hand!
And while doing so, think back to another year in local sports, awaayyyyyy back to this week in 1965. The summer seasons were down to their final playoff sets, and scholastic football was waiting around the corner. But there was still some action going in a couple of lineups.
The Uniontown Colt League was into its championship finals. The Colts routed Gallatin, 17-5, to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five set, clinching with an 8-run spurt in the fourth, featured by Rich Wolinski’s triple and Carmen Galderisi’s home run. John Hull (2B), John Romeo, and Galderisi all had three hits and Joe Prah two doubles. Jerry Smarslak hit a Gallatin double.
Colts then iced the playoff championship, with a 6-5 win, clinching on Ed Seman’s two-run single in the last of the seventh. The Colts were down 5-4 into their last turn at bat. Then Hull singled, Romeo walked, Wolinski was intentionally walked to load them up, and Seman singled. WP Hull worked an 8-hitter and had three of his own, and Seman, Bynum, and Prah all had two. Carl Altomonte had two for Gallatin.
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In the Coolspring League, Lemont and Uniontown went two up in their semifinal best-of-five playoff sets, both coming from behind to win. Lemont got three in the sixth to nip Hopwood, 4-3, and Uniontown scored five in the sixth to stop Gallatin, 6-4.
Lemont got its edge, with one out, as Jim Susano singled, Chuck Pillar doubled, Lou Scott singled, and Joe Galderisi tripled.
Gallatin’s edge came on two errors sandwiched with hits by Mel Mills, John Oris, Paul Hensh, Don Ashton, and Bob Wandel. Lemont counted Jim Edenfield’s double and Mark Soom’s triple.
Hopwood and Gallatin then got their first wins. Hopwood, down 6-0, fought back and got two in the seventh to win 7-6, the edge coming on Ray Swaney’s single, a walk, and three errors. Gallatin blanked Uniontown, 5-0, on Bob Miller’s 3-hitter, two by Paul Hensh (2B), and one by Dave Matyas. The winners got all they would need in the second, with two runs on a Tom Hoak single, Edenfield’s triple, and an out. Miller also hit a double.
Lemont then won 10-3, and advanced to the East Division finals, where they will meet regular season champion Monarch in another best-of-five set for the divisional title. Lee Smithburger (3B) and George Stiner had three hits, Jim Susano and Putso Pillar two.
Gallatin scored a run in the last of the seventh to edge Uniontown, 4-3, and tie their series. The edge came on one-out hits by Mark Soom, Ron Metz, and Joe Ezzi. Ed Misinay’s triple (U) was the only extra-base hit of the game.
Gallatin then ended the series and advanced to the West finals against VFW, nipping Uniontown, 1-0, for their third win in a row after two opening losses. The lone run came in the third when WP Miller lined a shot off the Lemont first baseman’s shoulder and went to second when the ball rolled out of play, scoring on Bill Sneddon’s single.
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In other area sports that week:
– Tamer Joseph, former coach at Fairchance-Georges, has been named assistant basketball coach at Uniontown High.
– The Pirates lost to Houston, 3-0, as Robin Roberts pitched a 4-hit shutout for his 278th major league win and his second shutout in a week since he was traded to Houston by Philadelphia. The Pirates stood 61-60, in sixth place, 9 1/2 games back of Los Angeles.
– Sally Boyle, representing Forest Park, swam away with the high point trophy for girls 10-and-under at the Greensburg Swim Meet. She set a new record (45.9) winning the 50-meter breaststroke, won the 100-m individual medley, was second in the 50-m freestyle, and fourth in the 50-m backstroke. Bruce Phillips set an AMA record (60.6) in the 100-m freestyle for boys 15-17, plus being third in the 50-m butterfly and fourth in the 100-m backstroke.
– Ken Sterbutzel, Uniontown, won the 35-lap hardtop feature at Jennerstown Speedway, and took over the division point lead from Al Weltz of Laughlintown. Mel Minnick, Uniontown, was second, and moved up to third in points. Both drivers also won heats and Minnick won the pursuit race. With their lap wins, the two drivers were placed at the rear of the 22-car field for the feature, but threaded their ways up to a 1-2 finish.
– The Pirates beat Houston, 8-6, Donn Clendennon driving in four runs with a double and home run.
– Ron Mallicone and Tommy Byrne will represent the Uniontown Elks Lodge 370 in the annual Youth Golf tournament to be played at the Elks Golf Club, Latrobe.
– The Eagles won the championship of the 10-year-old division in the Uniontown Recreation Dept. summer baseball program. The champions included Manager Ray Cindric, Ron Fudala, Dave Duda, Stanley Partyka, Mike Bradley, Dan Roddy, John Reilly, Jim Murphy, Mark Cindric, Kevin Slater, Frank Zaryski, Mike Ciarochi, Norbert Podlager, Lee Andria, and Ronald Mitchell.
– The Cubs scored six runs in the second inning to beat the Cats, 9-2, and win the Greensboro Little League championship. Mark Gursky pitched the win, and Bob Clites and Shane Ryan hit doubles.
– Perry Collared Washington Heights, 7-0, for their second win in the Scott Twp. Athletic Assn. Youth Baseball Tournament. Ed Gmutza allowed seven hits. Dave Brown and Randy Stevenson had two hits and Wally Albert tripled for Perry.
– The Coolspring Division finals got under way, with both regular season division winners taking 1-up leads in their best-of-five sets. Monarch scored two in the seventh to nip Lemont, 8-7. In the comeback, Sonny Dunaway was aboard on a fielder’s choice, Vic Leonard was alive on an error, and Pat Trimbath singled them in. Jim Butler (3B) and Leo Hamborsky had three Lemont hits, and Tom Croftcheck and Chuck Pillar two.
– VFW scored four in the fifth for the eventual edge over Gallatin, 6-5, in the West opener. The edge came on hits by Lloyd Eicher, Tom Stefancin, Jim Savage, Rich Ashton, and Hawk David’s double. Joe Ezzi (3B) and Bob Costolo (2B) led Gallatin.
– Rick Lynn, Connellsville, and Ron Mallicone, Uniontown, both scored 150 to finish tied for third in the 36-hole Elks Golf Championship Tournament, at Latrobe. Terry George, Monongahela, won the title with 71-73-144.
– The Braves edged the Pirates, 4-3, on a 2-run homer by Eddie Matthews in the eighth, and took over first place by one percentage point over Los Angeles.
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent.