Back in 1972, Mill Run was on a roll
Ordinarily, when you say it’s ‘clinching time’ you think it might be two guys mixing it up over some petty point in the aftermath of an argument. Or, it could be the satirical definition of a poignant love scene at the local cinema.
But in this case, back in 1972, the only ‘clinching’ anybody cared about at the moment was by their local baseball favorites.
Then, the ‘clinching’ honors fell to Mill Run in the Fay-West Baseball League and to Connellsville in the Fayette American Legion League. Others would follow shortly, but for this week (and picking up where the previous column ended), those two champions led the parade.
Mill Run repeated as Fay-West champion by collaring second-place Breakneck, 3-0, as Ken Meadows worked a 3-hitter. Tom Holliday homered in the second, the only extra-base hit of the game, and singled, and Jerry Meadows had two singles for the champions.
Mill Run now stood 20-2, eight games ahead of Breakneck, with six left. Mill Run lost its season opener, then started driving to a repeat title with a 12-game win streak.
It looked like a second championship might be in the making for that area, as Indian Creek Valley, managed by Bob Kooser and Richard Broadwater, ran its unbeaten Pony League string to 14, downing Boosters, 14-3, as Rick Broadwater and Todd Bigam combined on a 7-hitter. Seven runs in the first started the win. Merle Skinner had three hits and Steve Bigam two.
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Connellsville wrapped up a repeat American Legion League Southern Division title downing Point Marion, 8-1. Tim Trafecanty pitched a 2-hitter, both by Jerry Skocik, and fanned 12. John Schroyer led the offense with a double, single, and four RBI, backed by Mark Krall (2B), Chuck Keffer, Shane Kovack, and Jim Bailor two hits.
Members of the championship Milton L. Bishop Post lineup, coached by Buzz Barnhart and Herman Welsh, are Trafecanty, Schroyer, Keffer, Krall, Kovack, Bailor, Ron Addis, Randy Flack, Kerry Bell, Ron Martray, Dick Husband, Bob Mongelluzzo, Greg Pastors, Barry Craig, Dave Ryan, and Bill Nesbitt.
Fayette City won the Northern Division by blanking New Salem, 11-0. Bob Flock pitched the two-hit win, backed by Rich Etherington (3B), Gary Condeluppi and John Yakubic (2B).
This set up a best-of-3 series between Connellsville and Fayette City for the overall league championship. (And while it might not be nice to do, we sort of sneaked a peek ahead into the files to see the title playoff outcome).
Connellsville swept the series. Fayette City led the opener, 6-0, then Connellsville got seven in the sixth to win, 7-6. Pastors (2B, 1B) led Connellsville, while Jeff Yakubic and Bob Rohland had three hits for FC.
Connellsville then nailed its fourth title in the last six years, 7-3, breaking a 3-3 tie in the eighth, on winning pitcher Trafecanty’s grandslam, and will now open District 24 play against Somerset.
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In other area action:
-The Blazers, coached by Al Sementa, won the championship of the Fairchance Summer Basketball League. The champions roster included Vern Chandler, Doug Smiley, Dan Andria, Tom Labutta. Norman Berkshire, Phil Budinsky, Terry Chandler, Mark Thomas, Jim Morris, and Scott Wilson.
– The Pirates lost to Cincinnati, 11-5, as Joe Morgan hit two homers, but they still lead the NL East by five.
– Trotter pulled even for the Fay-West season (12-12), downing Dunbar, 4-1, in an all-singles match. WP Makiel allowed two and LP Cary Kyper four, two by Ron Marciante.
– Walter Hutz, Uniontown, aced the 128-yd. third layout at Cedar Brook with a 9-iron.
– Henry Molinaro, 16, of Connellsville, made an “unusual” catch while fishing in the Yough River, just below Memorial Bridge. He landed a 25-in., 41/2-lb. bowfish, also called a ‘dogfish,’ but which Fish Warden Jim Beatty said is an entirely different species from what is called a ‘waterdog.’ Beatty added that a bowfish can be eaten, but it should be skinned first.
– Greg Fedor and John Fields of Uniontown Boxing Club scored decisions on an amateur card at Swissvale.
– Breakneck scored one in the fifth to edge Mt. Braddock, 4-3, in Fay-West play. Dave Hixson fanned 15 and allowed seven hits, including Jeff Downs’ homer. Bill Little and Mark Cooley (2B, 1B), Dave Conner (2B), and Hixson (2 hits) led Breakneck.
– Four players advanced to the semifinals of the Perryopolis Summer Recreation Program Summer Tennis Tournament. In straight sets, defending champion Bill Holet, d. Gary Glister, 6-4, 6-4; Bob Holet d. Joel Byers, 6-2, 6-3; Barry Lynch d. John Hisanic, 6-3, 6-3, and Greg Bubnash d. Juan Fernandez, 6-1, 6-2.
-Former Dunbar Twp. football coach Armand Niccolai is one of five retired coaches who will be honored by the Monessen Elks.
– Mill Run “came of age” with its 21st Fay-West win, 10-4, over Breakneck. Charley Orndorff, Glenn Shearer (W), and Jerry Meadows combined to pitch the win. Tom Holliday led the offense with two doubles and a single, Ross Orndorff doubled, and Jerry Meadows tripled. Bill Little, Mark Cooley, Ron Conner, and Dave Conner hit doubles
– Joe Beal went 5-for-5, in a 33-hit offense, including a homer, as Lemont Furnace routed St. Rita’s, 24-1, in the Coolspring Softball League.
– Fred Norton, Connellsville, playing outfield for the Chicago White Sox farm team at Appleton, Wisc., in the Midwest (A) league, has hit safely in the last 13 games, going 22-for-53, with 15 RBI and three homers (one slam), hiking his average to .415. For the season, he has hit 10 homers.
Jim Kriek is a correspondent for the Herald-Standard.