Out of The Past
1950: South Union, Perry are kings of the diamonds Never mind your close races in the National or American Leagues, there were more important games to think about back then.
On the local scene, the Pirates and all the others took a back seat for a few days, while attention turned to what South Union and Perry were doing in their respective scholastic section races.
Go back to this week, awayyyyy back there in 1950, and you will see that there was a real battle going on right here in Fayette County for baseball honors.
South Union was scrambling for honors in Section 20. There were a couple big factors then that livened up the races even more, in that the sections were made up of teams within a short distance of each other, making for great rivalries, and only the first place team advanced to the WPIAL playoffs.
But the other races took a backseat for one day to Bill Thomas, who threw a no-hitter as Perryopolis collared East Bethlehem, 16-0, and moved within one-half game of first place Marion, also the defending Section 22 champion. Thomas struck out 10, walked, two, and helped his win along with three hits. John Raley also had three.
In Section 20, South Union closed in on the title with a 3-2 win over North Union, getting all three runs in the seventh to end a masterful pitching duel between Bill Brown and Lee Baro. Both had nine strikeouts.
German nipped Uniontown, 3-2, clinching in the seventh when Spinek singled, stole second, and moved around on an out, and Manchas’ fly ball.
Two days later, South Union was idled by wet grounds, but clinched the pennant when North Union tripped German, 5-3, on a 7-hitter by Smokey Joe Shander, two by Galick. Panko, Pillar (HR), and Camas had two NU hits.
The following day, South Union made it official by edging Uniontown, 3-1. They were tied 1-1 into the eighth, then Buck Campbell hit a 2-run homer for SU to win. Campbell also doubled, singled, and drove in the other run.
In Section 21, Jim Moore pitched a 4-hitter for his fourth win as Carmichaels stopped Mapletown, 12-3. J. Kendrala doubled for MHS. Novak, Korcheck, Mansell, and Krutko had two Mike hits.
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Moving over to the county scene, in the Valley Section, Paulcheck got its fifth win in a row, 11-4 over Monarch, led by Stefancin with a triple, double, and single, and Boniar a 2-run triple. Halasz had three Monarch hits.
In the Big 10 South, Andy Gresh pitched a 4-hitter and fanned seven as Pals Club blanked Point Marion, 3-0. George Yasenosky doubled, Tom Hlebinsky tripled, and John Lozar singled twice for Pals, while Gapin (PM) tripled.
Isabella had seven extra-base hits to spark an 8-3 Big 10 North win over Keister, while Colonial stopped Republic, 10-3.
John Garcher had two homers, Stan Machinsky (1 on), Kopacko 3B. and Cvengros, Coletti and Gates hit Isabella doubles.
Andy Locke homered and Charley Locke doubled for Colonial.
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Snipe Hartz threw his second 1-hitter and fanned 12 as Levin’s walloped Bute, 14-2, in County League play. McKnight singled in the third when Bute got both runs. Bill Kurtz led Levin’s with 5-for-5, including two homers and a double, and Frank Wolfe had two doubles.
In the Valley Division, Collier won its fifth in a row, 12-0 over Oliphant as Harry McCormick ceded 5-hits, fanned nine, and walked zero. The winners’ 15 hits included George Hovanec two doubles, Joe Kokish triple and two singles, and Ed Minarcheck three singles.
Paulcheck’s won their sixth straight, 5-2 over Dunbar. Jim Stefancin opened the scoring with a 2-run homer in the first. Weimer homered for Dunbar.
St. Cecilia of Lemont downed Continental 2, 7-4, led by Carmen Galderisi with a triple and double.
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Robena got its first Big 10 South win, 5-3 over Bobtown. Joe Krofcheck had a shutout into the ninth. Joe Crackovich tripled and Zeke Pascia doubled for Robena.
Then defending champion Nemacolin blanked Robena, 4-0, on Frank Novasky’s 4-hitter, two by Mehalik. Taffoni homered, Vincinelly, Bruce, and Norris had two Nemacolin hits.
Oaks walloped Crucible, 12-2, on Sam Fields’ 6-hitter. Bob Malosky and Carmen Panko had three hits.
In the North, Vestaburg edged Smock, 2-1, clinching in the sixth when Jim Arone singled, stole second, and scored on Elmer Mayale’s single.
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In other action:
-Host Connellsville won the County Track Meet with 107 points to 63 for Uniontown, German 26, Brownsville 24, and South Union 5. Don Delligatti (C) earned Most Valuable honors with 11 points, including a double in the 880 and mile. Other winners were Kalfut (G, 100, 220), Lewis (C, HH), 880-Relay (C, Hayes, Goddard, Wolfe, Franks); Rockwell (U, 440), Haynes (G, LH), mile relay (U, Henderson, Conn, Rockwell); Kosisko (C, PV, Discus); Landenfield (C, shot); Manning (U, HJ), Jackson (U, Javelin), and Curry (U, LJ).
-And, believe it or not – the Pirates moved above .500 (10-9), downing Brooklyn 10-5, as Ralph Kiner hit two homers.
(To Be Continued).
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent.