VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2014
• A local man is going to be inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Ron Necciai, who is from Gallatin and currently resides in Rostraver Township, will be inducted into the HOF at a banquet held at the Woodlands Hotel in Wilkes-Barre. Necciai wrote his name in the history books by striking out 27 batters in a nine-inning game in the Class D Appalachian League during a game May 13, 1952. The ball Necciai used during that legendary game is on permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. In his next game, he struck out 24 batters before being called up to the majors with the Pirates for the 1952 season.
• Monessen will hold an informative recruiting seminar for student athletes and their parents. The event will be hosted by former Pitt standout and professional football player Darnell Dinkins. The seminar is a proactive approach to informing students, parents and coaches how to handle the recruiting process in a way to ensure the venture’s success.
2004
• It was a practice born of necessity but now boxing coach Ryan Rimsek says it’s become Nick Blair’s, “secret weapon.” Blair, 13, hits too hard to let him spar with kids his own age, so he trains with 21-year-old Steve Paglarie. Blair has run up a 5-0 record this year and hopes that sparring with a larger, more experienced partner will give him an edge as he competes in the Junior Olympic regional championships in Bridgeville. Rimsek said he can’t have Blair spar with kids his age, “He fights at another level and he’d slaughter them.”
• Coaching women’s soccer at Cal U isn’t enough to satisfy Nikki Bartkus’ love of the game; she also loves to play “the beautiful game.” In addition to her coaching position, Bartkus, will be playing for the first-year Steel City Sparks. At 29, she will be the team’s “senior citizen” and will start as a center-midfielder. A rare four-year starter at Ringgold, Bartkus, who graduated in 1992, played on two teams that won section championships. She went on to play at Seton Hill and then two seasons with the Cleveland Eclipse in the United Soccer League.
1994
• Sunday – no paper
