VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2014
• California Area’s baseball season came to an end because of the solid pitching performance of Cranberry’s Dylan Cyphert, who had committed to Penn State. The Trojans lost the PIAA Class AA first-round playoff game 2-1 to Cranberry, knocking them out of contention for the championship. Cyphert, a left-hander with a breaking fastball, struck out 10 batters and allowed only three hits over seven innings in handing the Trojans their first loss of the season. Cyphert threw 111 pitches, 76 of them strikes. Trojans coach Nick Damico said, “What could we do? He shut us down.”
• The Fayette County Sandlot League hasn’t been known for low-scoring pitchers’ duels. Normally the league has produced a lot of hits with impressive score totals. This was not the case at Veterans Field where Mitch’s Bail Bonds eked out a 1-0 win over Jake’s Pizza on an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mitch’s manager Ryan Encapera said, “You don’t see many of these games, but you don’t see too many pitchers like those who threw tonight.” Winning pitcher Aaron McGee went the distance giving up four hits with 15 strikeouts and one walk. Losing pitcher Sam Bashloum also went the distance, scattering five hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
2004
• Make room in the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for two of Donora’s finest athletes. The late Arnold Galiffa and Ken Griffey Sr. will be inducted into the hall of fame at a Nov. 6 banquet. Galiffa, a 1948 Donora High School graduate, went on to star in football, baseball and basketball at Army, where he earned 11 letters. The only Mid Mon Valley athlete to make the cover of Life Magazine, he died of cancer in 1978. Ken Griffey Sr., a 1969 DHS graduate, played Major League Baseball for 19 season with the Reds, Yankees, Braves and Mariners.
What a difference a full roster can make for a coach’s morale. Last year, coach Mark Hollowood could barely attract enough players to the California American Legion squad to field a team. Imagine his surprise when all 18 players showed up for the first two games this season. Hollowood said, “Our game is on Memorial Day and we have our full roster show up. After scratching last year when just 10 or 11 guys showed up, I don’t know what to do with them all. You could say I have a plethora of players.” Hollowood is particularly pleased to have three good pitchers in his dugout, Beth Center ace Matt Stay and lefties Chris Cox and Zach Jeney.
1994
• Charleroi Ponderosa was heading in the wrong direction in the Fayette County League. After winning its first six games, Charleroi has tallied two losses in a row with a 7-5 setback Thursday to visiting Leckrone.
Frank Francia hit a two run homer in the first inning to give Charleroi a 2-0 lead before Leckrone went ahead to stay with four runs in the third inning highlighted by Jim Burns’ two-run homer. Vince Zapalosky closed the scoring for the winners with a homer in the seventh inning. Mike Conte supplied Charleroi’s other three runs with two doubles.
