Sports Columns
June 12, 2024

VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY

2014

• The latest in a series of features about the 2014 inductees into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame described

Tony Segzda as having “baseball in his blood.” The 1947 California High School graduate played in the outfield and pitched for the Trojans. He went on to spend seven decades in baseball. After pitching a no-hitter for the Brownsville American Legion team, Segzda was offered a contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates and went on to play minor league ball in Uniontown for the Coal Barons and later for teams in York, Waco and New Orleans. Later in his career he served as a scout for the Baltimore Orioles.

• Four Mon Valley weightlifters brought home first-place titles from the Kumite Classic held at the Monroeville Convention Center. John Jackson of Monessen had the highest raw bench press at 452 pounds. Along with Jackson, three other weightlifters from the Thunderbird Powerlifting Gym took firsts in their weight classes: Gino Frezzell, Uriah Jones and David Lhota.

2004

• Sunday – no paper

1994

• Dunlevy stayed on the winning track in the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League with a 5-2 win over Monongahela. Luke Paglia scored two goals early in the second half to take the Redbirds to a 3-0 lead. Dunlevy’s Alex Amezquita tallied the game’s lone goal in the first half with Ron Lupori and Vince Russell scoring the Redbird’s other goals. Russell, Amezquita, Jeff McJunkin, Darren Lupori and

Jason Miller all had assists for Dunlevy.

Mike Milandra and Mike Ryan scored for winless Monongahela with Bob Byers and Dann Appolonia getting assists. Goalie Gene Robbins, sweeper John Stivoric, midfielder Mike Ruddy and defender Brian Lusk stood out for the Redbirds.

• Cal U graduate Ryan Erdely of Charleroi had to settle for third place in the Mon River 3-Miler at California after leading for all but the last 400 yards. Uniontown’s Mike Tanner outkicked Cal’s Peter Leo to win with a new course record of 15:58. Leo finished with 16:01.3 with Erdely being clocked at 16:07. The top three women finishers were Erin Frye of Ohio (19:45), Janet Gates of Smithfield (20:00.3) and Linda Hartman of Carnegie (21:14).

Soups on!
Latest News, Main
January 22, 2026
Chef Larry Beck stirs a pot of soup in the kitchen at the Long Branch Community Grange during its weekly “Souper Tuesdays” fundraiser on Wednesday afternoon. Located at 210 Chestnut St. in Coal Center...
Firefighters battle blaze at house in Monessen
Latest News, Main
January 22, 2026
By the MVI Monessen firefighters battled a house fire on Pacific Boulevard just before 1 a.m. today. Westmoreland County 911 dispatchers were receiving multiple calls reporting the house fire and poss...
Valley towns face delays in road salt orders
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 22, 2026
Supervisors at road departments around the Mon Valley said it’s a waiting game right now for new salt delivery orders. As Mon Valley communities face frigid temperatures and a possible major snowstorm...
Elizabeth Forward hires new solicitor
Latest News, Main
By SARAH PELLIS spellis@yourmvi.com 
January 22, 2026
The school board also heard from high school band students who are unhappy with the support they receive from the district. A new solicitor will be joining the Elizabeth Forward School Board meetings ...
Cook farm recognized with bicentennial farm designation
Latest News, Main
By LADIMIR GARCIA lgarcia@yourmvi.com 
January 22, 2026
The Washington Township farm was one of four in the state designated a Bicentennial Farm during the Pennsylvania Farm Show. As America prepares to mark its grand bicentennial, a local farm with its ow...
Charleroi holds public hearing on abandoning portion of 9th St.
Around The Valley, Latest News, Main
By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter 
January 22, 2026
The hearing focused on Ninth Street between McKean Avenue and Railroad Way. Charleroi Borough Council held a public hearing Wednesday to consider the possible abandonment of a portion of Ninth Street....