By Steve Svetovich
Congratulations to Mike Nycz on 50 years of dedicated service to his Alma Mater, Scranton Central and now Scranton High School, as scorekeeper, coach, manager and statistician for various male and female sports…Congratulations to Dunmore attorney Melanie Naro honored last month as UNICAN of the Year at annual UNICO Charity Ball…Numerous local New York Mets fans not happy XFinity does not carry SNY in its programming even though it is partially owned by Comcast…Mets fans mourning passing of former player, coach and manager Bud Harrelson at 79 following lengthy bout with Alzheimer’s…Harrelson was only Met in uniform for both their World Series titles as starting shortstop for 1969 Miracle Mets and third base coach for 1986 championship team…Congratulations to Dunmore’s Vic Fangio who left Miami Dolphins to become Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator…Dunmore’s Luke Healey, who attends Holy Cross and swims with Bucks as part of co-sponsorship, defended his swimming title in 100 breaststroke and won event for third straight season…New York Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones, 22, in spring training camp, but will be treat for Scranton Wilkes-Barre fans when he plays outfield for RailRiders this season…Soohia Talutto scored 21 points and Jaclyn Brown added 10 in Dunmore Lady Bucks 47-19 win over Riverside to clinch tie for Division III title last month…Congratulations to Dunmore guard Sophia Talutto for athlete of week honors for final week of January…Rumors abound that Scranton Times-Tribune may be ceasing printed edition in coming months if not sooner…Cecelia Amico and Reagan Kearney each won two individual events to lead Dunmore to 111-24 win over Scranton in Lackawanna League girls swim meet…Congratulations to Scranton senior Finley Bittenbender who eclipsed school record of Lamar Johnson for career 3-pointers…Condolences to family of Dunmore’s Catherine Scarantino who died last month at 83…Her brother Sam Zaffino, formerly of Dunmore and now of Moscow, is known local musician…Congratulations to Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for second NFL MVP award…Michael Hughes scored 20 points and Mario Matrone added 10, including pair of 3-pointers in first quarter, to lead Holy Cross to 63-45 win over Dunmore, clinching Lackawanna League Division III boys basketball title…Brayden Canavan led Dunmore with 16 points and Cullen Smith added 11…Philadelphia Phillies fans thrilled with free agent signing of versatile Witt Merrifield, who led AL in stolen bases three times and hits twice…Congratulations to University of Scranton sophomore and former Holy Cross basketball standout Kaci Kranson chosen Landmark Conference women’s basketball Athlete of Week for period February 12-18…It marked second time this year and fourth in career she received this honor…Bob Walsh, president of Northeastern Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame, announced annual induction ceremony will be Sunday, October 6, at Fiorelli’s, Peckville…Jerry Valonis is Chapter vice president…How about Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt signing 11-year extension…Cincinnati Reds fans mourning passing of Don Gullett who had 109-50 career record and 3.11 ERA before double rotator cuff tear ended career at 27 while member of NY Yankees…Gullett and Jsck Billingham were the two ace pitchers of Big Red Machine in 1970’s…Gullett, who died at 73, pitched in 20 post season games and five different World Series, earning three rings with Reds and Yankees…Congratulations to coach Barry Fitzgerald and Holy Cross Lady Crusaders who best Montrose, 22-20, Sunday, February 25, to win Class 2A girls championship at Mohegan Sun Arena…Peyton Graboske led Holy Cross with nine points, all on 3-pointers…Fitzgerald, in his final season as coach, now leads Holy Cross as top District 2 seed into state playoffs…Congratulations to Dunmore Bucks senior lineman Nathan Reuther who committed to East Stroudsburg University for next season…Holy Cross junior softball star Mia Galella landed Name Image and Likeness agreement with Athletic Republic, a national training franchise located in Moosic, as brand ambassador…Former Dunmore Councilman Paul Nardozzi once met and played one-on-one basketball game against legendary country singer Toby Keith who died last month at 62 due to stomach cancer…Dunmore community mourning passing of Sonny Crotti, beloved quarterback and member of Bucks football team…Dunmore standout basketball forward Tristan Canavan is also key member of volleyball and softball teams…Condolences to family of Dunmore’s beloved Santa Burne who died last month at 73…Do you remember Pat Salvage?…Whatever became of Tom Hume?…