By Steve Svetovich
Congratulations to Dunmore Lady Bucks sophomore stalwart softball pitcher Rachel Walsh for 300th career strikeout…She now has 313 career strikeouts in two seasons…And best of luck to Rachel as she begins recovery from left knee medial meniscus tear and partial left ACL suffered in team’s loss to Holy Cross in district semifinal…Rachel won 12 games with 2.46 ERA and 169 strikeouts for Lady Bucks this year…She batted .448 with a .614 on base percentage, three homers, 22 runs, 26 hits, 31 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple and .758 slugging percentage…Dunmore senior softball catcher Tristan Canavan led team with .452 batting average, 28 hits and five, 31 runs, 25 stolen bases and .806 slugging percentage…She also hit seven doubles, drove in 18 runs and had .534 on base percentage…Dunmore freshman Emily McGowan led team with eight doubles, batted .353, had .413 on base percentage, eight stolen bases, 17 runs, 24 hits and .470 slugging percentage…Congratulations to Dunmore senior track and field standout Maura Michalczyk selected Scholastic Super Star by Scranton Times-Tribune…Maura received Gold Medal in pole vault at Districts and medal in pole vault in state competition…She also received numerous awards and scholarships at Dunmore’s Senior Night…Dunmore football coach Kevin McHale and his staff will lead City team in 90th Scranton Lions Dream Game Wednesday, July 17, at Valley View Stadium…Representing Dunmore are Thomas Bowen, Chris Conte, Domenic DeSando, Nick Donvito, Rogan Dougherty, Jake Hickey, Danny Pigga, Nathan Reuther and Nick Tullio…Chris Petrucci from Holy Cross also selected…Congratulations to Dunmore’s Johnnie Occhipinti selected Student-Athlete of Year by Luzerne County Community College…Former Scranton Prep swimming standout Morna Murray present at her school’s reunion recently…Former Scranton Prep swimmer Ty O’Malley and wife Susie Ratchford O’Malley also present at Prep class reunion held at the school…Local judge Atty. Joseph Saporito, Jr., Pittston, present at reunion…Former Scranton Prep football player Sean Coyle also present…Rolling Stones legendary frontman Mick Jagger, 80, put on quite a show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last month…Jagger making 80 the new 40 by strutting, singing, spinning and sprinting non stop throughout over two-hour concert leaving fans truly amazed…And Rolling Stones legends Keith Richards, 80, and Ronnie Wood, 77, did not disappoint…Dunmore’s Dylan Svetovich, a Marywood University baseball product, picked up win with three scoreless innings of relief pitching for Lavelle Insurance in Tri-Valley League baseball contest and next game made diving catch and over the head running grab tumbling over the fence while playing centerfield…Congratulations to veteran softball coach Joe Ross and his Lady Crusaders who advanced to district title game before losing to Elk Lake, 4-3…Congratulations to Mid Valley Spartanettes for beating Holy Redeemer, 4-3, to capture District 2 Class 3A softball championship…Congrarulations to Valley View who repeated as District 2 Class 4A softball champions with 4-2 win over Tunkhannock…Congratulations to Scranton Prep for winning first District 2 Class 2A lacrosse championship over Crestwood…Local sports fans disappointed Scranton Times-Tribune not publishing most MLB box scores and usually two days late on local sports scene…Condolences to family of Green Ridge’s Frank Cimino, retired employee of Lackawanna County Tax Claim Bureau and huge New York Yankees fan, who died last month at 99…Holy Cross sophomore Ava Schmidt pitched five inning no-hitter with six strikeouts and homered in Lady Crusaders 11-0 win over Dunmore in district semifinal…Peyton Graboske, Mia Scalese and Alison Ross all hit doubles for Holy Cross…Scranton Prep senior Zander Condeelis will play baseball next year at Division I Canisius University…Congratulations to Dunmore’s Nathan Reuther and Chris Conte honored as Hookey Reap Award winners as top linemen in Lackawanna County…A dozen candidates are on ballot for election into Northeastern Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame…Eight will be elected as Class of 2024 during ceremony Sunday, October 6, at Fiorelli’s, Peckville…Candidates include former Dunmore volleyball player Susan Dempsey and former Holy Cross track and field and cross country coach Charlie Orlando…Other candidates are Sandy Zanghi, Jordan Hoyt Calvey, Gary Grudzinski, Steven Pratico, Joe Dente, Matt McGloin, Beth McGowan, Gina Chieffallo Moreno, Jim Tomcho and Tony Blaisure…Former Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons general manager Rick Muntean will be honored with chapter’s service award…Times-Tribune sports editor Chris Imperiale will receive media award…Voting will be held June 24 through July 3…Only Hall members can vote…To request an application for membership, contact Bob Walsh at 570-346-2228 or Jerry Valonis at 570-498-9461…Dunmore’s Vic Fangio, 66, spoke at press conference last month introducing him as new defensive coordinator for Philadelphia Eagles…Holy Cross freshman Jules Galella had three hits and four RBIs as sophomore Ava Schmidt pitched five inning one-hitter in Lady Crusaders 13-2 win over Lakeland in district quarterfinal softball game…How about the tear New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is on with 21 homers, including 14 in May, at press time…Condolences to family of Green Ridge’s Mike Osborne, former Scranton Tavern League softball player and Notre Dame football fan, who died last month at 55…Former New York Giants Super Bowl champion and standout lineman Chris Snee, four-time Pro Bowl pick and Montrose football product, named senior scout for his former team…Do you remember Green Ridge’s Rick Taylor?…Whatever became of Willie Wilson?…