Condolences to family of Dunmore legendary former Sunday Scrantonian Tribune sports editor Guy Valvano who passed away last month at 96…Valvano, noted sports historian, was author of 12 books on local sports scene…Legendary local hardwood standout Dave Popson inducted into Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Saturday, November 2, at Drexelbrook, Drexel Hill…Popson was first-team basketball All-American at Bishop O’Reilly and played with Michael Jordan at University of North Carolina…He was four-year starter in high school and was teammate of Dunmore’s Bob Bamford with NEPA Pace Setters…Drafted by Detroit Pistons, he played three years in NBA with Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks…

Baseball world mourning passing of Pete Rose, MLB all-time hits leader with 4,256…Banned from baseball and not eligible for National Baseball Hall of Fame due to gambling on the game, Rose, who was 83, died in Las Vegas one day after attending Nashville convention and reuniting with former Big Red Machine teammates Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, George Foster and Ken Griffey, Sr….Johnny Bench was at Nashville convention day before, but he and Rose did not connect…Rose, three-time world champion, played with Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies, accumulating 746 doubles (second all-time), 135 triples and 160 homers while driving in 1,314 runs and scoring 2,165 times (sixth all-time)…A three-time batting champion and former National League (NL) MVP, he led NL in doubles five times…Rose hit .321 with 30 runs, 13 doubles, two triples, five homers and 22 RBIs in 268 career post season at bats…Rose, career .303 hitter and 17-time all-star at five different positions, was most proud of his record playing in more winning games than any player in MLB history…

MLB also mourning passing of legendary Cuban pitcher Luis Tiant, polarizing opponent to Rose and Cincinnati Reds as member of Boston Red Sox in classic 1976 World Series…El Tiante, who was 83, also is not in National Baseball Hall of Fame despite 229 career wins, 187 complete games, 49 shutouts, four 20-win seasons, 3.30 career ERA, including two ERA titles at 1.60 with Cleveland Indians in 1968 and 1.91 in 1972 with Boston…It’s shame and injustice Hall of Fame voters and  Veterans Committee never recognized Tiant’s achievements which far shine above pitcher’s in today’s era…Its also shame Hall of Fame writers were never allowed to vote on Rose’s iconic achievements as a player since he was banned from baseball for betting as a manager after playing career ended…Tiant died last month one week after Rose passed away…Congratulations to Dunmore football coach Kevin McHale and his Dunmore Bucks who defeated Susquehanna, 47-34, in first round of District 2 playoffs…Dunmore’s Gabe Franek rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns and caught a pass for a touchdown…Dunmore’s Izaiah Parker rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns…The Bucks (5-6) will defend their title against top-seeded Riverside (10-1) Friday, November 8, at Riverside Veterans Memorial Stadium…

Congratulations to Dunmore long time  volleyball coach Susan Dempsey inducted into Northeastern Chapter of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame during 40th annual Induction Ceremony at Fiorelli’s, Peckville, last month…Dempsey started volleyball program at Dunmore in 2006 and guided Lady Bucks to 10 Lackawanna League titles, two District 2 Class 1A championships and seven District 2 Class 2A runner-up finishes…Other inductees included Jordan Hoyt Calvey, Joseph Dente, Matt McGloin, Elizabeth McGowan, Gina Chieffallo Moreno, Steven Pratico, James Tomcho, Rick Muntean for Service Award and Scranton Times-Tribune sports editor Chris Imperiale for Media Award…Bob Walsh, Dunmore, is Chapter president,…Mid Valley baseball product Jerry Valonis is vice president…Judy Igoe Carr is secretary…Former Dunmore standout basketball player and coach Tom “Doc” Dougherty is treasurer…

Condolences to family of former Scranton Central and Millersville University baseball standout Bob Rossi who died last month at 69…He and twin brother Phil played for Scranton Red Sox in ACBL under both Valonis and Gary Ruby at Dunmore’s Schautz Stadium in mid 1970’s…Both among ACBL’s leading hitters, Bob batted right and threw left as center fielder and Phil batted left and threw right as shortstop…Both rarely struck out…Both played for Millersville from 1974 through 1977, with Bob completing four-year collegiate career with .401 career batting average earning All-PSAC East First-Team recognition three times…He hit .435 as sophomore, school record at the time, and is one of only three Millersville players with career batting average of .400 or better…He was MLB scout for 26 years and once named Pittsburgh Pirates Scout of Year…He was selected to Northeast Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1999…Condolences to family of noted local musician Jack Skosko who died last month at 89…Skosko, accordion and keyboard player, performed with numerous bands and was original member of Fabulous Fortunes in 1950’s…Tony Nguyen netted eventual game-winner in 63rd minute to lead top-ranked Scranton Prep over No. 2 Dunmore, 2-1, to win District 2 Class 2A title Thursday, October 31…Johnley Jean scored Dunmore’s only goal in the loss…

Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Lenny “Nails”  Dykstra living in West Scranton while attempting to battle back from legal issues and personal demons…Do you remember former Scranton Prep standout wrestler and football lineman Dave Chroback?…Dylan Svetovich, Dunmore, and Robert Sarafinko, teammates in summer Tri-Valley Baseball League, attended Los Angeles Dodgers game five clinching World Series win over Yankees at Yankee Stadium and met Austin Capobianco, the fan ejected for attempting to pry foul ball off Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts in Game 4…Capobianco, 38, and his friend Jon Peter were banned for rest of game and Game 5 at Yankee Stadium, but was seen outside of stadium across street at Stan’s Sports Bar mingling with fans, taking pictures and signing autographs prior to Game Five…Austin Bicking of Holy Cross had couple of explosive kick returns for Crusaders in loss to Old Forge…

Dunmore senior quarterback Jack McNeff completed eight of 12 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns in Bucks win over West Scranton…Jamie Prislupski had two goals to lead Holy Cross to 2-1 Division III soccer win over Blue Ridge…North Pocono and Dunmore expanded wrestling agreement to varsity level…PIAA approved the agreement stretching from seventh to 12th grade…Alisha Davis scored two goals and Irelyn Gilhooley added another as Dunmore defeated Holy Cross, 3-0, in soccer…Dunmore standout soccer player Tommy Clark is senior class vice president…Valley View baseball product Max Kranick, member of New York Mets organization who previously pitched for Pittsburgh Pirates, marrying high school sweetheart Emma Hayley Henzes, granddaughter of late legendary Dunmore football coach Jack Henzes, Saturday, November 9…Congratulations to Dunmore senior Lucy Selbert elected as senior class recording secretary.,,She is also president of service club, Aevidium club ambassador, health careers club treasurer and member of yearbook staff…Grateful Dead fans mourning passing of founding member and influential bassist Phil Lesh who passed away last month at 84…Do you remember Scranton Knights back Mike LaTorre rushing for 171 yards and touchdown in team’s 21-0 win over West Scranton in Battle of Bell 10 years ago?…Do you remember Wade Ollendyke?…Whatever became of Jon Matlack?…