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Dishin’ the Dirt: February 2025

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By Steve Svetovich

Congratulations to Dunmore’s Vic Fangio who is going to Super Bowl as defensive coordinator for Philadelphia Eagles who are league’s number one defense…Fangio’s defensive schemes will try to prevent quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs from third consecutive Super Bowl win…Chiefs football coach Andy Reid will face his former team who he coached for 14 years, including one Super Bowl appearance…Now in his 12th year as Kansas City coach, this marks Reid’s fifth Super Bowl appearance with Chiefs…He and Mahomes seek their fourth Super Bowl win with Chiefs…Eagles back Saquon Barkley, Penn State graduate and league’s leading rusher with over 2,000 yards, will be man Chiefs defense keys on…Eyes will be on Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce on field and girlfriend Taylor Swift in private suite in stands…Prediction: Chiefs 35 Eagles 31..

Congratulations to former Holy Cross Lady Crusaders  basketball standout Kaci Kranson named for second time Landmark Conference Athlete of the Week last month as member of University of Scranton Lady Royals…She has earned this award six times in career and is third in conference in scoring at 17.7 points per game and fourth in field goal percentage at .462…She also last month was named USBWA National Player of Week…She averaged 27.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and shot 53.3 percent from field week she was honored…She scored game-high 26 points and added five steals leading Lady Royals to 85-58 win over Juniata as her No. 3-ranked team maintained its undefeated record at 17-0, including 10-0 in the conference…

Congratulations to Ichiro, Bill Wagner and former NY Yankees southpaw C.C. Sabathia elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame, but what about former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins?…Ichiro hit .311 for career with 3,089 hits, 1,420 runs and 509 stolen bases…He totaled over 200 hits in each of his first 10 seasons, including single season record 262 in 2004…C.C. Is one of three left-handed pitchers in MLB history to record at least 250 wins and at least 3,000 strikeouts…Wagner is second among southpaw relievers with 422 saves and struck out 1,196 batters in 903 innings while finishing career with 2.31 ERA…He allowed lowest batting average to hitters of any pitcher in history with at least 900 innings…Congratulations to Dunmore Little League graduate Jack Davis selected as District’s Freach-Keen Memorial Award recipient…Former Holy Cross basketball standout Abbey Lentowski, who scored 1,075 career points for Lady Crusaders, also is member of 1,000-point club at Immaculata University and plans on attending law school next year at Widener University Delaware Law School…Holy Cross senior forward Matt Lyons averaging 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season…

Congratulations to Holy Cross center Adam Badyrka named MVP as coach Al Callejas, Jr. led Holy Cross Crusaders to Lynett Tournament championship…Do you remember West Scranton beating beating Western Wayne, 59-38, to give coach Jack Lyons his 400th career win 20 years ago?…Shelley Duncan returning for third season as manager of Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders…How about veteran Pete Carroll at 73  named head coach of Las Vegas Raiders…Do you remember Dunmore’s Kayleigh Semion scoring 17 points, including 1,000th of career in Lady Bucks 63-25 win over Mid Valley 10 years ago?…Do you remember former Holy Cross standout Gabby Giordano scoring 16 points, including 1,000th of career, in Lady Crudaders 62-17 win over Elk Lake 10 years ago?…Two-time New York Giants Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning, kicking great Adam Vinatieri, prolific receivers Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt and Antonio Gates, running back Fred Taylor and defensive backs Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison and Eric Allen among finalists for election to Pro Football Hall of Fame to be announced Super Bowl week…Mike Holmgren is in coaching category and expected to be elected…New York Mets making big mistake not rushing to sign first base slugger Pete Alonso who has 226 homers, including 53 in rookie season, and 586 RBIs in six years with team and would be perfect adding protection hitting behind Juan Soto in lineup…Congratulations to Scranton Prep trio of quarterback Louis Paris, Times-Tribune Player of Year, linebacker Reese Tanner and defensive back Will McPartland all named All-State for football…

Congratulations to Scranton Prep senior quarterback Louis Paris who earned the 33rd Fiore Cesare Award…He completed 84 of 132 passes for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran 138 times for 1,182 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns for Prep who won Lackawanna Football Conference Division I championship with 12-2 season…Ava Kochmer and Gemma Bistran each won pair of individual events to less Holy Cross past West Scranton in Lackawanna League swim meet…Condolences to family of former Scranton Miners EBA great Tom Hemans who died last month…Holy Cross coaching legend Al Callejas earned 400th coaching win 10 years ago when Crussders beat Mid Valley, 52-48, in overtime…Sophia Talutto scored 21 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Dunmore to 59-48 win over Honesdale…Amanda Dempsey and Jackie Brown scored 11 points each for Lady Bucks…Leena Conte added nine points for Dunmore…Mollie Urban and Ava Schmidt scored 11 points each to lead Holy Cross Lady Crusaders to 36-35 win over Western Wayne..,

Congratulations to Scranton Prep senior offensive tackle Ambrose Rossi and Riverside junior defensive tackle Tavian Branch named recipients of annual James “Hookey” Reap Awards…Olivia Kosin of Holy Cross scored 18 points, including 1,000th of career, 10 years ago in team’s 56-39 win over Carbondale Area…Sophia Talutto and Amanda Dempsey scored 17 points each to lead Dunmore to 67-30 win over Mid Valley…Jackie Brown added 10 points for Lady Bucks…Lila Kolcharno scored all of her 17 points in second half to lead Holy Cross Lady Crusaders to 41-37 win over Lakeland…Ava Schmidt added 14 points for Holy Cross…Adam Badyrka scored 17 points and C.J. Thompson added 13 as Holy Cross beat Lakeland, 65-50…Mike Hughes and Mario Matrone added 10 each for Crusaders…Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’ Marr Chase and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson were unanimous choices for Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro Team…Do you remember Dunmore’s late Owen “Onions” Dougherty?…Whatever became of Hubie “Babbling” Brooks?…

Dishin’ the Dirt: May 2024

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By Steve Svetovich

Alex Harrison, Ray Zhang and David Huester were all winners in Holy Cross 3-2 tennis win over Delaware Valley…Do you remember Tony Donato catching touchdown passes of 66 and 82 yards from Joe Marciano in Dunmore’s 19-7 win over Tunkhannock in Jack Henzes’ debut as Dunmore coach in 1971?…Condolences to family of Atty. Jim Gregorowicz, Scranton Prep and University of Scranton graduate, huge Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, 76ers fan and noted sports enthusiast, who died last month at 62…Beloved by family and friends, he organized and ran local softball teams in younger years and was star shortstop under his late dad Ed Gregorowicz in his Little League years in Dickson City…Do you remember Erika Mackie of Holy Cross throwing fourth straight one-hitter as Lady Crusaders defeated Dunmore, 2-0, 10 years ago?…JZ Tours running Frank and Dean Tribute Dinner Show Saturday, May 18, at Hilton Scranton and Conference Center in Main Ballroom…Doors open at 5 p.m. with cocktail hour followed by dinner at 6 p.m, and show at 7:45 p.m….Frankie Gervasi is opening act at 6 p.m….VIP tickets include Meet and Greet and three plated options include chicken picatta, basa fish, or hickory smoked prime rib of beef…Joe Scalissi and Brian Duprey will perform music of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra…Tickets can be ordered on line at greattrips@jztours.com…Congratulations to,Wilkes College graduate Bo Ryan selected as Class of 2024 for enshrinement into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame…The class includes Vince Carter, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Dick Barnett, Chauncey Billups, Seimone Augustus, Michele Timms, Jerry West for front office work, Doug Collins, Harley Redin, Herb Simon and Charles Smith…Do you remember Dunmore American Legion baseball players Danny Carter, Bob Stine and Paul,Sheehan?…Dunmore Atty. Terry “Weezer” Dempsey, former baseball player, among those present at Scranton Prep High School 45th Reunion at the school last month…Former Scranton Prep and Quinnipiac University basketball standout point guard Pat Comerford in from California for reunion…Senator Bob Casey, former Scranton Prep basketball standout, also present…Former Scranton Prep basketball standout center Dr. Ward Fitzpatrick, now retired dentist, present…Green Ridge  native Fred Nuttall, former Scranton Prep football standout, present at reunion…Other notables present included Atty. Steve Besack, retired PA state trooper Bob Scott, Jimmy Calvey, Lisa Rodrigues Calvey, Jean Marie McGlynn, Tammy Kranick Morano, Gina Frattali Sherman, Tom Noto, Atty. Mike Cosgrove, Mary Joyce McCarthy, Chris Roe, Dunmore native Joanie Gardier Roe, Andy and Kim Gregorowicz, Joe Lushinski, Anne Dunstone, Tom Lavelle, Anne Holmes Brier, Bobby Brier, Bob Ryder, Brian Swift, Erin Browning, Albie Clark, Charlie “Chas” Minella,  Joanne Moran Lewis, Allan Cheskiewicz, Kathy Bisignani and retired Scranton Prep history teacher Bob Bergman…Maura Michalczyk won four individual events to lead Dunmore to 74-67 win over Mountain View in Lackawanna Track Conference Division III-IV girls track and field meet…Congratulations to Scranton Prep’s Tessa Mangan, Rebecca Oakes, Eva Kaszuba, Sophia Galko and Ella Schofield selected to All-Region Swimming and Diving team…Congratulations to Scranton Prep two-time All-Region lacrosse performer Jayne McIntyre on her acceptance into United States Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Port, New York…Dunmore’s Matt Iezzi homered and drove in five runs in Dunmore’s 10-6 win over Holy Cross…Congratulations to Michael Hughes of Holy Cross, who averaged 17.9 points per game, named to Boys Basketball All-Region Team…He was also named Lackawanna League Division III Coaches Player of Year…Congratulations to Dunmore guard Sophia Talutto, who averaged 18.1 points per game, selected to Girls Basketball All-Region Team…She was also named Lackawanna League Division III Coaches Player of Year…Congratulations to Scranton Prep’s Jenna Hillebrand named to Girls Basketball All-Region Team…Freshman Zya Small of Scranton named Player of Year…Bronny James, son of NBA’s all-time leading scorer Lebron James, will enter NBA draft at 19…Happy retirement to New York Yankees legendary broadcaster John Sterling, 85, who called it a career last month after 36 years and 5,631 games…Yankees honored him within week after his retirement…West Scranton Teener League baseball standout Brennan Snyder, 14, grandson of retired Scranton School District Paraeducator Judy Lowry Vitris, named captain of his Delaware Valley Middle School baseball team…He has 4.01 academic average in gifted program and volunteers for various charities and fundraisers…Congratulations to Dunmore sophomore softball pitcher Rachel Walsh for 200th career strikeout against Riverside…Congratulations to Holy Cross senior Alison Ross for receiving William J. Gerrity sportsmanship award…Passing of O.J. Simpson does not deserve much publicity other than to remember Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman who were brutally murdered 30 years ago…And most believe Simpson committed the double murder…Nominations still being received for candidates into Northeastern Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame…Contact Dunmore’s Bob Walsh (570-346-2228), Northeastern Chapter president, with nominations…Do you remember Jonathon Searfoss?…Whatever became of Scott Hatteberg?…

Dishin’ the Dirt: February 2024

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By Steve Svetovich

Dunmorean sports editor and reporter Steve Svetovich recently ran into Dunmore legend Brian McGurl who was playing with his group QBall at Draft’s in Lake Ariel. 

Holy Cross junior point guard Michael Hughes leads Lackawanna League Division III boys’ in scoring average…Dunmore junior point guard Sophia Talutto leads Lackawanna League Division III girls’ in scoring average…Dunmore graduate Johnnie Occhipinti, who made cover of Amazon Prime Rugby movie, “The Nomads,” that won audience choice award at Napa Valley Film Festival and Philadelphia Film Festival, also plays baseball and basketball for Luzerne Community College and baseball in Tri-Valley Baseball League…Condolences to family of Dunmore’s beloved Ann Brunetti, former owner of long time Green Ridge establishment, Brunetti’s Pizza, who died last month at 91…Condolences to family of former Scranton Tribune sports editor Jack Seitzinger, Green Ridge, who died last month at 82…The local sports icon played semi pro football and basketball and minor league baseball in Detroit Tigers organization…Condolences to family of The Honorable Thomas J. Golden, former Dunmore Councilman, who died last month at 72…He served as magisterial district justice for the Dunmore borough and Lsckawanna County for 19 years, was sole proprieter of Thomas J. Golden Funeral Home, Dunmore, for 37 years and co-owner of Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home since 1995… Congratulations to Dunmore Bucks linemen Nathan Reuther and Chris Conte who earned prestigious annual Hookey Reap Awards for offense and defense, respectively…The linemen are the 18th and 19th recipients of the award recognizing the best linemen in Lackawanna County…Tim Ruddy and Mike Boland won multiple times..,Reuther was dominant blocker for Dunmore team that ran for 3,842 yards and averaged 330.7 total yards per game…Conte totaled 79 tackles, including 22 for losses, 17 sacks, three forced fumbles and one blocked punt…Any logical coach would go for a sure-fire field goal to,put your team up by three scores in a playoff game in the second half, but Detroit Lions football coach Dan Campbell had different ideas going for a first down instead and failing on fourth-and-two…Campbell’s poor decision changed momentum of game in San Francisco 49ers favor…And when Campbell had chance to tie score late in game with a field goal, he decided to go for it again on fourth down and failed…And running the ball on second and goal late in the game when they needed their three time outs to have any chance to get the ball back with a minute left conceded the game to 49ers…Isn’t the idea to win the game?,,,Campbell had several opportunities to and failed by blatant poor coaching decisions…Then he tells his team after the loss that this might have been their only shot to get to a Super Bowl…Poor Detroit fans…The Detroit Lions still have never been to a Super Bowl, but Taylor Swift will be there…Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets another chance to build on his legacy in upcoming Super Bowl match against 49ers…Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, well publicized beau of Taylor Swift, caught 11 passes for 116 yards and touchdown in Chiefs win over Baltimore to send Kansas City to another Super Bowl…Kelce broke 49ers legend Jerry Rice’s career post season record of 154 catches…Kelce has 156 going into Super Bowl…Condolences to family of local businessman Sammy Bernardini, whose family owned Imperial,Bakery, who died this past December…Reagan Kearney and Catherine Gilhooley each won pair of individual events and were part of two winning relay teams to lead Dunmore to first win of season, 94-22, over West Scranton in Lackawanna League girls swim meet at Greater Scranton YMCA…LA Lakers star Lebron James, 39, on verge of becoming first NBA player with 40,000 career points…Congratulations to Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton and Joe Mauer elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame…The trio will be enshrined in Cooperstown, NY, with former MLB manager Jim Leyland selected by Veteran’s Committee…But what about Gary Sheffield, Billy Wagner and Jimmy “J Roll” Rollins?…This marks Sheffield’s final time on writer’s ballot…With 509 career homers and 1,676 RBIs, Sheffield was one of baseball’s fiercest hitters…Did his short-lived ties working out with Barry Bonds hurt his chances?…Sheffield, a .292 career hitter and proud competititor, insists he was clean and always played the right way…Tristan Canavan scored 18 points and Sophia Talutto added 15 in Dunmore Lady Bucks 72-24 win over Susquehanna…Ryan Runco, who runs Runco Elite Quarterback Academy in Jessup, held youth football camp fundraiser to raise funds for Dunmore sophomore quarterback Sonny Crotti for the teenager who was stricken ill recently…Camp for a Cause was held this past January 27 at Riverfront Sports Complex, Scranton…Congratulations to Times-Tribune sports staffer Scott Walsh who earned three awards in Eastern Motorsports Press Association writer’s contest…Dunmore’s Vic Fangio parted ways with Miami Dolphins to become defensive coordinator with Philadelphia Eagles…Do you remember Tara Macciocco scoring career-high 40 points in Dunmore’s 73-21 win over Scranton 30 years ago to become school’s all-time leading scorer surpassing Tom Marchese’s mark of 1,933 points?…Sophia Talutto scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, and Tristan Canavan added 15 in Dunmore’s 63-54 win over Lake Lehman…Matt Lyons scored 18 points and Adam Badyrka added 13 in Holy Cross Crusaders double overtime win over Old Forge, 66-63…Mario Matrone of Holy Cross, who scored eight points, hit 3-pointer from top of key with three seconds left in regulation to send game into overtime…Do you remember Kayleigh Semion scoring 18 points and Maddie Martin adding 17 in Dunmore’s 54-51 win over Old Forge, ending Lady Devils’ 33-game regular season winning streak 10 years ago?…Do you remember Pat Burke scoring 17 points and Al Callejas adding 16, including 13 in fourth quarter, as Bishop O’Hara rallied from 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Scranton Prep, 67-65, three decades ago?…Abby Thompson putting together nice season for Holy Cross Lady Crusaders basketball team and is one of Lackawanna League Division III leading scorers…Congratulations to former Holy Cross basketball standout Abbey Lentowski, now junior with Immaculata University, named Offensive Player of Week in Atlantic East Conference…Cullen Smith scored 15 points for Dunmore in team’s 53-40 loss to Old Forge…Adam Badyrka led Holy Cross with 13 points in Crusaders 57-42 win over Carbondale Area…Matt Lyons added 12 and Michael Hughes and Mario Matrone scored 10 each for Holy Cross…Mario Matrone scored eight of his 16 points in fourth quarter to,lead Holy Cross to 59-53 win over Dunmore.,,Michael Hughes scored six of his 14 points in fourth quarter for Crusaders…Adam Badyrka and Matt Lyons scored 10 each for Holy Cross..,Cullen Smith led Dunmore with 13 points…Sophia Talutto scored 20 points and Leona Conte added 12 to lead Dunmore to 55-17 win over Holy Cross…Peyton Graboske led Holy Cross with 12 points…Abby Thompson scored 20 points to lead Holy Cross Lady Crusaders to 45-22 win over Carbondale Area…Peyton Graboske added 11 for Holy Cross…Sophia Talutto scored 19 points and Tristan Canavan added 13 in Dunmore’s 66-13 win over Old Forge…Dunmore’s Brian McGurl put on quite a show with his band Q Ball at Drafts Bar and Grill in Lake Ariel last month…Get well wishes to Bishop Hannan graduate Tom “Ace” Shea of Green Ridge who is recuperating in hospital due to recent illness…Do you remember Brian “Fudge” Fidatti?…Whatever became of Jose “Can You See” Cruz?…