By Steve Svetovich

Former Sunday Scrantonian sports editor Guy Valvano, Dunmore, who will turn 93 in fall, remains avid follower of local high school football and other sports and is looking forward to upcoming football season…Dunmore senior offensive lineman Austin Brislin is returning three year starter this year…Former Dunmore councilman Joe Tomko, huge Minnesota Vikings fan, seen at this month’s SS. Anthony and Rocco’s church picnic…Dunmore School Superintendent John Marichak, former local football standout, enjoyed SS. Anthony and Rocco’s picnic with his family…Bob Walsh, Dunmore, president of Northeastern Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame, also at SS. Anthony and Rocco’s Church picnic…Dunmore’s Tony Duchnowski, assistant J.V. baseball coach at North Pocono High School, with his wife at picnic…Dunmore musician Frank Spager also seen enjoying the picnic…Junior Nick Pearro and sophomores Rogan Dougherty and Sean Gallager battling for Dunmore punting position…Dunmore head football coach Kevin McHale expecting another District 2 Class 2A title and then state run for his Dunmore Bucks…Dunmore assistant football coaches are Mike Barrett, Michael Perry, Michael Ehnot, Damon Bowen, Michael Gardier, Colin Holmes and Michael McDonnell…Dunmore sophomore Thomas Bowen in second season as Bucks starting quarterback…Dunmore senior offensive and defensive tackle Jake Cicerini remains tough in battle back from ACL injury that curtailed part of his high school football career…Holy Cross first year head football coach Joe Giorgio, who previously served as freshman and assistant coach for Crusaders football program, looking to be .500 or better this season…Giorgio, 1979 Dunmore graduate, played baseball and basketball in high school…Holy Cross senior lineman Matt Tucker hopes to become electrician in future…Dunmore senior center Danny Schmidt’s late grandfather Michael Freund used to take him to every Dunmore football game as young child…Congratulations to Danielle Decker, Miss Buck for Dunmore’s 2021-22 school year…She aspires to become a nurse…Holy Cross senior running back Gavyn Grems hopes to study business at West Virginia University in fall of 2022…Dunmore’s Paul Simonetti, who played as linebacker in 1967 Dream Game, just few years later boxed at Madison Square Garden on opening fight card before Ali-Frazier legendary heavyweight bout which he witnessed..,MLB nailed it big time with Field of Dreams Yankees-White Sox game which Chicago won on all-star shortstop’s Tim Anderson walk-off homer into Iowa cornfields…It was epic ending to perfect summer night which started with actor Kevin Costner and then Yankees and White Sox players coming out of Iowa cornfields onto baseball diamond before national anthem and opening ceremonies…Aaron Judge hit two homers and Giancarlo Stanton and veteran Brett Gardner homered for Yankees in loss…Gardy, 38, silencing critics with hot bat and great range and catches in centerfield for Yankees this month…Dunmore senior safety Kam Reyes converting from wide receiver to running back on offensive side this season…Reyes, four year member of Dunmore football and baseball teams and three year member of basketball team, wants to become teacher in future…Look out for Pittston Area 6-2, 225-pound left tackle Nicolas Cianfichi who is starting on football varsity as freshman…Holy Cross senior Nate Cobley, transfer from Scranton, will start at quarterback and punter for Crusaders this season…Holy Cross assistant coaches are Vince Coviello, Chris Coviello, Corey Coviello, Jim Talarico, Dom Possanza and Jake Gatto…Scranton Prep senior football tight end-linebacker Andrew Durkin, Dunmore, member of National Honor Society with 95 academic average, is also four year member of baseball team and hit .394 in junior season as outfielder…Lavelle Insurance defeated Sunlight Crematory, 11-1, in Wyoming Valley Baseball League…Winning pitcher John Aber allowed no hits and struck out six…Aber had two hits, one RBI and scored two runs…Chris Angelo had four hits for winners…Colin Dietz had two hits and scored three runs for winners…Dylan Wall added two hits…Harry Wildrick doubled…Pat Donovan and Karl Turetsky had the lone hits for Sunlight…Marywood University product Dylan Svetovich had three hits and pitched final inning in Lavelle Insurance 18-10 win over Geisinger in Wyoming Valley Baseball League action…Harry Wildrick had two hits, including double…Dunmore’s Tim Dempsey, Ken Smith, Tom Hallinan and Eric Grundma were winners of 2021 Dempsey golf open at Elmhurst Country Club…Do you remember Ross Zanghi and his exploits on gridiron for Scranton Tech in late 1970’s?…Do you remember Scranton Tech football player Fran Roedel?…The Sperazza Band, with Dunmore’s Ryan Svetovich on guitar, performed at Springbrook Cow Flop picnic and will be at Pittston Tomato Fest August 20-21…Condolences to family of former Lackawanna County Commissioner Ray Alberigi who died this month…Alberigi was instrumental in construction of Lackawanna County Stadium and helping to bring back Minor League Baseball to area…Luke Voit determined to stay in lineup and help New York Yankees make playoffs despite team’s acquisition of Anthony Rizzo who plays same first base position…Rizzo made strong first impression before being sidelined due to contacting COVID-19 which put Voit back in lineup after his return from injured list…Can the two power hitting first basemen co-exist when Rizzo comes back?…Joey Votto on home run tear for Cincinnati Reds and in forefront as NL MVP candidate along with Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis and Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper…Dunmore junior Max Hunt is front runner for Bucks kicking job…Holy Cross senior Sean Herbert converting from quarterback to wide receiver this year…Look out for Holy Cross sophomore wide receiver Connor Art…Do you remember Jerry Dempsey?…Whatever became of Roy Smalley?…