Early agate
ON THIS DATE
Oct. 9
1959 – Mickey Bitsko scores five touchdowns and Charleroi remains undefeated with a 30-7 victory over Beth-Center. Bitsko scores on runs of 1, 10, 7 and 50 yards and returns an interception 102 yards for his final touchdown.
1969 – Danny Murtaugh is again hired as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Murtaugh, who guided the Pittsburgh Pirates to a world series championship in 1960, retired in 1964 after seven years of managing because of ill health.
1972 – Manny Sanguillen hits his first home run in nearly two months and drives in the game-winning run in the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Riverfront Stadium.
1981 – Fred Fallenstein kicks a 32-yard field goal in the game’s final minute to give host Charleroi a 21-20 victory over Albert Gallatin and sole possession of first place in the Century Conference.
1987 – Garrett Rawls rushes for 158 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries, Mike Palm boots a 43-yard field goal and Charleroi holds Burgettstown to only one first down in the second half as the Cougars remain undefeated with a 24-0 victory.
1991 – Andy Van Slyke hits a solo home run in the first inning and an RBI-double in the third as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Three Rivers Stadium.
1991 – Pittsburgh Penguins owner Edward DeBartolo agrees to sale the Stanley Cup champions to a group headed by former Hartford Whalers chairman Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg, who briefly owned the Minnesota North Stars.
1999 – Wesley Cates rushes for 253 yards and four touchdowns in California University’s 33-12 victory over Lock Haven and sets the Vulcans’ single-season rushing record with 1,251 yards.
2009 – Avella’s football team pulls off a stunning upset, scoring the final 16 points to defeat once-beaten Fort Cherry, 22-21. Aaron Mangari catches a 57-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Geresti and Jared Magon runs in the two-point conversion to give Avella the lead in the fourth quarter. After the game, Avella coach Frank Gray tells the Observer-Reporter, “I’m as happy right now as I’ve been in my whole life. … This is one for the ages.”
HOLE-IN-ONE
Mike Sullinger had a hole-in-one Thursday at Washington Country Club. Sullinger aced the 128-yard No. 2 hole by using a 9-iron. His playing partners were Brian Scarberry, Jim Skupaka and Jim Cameron.