Early agate
ON THIS DATE
July 27
1965 – Jimmy Russell, head football coach at Donora High School for 33 years, is hired for the same position at newly formed Belle Vernon. Russell, the dean of WPIAL football coaches, led Donora to three WPIAL championships (1944, 1945 and 1953). Also leaving Donora for Belle Vernon is Rudy Andabaker, Russell’s top assistant coach.
1976 – Bob Ford, a 23-year-old assistant pro at Oakmont Country Club, wins the $3,500 Millcraft Open at Lone Pine Golf Club.
1981 – Nat Cecchini is named head coach of the Beth-Center High School boys basketball team. Cecchini succeeds Tom Katruska, who served two seasons and guided the Bulldogs to a 22-27 record.
1992 – Bob Keys resigns after seven seasons as head football coach at Jefferson-Morgan High School. Keys led the Rockets to a 44-30 record and three Tri-County South Conference championships. J-M promotes defensive coordinator Jan Haiden to head coach.
1992 – Patty Sheehan shoots a 1-over-par 72 for a two-stroke victory over Julie Inkster in an 18-hole playoff in the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club.
1996 – Washington High School’s Andy Molinaro catches touchdown passes of six and 35 yards but the Ohio all-stars defeat Pennsylvania 45-36 in the Big 33 Football Classic in Hershey.
1998 – Tony Womack of the Pittsburgh Pirates establishes a major league record by not grounding out into a double play in 888 consecutive at-bats, breaking the record previously established by Dodger outfielder Pete Reiser in 1946.
2002 – John Ruiz retains the WBA heavyweight title he won from Evander Holyfield, this time getting off the canvas three times — all after low blows — and lasting long enough for Kirk Johnson to be disqualified.
2006 – Floyd Landis’ stunning Tour de France victory just four days earlier is thrown into question when he tests positive for high levels of testosterone during the race.
2011 – Major League Baseball acknowledged umpire Jerry Meals made the wrong call in Atlanta’s 4-3, 19th-inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates filed a complaint hours after the longest game in team history.
HOLE-IN-ONE
Bill Schmidt of California had a hole-in-one while on a trip with 18 golfers at Reserve Run Golf Course in Poland, Ohio. Schmidt aced the 121-yard No. 15 hole by using an A-wedge. Witnesses were J.R. Volpe and Dan Doherty. It was Schmidt’s third career hole-in-one.