An outstanding group of nine living inductees and one deceased that will be inducted into the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. They will be inducted during the annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport, on Sunday night, Nov. 8. Seats for the induction banquet are available for $25 from Vice-President Tom Aber by calling 570-713-9093 or by mailing a check made payable to the West Branch Valley Sports Hall of Fame mailed to Tom Aber, 358 Vine Street, Milton, PA 17847.
2015 West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Living Inductees
Steve Bazarnic – Baseball – Milton HS/Penn State
A 1963 Milton Area High School grad that went on to play at Penn State, where he earned the Outstanding Baseball Player Award as a senior at both schools … head coach at Allegany Junior College of Maryland … his teams have won 21 Maryland College Championships, 13 Region XX Championships, 9 District Championships and made 9 appearances in the NCAA World Series … named Region XX Coach of the Year 13 times … Inducted into three Halls of Fame – NJCAA, Region XX and Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches … winningest active junior college coach with 1,398 wins.
Bill Blacksmith – Wrestling – Lock Haven University
One of six NCAA Division I wrestling champions from Lock Haven University … a four-time PSAC champion (1963, ’64, ’65, ’66) … qualified for the NCAA Championships in both 1965 and 1966, winning the national title at 145 pounds in 1966 … a two-time NAIA National Champion, taking the title at 145 pounds in 1965 before winning at 152 pounds the next year … finished collegiate career with an overall record of 74-7-2 … inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1977 and PWCA Hall of Fame in 1979 … coached Indiana (Pa.) from 1968-85, posting a 124-72-2 record.
Jack Day – Wrestling – Bald Eagle-Nittany HS/Lock Haven University
Posted career record of 104-16 at Bald Eagle-Nittany HS and Lock Haven University … a 2-time PSAC Champion (1961, ’62) and NAIA Champion at 137 pounds in 1962 … co-captain with Gray Simons as a senior … team had longest winning streak in the East and won the PSAC and NAIA National title in 1961 … coached 26 Maryland State Champions and 9 AAU Champions in 35 years … inducted into four Halls of Fame: Bald Eagle-Nittany (1990), Lock Haven University Wrestling (1993), Clinton County (2003) and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for Lifetime Service to Wrestling (2010).
Steve Kline – Baseball – Lewisburg HS
Served as a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher for 11 seasons from 1997-2007 … appeared in 796 career games with Cleveland, Montreal, St. Louis, Baltimore and San Francisco … finished career 34-39 with a 3.51 ERA, 39 saves and 158 holds … led National League in pitching appearances three times (1999-2001) … drafted in 8th round of 1993 MLB draft by Cleveland … 1993 Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year at West Virginia University … helped Allegany CC to 1991 NJCAA World Series … helped 1989 Mifflinburg American Legion team to the state finals.
Jeff Knarr – Football, Baseball, Wrestling – Lock Haven HS/Lock Haven University
One of the most versatile athletes in the area, starring in football, baseball and wrestling and coaching all three … a three-year letterman in football at fullback at Lock Haven HS … rushing leader of Coach Malinak’s 1968 team and selected to the Central Counties All-Star Team … outstanding catcher in baseball, starting for three years at Lock Haven HS, batting .383 … a District and Regional Wrestling Champion … also a three-sport star at Lock Haven State College … late Lock Haven Express news writer Ross Nevel called Knarr “one of the best all-round athletes he had ever seen.”
Morgan Mantle – Softball – Jersey Shore HS/Lycoming College
Holds 23rd-best career ERA in NCAA Division III history (1.18) … Holds at least eight Lycoming College school records, including 501 strikeouts and 436.1 innings pitched … A four-time first-team all-conference selection and a third-team all-region selection as a freshman … 2006 Freedom Conference Pitcher of the Year … Pitcher and third baseman for 1999 Jersey Shore Junior League State Champions and 2000 Big League State Champions … Pitcher for 2000 District 4 champions and 2001 District 2/4 Champions … helped Bulldogs to four league championships … 2012 Lycoming Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.
Bruce Parkhill – Basketball/Soccer – State College HS/Lock Haven University
Lock Haven University grad … three-time First Team All-East Region and two-time All-American soccer goalie … all-conference and all-district in basketball … conference champion in javelin throw … charter member LHU Hall of Fame (2015) … William & Mary head basketball coach (1977-83) … earned first postseason berth (NIT, 1983) … ECAC South and NABC South Region Coach of the Year (1983) … W&M Hall of Fame (2005) … Penn State head basketball coach (1983-95) … won only conference championship in program history (1991), NCAA second round, 2 NIT final fours (1990, 1995), five 20-plus win seasons … Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1990).
Jason Phillips – Baseball – Hughesville HS
Played 15 seasons of professional baseball (1992-2006), reaching the Major Leagues for parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh and Cleveland … Also pitched two seasons with Orix in Japanese League … Drafted in 14th Round of 1992 MLB draft by Pittsburgh … Pitcher on Team USA in the 2001 and 2005 Baseball World Cup, starting Gold Medal game against Cuba in 2001 … Won first major league game in 2002 … 1991 TOPPS Pennsylvania State Player of the Year and US Olympic Festival Participant … Also a District 4 All-Star in basketball at Hughesville HS.
Alan Probst – Baseball – Jersey Shore HS/Mansfield University
Outstanding baseball player at Jersey Shore HS, graduated in 1988 … played college baseball at Mansfield University … a three-time All-PSAC, two-time All-Atlantic Region and First Team All-American (1992) catcher for the Mounties … helped team to DII World Series finals (1992) … drafted in 17th round of 1992 MLB draft by Houston … played professional baseball for 10 years with Houston, Toronto and New York Mets organizations (1992-01) … a two-time Minor League All-Star catcher … invited to four MLB Spring Training camps … spent parts of six seasons in AAA … host of Wild Pennsylvania Outdoors TV show.
Deceased Inductee
Robert Roach – PIAA Official – Lock Haven HS
Award to be accepted by Beryl Roach
Wrestled at Lock Haven HS … Awarded the trophy for scoring the most team points … a District champion in 1942 … best known as an outstanding wrestling official … officiated wrestling for 30 years at both high school and collegiate level … officiated district championships in districts 4, 5, 6, 9 and 11 as well as many regional and state championships … officiated collegiately at Lock Haven, Maryland, Penn State, Millersville, Clarion, Wilkes as well as the EIWA … received the Chuck Goldthorpe Chapter award for 30 years’ service to PIAA Wrestling in 1980.