2020
Deceased ERA: John "Jake" Benton - He dedicated most of his adult life to baseball. He grew up playing sandlot baseball in the 1920's era in the Industrial League. He was a pitcher while his brother Charles ( BCSHOF Inductee) was his catcher. After playing sandlot baseball for several years he turned to officiating baseball in the same league he played in. He ended up umpiring also in the Butler County League, The Butler Eagle County League, the Greater Pittsburgh Federation League along with local Pony & Prep Leagues. He also spent time officiating in local softball leagues. After retirement he would spend winters in the Bradenton Boosters organization where he volunteered at the Pirates Spring Training games wherever he was needed.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Fred Powell - Fred began wrestling as a 9th grader at Granby High School. His team won 21 Virginia State championships in 22 years. Fred went on to wrestle at Lock Haven College where he won the NAIA Division One Championship in 1964. After a brief coaching stint at West Point, Fred became the head wrestling coach at Slippery Rock University from 1967 - 1991. In those 23 years Fred's record was 215-105-4. His International career included coaching in Hungary, New Zealand, and the head coach of the Australian National Team. In 1998 Fred started a wrestling program at Slippery Rick HS, and recently just he just completed his helping coach the Butler HS Wrestling Team.
Veterans ERA: Joseph Heitzer: A 1939 Butler HS graduate where Joe was an outstanding athlete lettering four years in track and three years in football and basketball. Joe set and reset several records in track and field while attending Butler HS. At the 1944 American Day Armed Forces Track and Field Day, where he won 50-yard dash and the long jump.
Don Hinchberger: - A 1962 Butler HS graduate where he lettered four years in track. He earned three varsity letters and set a school record in the half mile which stood for 15 years. Following high school Don went on to the University of Pitsburgh where he continued his cross-country running career. He lettered three years while at Pitt.
Dave Crummy: A 1979 graduate of Mars HS where he was a multi-sport athlete earning a total of nine varsity letters. His letters we two in track, two in basketball, two in baseball, and three in football. In baseball he batted .500 two seasons. As a football player he was twice named to the All WPIAL & PIAA teams. He was highly recruited in multiple sports but chose football. As a Blue Chip recruit, he chose Penn State. He redshirted his freshman year and advanced to second team defensive end his sophomore year. to play football. In Spring Football at PSU he suffered a severe knee ending injury. As a highly respected player he became an assistant coach on the football team. His coaching efforts we highly recognized in helping the PSU team to victory in the Sugar Bowl with a win over Georgia to win Penn States first National Championship.
Jack Hartung: A 1962 Butler HS graduate where he excelled in basketball. His senior year he also joined the cross country team at the recommendation of his new basketball coach. His senior year he was name MVP. He led the Section and was named First Team All-Section. He earned a scholarship to continue playing basketball at Virginia Military Academy. He lettered all four years. He helped lead his team to the NCAA Southern Conference Championship in 1964.
Bill McElroy: A 1993 Butler HS graduate as a multisport athlete competing in track, football, and basketball. He played on the 1991 WPIAL Championship Basketball Team. He was First Team All-Conference his junior and senior years. He received numerous offers to play football after high school. He decided to continue his athletic career at West Virgina University. He earned varsity letters and was twice named All Big East Academic Team. After college he continued his football career while teaching at Butler HS. He helped coach the football team for fourteen years.
Shawn Bellis: A 1994 Butler HS graduate he excelled in basketball graduating as one of the best basketball players in Butler basketball history. He was a three year letterman on the 1991, 92, and 93 teams. During his high school career, he set the single game scoring with 47 points against Freeport in 1993. His senior year he set the single season scoring record with 614 points, averaging 29.2 points per game. He continued to play basketball at the collegiate level for two years at Clarion College. He was named the PSAC Rookie of the Year in 1995.
Olivia Bresnahan: A 2010 Butler HS graduate, where she had an outstanding career on the women's basketball team. She finished he career at Butler scoring a total of 1395 points. In her career at Butler, she helped lead Butler to three AAAA Section 3 Championships, and a berth in the WPIAL Quarter Finals. She was named First Team AAAA All-State by the Associated Press. She was also selected to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Fabulous Five, and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific Ten. . Additionally, she was named All-State First Team by the Pennsylvania Sports writers Association. After high school she accepted a scholarship offer to continue her basketball career at Florida State University. She played there for two years. Her junior year she transferred to Duquesne University where she started 54 games. After graduating, she continued her athletic career and is presently Director of Operations for Wake Forest University.
Tyrell Sales: A 2004 Butler HS graduate. While at Butler, he was a multi-sport athlete lettering in basketball, football, and track. He was a three-year starter in basketball and football. He also was a top scorer in track and field for four years in the javelin, and discus. As a highly recruited athlete he accepted a scholarship to play football at Penn State. He played in 23 consecutive games as defensive end. He played in four post season games (Outback, Orange, Alamo and Rose Bowl.) After Penn State he had stints with the Indianapolis Colts the Montreal Alouettes,,and the Jacksonville Sharks.
2022 HOF Inductees:
Denny Barger: A 1961 graduate of Karns City High School was a three sport athlete. He lettered in football and basketball. He also excelled in baseball which was not a high school sport at that time. He lettered three times in basketball scoring 800 points in HS career. In baseball he was teo time Pony League All Star and he went on to play in the Butler Prep League. After high school, he went on to earn his bachelor's and master's Degrees at Slippery Rock University. While in college he played for Fairview in the Butler County League.
Denny continued staying in athletics as a teacher and an principal in the Karns City School District. He was an assistant football coach for 6 years, and spent over 15 years coaching basketball for the girls and boys teams. During his career he won three District 9 championships, three Clarion County League titles. His 1971 boys' basketball team was 30-2. He also coached girls track and field, spent 12 seasons as a PIAA basketball official.
David Haas: A Butler High School graduate he began a series of swimming recognitions with several awards from the Western Pennsylvania Swim League. He was named to the All-State Swim team in his junior and senior years. During those two years he set and reset school records in the 200 and 400 yard freestyles races. He also was part of the 400 Freestyle record, which they equaled at the State Meet. The record time which was the fastest in the nation, earned all four swimmers All-American honors.
Bob Stanley: A three year letterman at Butler HS in Gymnastics as a specialist on the pommel horse. He went on to continue his athletic career at Georgia Southern as a three year letterman. He was undefeated in dual meets. In 1978 he earned second place at the Georgia Gymnastics Association Championships, and then in 1979 he placed second in the SIGL NCAA Division 1 Championships. He was named an NCAA Division 1 All-American. He went on to win the Coca Cola Southwest Cup Invitational , and the National Champion AAU Gymnastics Team.
Clint Eury: A 2001 Butler HS graduate where he was an outstanding baseball player as a three year letterman. He led the 2000 team in batting, and was named the Shawn Johnson MVP Award. In 2001 he won the Coach's Golden Glove Award, and the Allen Felko Academic Award. in 2001 he Played in the East-West American Legion All-Star game. After high school he continued his baseball career at Penn State University where he was a four year letterman. As a sophomore he was named to the Big Ten Third Team. He also earned Big Ten Player of the Week once his sophomore year. His senior year he was named to the All- Big Ten Team. As a senior he appeared in 11 as a pitcher with a record of 4-0, 3 saves, a 0.43 ERA, and a 15-inning scoreless streak. He ended his career as Penn State's all-time saves leader. At the same time, he was the starting first baseman.
Steven Hall: A Knoch HS graduate where he was a multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball, basketball, and football. He earned Defensive All-Conference honors and named to the Post Gazette North Baseball Team in 1991. He served as Captain of the baseball team for two seasons. His senior year he hit .500 (25-50) with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 21 RBI and 21 runs scored.
He continued his baseball career at Grove City College lettering three times. From 1995 through he played for Saxonburg in the Butler Eagle County League winning championships in 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
He became a PIAA Football Official in 1997, and an NCAA Football Official in 2004, officiating many high school and collegiate championship games. At the same time Steve has been baseball coach for Knoch High School with their teams winning WPIAL Playoffs, 3 WPIAL Section Championships, and in 2015 they won the WPIAL Championship and the PIAA State Championship.
Amanda Sharbaugh Spader: Amanda started playing soccer at age 5, playing on many age group teams allover Western Pennsylvania. She joined the Knoch HS girls soccer team as a 9th grader, and was an immediate starter. She became a four year starter and lettered all four years. She ended up scoring 101 goals at Knoch. She was named to the WPIAL Elite 11 Player and four years. After graduating high school in 2008 he continued her soccer career at Gannon University. She started as Freshman and lettered all four years. She scored 51 goals, 22 assists, and 124 points. She set the teams single season record of 17 goals and 39 points during her 2011 senior year. She was named to the All PSAC First Team all four years, PSAC Freshman of the Year, and the All-Atlantic Regions Women's Soccer Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association. Other Honors included the Daktronics All-Atlantic Team, Capital One Academic Athlete, All District Two Team, and Capital One All-America Team,
Donald Barclay: A 2007 Seneca Valley HS graduate. As a multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball, basketball, and football. He lettered all four years in football. As a two-way player he earned All-State honors on defense and offense. He went on to play football at West Virginia University lettering all four years. He played in a record 52 games, starting in 40 of those games. He was an integral participant in two bowls ( Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, and the Orange Bowl win over Clemson). While at WVU he was named to the All-East and All-Academic Team. After graduation he signed as a Free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2012. During his NFL career he played in 73 games, starting in 29. He played in two NFC Championship games and two Divisional Round games. In 2017 he signed with the Detroit Lions and suffered a career ending injury after one game.
Cole Baxter: A 2011 Butler HS graduate was a multi-sport athlete in football, track and field, and wrestling. He was first and foremost a wrestler. In four years he qualified for the WPIAL championships 4 times and was a finalist 3 times. In 2010 he placed 4th in the National High School Coaches Association Junior Nationals. He went on to Kent State University where he earned 3 letters at 197 pounds. As a sophomore he won the Brockport/Oklahoma Invitational and the Cleveland State Open.
As a senior his record was 23-4 with 8 pins. He was a two-time honoree of the MAC All-Academic Team.
Danica Snyder Alexander: A 2011 Butler HS graduate earning 4 letters in track and field. In Cross Country she earned 4 letters. She also qualified for 4 WPIAL and 2 PIAA championship meets. She earned 2 MVP Awards and 3 Tri-Athlete Awards. She was named to the Butler County All-Star Frist Team in 2009 and 2010.
In track and field she qualified in 2010 for both the New Balance Nationals and the PIAA State Championships for the 4x100 relay. in 2011 she joined her teammates in setting the school record for the 4x800 relay with a time of 9:21. She continued her career at Duquesne University graduating in 2015. She earned Rookie of the Year honors as a Freshman. Her sophomore year her team again Ampng won the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships. Her senior year she set a school record in the steeplechase.
Ray Weiland: A Butler HS graduate and an outstanding amateur golfer in the 1960's 70's and 80's.
Among his many accomplishments Ray was:
1965, 1966, 1967 - Ridgeview Country Club Champion
1968, 1969 - Butler Country Club Champion
1971, 1972, 1973, 1981 - Armco Country Club Champion
1967 Western Pennsylvania Amateur Golf Alternate Golf Shot Champion - with Ron Milanovich, Jack Gaiser, and Jack Witmer
1972 Pittsburgh Press Old Newsboys Golf Best Ball Two Champions - with Ron Milanovich
1982 Butler Country Club Champion
1982 Genesse Amateur Golf Classic Champion
He was a true amateur champion for three decades, never turning professional, and always living the traditional amateur values he considered so important in the athletic world.
Jack Gaiser: A 1941 Karns City HS graduate. He was a 3-year letterman in basketball. His favorite sport was baseball, but the school had no team back then. Jack played on several amateur baseball teams in Butler County. He started playing in the amateur - semi-pro leagues around the county while still in high school. After returning home after his military time, he began a lifelong career of organizing baseball in the Petroleum Valley from Little League thru American Legon baseball. Some of the teams he played for were West Sunbury American Legion, Chicora American Legion, The Fairview Church League, several Karns City Independent Teams, and the Butler Country League.
Ben McLure: A Butler HS graduate who spent his entire career with baseball. He was an All-Star Prep League player. His baseball career helped promote the development of Butler baseball in the Pony and Prep leagues. He went on to attend Penn State University earning a Bachelors degree in education. His baseball career in long and successful.
1962-1979 Began his teaching career at Lower Dolphin HS and quickly organized a baseball team. His teams won 167 games, lost 66, and won 7 league championships.
1972 -1982 He became a part time MLB scount for the St. Louis Cardinals
1983 - 1999 Full time scout for the Toronto Blue Jays
2000- 2005 Full time scout for the San Diego Padres
2006 - Full time scout for the Kansas City Royals
2015 - Full time scout for the Milwaukee Brewers
Some of Bens Accolades:
1972 Harrisburg Old Timers Assn. Baseball Coach of the Year
1981 PA American Legion Sports Hall of Fame
1982 St. Louis Cardinals World Champs Ring
1988 Toronto Blue Jays World Champs Ring
1991 Mid Atlantic Baseball Scouts - Scout of the Year
1992- 1993 Toronto Blue Jays World Champs Rings
1994 West Shore Chapter Pennsylvania Sports HOF
2003 San Diego Padres Scout of the Year
2004 Center Chapter Pennsylvania Sports HOF
2008 Central Chapter PA Sports HOF
2015 Mid-Atlantic Baseball Scouts Career Achievement Award
2017 Capital Chapter PA Sports HOF
2017 Toronto Blue Jays Scouting HOF
An amazing career of scouting
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