POWER SURGE!!!!

The bats came alive at the Miles Street Community Park on Sunday night as the Blue Devils took the Battle of the Valley Trophy home for the seventh straight year with a 13-1, 5-inning whitewashing of Riverside.

Aleca Semenza and Nicole Giacometti each blasted two-run home runs, and Alyssa Karlak, Allyson Marianelli and Jess Bouchard each smashed two-run doubles to pace the Old Forge offense.

The Lady Vikes got to winning-pitcher Jess Armillay for a run in the first inning, but that would be all the sophomore allowed as Riverside managed just one single in the next four innings.

The King and Livingston

Old Forge's own Pat King - a former Blue Devils golfer - can be seen on YouTube with his band LIVINGSTON.

The Kinger bangs on the drums for this Scranton-based band. Take a look - and a listen of course - if you wish...

Phantom Dan now in Lucky Town

It is with deep sadness that I found out about the passing of E-Street Band member Danny Federici. From the backstreets.com website.....

DANNY FEDERICI, 1950 - 2008
Danny Federici, the E Street Band's organist and keyboard player since its inception, died this afternoon, April 17, 2008 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City after a three-year battle with melanoma.

The Federici family and the E Street family request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. The fund's website is now up and running, where it is described as "dedicated to the research and development of new and effective treatments for melanoma through funding for additional clinical trials based upon Danny's melanoma treatments and other methods headed by Dr. Paul Chapman [at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]. Our other objective is to raise awareness for this aggressive disease."

You'll find a statement from Danny there, too:

“What people take for granted on a daily basis, among so many other things, is their skin. I spent my life, like many others, catching some rays, surfing, hanging out in the sun and it never bothered me until now. Who knew that something as simple as a proper sunscreen or keeping yourself covered up on a sunny day could one day save your life? Our culture looks at a nice tan as a sign of luxury. We spend time in tanning booths when we can't go to the beach or lay by the pool. It's time to think again. Especially if you're fair skined, have freckles, or light eyes. Be aware of the dangers, take precaution, and have yourself checked out regularly by a dermatologist from head to toe. It could absolutely make the difference in your life." --Danny Federici

You'll find a donation button and contact info at www.thedannyfedericimelanomafund.com.

It's been a few years since I have been to a Bruce concert and now it will never be the same. Being a former keyboardist myself, Danny always was one of the more intriguing parts of any Springsteen show for me. And now that will be gone forever.

God speed Phantom Dan. Cuz Tramps like us, baby we were born to run!

Phonsy Phandamonium!!!!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!

After an outreach of support from the parents and players of the Old Forge Basketball Program, Coach Al Semenza is BACK!

Semenza submitted a letter to rescind his resignation on Tuesday to the school district, and after a tense vote on Wednesday night at the school board meeting in front of a packed house of supporters, the school's all-time leader in coaching wins is once again the coach of the Blue Devils.

The vote was 5-4 and why is was that close is discussion for another day. But I must say to the 5 members that voted for Semenza, you must be congratulated on doing the right thing for the KIDS.

Frank Scavo said it best as he indicated that he had personal differences with our beloved Phonsy, yet knew the only thing to do for the team and the program was to bring Coach Al back.

Ron "Stack" Stacchiotti, a board member who had applied for his "lifelong dream job," also said he will always do what was best for the kids of the OFSD community and that what was best was to give them the best coach for the job - Coach Al Semenza.

For the record, Kim Bucari, Chris Jones, Debbie DeSando, Scavo and Stacchiotti voted for Coach Al.

Julie Aulsio, Pat Aulisio, Gene Talerico and Larry Enderline voted NO!

Tony and Torre

What do these two brilliant baseball minds have in common?

Both were catchers. The one on the right was a journeyman catcher. The one on the left is a local Hall of Famer.

Both were managers. The one on the right is a Hall of Famer with the Yankees after being a junk manager in Atlanta, St. Louis and with the Mets - and now with the Dodgers. The one on the left managed some Legion ball, some Junior College ball, and assists with the U of S baseball team and the Cafe Rinaldi men's softball team.

Both also love the name Torre. The one on the right has it as his last name - Joe Torre. The one on the left has it as his newly born daughter's name - Torre Elizabeth DiMattia.

Congrats to Tony and his wife on the birth of their new daughter.

I guess after a guy naming his daughter after his favorite team's HOF manager, it is not far off before we have another Old Forge guy name is newborn son, Boston!

What stinks in Old Forge?

And no I am not talking about the way the Old Forge School Board has handled the appointment of its next basketball coach.

I am talking about the odor that encompassed Main Street during the late afternoon hours on Tuesday. It smelled worse than a cow farm in summer from the borough building to the Zebra Room.

What WAS that?

Snubbed and Dubbed

Well I guess pitching a perfect game isn't good enough to earn you the Athlete of the Week a
round here, but pitching a 1-hit, 12-strikeout, 5-inning game is.

In any case, congrats to Villanova-bound Kyle McMyne who was dubbed this week's Times Tribune Athlete of the Week. McMyne fanned 12 and allowed just 1 hit in the Blue Devils victory over Valley View this week.

Many thought it should have been the Blue Devils second consecutive AOW after John Stolan was perfect against Western Wayne. But Stolan was snubbed in favor of a snowboarder from Scranton Prep.