Golf outing added to Schenectady Hall of Fame festivities

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

The Peter Famiano Memorial Golf Outing, which is part of the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame festivities, will take place Sunday, Sept. 13, at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.

Famiano, who died earlier this year, was a member of Linton High School’s state title-winning golf team in 1960, and a state junior champion in 1961. He is a member of both the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame and the SCSD Hall of Fame.

The Famiano golf event will begin at 8:30. The cost for a foursome is $240, which includes green fees, cart and a light lunch. Contact Bob Pezzano (346-9297 or [email protected]) to sign up before Aug. 29.

Mike Meola and Dick Bennett will be the inductees, Pat Riley will be the featured speaker and the unbeaten Linton and Mont Pleasant football teams from 1954 will be honored with a special tribute at the 12th annual SCSD Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner Sept. 14 at Proctor’s Theatre.

Meola was a football, basketball and baseball standout at Linton, and was the first athlete to be named All-County for three sports as both a junior and senior. Bennett is considered one of the greatest basketball players of the Sig Makofski era at Mont Pleasant.

Steuerwald inductee

Football coach Brent Steuerwald, who will enter the 2009 season five wins shy of 300, headlines the inaugural class to be inducted into the Shenendehowa Athletic Hall of Fame.

The hall of fame ceremony will be held Oct. 1 at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs.

Carol Barkalow, Debbie Barnes, Laura Barnes, Miles Joseph, Greg Koubek, Steve Lang, Greg Parker and Dan Peltier have also been selected for induction in the coaching and student-athlete categories. Peter Clinton and Tom Pendergast will be honored with lifetime achievement awards.

What they’re doing

Former Shenendehowa star pitcher Murphy Smith made his professional debut with the Class A Vancouver Canadians Tuesday night, and hurled four strong innings in their 3-2 Northwest League win over the Boise Hawks.

The right-handed Smith gave up two hits, struck out five, walked one and allowed one unearned run in his four innings of work, and did not get a decision. He worked 1-2-3 second and third innings after giving up a first-inning run.

Smith was named the America East Pitcher of the Year this past season as a junior at Binghamton University. He was drafted in the 13th round (393rd pick) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics.

At Shenendehowa, Smith was twice named the Plainsmen’s most valuable player.

Here and There

Greg Hansen has stepped down as Catholic Central’s varsity baseball coach after 17 years in that post, and 21 years with the school’s program. Hansen is the fourth prominent coach at the school to vacate a position in recent months, following Sam Marra (football), Blain Goverski (boys’ basketball) and Chris LaBombard (girls’ basketball). Carm Audino, Audra DiBacco and Rich Foglia have filled those openings. . . .

Saratoga Springs baseball players Scott Hladik (catcher), Mike Allen (shortstop) and Leejay Pollacchi (outfield) will continue their careers at The College of Saint Rose, Siena College and Skidmore College, respectively. The trio helped the Blue Streaks win 15 games en route to the Section II Class AA semifinals. . . .

Schuylerville defeated two-time defending champion Troy in double overtime, 28-21, to capture the Tigers’ 7-on-6 Passing Shootout Sunday at Cohoes High School. Eight football teams competed in the double-elimination event, with Lansingburgh placing third, followed by Broadalbin-Perth, Cohoes, Averill Park, South Glens Falls and Voorheesville. Behind quarterback Austin Bateman, Schuylerville beat Voorheesville, Troy and Lansingburgh to reach the championship round. Troy came out of the losers’ bracket to reach the championship round, and beat Schuylerville before the Black Horses captured the final game.