TyronePA.com

Martin Oil and Tyrone Legion each had opened the George B. Kelley Federation season with a loss in their opening encounters, although Tyrone Legion was heading in the right direction in a game against Locker Room, leading 4-2, when suspended by rain.
On Friday evening at the Harry K. Sickler Athletic Complex, the two local federation entire met. The result as should be expected, wasn’t settled until the final batter had been retired, with the visiting Martin Oil edging Tyrone Legion 6-5.
With Legion starter Matt Brooks and Martin Oil’s Nate Gray on the mound, the two teams were involved in a scoreless deadlock, until the fourth.
Jimmy Watters was safe on a fielder’s choice for Martin Oil for the first out for Tyrone Legion after Trey Mock had led off the top of the inning with a walk. Ian Pankoke ripped a single, followed by a base hit by Chad Coho. A passed ball enabled one run to score. Justin Miller walked and Adam Kovac singled to clear the bases. Jake Manning was safe when a sacrifice bunt was misplayed and Nate Gray walked, but Brooks kept the score at 4-0, getting Justin Manning to pop out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Tyrone Legion got onto the scoring column. Eric Desch walked to begin the frame and Brock Anders hit into a fielder’s choice. Jason Taylor ripped a single, and Kris Decker followed with a shot into the gap to score Anders.
In the fifth, Martin Oil added a run on several Tyrone Legion errors, despite Brooks fanning the side. Ian Pankoke was safe on one error, stole second and third bases and scored on an overthrow.
Tyrone Legion made it a 5-4 ballgame in the home half of the fifth. Donnie Hunter started the rally with a shot to the gap in right center. After Brooks walked, Anders singled to drive in both Hunter and Brooks. Taylor drilled a double, his second hit of the game to score Anders to knot the score at 4-4.
In the sixth inning, Nate Plummer walked, stole second, and continued around to third on a Tyrone error, and scored on yet another miscue on the return throw, for what would prove to be the winning run.
Cody Smith walked with one gone in the bottom of the sixth for Tyrone Legion, and an infield single by Justin Schopp with two outs put runners on first and second, but Ian Pankoke pitching in relief of Gray, for Martin Oil, got a strikeout to end the inning.
With one last opportunity in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a win, or at least send the game to extra innings, Brooks doubled to begin the stanza and then stole third base. Anders drove in Brooks with an RBI groundout to slice the Tyrone Legion deficit to a single tally, 6-5, but Pankoke got a strikeout and flyout to nail down the victory.
Gray, who picked up the victory, struck out 11 and walked four, and retired the first nine Tyrone Legion batters in a row, before Desch reached on his walk to begin the Legion fourth. Pankoke fanned three and walked one in relief, to earn a save.
Brooks struck out three and walked four, getting into trouble in the top of the third with the help an a Tyrone Legion error, that should have retired the side in order, with the help of a double play on the Martin Oil batter before the miscue. Tough-luck loser Eric Desch struck out five and walked two and didn’t allow a base hit in three innings, allowing three runs, all unearned.
Taylor was the only player for either team with multiple hits. Taylor and Brooks had doubles for Tyrone Legion (0-2), who out hit Martin Oil 7-5, but played loosely in the field, while Martin Oil had no extra-base hits.
“Nate Gray pitched a real strong game on Friday night against Tyrone Legion, with a lot of strike outs and then Ian Pankoke came in to close it down,” said Martin Oil manager Ed Davis. “We are still not hitting the way we should, but we will take a win, any win, ugly win or else is a good win.”
On Saturday, at Vets Field, Martin Oil (2-1) used a big seventh inning to top Dick’s Pharmacy for their second straight win. With the score tied 8-8, Ian Pankoke and Jimmy Watters singled to open the frame and force a pitching change by Dick’s. Another single by Chad Coho, a stolen base by Pankoke, two Dick’s Pharmacy errors, a wild pitch, a stolen base by Adam Kovac and before the dust settled four runs had crossed the plate for a 12-8 triumph.
Trey Mock pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh for Martin Oil to pick up the save, although Mock made it interesting by walking one batter and hitting two more. Justin Miller pitched the sixth for Martin Oil, blowing a save, by allowing two runs, both unearned on a pair of Martin Oil errors, but picked up the win when his teammates rallied in the seventh. Nate Plummer had a rough start giving up five runs on three hits and six walks in an inning and two/thirds. Mike Albright retired the final batter of the second and then added three innings of one-run baseball (unearned) over the next three innings to keep Martin Oil in the game.
Jake Manning and Pankoke each had three hits to lead Martin Oil, and Nate Gray and Jimmy Watters each added two hits and drove in one run. Pankoke had a pair of RBI and Manning had one RBI.
“Saturday was another one of those ugly games, and fortunately we were able to struggle through and come out on top,” said Davis. “Mike Albright did a nice job in relief, coming in and giving us three good innings. Then Justin Miller and Trey Mock came for an inning each and closed it down. Ian Pankoke had a good game at the plate, and so did Nate Gray and Jake Manning and Chad Coho, and we were able to get some good bunts down that led to runs. We had a good weekend.”
Martin Oil plays Corporal Miller tonight at Vets Field at 5:30 p.m.

Do you like apple pie? Let me tell you where the best Granny Smith apple pies can be found: Mary’s Country Kitchen in Warriors Mark. You’d better call ahead though; they go fast. Before you begin thinking that my column has become an advertising venue, let me tell you that Mary’s apple pie is the basis for this week’s mystery story.
We were invited to bring Walzie’s Aunt Lovie and his cousins, Joyce and Marg, to a Memorial Day picnic at his brother’s house near Lewisburg. I heard Walzie on the phone discussing the menu with his brother when I heard my name. Ah yes, I got volunteered to make the dessert. I’m no Rachael Ray and not a big fan of baking, but heck, anybody can toss a brownie mix in the oven. Walzie turned up his nose.
“Come on, Susan,” he coaxed. “Why don’t you make a couple of apple pies to take with us?”
Hey, Cupcake, why don’t I just call Mary’s and buy a couple of those fabulous Granny Smith apple pies and pretend I baked them?” I was so proud of myself for thinking of that. And so I did just that: one with crumb topping, one two crust pie. (The crumb pie is my favorite; I wear it well on my hips!)
Memorial Day morning came – it was a beautiful sunny day. Aunt Lovie and her family piled into our VV (That’s short for vacation van. We can’t afford my dream RV that would break the bank to gas it up, so I’ve settled for the smaller version that still nearly breaks the bank to gas up.) Walzie carried the crumb pie and I had the other one in my hands. He put his gently in the cargo section of the van.
“Wait a minute, “I shouted to him. “I need to open the porch windows for the dogs in case it gets too hot today. I’ll be right there.”
And soon we were headed off across route 192 past Penn’s Cave. That’s a really nice drive across that route through the R.B. Winter State Park toward Lewisburg. Aunt Lovie doesn’t get to travel much, so this was a real treat for her. We arrived about noontime. Walzie went to the back of the van to get the dessert.
“Hey, Susan, there’s only one pie here,” Walzie said. “What did you do with the other pie?”
I handed it to you,” I spat. “You’re the one that lost the pie; maybe it slid under the seat. Check there.”
No pie.
“I’ll bet you set it on the roof and forgot to put it in the van. It’s probably lying in your driveway,” Aunt Lovie offered.
“Way to go, Walzie,” I pointed my finger at him. “A perfectly good Granny Smith pie. The birds are probably pecking at it right now.”
“I did not lose that pie,” poor Walzie defended himself. “You didn’t even give it to me.”
“Did too!” I argued. I was so sure of myself.
“Did not!”
“Did too! You probably ate the dadgum thing!”
Aunt Lovie finally got between us and assured me that one pie was sufficient and just calm the heck down. It’s only a pie for Pete’s sake. So I fretted all through the picnic. One would have thought it was my hard work and baking talents at stake. What the heck did happen to that pie? I just knew Walzie did something with it.
All the way home, everyone was guessing what happened to the pie. Was it mashed on the driveway with ten dozen little pecker marks in it? Maybe it’s sitting on the front steps? And then it hit me … remember opening the windows for the dogs? Suddenly, I knew where the pie was.
Now the key word there is WAS.
As we pulled into the driveway, our two dogs barked, jumped, and scratched at the glass door. (They do that all the time – like they’ve not seen us for a month.) And guess what caused their sticky little paw prints on the door; and the windows; and the porch carpet; and was all matted in their hair as if they’d rolled in it; and was dragged through the house into the kitchen and the family room; even was in sticky paw prints on the television screen? Oh yeah, the best Granny Smith apple pie in the valley.
Everybody laughed – except me! Who the heck was going to clean that mess? Not Walzie, I can assure you. I guess the little crow-eating redhead got her just reward. That’s what I get for laying the blame on poor ol’ innocent Walzie.
So I think I had better run down to Mary’s and get another dessert for tomorrow. Yep, those dogs are licking their chops. Settle down, boys, dessert is for dad and me!

Lots of charges
On May 18, state police reported that Matthew Anthony Kelly, 29, Bellwood, arrived at 304 First St. in Bellwood and gained entry into a vehicle owned by Christopher Adam Hammond. Kelly damaged Hammond’s vehicle windshield, driver side window, and hood. Kelly stole items belonging to Brittany Guida of Bellwood and Hammond. Kelly pushed Hammond’s vehicle across the street and the vehicle came to rest in a neighbor’s yard.
Kelly left the area and returned to 411 Main St. in Bellwood. He was to be responsible for watching a three-year-old infant. He later left the infant unattended at the apartment and again returned to First St.
Kelly pried open a basement window belonging to Guida and Hammond. He placed his head through the window and confronted both of them. Kelly created a disturbance and awoke the rest of the Guida family. He continued with his disturbance and awoke Guida’s neighbors.
Items stolen amounted to $550, along with damages at the amount of $900.
Kelly was arraigned in front of Magistrate Fred Miller on June 3. His bail was set at $5,000 at 10 percent. He remains in the Blair County Jail on charges of Criminal Trespass, Theft from a Motor Vehicle, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct, and other charges.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24.
—
Harassment
State police reported on June 4 that a 17-year-old male juvenile entered a 14-year-old male juvenile’s bedroom while he was asleep at Greentree Village in Snyder Twp. The 17-year-old male juvenile urinated on the victim’s leg and lower torso. He was cited for Harassment.

Supporting a good cause
The second annual “Run for our Youth” event was held this weekend at the Tyrone Area High School. Events for the day included a 10K run, 5K run/walk, kid’s .25 mile run (400 meters) and a kids’ lollipop fun run. The “Run for the Gold” youth one mile race was held to commemorate the gold medal won by Emily Ingle at the 2006 state championships. Emily is the only female athlete from Tyrone to win a gold medal at the state level in any sport. Following the races, awards were given to the top male and female in each age group and overall winners of the 10K and 5K runs. Medals were also awarded to all “Run for the Gold’ participants. There was a large turn-out for the day’s activities with around 50 people participating in the 5K and 10K races. There were also kids of all ages gathered at the high school track for the children’s races. All proceeds from this event benefit the Tyrone High School track and cross country boosters. (The Daily Herald/Amanda Golden)

Tim Kaylor, Denise Kreckel, Nick Owens and Lori Huber from Thompson’s Long Term Care Pharmacy check out the robot technology in the pharmacy filling area.	Pete Kreckel, Tim Kaylor and Nick Owens joined Joe Fatigante, warehouse manager from Value Drug, for a tour of their facility which will approach $800 million in sales.

For the past five weeks, two students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy have participated in the Rural Pharmacy Rotation hosted by Denise and Peter Kreckel of Tyrone.
Timothy Kaylor form Butler, Pa, and Nicholas Owens from York, Pa have been guests at the Kreckel home, where they have experienced the outstanding level of pharmaceutical care provided by these preceptors.
Denise Kreckel, manager of CareSite at Patton Forest, has exposed these excellent students to the many facets of a retail based pharmacy located in a Geisinger Clinic. Both Nick and Tim have worked on projects such as Medication Therapy Management (MTM), preparation of cancer chemotherapy injectables, community outreach presentation of self care for allergies, as well as day to day operations of a clinic based retail pharmacy. Denise, who is the only trained pharmacist for in-store immunizations in the State College area, has shared her expertise of vaccinations with the students. The students also assisted in the initial set-up of the pharmacy at the soon to be opened Geisinger clinic at Gray’s Woods.
Peter Kreckel, who is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at St. Francis University, kept the students busy Thursday afternoon with student remediation. Both students helped provide a remedial course for the Physicians Assistant Department. The students also assisted with a computer web-based continuing education program on HIV/AIDS therapy. The students fielded questions from pharmacists who participated in the web seminar from New York City to Hong Kong. The students also have worked in the community based retail practice at Thompson Pharmacy’s Broad Ave. Pharmacy in Altoona, where Kreckel has recently been appointed as store manager.
The students also toured Thompson’s Pharmacy in Altoona where they were introduced to the high tech robotics of prescription dispensing. They toured Thompson’s long term care facility pharmacy as well as their retail stores. After the tour of Thompson Pharmacies, they visited Value Drug, a local drug wholesaler. There they toured the operations of this facility which distributes drugs and merchandise to nearly 500 accounts in Pennsylvania. Joe Fatigante, the warehouse manager, explained that independent retail pharmacy is very much alive and well in this area due to the efforts of Value Drug.
Both students have gleaned a lot of wisdom from Denise and Pete Kreckel, two well seasoned clinicians who serve as preceptors for the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Pharmacy. They have also grown to love this area with the less hectic pace of the big city, as well as to appreciate the loyalty of the customers who support the efforts of the independent pharmacies who provide such an outstanding and personal level of health care.