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Tyrone Legion played a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday, at the Harry K. Sickler Athletic Complex, to give the local entry a total of three straight games in as many days, in what will be  a very busy month. Before the month is over, the Legion will have played 17 games, weather permitting, after not getting started until June 3. Following a clash with Martin Oil on Friday, which as expected, was a tight single-run battle, won by Martin Oil 6-5, Tyrone Legion hosted ReMax Realty on Saturday, falling again by a single tally, 5-4, and then came back against the newest team in the Kelley Federation, Steel Connections of Ashville, posting their first victory of the campaign by an 8-2 count.
Steel Connection scored the first tallies, putting up two scores in the top of the third. Langer was safe on an error and Marra batting in the leadoff spot singled. A. Pettanat, the starting pitcher for Steel Connections, singled to support himself on the mound driving in both runners.
That would be all Tyrone Legion pitcher Randy Hoover would allow however, shutting out Steel Connections the rest of the way, scattering six hits, with one strikeout and one walk. The Legion played perfect defense behind Hoover, committing no errors for the second straight game.
The Steel Connections lead  held up until the fifth inning.
Cody Smith walked and Justin Schopp traded places him with a fielder’s choice for the first out. Schopp stole second base and scored on single by Matt Brooks.
An inning later, Hoover and Adam “the bonz” Bonsell walked. Kris Decker rapped a hard shot to third base that with Hoover running on the pitch was able to score. Cody Smith walked to load the bases, and Justin Schopp walked to force in Bonsell with the go-ahead tally. Donnie Hunter followed with a two-run single that got both Decker and Schopp home. Brooks and Mike Moore walked to reload the sacks and Tom Sims singled to drive in Hunter and Brooks.
“I was elated to see how our kids are opening up at the plate,” said a very happy first-year Coach Chris Futrick after the Legion secured their first win. “We should have won every game this week. The new ball players are doing a fine job fielding and at the plate. Once we get all our kids here, we will be solid. Adam Bonsell hasn’t played since Little League. A. J. Schopp hasn’t played in two years. Today, Randy Hoover and Mike Moore returned to help support the cause.”
On Saturday, undefeated ReMax Realty jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, with single runs in the second and third. After scoring an unearned tally in the second, Chris Perry, whose dad Greg taught at Bellwood-Antis, tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the third.
In the bottom of the third, Shane Walker walked for Tyrone Legion, Donnie Hunter rapped a single and Eric Desch got Walked home with a sacrifice to cut the ReMax lead to 2-1.
ReMax scored a run in the fourth and two in the fifth with Pat Tomassetti involved in all three scores. In the fourth Tomassetti singled and came around to score. An inning later, he drove in a run with a base hit and came around to score on a single by Diehl.
Tyrone Legion scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to close to within a run. Hunter walked and scored on a double by Desch. Tyler Golden singled to drive in Desch. Brock Anders and Kris Decker singled, with Decker’s hit knocking in Golden.
Hunter and Anders each had two hits for Tyrone Legion. Golden took the loss for Legion, striking out three and walking two.
Legion Notes: Coaches Futrick, Hunter, Iddings and Anders are asking for donations from businesses and individuals to help the Tyrone Legion Federation baseball program. Anyone who is interested should call Ron Iddings at 207-6573.
Tyrone Legion 8  Steel Connections 2
Steel Connections – Marra, cc, 3-1-1; A. Pettanat, p, 3-0-2; Nash, c, 3-0-0; Kimberly, 1b, 3-0-0; Jeffries, 2b-p, 3-0-1; McCoy, cf-p, 3-0-0; Rickens, lf, 2-0-1; P. Pettanat, rf-p, 3-0-1; Langer, 3b, 3-1-0. TOTALS 26-2-6.
Tyrone Legion – J. Schopp, cf, 2-2-1; Hunter, 2b-ss, 4-1-1; Brooks, 1b, 1-1; Golden, ss, 1-0-1; Anders, 3b, 1-0-0; Hoover, p, 1-1-0; Bonsell, lf, 3-1-0; Decker, c, 4-1-0; A.J. Schopp, rf, Moore, 2b, 2-0-0; Sims, 3b, 3-0-1; Smith, 3b, 2-1-0. TOTALS 27-8-5.
Steel Connections 002 000 0   2-6-0
Tyrone Legion      000 017 X   8-5-1.
2B: Golden.
RBI: A. Pettanat 2, Hunter 2, Sims 2, Brooks, Decker, J. Schopp,
SO: A. Pettanat 1, Hoover 1.
BB: A. Pettanat 3, Jeffries 1, P. Pettanat 4, McCoy 1, Hoover 1.
WP: Hoover    LP: A. Pettanat

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton has many activities to offer this summer, which began with the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon on June 1.
On June 4, the park opened seven days a week through August 22.
Spaghetti Wednesdays will also be held each Wednesday through August 20. Small meals are $5.50 and large meals are $6.50. The dinners are served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Meals include on free 22 oz. Pepsi fountain drink, a dinner roll and butter.
Free country concerts will continue July 13 with Halfway to Hazard performing at 3 and 7 p.m. Also, Matt Jenkins will be at the park on August 3 and Ronnie McDowell will perform September 28 at 3 and 6 p.m.
The Blair Senior Services Golden Games are slated for June 13 this year. That day will also kick off the Tom Riley Musical Theater Company Live on Stage, which will continue through June 15.
On Father’s Day, June 15, all dads ride and slide for free.
Visitors to the park will have the opportunity to meet the WTAJ TV news team on June 19 as they present Drug Free Awareness Day at the park.
Finally, June 21 is WPSU Kid’s Day. “The Danger Rangers” will perform three lives shows throughout the day on the DelGrosso’s stage.
Special events in July include Summer Thunder 2008 to help visitors celebrate July 4.
Also, the Blair County Antique Auto Show will be held at the park on July 13.
The Bellwood-Antis Community Picnic is scheduled for July 18 this year and the 11th annual Native American Pow Wow will be held July 19 and 20.
August will kick off with Tyrone Community Day on the first of the month and the ACC Car Show on the third.
The annual March of Dimes Rubber Duck Regatta is slated for August 10.
The final Spaghetti Wednesday of the season is set for August 20, along with the third annual Two-Ton’s Tomato Tally. Register your biggest home-grown tomato to win. For more information on Tipton’s tomato weigh-off, call 684-3538, extension 202.
The All Ford and Mercury Cruise-In will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on August 23.
The annual Frontline Ministries Youthfest “Last Blast of Summer” is scheduled for August 31 this year.
On the schedule for this event is free Christian concerts and comedy shows from 321 Improv Comedy.
Christian artist Britt Nicole will perform at 3 p.m. and American Idol finalist Chris Sligh will take the stage at 7 p.m.
Visit www.frontlineministries.com to learn more about this event.
All-day ride passes, including waterworks, are available for $12.95. All-day rides, waterworks and rapids passes are $15.95.
Individual ride tickets are 50 cents. Some rides require more than one ticket.
A round of Championship Golf is $3.75. A ride on the Altoona-Tipton Speedway Go-Karts is also $3.75.
Rides open daily at 11 a.m. and the picnic grounds open at 8 a.m.
For more information, visit www.delgrossos.com or call 684-3538.

The Students of the Month at TAHS, February through May, were honored with a special lunch held at the Eagle Inn last week. There were 32 Students of the Month at the luncheon. (The Daily Herald/Nick Cushion)

Pictured here are the empty stands of the home side of Gray-Vets Memorial Field in Tyrone. In just over two months, August 29, the Tyrone Golden Eagles and Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils will kick off the 2008 high school football season in the annual “Backyard Brawl.” Gray Field will be flooded to capacity with all the loyal fans of both communities. Tyrone is riding a 32-game regular season winning streak under head coach John Franco. (The Daily Herald/Kris Yaniello)

Last Friday, as the 2007-08 school term draws  to a close, Tyrone ninth graders adjourned from their sweltering English classroom on the second floor to the air-conditioned large group instruction room, where their English teacher and Presbyterian organist Richard Merryman presented a digital organ informance seminar.
Playing a $25,000  “Allen Traveling Organ,” supplied by Virgil Cannarsa of Altoona’s Music Emporium, Merryman conducted his ninth grade English students on a musical journey describing the organ’s use in weddings, at silent movies in Tyrone’s Wilson Theatre during the 1920s,  as well as in Pittsburgh’s baseball stadiums and hockey arenas.
After defining the organ as an orchestra equipped with trumpet, principal, string, and flute sounds, Merryman improvised a musical essay using “Take Me Out To The Ball Game”  as his melodic thesis statement.
In the photograph, ninth grader Brandon Parks poses with organist Merryman at the console of the $25,000 Allen Traveling Organ.
Since its birth in 1938 in Macungie, PA, the Allen Company has built over 80,000 organs on all seven continents, ranging in price from $15,000 to $500,000.
In the Tyrone area, the Presbyterian, Christ Methodist, Wesley Methodist, Warriors Mark Methodist, Bible Baptist, Northwood Chapel, and Assembly Of God churches all are equipped with Allen Organs of assorted sizes and ages.