Local Sports
Rhodes avoids late crash at TVR
CENTRAL CITY — Scott Rhodes was ready to settle for a fourth-place finish in the 25-lap late model feature Saturday night at Thunder Valley Raceway.
But when front-runner Wayne Johnson was spun out by second-place runner Randy Burkholder, collecting third-place Shawn Claar in the final turn of the race, Rhodes came through the bedlam to take the checkered flag.
“I would always rather race to the front, but the way things have been going lately, we’ll take a win anyway I can get it,” the Somerset driver said.
Rhodes began the race from the seventh starting spot, behind Johnstown’s Gene Kain, who started on the pole.
Claar passed Kain for the lead on the first lap, then Johnson got by Claar on Lap 3 and held on to the front spot until the final circuit.
Doug Glessner was second, followed by Chris Rhodes, the winner the last time TVR was in action two weeks ago.
Yvette Hahn and Jim Parson Jr. rounded out the top five.
There were five caution flags in the race.
Steve Everhart of Canoe Creek, who was not in the field Saturday night, and Scott Rhodes were tied for the points lead prior to Saturday’s racing action.
The four-cylinder main event featured plenty of action, including a dramatic stoppage of the action on the track when Karl Bailey of Acosta flipped his No. 11 three times while trying to maneuver between turns 1 and 2.
Bailey was not badly injured, but his car was removed on a flatbed truck.
With six additional yellow flags, the nearly 45-minute feature was finally won by Chris Booher of Berlin. Booher became the track’s all-time leading four-cylinder winner with his 15th career victory.
With the length of the race, Booher, who started third, was beginning to worry about whether he would run out of gas before the feature ended.
“I was thinking about whether we might need a fuel stop,” Booher said in Victory Lane.
Jamie Rosenberger was second, followed by Ed Vogel, points leader Martin Vinosky and Ray Wright.
The semi-late and pure stock features were not completed by The Tribune-Democrat’s press deadline.
Heat winners included: Claar and Scott Rhodes in the late models; Jeff Benson and Greg Cornell Jr. in the semi-lates; Bill Replogle and Bow Ray Walyko in the pure stocks; and, Vinosky and Booher in the four-cylinders.
Thunder Valley will be back in action next Saturday with the second Willie Will Memorial Windmill 100 featuring all four race divisions running 25-lap features.
The races are dedicated to Thunder Valley patriarch Will, who built and opened the raceway in 1997.
The late model race will pay $1,500 to win and the semi-late feature winner will receive $400. The pure stock winner will get $250 and the four-cylinder race will pay $150 to win.
Current track promoter Joe Padula Sr. had emergency double bypass heart surgery two weeks ago. Instead of taking his usual position down on the track, Padula was in the press box helping to score the races.
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Opening statement
Delweld opened defense of its AAABA League playoff title in dominating fashion on Wednesday night at Point Stadium.
Right-handed pitcher Carter Lehman tossed a seven-hit shutout as Delweld won 10-0 over regular-season champion Martella’s Pharmacy in Game 1 of a best-of-5 series. The abbreviated game went seven innings due to the mercy rule. -
Taylor returns to role in ring
Andres Taylor recently spent a couple days filming a scene for the upcoming motion picture “One For the Money” in Pittsburgh.
His role was minor. While the Johnstown boxer appreciated the “face time” he received in front of the camera, Taylor is ready to return to his real job. -
Colbert signs 5-year contract extension
Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert signed a five-year contract extension Wednesday, less than a week after the team re-signed coach Mike Tomlin through the 2012 season.
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AAABA final series: Martella's, Delweld face off tonight
The formalities are over. Defending playoff champion Delweld and current regular-season champ Martella’s Pharmacy will play Game 1 of the best-of-5 AAABA League title series tonight at Point Stadium (7 p.m.).
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St. Francis will induct 12 into sports hall of fame
Jess Zinobile became the most productive women’s basketball player in St. Francis University history during her four years at the Loretto school (1996-2000).
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Young wrestlers get instruction
The setting and sounds were familiar, Pat Pecora enthusiastically shouting out instructions and encouragement as a group of young wrestlers watched and listened.
But this time the veteran Pitt-Johnstown wrestling coach was on the mat at Conemaugh Township High School’s gym during the middle of a heat wave rather than coaching on an icy winter night in Richland Township. -
Martella's, Delweld will contest AAABA title
Sam Watkins put an exclamation point on the effort, knocking out a two-RBI single off the left-field screen to advance his Martella’s Pharmacy team to the Johnstown AAABA League championship series with a 10-0 victory over Roxberry Creamery on Monday night in the opener of a Point Stadium doubleheader.
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Martella's takes series lead
Top-seeded Martella’s Pharmacy opened the AAABA League playoffs Friday night by putting together two big innings en route to an 11-4 win over Roxberry Creamery at Point Stadium.
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