Monessen High School

Charleroi, Monessen alums were friends Friday, are rivals today

MONESSEN — There were many smiles Friday on players at a pre-game social who will take the field today in the first Charleroi-Monessen alumni baseball game.

But players from both sides vowed that their game faces will be on when the first pitch at the fund-raising event is thrown at 5 p.m. at Vets Field in Charleroi.

Team members representing both sides of the cross-river rivalry got together at the Monessen Elks Club Friday to have dinner and start some chatter.

"Our guys want to win," said Monessen varsity baseball assistant coach Jim Smith, a Monessen police officer. "These alumni things start off that it's all about winning the game. But, by the time the game gets here, you appreciate the people that you're playing with."

Smith and Charleroi Area varsity baseball assistant and head football coach Luke Mollis tossed around the idea of an alumni baseball game several months ago.

Smith and Mollis played for their respective sides in the recent Charleroi-Monessen alumni football game.

The football game was a success, so the two pushed forward with the alumni baseball game.

The players said they are primed to face off again on the ballfield.

"As a player, I never beat Charleroi. When I was in high school, we were in the same section," Smith said. "As a coach, in the last couple years, we've been able to beat them. We scrimmage one another."

Mollis, who was a standout Charleroi catcher, said he is eager to be behind the plate again.

"This is a little bit more lax," he said, comparing the pre-game atmosphere to the alumni football game's buildup. "There's not as big of a concern with getting hurt. But, guys are still going to go out there, do their best, and try to win."

Monessen has 20 players on its alumni roster.

Charleroi is bringing about two dozen to the plate.

Some of the players were once teammates, as the Charleroi Legion team formerly comprised Greyhounds and Cougars.

Smith said, rivalry aside, both sides are committed to raising money for the kids representing the schools now.

"With everything getting cut for education, our baseball budget's been cut. We'd like to be able to send some of our kids to camps to deal with other coaches," Smith said.

The baseball players that will take the field tonight each made donations to the cause, and the event proceeds will be divided between the Charleroi and Monessen high school teams.

Vets Memorial Day events planned in Monessen - Pittsburgh Tribune ...

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At noon today, the American Legion Thomas McKee Post 28 and VFW Post 1190 will present the Monessen Memorial Day Program at the Monessen War Veterans Memorial in Monessen City Park.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be presented in Monessen High School auditorium.

This year's theme is "Pray for all American Veterans and World Peace."

Two past commanders of Legion Post 28, John Billy and retired Judge Gilfert M. Mihalich, will serve as masters of ceremonies.

The Monessen Veterans Color Guard, consisting of Gus August, Frank Gaudio, Frank Maiolini, Robert Mascetta, James Pallini, John Cheroki and Blain Simole, will present the colors.

The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Boy Scouts, and the singing of the national anthem and "God Bless America" will be presented by Tyra Chiaravlle, Weneisha Young and Crystal Vanpolle, all Monessen High School students.

Autum Rae Pawelec and Marcus Patric Yuille, two Monessen High School seniors, will present patriotic remarks.

The Rev. Fred Pfeil of St. Michael Syrian Orthodox Church will present the invocation and benediction. Pfeil is an Navy veteran.

Other traditional participants are Mary Jo Smith, mayor of Monessen; Rep. Ted Harhai; and poet James Restivo, quarternaster of VFW Post 1190.

The Mid Mon Valley Shipmates will present the "Two Bell Ceremony."

As a tribute to all American veterans, Greg Dacko, commander of Post 28 and Leonard Babinski, 2nd vice commander VFW Post 1190, will perform the traditional placing of a memorial wreath.

The main speakers are Thomas Persico, 2nd vice commander, Post 28; and James Pallini, commander, VFW Post 1190.

The subject of their presentation is veteran and hero Robert A. Lhota, who died in the Vietnam War.

Persico and James Pallini were close friends and will relate their experiences and memories of Lhota, a Monessen native.

Mihalich will present the closing remarks and make a Monessen veterans historic announcement.

On May 19, Legion Post 28 and VFW Post 1190 created the Monessen War Veterans Memorial Trust.

The trust created a entity that will provide preservation and maintenance of Monessen war veterans memorials.

For about 60 years, Legion Post 28 and VFW Post 1190 have promoted veterans activities, including the construction and maintenance of memorials. The continued maintenance, as well as the continued existence of these veterans organizations, are threatened by numerous deaths of aging veterans and the advanced age of surviving active veterans.

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