(The Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremonies March 22. Each day this week, biographies of inductees and honorees will be published.)
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT
ANTHRACITE STEAM FIRE CO. NO 1
The Anthracite was one of the original sponsors when the Mount Carmel Area Junior Baseball League played its first game in 1948 and remains as the only organization to sponsor a team every year since the inaugural season.
The Firemen had the honor of playing in the league's first game on June 14, 1948, at the Silver Bowl and posted its first league victory with a 6-5 win over the Social Civic Club.
Anthracite was crowned as the first league champions followinga 5-4 victory over the Moose in a playoff game before an estimated crowd of 2,500.
Since that first season, the team has won titles in 1950, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1972, 1982 and 1991, and finished second in 1957, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1996, 2005 and 2006.
On March 17, 1950 the Northumberland County Board of Commissioners leased a parcel of land to the company to be used for recreational purposes. A baseball field and picnic sheds were erected in the northern end of the borough between Market and Oak streets.
The land was donated to the borough to be used for recreational purposes in January 1971. Still known as the Anthracite Field, it is the only ballpark in the borough and is still used today for league games and tournaments.
Anthracite's annual MVP Awards presented following the junior league championship series are named in honor of the team's long-time manager Harold "Ducky" Dettrey.
2014 will mark the 67th year of sponsorship by the Anthracite.
SPECAIL ACHIEVEMENT
ROBERT C. VEACH
Bob Veach served as an assistant football coach from 1985 thru the 2012 football season at Mount Carmel Area. He began as a freshman football coach under head coach Jazz
Diminick and moved to the varsity level in 1993 under coach Whitey Williams.
Veach worked mostly with defensive backs and running backs during his tenure. and was on board for all five state championships. His knowledge and expertise were certainly a great part in the Tornadoes success during his years with the varsity..
Prior to his coaching stint, Veach was a starting running back from 1966 thru '68.
Those teams won 31 games, lost three and earned one Southern Division championship. He rushed for 1,203 yards druring his senior season and 2,138 in his career.
Veach then went on to start at Susquehanna University and established 15 career records led by his 3,524 all purpose yards. He was the Clyde R. Spitzner Memorial Award winner in 1973 and was 1971's Outstanding Offensive Player. He was inducted into the Susquehanna University Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Ed Romance Chapter Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
He is married to the former Donna Kuzo and still maintains his home in Mount Carmel. Sons Bob, Brett and Jon all played football at Mount Carmel Area.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT
ALISON VARANO
Ali Varano is only the 11th female to surpass the 1,000-point plateau in Mount Carmel Area girls basketball history.
She surpassed 1,200 points in her career and recorded more than 400 steals, 500 rebounds and 225 assists.
In addition to her individual achievements, she was a vital part of Mount Carmel Area's four consecutive District 4 Championships in 2011, '12, '13 and '14.
During that time, the team has also won four consecutive Heartland II championships and rounded that out with the overall leaguechampionship this season.
Varano, and her mother, head coach Lisa Varano, were part of 97 victories, while losing only 14 times during their time together.
She is the daughter of Rob and Lisa Varano.