NFL, NBA and MLB represented in 2019 WPIAL Hall of Fame class

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, February 21, 2019 | 10:53 AM

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As an NFL quarterback, when Charlie Batch studied scouting reports, he would take note whether there were any Western Pennsylvania natives on the other sideline.

“I always made an effort to go out and say hello at some point, whether that was before or after the game,” said Batch, who played 15 seasons in the NFL. “When you’re a WPIAL guy, you follow all of those other guys.”

This summer, the Steel Valley graduate can chat with fellow NFL veterans Bruce Gradkowski, Sean Lee and Paul Posluszny when the four are inducted together into the WPIAL Hall of Fame. The WPIAL revealed a 14-person induction class Thursday that has strong ties to the NFL, but also the NBA and MLB.

The #WPIAL reveals the 2019 Hall of Fame class at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. #TribHSSN https://t.co/qxd1vCGen2

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) February 21, 2019

This 2019 class — the 13th for the WPIAL Hall — includes Braddock basketball star Billy Knight, who played 11 seasons combined in the ABA and NBA and has his number retired at Pitt, and Upper St. Clair baseball’s Sean Casey, who played 12 seasons in the majors, including a stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006.

Recently retired USC football coach Jim Render also was among the honorees revealed Thursday during a news conference at Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum inside the Heinz History Center.

“Makes you wonder why I’m in this hall of fame on the same night as those guys,” Render, who retired in January with a WPIAL-best 406 wins, said with a smile.

The class includes nine athletes, three coaches, two teams, one game official and one contributor. Also selected were North Allegheny’s Stephanie Madia (cross country/track), Avella’s Gary Tranquill (football), Washington/Canon-McMillan’s Guy Montecalvo (football/track), Monaca/Beaver Falls’ Larry Bruno (football) and Connellsville’s John Woodruff (track), game official Joe Hardiman and contributor George Anderson.

The championship teams chosen for induction were 1979 North Hills cross country and 1998 Rochester football.

Chartiers Valley’s Ryan Michael Estatico and Mt. Pleasant’s Dom Giallonardo will receive the John Challis Courage Award.

The class will be honored with a June 1 banquet at the DoubleTree in Green Tree.

Batch, who also attended Thursday’s announcement, quarterbacked Steel Valley in 1990 and ’91. After playing college football at Eastern Michigan, Batch was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 1998.

He later played for the Steelers from 2003-12.

“I didn’t know if this was ever going to happen,” Batch said of joining the WPIAL Hall of Fame. “Having the opportunity to field that call, I was excited.”

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