RAY SWANSON \ Keystoner Trout bring out fathers and sons near Shenango

Let's just say that we didn't "limit out" on the first day of the Pennsylvania Trout Season this year but we didn't get skunked either.
Of the five of us who made the excursion to the Little Shenango near Greenville, we wound up with nine trout, all brookies and brown trout in the 10-to-14-inch range. For the most part, worms were the bait. There were other fish caught, too, but they weren't trout.
It was a beautiful day, and after a cool start the sky turned a beautiful blue and made the day very enjoyable. Geese, and a few mallards, flew over our heads and deer tracks were all over the place.
One of our party said he saw a huge snake in a thicket along the bank of the stream. He didn't stay around long enough to make an identification.
Very good turnout
There was a huge turnout at our favorite stream and cars were lined up for a quarter of a mile along the road. What was great to see was the number of fathers and sons who turned out for the first day. Just like my dad used to do with us before he passed away. Like one elder gentleman used to say, "He never met a fisherman he didn't like."
One of my favorite old-timers was Al Wolgast, a boxer in his younger days and later a radio announcer and sports reporter for the now defunct Farrell Press.
Al passed away a number of years ago but he was always a good friend and one who never failed to show up at Little Shenango on opening day.
He always had a handful of lures and wanted me to try them and share them with my friends. I sure miss him, his jovial smile and his knowledge of sports in general.
I remember doing an interview along with Al on Farrell radio when Jerry Reuss, the fireballing pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates was in town. We had a ball and that was probably one interview Reuss will never forget.
Al was also an expert on the Civil War and he was quite often called upon as an after-dinner speaker on that phase of American history.
Officers retained
The Mercer County Hall of Fame held its election of officers at its March meeting at Billy's Black and Gold in Sharon. All officers were retained for another term.
Jim Tamber will again be the organization's president; Bill Bestwick is first vice president; Bob Davis, second vice president; Jim Raykie, treasurer; Tim Schell, corresponding secretary, and Lynn Saternow, recording secretary;
Denny Eckles, chairman of the Mercer County Hall of Fame golf scramble, said the date for this year's event is June 28 at Tam O' Shanter. Cost is $65 per player. Eckles said he is shooting for a field of 36 teams this year.
Gone for good?
We were sorry to hear that Pennsylvania has lost one of its PGA tour stops, the 84 Lumber Classic, held for the past three years in September.
After announcing that 84 Lumber was going to close 67 stores in 12 states, the company a short time later announced it was bailing out of sponsorship of its Pennsylvania tournament. So Connecticut's Hartford Open locked on to the tournament and will host the event which will have a new sponsor and a new name. The new sponsor is St. Paul Travelers, and will take place June 21-24 at River Highlands.
The final 84 Lumber Classic in Pennsylvania will be played Sept. 14-17 at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County.
Pinch eyes ringers
Professional horseshoes pitcher Herbie Pinch was one of the finest players the area has ever known. He was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame in 1980 after years of competition throughout the United States.
And Herbie was a true fan of the children. They loved him and his techniques with the horseshoes. One of his events included pitching and breaking balloons that were tied to the pegs. He rarely missed.
Herb's son, Bob, of Sharon is taking up where his dad left off.
"I certainly can't duplicate what my dad accomplished," said Bob, "but I traveled enough with him years ago and I learned a lot of his techniques."
Bob will head up the horseshoes pitching event this year in the Mercer County Senior Games that will be held June 3-10. There will be a number of events including bowling, basketball, running, etc. Bob said the horseshoes event will start at 10 a.m. June 5 at Riverside Park in Greenville.