Len Rauch – Bishop Ludden High-School and LeMoyne College basketball and baseball standout
– Nini Sgroi – Outstanding bowler who distinguished himself during the 1960’s with a composite average of 203
– Larry Hart – Outstanding multi-sport high school coach for both boys and girls sports at Tully, West Genesee and Homer
– Frank DiChristina – Long-time varsity baseball coach at Chittenango and key administrator for Section 3 for 52 years
– Chuck Bisesi – High-school basketball star at St. Lucy’s and later very successful coach
– Joan Skiff – (Deceased) – Top Central New York skier and golfer
– William Dennis “Doc” Scanlan – Major League baseball career ran from 1903 to 1911
Six men and one woman will be inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 18, at Drumlins Country Club.
The Class of 2010 was announced June 21 at the organization’s exhibit location at Driver’s Village in North Syracuse.
The 24th Class of the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame includes Chuck Bisesi, a high school basketball star at St. Lucy’s and later a successful coach; Frank DiChristina, longtime varsity baseball coach at Chittenango and key administrator for Section 3 for 52 years; Larry Hart, a multi-sport high school coach for both boys’ and girls’ sports at Tully, West Genesee and Homer; Len Rauch, Bishop Ludden High School and Le Moyne College basketball and baseball star; Nini Sgroi, outstanding bowler who compiled a composite average of 203 during the 1960s; and the late Joan Skiff, a top Central New York skier and golfer.
The 2010 Old-Timer’s Inductee is William Dennis “Doc” Scanlan, who pitched with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Having been raised on Turtle Street, Scanlan attended Sacred Heart Academy before going pro.
His major-league career ran from 1903 to 1911, in which he completed an astounding 102 of 149 starts, had 15 shutouts and a sparkling career earned-run average of 3.00. Scanlan died in 1949 at the age of 68.
The other five guys going into the hall this fall are all living legends.
You can’t mention the storied Parochial Basketball League without mentioning Chuck Bisesi. At St. Lucy’s, Bisesi’s 1,480 points over his high-school career have never been surpassed. He once scored 63 points in a game against St. Patrick’s. Bisesi later went on to coach at Oswego’s Bishop Cunningham High where his teams won five division titles.
At Chittenango High School, Frank DiChristina served as athletic director and coached baseball, football, cross country and wrestling. As AD, he expanded the school’s sports programs from 10 to 60. His 41 Chittenango High baseball teams (1956-1997) won more than 350 games and five Tri-Valley titles.
At Homer, West Genesee and Tully, Larry Hart oversaw boys’ teams in football, basketball and lacrosse and girls’ teams in soccer, basketball and track. Over 42 years, Hart coached 713 games or meets with a combined record of 544-159-10. He coached 28 seasons of lacrosse at junior high, junior varsity, varsity, club and college levels, and helmed West Genesee’s first winning lax squads in 1964 and 1965. Hart started the lacrosse program at Tully in 1969 and the girls track program in 1975.
From 1987 to 1991, basketball and baseball star Len Rauch attended Bishop Ludden High School where he excelled at hoops under Hall of Fame Coach Gerry Wilcox.
At Ludden, Rauch was a two-time All-City selection, Post-Standard All-City and All- State honoree. He led the Gaelic Knights to the State Class A championship game and was nominated to the prestigious McDonald’s All-American High School Team. He also starred for the Ludden baseball team.
At Le Moyne College Rauch long held the Dolphins’ record from 1991 — broken this year — as all-time leading scorer (1,876 points) and all-time rebounder (1,151).
Despite his humble demeanor, Anthony “Nini” Sgroi was one of Syracuse’s winningest bowlers. He made local bowling history by winning back to back Herald Masters Tournaments in 1965 and 1966.
In 1965 he defeated pro bowler Bob Strampe in an exhibition at the Eastwood Sport Center.
Sgroi held the record for most consecutive match plays wins (17) until 2009, when Don Brush toppled it. Sgroi was a favorite winner on local televised bowling – Syracuse Bowls – appearing 22 times.
The 2010 Class brings the total number of inductees to 181 since the 1987 inception of the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.
All inductees will be installed at a dinner at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at Drumlins Country Club.
For tickets, which cost $60 per person, call Bill Motto at 657-3718.