HAZEL MANOR-2 WINS 2016-17 E.C.

MENS POOL
LEAGUE TITLE
The Hazel Manor-2 Mens Pool team went across the old rinky-dink Koppel Bridge in pursuit of
a crown.
In his first year as team captain, Phil Yost summoned his troops to the McDowells Inn Tuesday
night.

It was Jim OLearys 90th birthday. His grand children were there along with a half dozen
Happy Birthday balloons.
The battle plan was to have OLeary play in the final game. Tom Humphrey would be his
partner.

The strategy worked like a charm. Humphrey came through, making the money 8-Ball to win
the match 7-4.
Like icing on a birthday cake, it capped the championship for Hazel Manor-2, clinching the
series 3-1 over Pagleys-2.

Just like we drew it up on the chalkboard Yost said.

Humphrey had a playoff high four Game 7 Wins, one Table Run and won the clinching game in
all 3 playoff series.
OLeary won eight games in the Finals and was the only player in the Championship Series
with two Game 7 Wins.

Pagleys-2 won the opening match of the Finals 7-4, before the Champs rebounded with 7-5, 7-
5 and 7-4 wins.
A mid-season closing of Pagleys Pour House resulted in the Pagleys-2 team playing home
matches at McDowells.

John Mansell of Pagleys-2 had a league record five Table Runs during the playoffs, including
two in the Finals.
With a league high seven runs in the regular season, Mansell set the all-time league record
with 12 overall runs.

League MVP honors are awarded annually for the regular season, playoffs and Championship
Series.
Mansell swept all three awards becoming the first player in league history to win a Triple
Crown MVP award.

You cant underestimate the significance of his accomplishment Yost said.

For the Champs, three players got Honorable Mentions. Terry Hill had a Championship Series
high nine game wins.
Eric Buchanan made the winning 8-ball shot in a series high six games and made the only 8-
ball break in the playoffs.
Ralph Raisley ran the rack three times overall in the playoffs.

Hazel Manor-2 advanced to the Finals by first sweeping Pagleys-1, 7-6 and 7-6, then Hog Wild
7-4 and 7-3.
Pagleys-2 beat Shelby-1, 7-5 and 7-5, then eliminated Breakers Pub 7-3 and 7-2.
Bob Emes of Pagleys-2 had three Table Runs during the playoffs. Other players with one
playoff Run each were:
Steve Karenbauer, Justin Patterson, Shay Coccia and Damon Biego.

It was the second time in three years that Koppel McDowells provided a safe haven for a bar
closed in Ellwood City.
McDowells previously accommodated two teams after My House Bar was closed in the 2013-
14 pool season.

Yost was named Coach of the Year Jim Fusco was referee during the Finals ...
Ron Lee held the old league record of 10 MVP points with 10 overall Table Runs in 2010-11.

Hazel Manor-2 (27-3 overall record) Red Division Champions Roster:

Captain Phil Yost, Co-captain Eric Buchanan, Jim OLeary, Ralph Raisley, Joe Sheeler, Don
Humphrey,
Tom Humphrey, Frank DeGennaro, Terry Hill, Marc Hill, Al Jerome and Ty Patterson

Pagleys-2 (21-9) Blue Division Champions: Captain Rocky Ierino, Donnie Ray Frelin, Jamie
Myers, Steve Karenbauer,
Bob Emes, John Mansell, Chris Marecic, Ed Mihalko, Wolf DeSalvo, Jack Gittings, Jon
Minteer and Bill Gossick

Top 10 overall ranked players were: 1 John Mansell, 2 Justin Patterson, 3 R.C. Baker,
4 Bob Emes,
5 Ralph Raisley, 6 Steve Karenbauer, 7 Shay Coccia, 8 Don Humphrey, 9 John Caccia
and 10 Wolf DeSalvo