Lorain Sports Hall of Fame: Clearview coaching legends highlight induction banquet

VERMILION — It was a night for the Clippers at the 54th Lorain Sports Hall of Fame at German's Villa on Saturday night. Clearview's 1972 state runner-up football team and two of its legendary coaches — John Szalay and the late Tom Hoch — were inducted along with four alumni of Admiral King, one from Lorain Catholic and one from Southview. George Ferlic (1965), Matt Rositano (2000), Ryan McCartney (2003) and J.T. Feldcamp (2007) represented the Admirals. Jeff Perkins (1982) graduated from Southview and Jason DuVall (1993) was from Lorain Catholic. The Hall of Fame surprised Tim Alcorn, the voice of the Cavaliers, with a special induction Friday. "This is just incredible," said Alcorn in an impromptu speech that was taped Friday and shown to the crowd of close to 400. "Lorain sports has always been incredibly special. I am unbelievably honored by this." It was a night to remember. Each inductee was highlighted with a special video from teammates, coaches and family prior to their induction speech. The latest class brings the total individual inductees to 407 along with 41 teams. In 1972, the first year for the state football playoffs, Clearview lost 20-14 to Marion Pleasant in a heartbreaking championship game on a last-second 47-yard scooped fumble and return for a touchdown. In fact, Pleasant scored twice on fumble returns, the first going 95 yards after the Clippers had driven inside the 5-yard line hoping to extend an 8-6 lead. Instead, Marion Pleasant managed to extend its winning streak to 38 games. "I've watched that film hundreds of times," Clearview coach Wayne Ross said prior to the ceremony. "(Quarterback Larry Fortner) was down before the fumble but there weren't any reviews in those days. We completely outplayed them. We were the better team." The '72 Clippers (10-2) rolled to an 18-0 win over Middletown Fenwick in the semifinal. The roster was a who's who of Clearview athletes, including Fortner, Larry Harris, Otis Jenkins and Don Hitchens among the 31 players. Ross and athletic director and famed basketball coach Bob Walsh were among the coaches. Hoch was an assistant on the team and Szalay a starting receiver. Hoch started at Clearview in 1970 and took over as head coach in 1974 on the recommendation of Ross. He finished 147-69-4 for the Clippers. He died of a heart attack while coaching in 1997 and the Clearview field is now named in his honor. Hoch, who had only three losing seasons in his 23 years, led Clearview to 10 league championships and 10 playoff appearances. "My dad is credited with 147 wins but he had an impact on thousands of people," said his son, Aaron, in accepting the induction. "I count those as victories too." Szalay was Clearview's basketball coach for 29 seasons, racking up 401 wins. He was a graduate of Clearview and played on the 1974 state championship team coached by Walsh. After Walsh retired from coaching, Szalay asked him to become an assistant. Szalay won three district titles and 14 league championships during his career. "For me to be inducted in the same class with my good friend Tom Hoch and the 1972 Clearview football team makes it even more special," Szalay said. "I think of the people who helped me both on and off the court. I've been associated with just an amazing group of people." Ferlic played football and basketball for the Admirals and continued his football career at Findlay. He played on the 1965 Admiral King basketball team that stopped Elyria's eight-year reign as district champions. Al McConihe was the coach and Ferlic, Doug Grayson, Rosario Pagan and Ron Erdy were the stars of that team that advanced to the regional final. Rositano, the nephew of Hall of Fame basketball coach John Rositano, has been Amherst's baseball coach for the past dozen years and has won over 200 games. He played football, basketball and baseball for the Admirals, setting passing records and baseball marks. He was a first-team All-Ohio outfielder, once stealing 76 consecutive bases, an Ohio High School Athletic Association record. He went on to play at Bowling Green. He thanked his parents for his competitive drive and he noted his grandfather, Bruno, was always at his games and practices. Bruno Rositano turns 93 on Monday. McCartney was an outstanding tennis player at both Admiral King and Baldwin Wallace. He's also an accomplished distance runner, competing not only locally but in the Boston Marathon. He was a four-year starting singles player at King, finishing with a 63-27 record. At Baldwin Wallace, he was 54-19. Feldcamp was an outstanding catcher, leading the Admirals to a 22-4 overall record that included a perfect 11-0 mark in the Lake Erie League his senior season. He batted .492 with 26 RBIs that year and went to play at Ohio Dominican. Perkins was a two-way football player at Southview and later starred on the rugby field at Akron. He is the first rugby player to be inducted into Lorain's Hall of Fame. Duvall played baseball at Lorain Catholic, helping the Spartans to a runner-up finish at the 1990 state tournament. He went on to have a successful career at Xavier and has returned to coach youth baseball in the city. Steve Dury, a longtime committee member, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Lorain High's Brenna Goodman and Clearview's Ayden Cruz were named the J. Ed Uland Memorial Award winners. They both received $1000 scholarships. Eva Bender (Clearview) and Evan Hricovec (Lorain) each received $500 scholarships by the Hall of Fame. Jay Ferguson filled in for Alcorn as master of ceremonies. Alcorn was busy announcing the Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game. Contact Tim Gebhardt at (440) 329-7135 or timothygeb@msn.com.