Meet the members of Somerset County Baseball Old-Timers' 2022 Hall of Fame class

Editor's note: This is the second of three parts highlighting the members of the 2022 Somerset County Baseball Old-Timers Hall of Fame class.

The Somerset County Baseball Old-Timers will host the 25th annual Hall of Fame induction picnic and ceremony from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 13, at the Stoystown American Legion Post 257. The induction ceremony will begin at 2 p.m.

First three membersMeet the 1st three members of Somerset County Baseball Old-Timers' 2022 Hall of Fame class

1971 undefeated North Star High School baseball team

Under the guidance of Jack Dickey as the head baseball coach, the Cougars had outstanding defensive strength up the middle, corner skill players, timely hitting and top of the chart pitching. They won the fourth ever PIAA District 5 baseball championship while going through the entire season without a loss. All District 5 cshools at the time were in the same classification. PIAA Inter-district playoff games, better known as the state tournament, were not played back in 1971. After winning the District 5 championship, the season was over. The Cougars beat a highly regarded Everett High School team 12-3.

In 1969 and 1970, Jenner-Boswell Joint High School (JBJ Bears) did not sponsor a baseball team, but starting in the 1970-71 school year, they merged with Forbes High School Jets. In 1969 Forbes High School lost one regular season game. In 1970, the Forbes Jets lost one game in the regular season and then recorded their second loss in a close District 5 title game against Tussey Mountain. Over a three-year span, the athletes from the Jets had a combined record of 22-3.

The undefeated 1971 North Star Cougars baseball team was comprised of Jack Dickey - head coach, Seniors: Greg Stufft, Allan Griffith, Eli Conn, Bob Wain, Tom Miller, Brad Stetler, Dave Bockm, Randy Yoder and Vaughn Worsell; Juniors: Bill Boyer, Greg Miller, Dave Cheek, Joe Pelesky, Joe Zabnoni and Jeff Roberts; Sophomores: John Deaner and Kevin Coleman; Freshmen: Jack Boyer, Tom Zimmerman, Jeff Pyle, Sammy Zimmerman and Jim Zimmerman.

From the 1971 Cougars baseball team, Coach Dickey, Bob Wain, Greg Stuft, John Deaner, Jim Zimmerman, Sam Zimmerman and Tom Zimmerman are all Members of the Somerset County Baseball Old-Timers Hall of Fame.

Taking over the IrishSomerset grad, former VCU skipper Stiffler named head coach at Notre Dame

Charles R. Pipta

Born on Aug. 31, 1926, Charles R. Pipta played and coached in the Somerset County Baseball League from the early-1950's through the late ‘60s, with his successful playing days spent in the uniform of the Jerome Cardinals.

The early days of Pipta’s playing career began in the ranks of the Jerome Little League. Following subsequent military service, he suited up as a starting pitcher for the Cardinals while also contributing to the team with his bat. A career highlight came in a winning effort pitching for the Cardinals in the Shaughnessy playoffs while off the field he was busy helping raise money along with teammates for a brand new baseball field for their beloved team to play on.

A coaching career was the next step for Pipta, managing the Jerome Little League team along with coach Orange Thomas. During this period, Pipta again raised funds, this time for the Jerome American Legion. Young players managed during this time included Doug Telenko, Ron and Jeff Hostetler, Bob Gironda, Rick Todero, Stan Nosal, coach Thomas’ son Larry Thomas, plus his own son, Rob Pipta. Coaching the team to a league title in 1969, Pipta always taught his players the importance of being good teammates and the value of dedicated teamwork.

When not coaching, Pipta was an umpire in both the Jerome Little League and Somerset County Baseball League. A strong advocate for all sports, Pipta was a member of the Conemaugh Township School Board, and spent free time at every home baseball game, perched in right field on his lawn chair, wearing his Conemaugh Township baseball cap gifted to him by Sam Zambanini.

Following the conclusion of Pipta’s baseball career, he was employed at the U.S. Steel Johnstown Works, and together with his wife Rosemary, had five children; Judy, Sharon, Gary, Rob, and Patty. Charles passed away on April 9, 2007, and was buried wearing the aforementioned Conemaugh Township ball cap, a final sign of dedication to his team.

Charles Pipta would be very proud and honored by being inducted into the Somerset County Hall of Fame, and his family would like to thank cousin Gloria Zambanini, her son Sam, and Mr. Tom Telenko for helping provide the above information. Without their assistance the best memory of their father’s baseball career would have come in the form of a quote, “Kids, for every foul ball you get and return to the shed, you get a nickel.”

Thomas 'Turk' Zimmerman

Thomas “Turk” Zimmerman started playing baseball at the age of 8 in the Stoystown Baseball League where he hit over .600 in his last three years.

In 1971, he played for the newly formed Somerset County Minor League for the Forbes baseball team, where they won the championship with a 10-1 record.

He was a member of the 1971 District 5 championship North Star team as a freshman. As a sophomore on the North Star High School baseball team, he threw a no-hitter against Rockwood in his first high school game ever pitched. Turk played his high school career for North Star pitching and at first base, hitting near .400 every year.

In 1973, he played American Legion ball for Boswell with the late Nathan Codispoti as coach, and batted near .400 both years, before moving on to the Johnstown Junior League, where he played for Monte Carlo.

While there, he pitched and played first base, batting .340. He was selected to play for the Hilltop Boys Club in the 4-team All-Star playoff to represent Johnstown in the AAABA Tournament.

Zimmerman attended Frederick Community College in the 1974-1976 seasons. While at Frederick, he played first base and pitched. In 1975, he led the team in batting with a .400 average (11th in JUCO), 25 RBIs (2nd in JUCO), and earned Honorable Mention Team in Region 20. He also was selected in 1976 to the Region 20 All-Tournament Team with the Region 20 JUCO tournament.

He finished his playing career at UPJ as a relief pitcher in the spring of 1977. Also in 1977, he helped Nathan Codispoti form the new Somerset County Junior Legion League and coached the Stoystown Jets to the District 24 Sectional Championship.

In 1978, the Stoystown Jets were District 24 Regional champs. He received the American League Baseball Citation for setting an example for boys through his “competing, coaching, and continued athletic achievements,” signed by the Commissioner of Baseball, Bernie Kuhns and the National Legion Commander. He returned to baseball and played one year for the Double Z Team in the Cambria-Somerset County League.

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This article originally appeared on The Daily American: 9 members set to join Somerset County Baseball Old-Timers Hall of Fame