56ers Ousted By Somerset
July 11-13, 2005
The Richland-Windber 56ers won a first round playoff game Monday, knocking off Lilly/Loretto 13-1, but was then swept by Somerset two games to none in their best-of-three series Tuesday and Wednesday, 9-3, and 9-8. A 2005 season wrapup will be published later this week. Stories for all three playoff games are available online at The Somerset Daily American and at The Johnstown Tribune Democrat. Complete box scores for all 2005 games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

56ers Drop FInal Two Contests; Will Open Playoffs On The Road
July 11, 2005
The Richland-Windber 56ers dropped their final two regular season contests, 11-0 to Claysburg, and 6-5 to Stoystown, to finish the season at 11-11. The losses dropped the 56ers from fifth place to seventh, and bumped them out of a first round playoff bye. The 56ers now face a one-game playoff with 10th seeded Lilly/Loretto on Monday June 11th at 5:30 pm at Forest Hills High School field. Highland Park is unavailable, but the St. Michael Legion team offered the use of their facility to the 56ers. Thanks goes out to all those associated with St. Michael American Legion Baseball, especially Denny Gramling, Mike Cornell, and Matt Gramling for the gracious gesture. Complete box scores for all 2005 games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

56ers Split Weekday Doubleheader
July 6, 2005
NORTHERN CAMBRIA, PA - The Richland-Windber 56ers earned a split in a rare weeknight doubleheader, as they defeated Spangler Legion 11-4, Wednesday night. The 56ers lost at home earlier in the evening to the first-place Saint Michael Saints, 8-6. The loss snapped the 'Sixers five-game winning streak. Richland-Windber then took to the highway to play a 9:30pm contest under the lights in Spangler in a makeup contest. The game was originally scheduled for June 5th at Highland Park, so the 56ers played the game as the home team. Craig Molchany quickly gave the sixers the lead as he hit a two-run single. as part of a four-run first inning. Leading 8-3, the 56ers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth as Craig Montag hit a pinch-hit three-run home run to left field. Paul Reily, Mike Holden and Matt Beres all had two hits each, while Nick Samko added a triple. Brad Davis (pictured at left) went the distance, scattering nine hits, to earn the complete game victory.

Earlier in the evening, St. Michael snapped the 56ers winning streak with a come from behind 8-6 victory. The Saints trailed 4-1, but tallied five runs in the fifth inning off four walks and a Jeff Rolla double to take a 6-4 lead. Richland-Windber tied the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the frame, as Craig Montag hit a sacrifice fly to score Eric Wingard, and Shaun Stapleton scored on a wild pitch. However, St. Michael added single runs in the sixth and seventh to take the win. Stapleton and Wingard finished with two hits each. The 56ers will return to action on Friday when they travel to Claysburg for two key games with the Bulldogs. Game time is 5:30 for the first game, which is the completion of the June 29th game which is tied at 6-6 with the 56ers at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Complete box scores for all 2005 games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page. (Pictured at right - Ben Leonard dives back in safely at first as St. Michael's Josh Hershberger applies a tag.)

Big First Inning Leads To Win At Bedford
July 5, 2005
BEDFORD, PA - The Richland-Windber 56ers continued to play good baseball, as they knocked off Bedford 17-8 Tuesday evening at Bedford High School field. The 56ers scored seven runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back as they pounded out 15 hits against the Hurricanes. Bedford closed the gap to 10-7 in the fourth, but Craig Montag came on to bail Eric Wingard out of a two-out bases loaded jam, getting a strikeout to end the threat. Montag worked the remainder of the game to earn the save. Craig Molchany then gave the 56ers some breathing room as he hit a two-run opposite field home run over the screen in left to put the 56ers up by five 12-7 in the top of the fifth inning. (Pictured at left - Bedford's Adam Miller dives safely across home plate as Shaun Stapleton snags a high throw at the plate in the bottom of the first inning).

Nick Samko paced the 56ers with three hits and an RBI, while Josh Szelong had two hits and four RBI. Shaun Stapleton, Paul Reilly, and Josh Bodenschatz also had two hits each as part of a 15 hit attack. Bodenschatz also tripled while Szelong had a double. The 56ers will play on Wednesday at home against St. Michael, and will then travel up 219 to Spangler to play Spangler Legion in a 9:00pm contest. Complete box scores for all 2005 games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

56ers Climb Back To .500
July 4, 2005
JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Richland-Windber 56ers evened their CCALL record at .500 (8-8) as they knocked off the visiting Portage Beavers, 13-6, in a Fourth of July contest at Highland Park Monday afternoon. The 56ers banged out 16 hits in the victory, and were led by seven players who all hit safely twice. Kyle Ronan (out on the steal attempt at left) led the way with two hits and a pair of RBI. Also Craig Molchany, Paul Reilly, Mike Holden, Josh Bodenschatz, Josh Repko, and Josh Szelong had two hits each. Holden and Nick Samko each tripled while Bodenschatz doubled twice and Erik Wingard also rapped a double for the 56ers.

Josh Szelong (on the mound) returned from an injury to throw five solid innings and pick up the win. Szelong allowed just one run in his five innings of work, while fanning six Beavers. Szelong was relieved by Brad Davis who worked the sixth and seventh innings. The 56ers will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Bedford for a key league matchup with the Hurricanes. Complete box scores for all 2005 games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Stapleton, Reilly Lead 56ers To Third Straight Win
July 3, 2005
LILLY, PA - The Richland-Windber 56ers won their third game in a row, as they edged CCALL Central division rival Lilly/Loretto 6-5, Sunday evening. The game was originally scheduled for July 1st, but an Independence Day parade in Lilly and scheduling conflicts bumped the contest back two days. Sunday's regular scheduled game between the 56ers and Stoystown Stars was postponed due to the Stars not having enough players. The game will be rescheduled for later in the week. The 56ers were led by Shaun Stapleton (shown leading off third base). Stapleton batted 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs as the 56ers improved to 7-8 on the season. The win was a pivotal victory, as RW now has six games to play, and one game to finish, before the end of the season on July 8th.

Paul Reilly (photo on right) also had two hits during the contest, while Craig Molchany added two RBIs. Brad Dale worked all seven innings, scattering eight hits while fanning six to claim the victory on the mound. On Wednesday June 29th, the 56ers rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie Claysburg 6-6 before lightning halted play. The game will be picked up and completed on July 8th at Claysburg immediately preceding a regularly scheduled contest. Complete box scores for all 2005 games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

56er's Win Second Straight
June 27, 2005
SIDMAN, PA - The Richland-Windber 56ers won their second consecutive game, Monday night, knocking off the first-place St. Michael Saints, 8-5. Brad Dale led the way with a 5-for-5 effort at the plate, as the 56ers rapped out 18 singles in the win. The 56ers built an 8-0 lead as Brad Davis threw five shutout innings. Davis was touched up for five runs in the sixth inning, but big lefty Craig Molchany came on to get a groundout to end the inning. Eric Wingard threw a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his second consecutive save. The next game for the 56ers is at Highland Park on Wednesday June 29th when they host Claysburg at 6:00pm.

Molchany's Blast Helps RW To Much Needed Victory
June 25-26, 2005
PORTAGE, PA - Craig Molchany's (photo on left) two run home run in the top of the fifth helped Richland-Windber to a 6-4 win over Portage on Sunday, June 26th. The win salvaged a double-header with the Beavers, who scored an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning in the first game, on a single by Zack McCabe. Jake Lehman picked up the win, tossing six innings. Eric Wingard earned the save, by working the seventh.

The win snapped a three game skid, as the 'Sixers lost to Somerset on Saturday (due to an inury forfeit), and then also dropped a non-league contest with Shiloh Shockers Legion (York County). In Sunday's first game with Portage, the 56ers wasted another quality start by Brad Dale (pictured, right), who allowed just one earned run in the contest.
Complete box scores for all games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Szelong's Single Rallies 56ers
June 21-22, 2005
JOHNSTOWN, PA - Josh Szelong's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh lifted Richland-Windber to an 11-10 come from behind win over Lilly/Loretto on Wednesday night. The 56ers scored five runs in the last frame, on five hits and one throwing error. Brad Dale worked the final four innings in relief of Jake Lehman to earn the victory. Dale allowed just three runs (one earned) on eight hits and struck out three. The win snapped a three game losing streak by the 56ers, who also lost to St. Michael 16-1 on Tuesday.

56er's Drop Consecutive Games
June 19-20, 2005
The Richland-Windber 56ers lost to Conemaugh-Valley Johnstown on Sunday, 7-1. CVJ's Tim Fetzer won a pitching duel with RW's Brad Dale, allowing just four hits, and keeping the 56ers off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The 56ers bats came to life against Ebensburg, Monday night, as they rapped out 16 hits. However, Matt Hite's two-run double in the bottom of the eight off of Nick Samko gave Post 363 the win, 8-7. The 56ers had gained the lead in the top of the frame as Paul Reilly snapped a 5-5 tie with a two-run single off of winner, Devin Gettings, who relieved TJ Speicher. The 56ers play next on Tuesday June 21st at St. Michael.

Lehman Goes The Distance In win Over Claysburg
June 15, 2005
JOHNSTOWN, PA - Richland Windber got back on the winning track as they defeated Cambria County Legion Central Division rival Claysburg 8-5 Wednesday night at Highland Park. Jake Lehman (pictured at left) went the distance on the mound to earn the win. Lehman scattered 12 hits and allowed five runs, only three of which were earned, and also fanned four hitters.

The 56ers offense clicked once again, as they collected 12 hits. Shaun Stapleton (pictured at right) and Eric Wingard led the way, as each tripled and singled and drove in two runs and three runs, respectively. Josh Szelong and Josh Bodenschatz also doubled while John Kaiser and Nick Samko had two hits apiece as the squad evened their record at 3-3. Claysburg's Nate Hale had three hits, and was tagged with the loss on the mound. The 56ers next game is against Conemaugh Valley-Johnstown at Highland Park on Sunday June 19th at 3:00pm.

A complete box score, league scores and standings, and 56ers team statistics are available for the 2005 season in the statistics section.

Meyersdale Drops 56ers in Extra-Innings
June 13, 2005
MEYERSDALE, PA - Meyersdale rallied from a 7-3 deficit to upend the 56ers 8-7 in nine innings, Monday evening. The loss drops Richland-Windber's record to 2-3. The 56ers play next on Wednesday June 15th at home vs. Claysburg. Complete box scores for this game, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

'Sixers Lose a Pair
June 12, 2005
HIGHLAND PARK - The Richland-Windber 56ers dropped their first two games of the season, 21-10 to Westmont-Ferndale, and 12-9 to Loretto/Lilly on Sunday. The losses drop the record to 2-2. Unearned runs were the name of the game for Richland-Windber, as they surrendered 12 (of 21) unearned runs to Westmont-Ferndale, and then followed that with 8 unearned (out of 12) to Loretto/Lilly. The 56ers play next on Monday, June 13th at Meyersdale. Complete box scores for these games, and overall team statistics, are available in the statistics section by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Wingard Fans 12 As 56ers Defeat Nanty Glo
June 8, 2005
HIGHLAND PARK - Richland Windber improved to 2-0 as they defeated Nanty Glo 15-5, Wednesday in the team's 2005 opener at Highland Park in Richland Township. The 56ers were led by Ben Leonard who had three hits and scored three times. Jake Lehman, Josh Szelong, Eric Wingard, and Nick Samko all had two hits for the 56ers 17 hit attack. Eric Wingard (pictured at lefty) tossed a complete game four -hitter, striking out 12 in the win. Eric Jansure and Rob Sekerak each had a hit and scored two runs for Nanty Glo, who fell to 3-3.

A complete box score and 56ers team statistics are available for the 2005 team in the statistics section.

56ers Blast Patton
June 6, 2005
The Richland-Windber 56ers blasted the Patton Redmen 17-8 in their 2005 Cambria County American Legion League opener, on Monday evening. The 'sixers banged out 16 hits, led by Eric Wingard's 4-for-4 effort and Craig Montag's three run home run in the first inning. Josh Szczur picked up the win, working 3.2 innings. Szczur also recieved relief help from Jake Lehman, Brad Dale, and Josh Szelong. The 56ers play next on Wednesday June 8th against Nanty Glo. Complete box score and statistics are available for the 2005 team in the statistics section.

56er NOTES: A number of 56ers players played for the team's primary feeder school - Richland High School. The Rams advanced to the PIAA District 6AA Championship game for the first time in school history, last week, and dropped a 5-1 contest to Marion Center. The Rams concluded the season at 19-2.

2004 Squad Earns First Ever Playoff Victories
July 20, 2004
The Richland-Windber 56ers completed their most successful season to date, as they advanced the the semi-final round of the Cambria County Legion League Playoffs in 2004. The 'Sixers lost to eventual playoff runner-up Claysburg, bowing out 2-0 in the best-of-three semifinal series.

However, just days before, the 56ers won their first playoff game in history, as Jared Patrick (pictured at left) picked up the victory in a first round win over St. Michael. Patrick worked eight strong innings and allowed just four runs in the 12-4 win. RW closer Marc Popovich worked the ninth inning, as the 56ers won their first playoff game since entering the league in 2000.