Johnny "O"- One of O-E's Best

 

Johnny Oszustowicz rebounds over three Emporium players in 48-46 O-E win.

I've written sixty plus blog stories/ essays in the last three years. Some were not sports-related, but many showcased athletic teams and individual players in the "Big 30" area through five or six decades.

I've tried to recognize both sides of the Pennsylvania-New York  border, highlighting some of the players who achieved individual accomplishments and teams who have put together a year(s) of being one of the top teams in the area.

Crosby Alle-Catt baseball, Smethport High School football, Coudersport High School basketball (boys and girls), Olean High School wrestling, Emporium basketball, Hinsdale Central basketball and Bolivar-Richburg football are several of the teams that have been profiled.

Combine those squads with individuals like Don Hoak, Bob Torrey, Don Hurlburt, Terry Zink, Tom Irons, Bob Dunsmore, Josh Kinney, Jeff Nix and Stew Barber and the depth of writings have been quite wide-ranged in both subjects and locations.

I graduated from Otto-Eldred HS (Pa.) and admittingly I've tried to include many pieces about teams and players that I watched or heard about as I was growing up and also those individuals who I was fortunate to call teammates.

That list includes former O-E standouts like Kerry Snow, the Miller brothers (Mike and Jeff), Randy Nuhfer, Barry Houben, Danny Fuss, Mike Welch, Tom Sherwood, Eddie Crandall, Jim Miller, Steve Gross and John Hepfer among others.

Rarely, have I ever used the word "best" in a description.

I've added the name of O-E's John Oszustowicz to many of my  pieces (HS football, basketball, Alle-Catt baseball, youth league baseball, etc.), but never in a solo story and I don't really have a good response to "Why have I waited this long?"

Mansfield University's freshman pitcher, John Oszuztowicz
There are those who have been avid followers of O-E sports for decades and are familiar with eras that I never saw. I can confidently state though that any list of top athletes who wore a Terrors' uniform, John Oszustowicz's name has to be there.

Personally, what makes this long wait even stranger is that one of my best high school friends and a teammate of mine from little league baseball through our high school years was John's younger brother, Len.

John was one of the top pitchers in the area from youth league to college. Len was an outfielder. Johnny was a right-handed hitter and Len, a lefty bat, who probably hit more balls in to the Eldred Park's right field tree tops that safeguarded the street that ran behind the town's ballfield than any other left-handed hitter.

The Oszustowicz brothers were both integral parts of athletic programs that were very successful in the late 60's and 70's, a period of years that has been rivaled by very few Terrors' teams. 

Like many of us, John's athletic career began early and in our part of northwestern Pennsylvania that meant Potter-McKean baseball with Eldred, Port Allegany, Coudersport, Shinglehouse, Austin and Roulette. The year is 1964. Tom "Tut" Hanks struck out 12 in Eldred's win over Port Allegany. Tom Lawrence and Johnny "O" had two hits each.

The '64 P-M All-Star team. Bottom row- left to right; Robert Scherer, Bernard Adams, Gary Burr, Henry Fallenstein, Keith Kelly and an unidentified player. Top row- left to right; Dean Barnett, Duane Dow, Oszustowicz, Tom Ripple, Gary Nuss, Cap Drake and Tom Hatch.

Three years later Johnny's brother, Len, and I would play on the P-M- all star team. Jim Turner and Ed Harrington were our coaches. 

Henry Fallenstein pitches and hits Port Allegany to a league championship.

 

I combined two Eldred/O-E events in this clipping. Teener League baseball on the left with Smethport defeating Eldred 12-3 and Austin beating Port Allegany, 8-7. Lower right has Eldred's Paul Bishop scoring a hole-in-one at the Smethport Country Club. Johnny "O", John Baldoni and Mike Fitzsimmons were in the foursome. All of these golfers were multi-sport athletes.

Bradford High picks up the golf win over O-E. Bob Krall has the best round for the Terrors at the Pine Acres Golf Course.

The O-E junior varsity football team showed signs of good varsity teams to come as Tom Hanks and John hooked up for ten pass/catch touchdowns in their opening four games. 

Johnny's senior year with teammates Steve Gross, Neil Trask, Jeff Fowler, Jim Slavin, Steve Smith, Fred Williams and other talented players go 8-1 with the only loss, a nail biter at Emporium.

The Big 30, '69-70 team with Fred Williams, Steve Gross, Jeff Fowler and John Oszustowicz representing O-E. Kevin McBride, Mike Metzler, Mickey Donovan and Henry Bzdak were Olean Bishop Walsh representatives. Bob Falk of Port Allegany, Jerry Scutt (Portville), Jim Zoschg (Emporium) and John Bink (Franklinville) were also some of the top area players named to the squad.

Oszustowicz was also one of the Big 30's best punters.

8-1, 1969-70 O-E football team- left to right are Jim Slavin. Neil Trask, Steve Gross, Fred Williams, John Oszustowicz and Jeff Fowler.

John Crissafulli (Allegany)

O-E's Big 30 Reps: Williams, Fowler, Oszustowicz and Gross

'69-70 Border Conference All Stars, front row- Oszustowicz, Jim Slavin, Steve Gross. back row: Jeff Anderson, Jeff Fowler, Fred Williams and Tom Eley.

Left to right: Jim Zoschg (Emporium), Bill Huffman (St. Marys Elk County Christian) and Brian Hart (Bradford High)

Portville's holiday tournament with the Panthers picking up a win over undefeated Coudersport in the first round and O-E beating Alfred Almond in the opener. Don Dibble lead Portville with 22 points in the first game. Coach Deland talks about the finals' matchup (below). I honestly don't know who won the tournament although I have to think Portville was tough to beat at home. I'm sure someone will recall the O-E vs. Portville game.

The Dibble brothers hit for 50 points to lead Portville from a halftime deficit to an 18 point win. Dan and Don Dibble and Chaffee were named to the all-tourney team that included Oszustowicz and Nuhfer of Otto-Eldred and Schaub of Coudersport. 

1967 Christmas tournament at Portville.

Early season area scoring leaders with Oszustowicz in the seventh spot and Don Hurlburt and Tom Oakley of Hinsdale in the fifth and 13th slots. O-E's Bill Rote is also in the top 15. North Tier League's Mark Harrington (Oswayo Valley) is second at 29 ppg. 

Preview of some of the area's top basketball players: Paul Stiles (Bradford), John Karuch(Olean Walsh), O-E's John Oszustowicz, Jerry Scutt (Portville), unidentified (Ellicottville), Paul Bink (Franklinville), Steve Cook (Richburg) and unidentified player.

Johnny "O" (far right) named as the North Tier MVP.  Other MVPs left to right are- Denny Allen (Alfred Almond), Don Schutz (St. Marys Elk). Ray Hatch (Limestone), Steve Cook (Richburg), Jerry Scutt (Portville) and John Karuch (Olean Walsh)

Early season top scorers (68-69). North Tier is well represented with Dave Schaub (Coudersport), Tom Ripple (Austin), Jack Armstrong (Emporium) Cap Drake (Oswayo Valley) plus Oszustowicz and Rote (O-E) and Harrington (Oswayo Valley)

Top team marks, '68-69

Oszustowicz and Gary Morton lead O-E to home win over Emporium

Steve Cook, Tom Ripple and Johnny "O" are the area's top three scorers in '68-69.

'69-'70 North Tier All Stars: 

Front row, left to right-Rich Bisso (Emporium), Tony Flint (Port Allegany), Judd Schager (Emporium). Back row- left to right, Rob Maynard (Smethport), Tom Ripple (Austin) and Johnny "O" (O-E)

Oszustowicz leads Mansfield to conference finals as a pitcher and outfielder.

Eldred did not have an Alle-Catt team during Tut Hanks' and Johnny's early 70's summers. The two players first played for Shinglehouse and a few years later played for the Allegany team. Here's Allegany winning their sixth straight game with Johnny shutting out Scio, 1-0. Terry Zink's single scored Dick Bzdak for the game's only run. Scio had only one runner reach second base.

Oszustowicz with a 2-1 win over his former A-C team, Shinglehouse. Johnny had an outstanding disposition and was well-rounded in all aspects of every game he ever played. I played some Alle-Catt ball behind John as an infielder and never recall him contesting a call or showing any outward anger. Playing middle infield with John on the mound meant a pretty light night- not many balls hit in your direction.

Allegany with a 10-8 win over Fillmore in a game played in Eldred. Paul Bzdak went four for five and Len Oszustowicz went three for four for Allegany. 

An incredible pitching performance by Oszustowicz- 22 strikeouts in an eleven inning win over Cuba. He struck out the side in the fourth, fifth and sixth (nine consecutive). Allegany picked up four runs in the 11th with Dick Bzdak plating two with a double. Joel Zink went 3-6 for Allegany.

NOTE: Crosby's Jim Thomas struck out 20 on the same day.

She's Gone

 She's Gone

Sometimes a sliver of fact slips through the bottom of fiction's door.

He had turned that supposed, life-changing 16-years-old three weeks earlier.

He had watched as his friends and used-to-be teammates ran up and down the field to the cheers of their parents, cheerleaders and fans of the team.

It was the opening game of the season- Friday night in small-town America. His school (it wasn't his team anymore) rolled to an easy victory as he supported himself on one leg. He stood beyond the back end zone line with his best friend.

The crutches under both arms allowed for little movement as they kept that pale of plaster of paris almost motionless as it covered his one leg from the base of his toes to the top of his thigh.

There was no outer pain in his body and the inner hurt had not begun yet. He was still receiving plenty of attention and the initial "woe is me" had worn off temporarily.

It was a timeout in his life, not a permanent loss of his skills and acclaim.

He didn't know why she was there. Her school was not a participant and it was a moderately long drive for she and her best friend. The girl's cousin was a well-known star for the boy's school, but he doubted she would travel that far to see him play.

Her cousin had never mentioned her in any conversation. The boy wondered why she was there, but little time was allowed for an answer.

Maybe it was simply pure luck and he stood in the only spot that allowed him to see her for the first time in his life. She apparently knew who he was. His picture had appeared in the local paper several times. He had gained some area recognition plus it was a community made up of small towns.

He can't recall any of the specific details of their conversation except that it lasted the length of the event. There was no awkwardness or anxiety. The verbal exchange rarely paused. An atmosphere of complete ease filled the evening.

The girl was very pretty with long, dark hair-common for the era. She wore a letterman's jacket and a pair of blue jeans. His face could not hide the continual look of happiness during the three hours of the football game that was now just background noise.

There was an occasional giggle with her friend, but her voice was naturally soothing. She was personable and spirited without being loud or overbearing.

The boy had never had a real, legitimate girlfriend, but if he ever did she would have to be the one and he had known her for four quarters of a football game. 

He was unable to drive an automobile because of his injury so her cousin drove them to a Saturday afternoon game the very next day. They stayed a trio for a long time, but he did spend some time with her alone (and 500 football fans).

He was proud. He had an ego, but controlled it reasonably well. The boy was observed because of his physical condition, but also because of the young girl who was accompanying him,

A half of a century has now passed. He wonders if he lived in the age of the internet, cell phones, texts, emails and the current technology if the results would have been altered. His long term guilt admits the loss was his fault, not the times.

Somehow, there were couples who managed. Later, he discovered that some stayed together a lifetime.

She wrote some lovely letters to the boy. The correspondence demonstrated undoubtedly that she cared about him.

She borrowed a few verses of a Beatles' song that described their relationship perfectly. She also asked him to trust her, to have faith and confidence in her judgement. Despite any perceived obstacles they could overcome them. "Don't worry," she said with conviction.

He worried no longer, but not because of her strength. He didn't feel anything except the self pity that filled his soul. The adulation and attention he one received from his friends and classmates was now becoming "What have you done for me lately?"

The boy was a nobody for the first time in his life, but maybe that was better than a used-to-be.

Somehow, she kept trying, but he was too near-sighted to recognize her attempts. Weeks would pass and then he would reappear briefly to exhibit some faux interest.

He liked her. He really liked her, but he hated himself more. 

They went to his school dance together. She was a girl from a different school, but he wanted the attention cast toward him. Finally.

She was so pretty. She wore a short, maroon dress. Her beautiful features were augmented by her smile that was always present despite the fact that her guy had been non-existent so often.

They danced once to John Lennon's "Imagine."

He thinks he introduced her to some friends, but he doesn't really recall.

He does remember the speeding ticket he acquired three minutes after they left the school grounds.

The boy entered his final year of high school and went through the motions with no goals or aspirations. Did he ever spend a moment thinking about her? He doesn't ever recall having any thoughts of substance or meaning.

He was a member of the basketball team, but others had pushed him from the court and farther down the bench. He was now "average." The boy meekly accepted this role.

His team played a game at her school. As was the custom then, the home team's booster club provided the visiting team with snacks and drinks after the game.

The boy was eating at a table by himself when she appeared directly in front of him. He had played adequately, but that was forgotten as he sat semi-stunned that she approached him. 

"You looked good, no limp or anything," she smiled.

He thought, 'Of course there was no limp. I can hardly move anymore.'

She spoke with the softness, tenderness, kindness and sincere interest she had always shown. He promised he would call her the following day. They would make plans for dinner, a movie or maybe just a drive. Something/Anything.

He never called. 

He now imagines her probably waiting for him, but his call never came then. Or ever.

A year passed. He was attending a college. The boy could hardly be called a student. The girl was now a senior in high school and the homecoming queen.

He wrote an unprompted letter. It wasn't an apology or an attempt at reconciliation. Now he thinks it was most likely just a temporary bout of loneliness.

He received a reply a few days later.

The attempts to understand him, the years of patience and hopes of a young girl were gone. She was finished and the selfish attitude he had exhibited for years had finally eroded even her caring qualities. 

In fact, she was outwardly critical of him for the first time. She had been worn down.

The boy was sad for about an hour. Then he just went back to his world of self. He saw her a couple of times in the next year, but they never spoke, never acknowledged each other.

She was always with another boy. He didn't want to see that, but it was not a shock. Who wouldn't want to be with her?

His life drifted. College was completed somehow and he began a job. He was no longer a boy, but he was not a man.

The girl, well, he had no idea where she went, what path she had chosen or her status with another. He rarely thought about her.

Six years after their initial meeting and he remained empty. Any former dreams had vanished, hidden from even his imagination.

Two years later, he walked in to an empty office, awaiting another day of routine, going nowhere activities.

He glanced at the morning paper and read the headline that reported she had been killed the night before in a shocking accident. 

He was nearly devoid of thoughts. He ached. He had no direction to turn. Her final minutes continue to haunt him- the fear and pain she faced as her life was stolen.

He did not attend any services, make any phone calls, or send any condolences.

No one would even know him and he was almost certain she would have had someone very special in her life. Once again, he thought of himself first.

Many years later, he was having dinner at a restaurant near her hometown. He clearly heard her name mentioned and he quickly moved away from the voice.

Ten years ago he sent a memorial-type item to her old high school. No one there would know him and probably most, if not all of her teachers would no longer be working.

He inscribed it, not in romantic terms, only mentioning her spirit, compassion and love of life.

He now understands his true feelings for her. Teenage years or not, he did love her and wishes their youthful relationship could have traveled farther. 

He moves through the final years of his life wishing he had been a better person then, if only to say, "thank you for caring about me."  

"You came to me with love and kindness.                                          But all my life I've been a prisoner of my own blindness.                I met you with indifference and I don't know why." (BFJS)

 

 

Allegany's Terry Zink: Living Life, Family and (Alle-Catt) Baseball the Right Way.

I'm not sure if the language of the rule had changed because Johnny and Tut were no longer allowed to play in Shinglehouse.  Through some geographical wizardry the three of us plus my American Legion teammate, classmate, good friend and excellent athlete, Kerry Snow, could all play for Allegany (N.Y).

The late spring/early summer of '74 was my initial meeting with Terry Zink. In fact, I'm sure I probably met all of the Zinks then including wives and kids. Terry's dad, Lennis, was our manager and his brother, Joel, who was my age, was our starting catcher.

The next two summers were probably, no, definitely the most enjoyable months of baseball I have ever been part of.

I was coaching little league baseball in Eldred and running the park program with nearly 75 kids involved and then playing Alle-Catt on the weekends. There wasn't a day during the entire summer that was free from fun and at the same time, the little ones were learning and getting better and my A-C teammates were winning games and just playing good, solid, no frills baseball. I think our only signs were Joel flashing pitches to our pitching staff.

I thought I knew quite a bit about the Alle-Catt League except how to get to any of the New York State towns beside Olean and Allegany. Scio, Friendship, Andover, etc. were a mystery to me, but it was easier than I thought-find the town on the NYS map, stop and ask somebody where the field was and then go play ball.

Rarely, any batting practice or infield. Unis on, play some catch, starting pitcher get loose in the pen and then let's play.

I didn't realize the baseball legacy that Lennis, Terry and even young Joel had already created in Allegany youth baseball and Alle-Catt. 

Terry struck out 15.

Terry goes 4-4

Managing an Alle-Catt club is not an easy task. Dusty Baker may have different concerns, but the job comes with a built-in-set of problems.

Roster size has to be limited to about 15 players. Games are almost always on Saturday and Sunday, one at home and one away, Traveling from Pennsylvania to New York State or vice versa could amount to a 75-80 mile round trip and no player wants to travel that far without playing-giving up a work day off to sit on the bench. 

Family duties, changes in work schedules, injuries to guys(arm, pulled muscles, are somewhat common for players competing only a day or two a week.

It's difficult to keep everyone happy during a 18-20 game weekend schedule plus potential playoffs. Players overcame some of the issues by having their families travel with them, a sort of picnic with the kids, but nine inning games could stretch mom's duties to four hours plus.

Allegany certainly had some good teams before the Eldred guys ever showed up. I'm unintentionally leaving some guys out, but I played with Pete Peterson, Jeff Grimes, Tony Tyler and some other good players.

What made our inclusion different was that three of the four guys were pitchers (very good) pitchers and they could take the burden off Terry, Paul Bzdak, Frank Harrington and others. 

The Allegany A-C team had a one of its kind makeup. We had three Zinks; (Lennis, Terry and Joel), three Bzdaks; Dick, Paul and Henry, two Harringtons; Frank and Jerry, the four guys from Eldred and Paul Goodwin plus another player or two.

There were times when we were down to ten players or less and that will be documented later.

One of Terry's major assets was his ability to play anywhere-shortstop, third base, second base, catcher and he was an outstanding pitcher before he got some help from Johnny, Tut, Kerry and Paul Bzdak.

He was one of the finest all-around amateur players I ever played with-not only did could he play all those spots, he could play them well, plus swing a left-handed bat that could drive a ball. Big hit after big hit came off that bat year after year. He did all those things before I arrived on scene, during my time and well after my term.

One hit win for Terry over Olean

Joel Zink began his Alle-Catt career at 13-years old. When I played with Joel he was 18 or 19 and received like he'd been catching for ten years or more. Unlike his older brother, he wore his hair long, but like Terry, he knew how to play the game well  beyond his years. He could throw and hit with power and was behind the plate 90 percent of the time, usually relieved by Terry only. 

Joel and Terry combine for a weekend sweep with Joel going 3-4 over Rushford.

There used to be a A-C Twilight League. I think it was played during the middle of the week and if you could field nine players regularly you were in. It also gave some players an opportunity to play if they missed the weekend or played a limited amount during the weekend. 

It wasn't set up to be a father-son league, but here's Terry and father, Lennis combining for six hits. I think it was 1966.

I don't know how many years Lennis was the Allegany skipper. He managed in a couple of league all star games also

I saw Lennis as the Sparky Anderson of our Alle-Catt team, He knew he had the horses on the mound, at the plate and in the field and he just let us run and be free. I've played for and watched managers with egos they had to satisfy by over complicating the game- not Lennis or my Eldred youth league coaches, Joe Wolcott and Ed Harrington.

 Occasionally two players might set up a hit and run, but like his sons, Lennis didn't yell or argue  (Oh, maybe a few times), but he was a good guy to play for and kept the team loose. There was no doubt he wanted to win and was a true competitor.

1-0 win for Allegany over Friendship
  

Part of the 1967 Allegany roster

Lennis manages one of the A-S clubs.

Terry, Bruce Havers, Jerry Harrington, Bobby Ryan make the A-S team

Terry makes a game-saving catch to lead the National Division to a 5-4 win in all star game held in Franklinville.

Homer for Terry in loss to Friendship.

Three hits and a homer for Terry versus Alfred.

Terry and Havers hit back-to back homers for W.

Terry's homer defeats Alfred.

Many of the following clips come from an article that was published in the Olean Times Herald. It details Terry and Glenna's struggle and hopes to find a compatible heart for Terry.

Eventually, Terry received a heart, but suffered a stroke two days later. He continued his fight before eventually succumbing to his overwhelming medical issues.

November 7, 2021 will mark eight years since Terry's death.

Terry and Glenna Zink

Joel Zink passed away from a massive heart attack. He was 21-years-old.

Glenna said, "This man has such a will to live. He is willing to sit right here and wait for a heart."

Some more highlights of Terry's baseball career in the Alle-Catt League.

A big win over Angelica.

Getting close to the end of the '74 season.

Gotta hand it to those Mudhens!

Some Allegany players were late for the opening pitch so 10-year-old, Terry, Jr. started in the outfield. He was on the roster and though Coudersport protested (Allegany won the scheduled game), the Allegany win held true.

Two early wins for the Allegany franchise. Jeff Grimes, Ricky Grimes, Mike Giberson and Terry lead the way. Late 60's or early 70's.

Some added info about that Coudersport game. Lennis also started (he was 53). Allegany 5, Coudersport 3 .

Another win over Coudersport with Johnny O and Tut leading the way.

Two more Allegany wins behind Oszustowicz and Hanks.

Two wins for Allegany. Hank Bzdak and Jim Pransky have good weekends.

Paul Bzdak goes four for five in win over Fillmore

TERRY

Special thoughts to my teammates who have passed and their loving families; Lennis, Terry, Joel, Paul Goodwin, Tom "Tut" Hanks and Kerry Snow.