Rec Hall of Fame event a sellout ... Radio show info ... Sunday Softball ... Best wishes for Nelson

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I've been told the Lehigh Valley Sports Recreation Hall of Fame induction banquet tonight at the Northampton Community Center --- the event that has the potential to be the longest Hall of Fame ceremony ever with at least 36 inductees, plus whole teams, is now a sellout.

I will be there to speak and my task will be to honor as many people as possible, and as appropriately and respectfully as possible, but also to try to get everybody home before midnight.

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On the radio show this morning -- that's "Calling All Sports" which can be heard 9-11 on AM 1470 The Fox and online at fox1470.com. (Here's a link: http://www.fox1470.com/main.html) I will have several different guests on -- including Dan Kehl, who will be making his annual visit to talk about his "Noise Nation" fan group at the IronPigs games.

In addition, Bill Hankee, the father of the late Krysta Hankee whose commitment to organ donation has helped to saved many lives, will talk about the upcoming "Krysta Cares Family House" Gol outing at Olde Homestead. Here's a link for that tournament and what it's all about. http://www.krystahankeememorialfund.org/recent-news/2011-krysta-cares-family-house-golf-outing/.

Plus, our friend Tony Cocca will let us know how his first softball season is going at Northampton Community College.

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If the softball fans are wondering why I didn't cover a softball game this week, it's very simple -- every time I was set to cover a game, it got rained out.

I was supposed to cover games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and each time that game, as well as the entire schedule, was rained out.

I am going to try again on Sunday, that's right, Sunday. Liberty is playing at Freedom at 2 p.m. in what should be a battle of two top Lehigh Valley Conference teams.

I have been covering softball for a long time, and I can never remember covering a high school softball game on a Sunday never. I don't know if there has ever been a high school game scheduled for a Sunday before.

Men's and women's tournament championship games, yes, but never high school softball on a Sunday.

But with the weather wreaking havoc on the schedule, why not? Let's hope we get this one in as well as a full week of games for a change.

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Finally, best wishes to Ron Nelson (he's the one on the right below) as he heads to Malawi for a 10-month stint as a teacher in a very poor, under-developed country. Ron has a heart of gold and wants to help others. We'll miss him on the local sports scene and keep our fingers crossed that he comes back safe and sound.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/