Best wishes to Mr. Haney and good luck to our local guys today at Penn State

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Longtime area basketball and football official -- not to mention Easton assistant softball coach -- Jim Haney underwent open-heart surgery on Thursday to repair several blockages.

Jim had a mild heart attack several weeks ago. He had chest pain during an Easton-Liberty softball game and then went immediately to the hospital from the game and wound up spending several days.

We hear that Jim is going well and that's terrific news.

He is a real big help to me during the softball season, always keeping me updated on his Red Rovers.

I would never tell him this, but I also always thought he was a very good basketball official. Others agreed, obviously, because he eventually got to work some of the biggest college basketball games in the country.

Considering the tough news we've had this week, it's a relief to get some good news and we will keep Jim in our thoughts and prayers and expect him to make a full recovery. I look forward to him texting me again soon.

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Also want to wish our officiating crews some good luck -- no controversies and no rain delays -- today as they work here at Penn State (I am here as well for the Brandywine softball game).

As I reported in my TV column in the newspaper, we've got a local softball umpiring working one state championship game today and a Lehigh Valley-oriented baseball crew working another PIAA final.

The softball crew of George Krell (HP), John DeLucia (1st base), Jim Klass (2nd base) and Dennis Brong (3rd base) will have the 3A championship game between Manheim Central and Valley at 5.

The baseball crew of Mark Brown (HP), Bill Pensyl (1st base), Rick Mondschein (2nd base) and Mike Litzenberger (3rd) will have the Class A title game between Reading Central and Serra Catholic at 1. I know all four of those guys well--especially the guys on the bases. I am sure they will respresent our area well.