Tri-County Hall of Fame welcomes new class

They excelled at various sports — many as competitors, some as coaches — around the region in the various decades since the 1970s.

Now, the seven standouts will become part of the Tri-County Area Sports Hall of Fame as its Class of 2019. The organization will enshrine the current class — Ken Baker, Jim Dietz, Sean Irey, Jack Kraynak, Bill Neill, Jeff Satterwhite, Patrick Schirk — during its 42nd annual banquet Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Sunnybrook Ballroom.

Profiles for the seven inductees (in alphabetically order): KEN BAKER >> The athletic director and coach at the Perkiomen School since 1976 has left his mark all over the sports fields.

Baker has guided Perkiomen baseball to 21 consecutive league championships and compiled a record of 426-142 during that time. The program has won 81 percent of its games during those 21 years.

Baker had 38 players who went on to play in college, and four players drafted into pro baseball. He has coached the Roberto Clemente All-Star team in Puerto Rico, and has run baseball camps in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

Baker was inducted into Perkiomen School’s Hall of Fame in 2006. The school’s baseball field was named “Baker Field” by the school’s headmaster in recognition of his accomplishments.

JIM DIETZ >> A four-year starter at St. Pius X in basketball, Dietz finished his outstanding career with 1,547 points ... at the time, the most in Pius history.

His senior year, Dietz averaged 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists per game. He was named team Most Valuable Player, and team captain 3 times. He led the area in scoring his senior year.

Dietz set the Pius single-game scoring record with 42 points against Pottsgrove. He was named First team All-Ches Mont in 1983 & ’84, and played on District championship team in 1984.

Dietz went on to St. Michael’s College after graduating from Pius. He was named team captain his senior year in 1988. A three- year starter at SMC, he scored a career high 30 points against St. John’s. He was named AllNortheast Conference and helped lead SMC to the NCAA Division II Tournament. He had two “triple doubles” his senior year. SEAN IREY >> Starred at Boyertown High School in football and baseball. ... Irey played varsity three years; he was named team captain and Most Valuable Player his senior year, rushing for more than 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns . ... Voted to numerous All League teams, Irey was nominated for the Big 33 game.

In baseball, Irey was a three-year starter team captain and MVP his senior season. He was the 1989 American Legion State Tournament MVP, 1990 Berks County MVP and played in the EastWest All Star game. He received a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut for baseball; a four-year letter winner, five-time Big East Player of the Week and 1993 All-Big East first team infielder, He still holds baseball records at U Conn.

Irey was inducted into the Boyertown Football Wall of Fame in 2003. JACK KRAYNAK >> Graduated from Phoenixville High School and Millersville State College, where he ran track and cross country. He was named captain and set records at both schools.

Kraynak really made his mark as a coach in both sports at Phoenixville for 45 years. He had 13 undefeated PAC seasons, winning the spring track championship meet 10 times. The Phantoms finished in the Top Three in the PAC in 22 of the first 25 years of the conference’s existence. He served as Head Coach for 171 teams, including 33 cross country and girls cross country, and 31 each in winter track, girls winter track, spring track and girls spring track. BILL NEILL >> Played at Perkiomen Valley during the mid-1970s, where he made a name for himself in football and wrestling.

Named All Bux-Mont in 1975 & ’76 in football, All State in ’76 for Pennsylvania. A 1977 Pa. State Wrestling champion, inducted into Pa. State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1984. National Honor Society in high school.

While at the University of Pittsburgh, Neill was named All-American and All-Big East Defensive End, He was drafted in the fifth round of the National Football League’s New York Giants in 1981. named NFL 1st Team All Rookie Defensive End and the Giants’ Rookie of the Year. Retired from the Green Bay Packers in 1984 as a nose tackle. Neill was nducted into the PV Hall of Fame in 2018. JEFF SATTERWHITE >> An outstanding all-round athlete at Pottstown who lettered in football, wrestling, and track.

In track, he excelled in the 100m, 200m, and 400m relays. The Trojans were District I champs, and placed second in the Pa. state track meet.

In football, Satterwhite played linebacker and football for Pottstown. He was selected first team All-Ches-Mont at linebacker, and honorable mention as a fullback. He still holds the record for the longest TD run in Pottstown history, a 99-yarder against Pottsgrove.

Satterwhite wrestled 155 for the Trojans and was a District 1 champ, South East Regional runner-up, and fourth place PA states. He was named among the top 100 wrestlers his senior year.

After graduation from Pottstown, he went to Mansfield University and continued his athletic career as a running back and linebacker in football. PATRICK SCHIRK >> A seventime Pa. state champion in the YMCA, three-time state record holder (backstroke), 11-time National YMCA champion (200M backstroke national record holder).

In high school at Owen J. Roberts (Class of 2005), Schirk was a five-time District 1 champion, threetime state champion (state record holder). He received a full scholarship Penn State, where he was a four-time All American and PSU’s first and only swimmer to win an individual NCAA swimming gold medal (200M Backstroke). He holds records currently at PSU.

Schirk qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in both 2004 and 2008. He finished in the Top Eight in the United States. *** The 42nd Annual TriCounty Area Sports Hall of Fame banquet will begin with a Social/Cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available to the public at $40 per ticket; the price includes admission to the ceremony and a delicious buffet dinner. Questions about tickets or the ceremony can be addressed by calling 484.300.1971.