Region loses two true sports ambassadors in Ott, Kustafic
In 1979, Ed Ott was a catcher for the “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates, who rallied from a threegames-to-one deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
Earlier that year, Sonja Horbowyj Kustafic graduated from Dieruff High School after a stellar athletic career that led to a college basketball career at Seton Hall.
Both Ott and Kustafic may have been big news in 1979 but they weren’t done yet. They both went on make an impact in Allentown years later.
Ott was the popular first manager of the Allentown Ambassadors, the independent league franchise that was a forerunner to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He was in charge for only three seasons starting in 1997 and was eventually fired by owner Peter Karoly, but he became ingrained in the community and formed some lasting relationships, particularly with his coaches and local baseball icons Dean and Denton Lakatosh.
Kustafic returned to Allentown as a teacher and coach and maintained her commitment and dedication to the Allentown School District by working events in a variety of capacities.
Both Ott and Kustafic died earlier this week. Ott was 72, Kustafic 62. But they will be remembered by many in the local sports community.
The media members who covered the Ambassadors and Ott’s teams loved to hear his stories. His vast experience in the big leagues gave the Ambassadors instant credibility and became an attraction for the team. Because he was from north-central Pennsylvania and a graduate of Muncy High School, he had an affinity for the
Lehigh Valley.
Former Morning Call sports writer Jeff Schuler enjoyed his pregame sessions with Ott and would often come back into the office to recount those Ott stories.
“He always loved the crowds at Bicentennial Park and one memory that stuck with me was how much he enjoyed coaching in independent ball because those players were unwilling to let their dreams die,” Schuler said. “As long as they were willing to work, he said he would do whatever he could to help them improve. He said he played until they tore the uniform off his back. And that’s what he saw in his players in Allentown.”
Joe DeVivo, who covered the team for the Express-Times, also enjoyed having Ott to cover.
“I would show up at the games two hours early just to go into his office and listen to him tell baseball stories,” DeVivo wrote on Ott’s obit on Legacy.com. “His tales were always hilarious, but he also taught me tons about the inside game of baseball. I still have a baseball card of him when he managed the Ambassadors on my office wall. He’s smiling and has his arms crossed his chest. That’s how I will always remember him.”
Dieruff girls basketball won back-to-back state championships in 1975 and ‘76 and in 1983 the Huskies went 30-0 and swept their way to EPC and District 11 titles before losing in the state quarterfinals.
In between those great teams came Kustafic, who led Dieruff to the 1979 District 11 finals and state tournament. She was also one of the area’s best volleyball players.
During her career at Seton Hall, the Pirates went 74-41 and became a force in the Big East.
She returned to Allentown and worked for many years as a physical education teacher at South Mountain and Trexler middle schools. She was also a longtime coach in the district, coaching boys and girls in various sports at a variety of levels. She was also a staff member for the school district’s athletic departments.
“She was often the first smile you’d see at an Allen boys basketball game and football games at J. Birney Crum Stadium as a ticket seller,” said Allen athletic director Randy Atiyeh. “She could be heard cheering on our track teams working as a timer for track meets. Her dedication to students and athletes was truly remarkable. She not only taught physical education but by coaching multiple sports across all levels, she showed her passion for nurturing young talents.”
Atiyeh said her presence at spring events was “always a bright spot. Her energy and enthusiasm was infectious.”
Her impact went beyond the classroom and field.
“She had great energy and was a beloved teacher, coach and staff member who will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her,” Atiyeh said.
Barthol makes instant impact
Eastern University first-year pitcher Danika Barthol, an Emmaus graduate, is off to a great start with her college career at Eastern University. She was named Middle Atlantic Conference pitcher of the week as
the Eagles’ season began in Melbourne, Florida.
In her first three collegiate appearances, all of which went the distance, Barthol allowed just seven hits and one earned run in 16 innings with a 0.56 ERA. She got her first win with a 2-1 victory over Benedictine University, allowing five hits and in six innings. Against Alma, she didn’t allow an earned run, struck out six and also worked three perfect innings against Rose-Hulman.
Eastern is 6-2 entering a home doubleheader on Thursday against Swarthmore.
Senior Night to remember
Moravian Academy graduate Abe Atiyeh was honored on Senior Night prior to Boston College’s final home game Saturday against Pittsburgh and Atiyeh enjoyed one of the best moments of his career as he made a 3-pointer during the Eagles’ 90-65 loss to the Panthers.
It was Atiyeh’s third appearance of the season and the 3-pointer gave him his only points of the season for Boston College (15-14, 6-12 ACC). The shot drew a big roar from the crowd who have appreciated Atiyeh’s commitment to the program. It was also the first 3-pointer of his career.
As a senior at Moravian Academy, Atiyeh was the Colonial League Coaches Association’s player of the year and a first-team all-state selection. He scored 1,180 career points in high school.
He has options for next year, including staying at Boston College as a graduate assistant or transferring to another program to use his final year of eligibility.
Even though he has played in just 10 games in his Boston College career and scored only four points, Atiyeh has no regrets about going the Division I route as a preferred walk-on. As a budding coach, he has learned what big-time college basketball is all about.
“It’s a blessing for me to be around it all,” he said in a 2023 Morning Call story. “I’m going to these places for free. I eat for free. They’re paying me to be there. You get off a private plane and you’re escorted by security to the arena and you play in front of thousands of people. It’s really cool. Just being a part of it has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”