BRIDGEPORT – Remembering one of its own. Bridgeport High School will do just that this weekend, albeit posthumously.

In addition to inducting five individuals and three teams into the prestigious Bridgeport Hall/Wall of Fame, a memorial service is planned for long-time coach, athletic director and educator Frank Baxter, who passed away earlier this year.

“Frank was a true Bulldog who was very loyal to the school,” long-time friend and memorial service organizer Gordie Longshaw explained. “Not just athletics, but his entire life was dedicated to Bridgeport High School. He would be honored in what we are doing on his behalf.”

According to Longshaw, the service is set for 3-4 p.m. Saturday – fittingly on Frank Baxter Court – inside the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium.

“We’re proud to be able to do this for Frank,” Longshaw added. “He is definitely worthy of being honored.”

Longshaw said he decided to hold the service after receiving numerous contacts from people wondering how they could pay their respects to “Mr. Baxter,” as he was known to many.

“I’ve had all kinds of people asking me how they could pay tribute to Frank,” Longshaw noted. “I thought it would be great to hold it this weekend when a lot of alumni are in town.”

Among those attending will be members of his 1963 boys’ basketball team; the 1966 football team in which he was an assistant coach; and his 1966-67 boys’ basketball team.

In fact, it was Baxter who nominated the Duncan brothers – Carl and Thomas – for their enshrinement into BHS lore.

Buckeyes Break Loose

It seemed too easy for Ohio State on its first two possessions against Virginia Tech Monday night. However, after a lackluster second quarter in which they turned the ball over twice, the Buckeyes kicked it into high gear – on both sides of the ball – in the second half in rolling past the Hoskies, 42-24.

Braxton Miller showcased his skills after missing last season. The former quarterback-turned-H-back, had a pair of scintillating touchdowns in the third quarter, helping the top-ranked Buckeyes slowly, but surely, pull away.

His 53-yard run was something out of a video game as he did a 360-degree spin that left two Hokies as if they were in the pokey!

Look for more explosive performances as Ohio State seeks back-to-back national titles!

How ironic was it that Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer, after being sandwiched by a pair of Buckeye defenders late in the second quarter, professed at halftime – live on ESPN – that it would ‘take a lot more to get me out of the game’?

Well, have you ever heard “watch what you wish for?”

Brewer took a vicious, but totally clean, hit from Adolphus Washington in the third quarter that resulted in a broken collarbone. He is expected to miss four to eight weeks.

Ouch!

“Quiet Storm” Making Noise

An action-packed night of professional boxing concluded Sunday night with an outstanding knockout performance by Follansbee super middleweight state champion Aaron “Quiet Storm” Quattrocchi.

Making his main event debut in his young professional career, Quattrocchi defeated Chicago’s Bruce “The Rage” Rumbolz, stopping the journeyman in the sixth round after scoring five knockdowns.

While Quattrocchi ended the card, fellow Brooke County native and Wellsburg resident Hunter “Celtic Warrior” Wallace began the night, adding another win to his semi professional career. He is now 4-0 after defeating semi pro contender “Mean” Dean Phillips via unanimous decision.

Also featured on the card was former Steubenville all-state wrestler and football player Branko Busick. He scored a unanimous decision over MMA contender Devon “The Silverback” Mosley in his professional boxing debut.

More Boxing News

A press conference has been tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Casino to announce a professional boxing card on Saturday, Sept. 26, sponsored by World Rank Boxing of Pittsburgh.

The main event features Wheeling’s own Ronell Green (11-1) fighting for the World Boxing Council North American Championship against Fidel Navarette (8-0-2). The co-main event has Travis “The Terror” Clark meeting Jeremiah Karpency for the W.Va. heavyweight title.

North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com