Seneca Valley High School Senior Honors Late Friend

In January 2010, tragedy struck the area when three seniors in a car accident. Trevor Barkley, 17; Sam Bucci, 18; and Elijah Lunsford, 18, died en route to a volunteer firefighter’s meeting.  

Bucci was on the baseball team at the school, and his fellow players were among the many mourners. One of those players, Chris Dorogy, decided to honor his friend, an avid fisherman, with a fishing derby.

After he graduated from high school, Dorogy asked another buddy, Cranberry resident Justin Stanger, to keep the derby going.

“At our banquet last year, Chris passed on the job of organizing the tournament to me,” Stanger said. “He knew I liked fishing, and he knew it would be a good project to continue."

Stanger, a high school senior, is busy planning the second Sam Bucci Memorial Fishing Derby. The event on April 10 will honor the memory of his fellow baseball teammate, and it will fulfill the senior project Stanger is required to complete before graduating from high school.

“It is taking a lot of work -- a lot of more than I thought it would -- but it is a great cause,” he said.

To ensure the derby is successful, Stanger asked area businesses and merchants to sponsor the event. He also reserved space at Moraine State Park, contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission to receive a waiver for a fishing license for the event and, of course, reached out to fellow players, friends and the community to generate interest in the derby.

“I was able to get a license exemption so people who come to the derby don’t need a license to fish that day,” he said.

As part of his senior project requirements, Stanger will have to make a a presentation at the end of the school year to a district committee, reporting the derby results.

At the annual sports banquet, Stanger plans to pass on the duties for next year’s event to an upcoming senior on the baseball team -- just as Dorogy did to him.

“We really want to keep this going,” he said.

The proceeds for the event will be used for a scholarship in Bucci’s honor.

“This scholarship is to stand for what Samuel Bucci was as a person and will be awarded to the person who best displays his qualities, both on and off the baseball field,” Stanger said.

Bucci’s teammates honor him, wearing his initials and baseball number, 16, on their uniforms. They also display his jersey in the dugout.

Stanger said his teammates had just started their conditioning season last year when Bucci died.

“We couldn’t believe it," he said. "At first, I thought it was just a rumor, but then Coach told us it was true.”  

Stanger expects many of his teammates to participate in the derby. He also has collected items to be included in a raffle and plans to sell derby T-shirts for $10 each.

“Last year, Chris raised over $2,000 and had about 65 people sign up, so I want at least 75 to 85 and to raise more than that,” Stanger said.

When he graduates from Seneca, Stanger plans to attend Kent State University, where he'll major in sports administration. He also hopes to play baseball and maybe do a little fishing.

“And I want to play ball, either on a Division I team or club ball," he said. "I love baseball, just like I love fishing."

The Sam Bucci Memorial Fishing Derby

The derby will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 10 at at Lake Arthur for any species of fish. Participants should meet at the Bear Run Boat Launch at Moraine State Park.

Fees are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Checks should be made payable to SV Baseball Boosters: Sam Bucci Memorial Scholarship. There will be snacks and lunch available on site. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest game species.

For more information, or to register, call Justin Stanger at 724-831-8302 or email him at svraiders23@yahoo.com.