CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- California Area High senior Andrew Galis wasn't having one of his better days on the baseball field Thursday.
In two plate appearances against Class AA power Washington, Galis had hit into a fielder's choice and was thrown out trying to steal second base and then was called out on strikes.
The bad start, however, turned out to have a happy ending.
Galis wound up being the winning pitcher with three innings of relief in an eight-inning 4-2 Trojan victory.
Several hours later, Galis landed a full one-year scholarship to California University at the fifth annual Valley Independent-California University Scholarship for Academic and Athletic Achievement banquet.
"I tried to be optimistic since there were so many good candidates," said Galis, a four-year starter for the Trojans. "It all started three years ago when coach (Don) Hartman put me in a scrimmage in the rain against Brownsville and I got a hit."
Galis, ironically, is no stranger to his hometown college since he served as ballboy for four years when Jim Boone was coaching the men's basketball team.
"I was good friends with coach Boone's son, who was a year younger than me," noted Galis.
The female winner of the full scholarship was Bentworth's Kylie Wallach.
"I was very surprised to be picked," said Wallach, the Lady Bearcats' volleyball captain whose father, Larry, resides in California and mother, Melissa Marchitello, was a 1986 California University graduate.
Sharing the speaking duties were the college's interim vice president Tim Susick and California University gridder and 2001 Scholarship recipient Lloyd Price.
"There are no losers in this room," said Susick, a 1976 California University graduate from Belle Vernon. "It's an honor to represent your high school.
"Your experience at California is limited by your imagination. Continuous improvement is always on our mind at California. A case in point was an equestrian team which was done with the imagination of three ladies.
"I came here to play football but academics had to be my ticket to the future," added Susick.
"It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting where you are, anxiously waiting to hear if I would be selected for this scholarship," said Price. "However, just being nominated gave me a sense of pride and recognition. This scholarship did provide me with the opportunity to achieve my goals.
"I commend Cal and The Valley Independent for their foresight in creating this scholarship partnership. It was seen as a way to give back to the communities that support the Valley and the university. I believe that they have reaped what they have sown. I hope this scholarship continues forever as a productive stimulus for the local area and the university."
California University president Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. and Valley Independent managing editor Bob Burke also offered remarks.
"I'm proud of our partnership," Armenti said. "The greatest single need we have is scholarship assistance. Pennsylvania has the dubious distinction of having the country's second highest tuition. When we have the opportunity for scholarships to college we jump at it.
"No one can hold a candle to the young kids today academically."
"Other than putting our paper out, nothing is more important than sponsoring this," said Burke. "It allows us to honor the best scholastic citizens, encourages them to stay here and allows us to make an investment in the future of this little corner of the state.
"Even though the California University women's basketball team didn't win a national championship and Monessen's girls basketball team didn't repeat as state Class A champs like last year, tonight is just as exciting, We're surrounded by champions."
Other scholar-athletes receiving $500 scholarships were Belle Vernon Area's Ava Nickens, California's Laurel McCrory, Charleroi's Katie Powell and Nathan Wilson, Elizabeth Forward's Kaileen Shriane and Jeremy Delmaster, Frazier's Brooke Carson and Derek Staley, Monessen's Alicia Stein and Serno Beneccio, Ringgold's Chelsy Todd and Joel Oslowski and Yough's Kari Cyktor and Michael Sedunov.
Nine previous scholarship recipients were on hand: California's Wendy Carroll, Lindsay Popelas and Jessica Ellsworth, Monessen's Chris Evancho, Charleroi's Jared Dumm, Brittany Vaccaro and Heather Carson, Ringgold's Kellie Repasky and Elizabeth Forward's Lindsay Konias.
Another former recipient, California's Nigel Wright, served as toastmaster.
