La Plume, PA – Keystone College is taking part in the 3^rd Annual Bill Howerton Strikeout Cancer Weekend which will feature a number of high school and college baseball and softball games throughout the area this coming weekend.  All proceeds from this weekend's events will go to the Bill Howerton Memorial Fund.
 
Bill Howerton was a well-known and highly regarded member of the local baseball community for more than 30 years before he passed away in August of 2012. Howerton served as head baseball coach at The University of Scranton from 1987 through 2002 and was the go-to guy for sporting goods in the local community while working at Battaglia's Sporting Goods in downtown Scranton. 

A native of Scranton, Howerton led The University of Scranton Royals to a Freedom League title in1997. He also led the program to back-to-back MAC tournament berths in 1990 and 1991. ?"It was an enjoyable experience, one I'll never forget," Howerton told The Scranton Times upon his retirement in 2002. "I had the pleasure of coaching some outstanding players and working with some great people. More importantly, many of my former players have remained lifelong friends, and I'll always cherish that." 

Among his 182 career wins were a then-school record 19 victories in 1990 and winning seasons in 1989 and 1990. He also coached 17 all-conference performers, including Scott Sannito, a two-time first-team selection and one of five players in the program's history to earn Academic All-America honors by the College Sports Information Directors of America. 

Howerton spent a majority of his life around the sport of baseball. A transplanted Californian where his father played for the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League following a stint with Major League Baseball's New York Giants, Howerton attended Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hills. He was drafted by the Giants and spent a year as a catcher with the team's minor league franchise in Santa Barbara. Prior to his appointment as head coach at The University of Scranton, Howerton managed in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League for 11 seasons, including leading the Scranton Red Soxx to a title in1975. He also coached the softball team at nearby Lackawanna Junior College.

In 2002, Howerton received a merit award upon induction to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. 
 
2015 Bill Howerton Strikeout Cancer Weekend Schedule - April 17-19, 2015
*Games in bold to be played at Keystone College
 
Friday April 17, 2015
3:00 p.m.
Neumann University vs. Keystone College @ Keystone College
 
3:30 p.m.
Eastern University vs. Misericordia University @ Misericordia University
 
Saturday April 18, 2015
11:00 a.m.
West Scranton H.S. vs. Tunkhannock H.S. @ PNC Field
 
12:00 p.m.
Susquehanna H.S. vs. Blue Ridge H.S. @ Keystone College (Softball)
Blue Ridge H.S vs. Susquehanna H.S. @ Keystone College
Wallenpaupack H.S. vs. Crestwood H.S. @ Misericordia University
North Pocono H.S. vs. Pocono Mountain East H.S. @ King's College
FDU-Florham University vs. Wilkes University @ Wilkes University (DH)
Cairn University vs. Marywood University @ Marywood University (DH)
 
2:00 p.m. (games to start 30 minutes after the completion of 12:00 p.m. games)
Dunmore H.S. vs. Scranton H.S. @ Keystone College (Softball)
Abington Heights H.S. vs. Lakeland H.S. vs. Keystone College
Allentown Allen H.S. vs. Reading H.S. @ Misericordia University
King's College vs. DeSales University @ PNC Field
 
Sunday April 19, 2015
11:00 a.m.
University of Scranton vs. Susquehanna University @ PNC Field
 
12:00 p.m.
Holy Cross H.S. vs. Hanover Area H.S. @ Riverside H.S.
Lackawanna Trail H.S. vs. Scranton Prep H.S. @ Marywood University
Lackawanna College vs. UConn-Avery Point @ Lackawanna College (DH)
 
12:00 p.m.
Keystone College vs. Marywood University @ Keystone College (Softball)
 
1:00 p.m.
Keystone College vs. Cairn University @ Keystone College
 
2:00 p.m. (games to start 30 minutes after the completion of 12:00 p.m. games)
Dunmore H.S. vs. Wyoming Area H.S. @ Marywood University
Riverside H.S. vs. Mt. View H.S. @ Riverside H.S.
Old Forge H.S. vs. WB Meyers H.S. @ Meyers H.S.
Valley View vs. Mid Valley @ PNC Field
 
3:30 p.m.
East Stroudsburg-South H.S. vs. Delaware Valley H.S. @ Keystone College