One of the most gifted and versatile
athletes in the history of Beaver County was also one of the least
known. Rich Ashcroft became legendary for his exploits
in the late 1950s. Since South Side were Class B at the time and
played mostly schools from Ohio and West Virginia, the rest of
Beaver County did not get the opportunity to see him in action. Rich started as offensive and defensive back in football,
earning first team All Section and All WPIAL honors his senior year.
He also starred in basketball, scoring 903 points for his career
with a single game high of 34. Rich was a four year letterman in
baseball, but since All Star teams did not exist at that time for
high school, he did not receive a lot of recognition. However, he
was well known locally in the summer leagues for his hitting and for his
uncanny ability to play
at any position despite being left handed. Wichita State University
came calling with a football scholarship, and Rich
immediately became a starting defensive back. He started for the
Missouri Valley Conference champions in the 1961 Sun Bowl against
Villanova. Although he could not play baseball in college because of
his football commitment, Rich continued to play locally in the
summer. But when the football coach at Wichita resigned and the
Minnesota Twins offered a substantial bonus, Rich accepted and entered
the Twins’ farm system. In the Carolina League, he played against
future major leaguers Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Jerry Koosman,
Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Larry Bowa, Bob Watson, and Bobby Bonds.
In 1969, Rich returned to his alma mater as a teacher and coach,
where he
coached football for 19 years, with the team being WPIAL runners-up to Rochester in
1991. Rich also coached baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, and
track and field.
One of the most gifted and versatile
athletes in the history of Beaver County was also one of the least
known. Rich Ashcroft became legendary for his exploits
in the late 1950s. Since South Side were Class B at the time and
played mostly schools from Ohio and West Virginia, the rest of
Beaver County did not get the opportunity to see him in action. Rich started as offensive and defensive back in football,
earning first team All Section and All WPIAL honors his senior year.
He also starred in basketball, scoring 903 points for his career
with a single game high of 34. Rich was a four year letterman in
baseball, but since All Star teams did not exist at that time for
high school, he did not receive a lot of recognition. However, he
was well known locally in the summer leagues for his hitting and for his
uncanny ability to play
at any position despite being left handed. Wichita State University
came calling with a football scholarship, and Rich
immediately became a starting defensive back. He started for the
Missouri Valley Conference champions in the 1961 Sun Bowl against
Villanova. Although he could not play baseball in college because of
his football commitment, Rich continued to play locally in the
summer. But when the football coach at Wichita resigned and the
Minnesota Twins offered a substantial bonus, Rich accepted and entered
the Twins’ farm system. In the Carolina League, he played against
future major leaguers Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Jerry Koosman,
Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Larry Bowa, Bob Watson, and Bobby Bonds.
In 1969, Rich returned to his alma mater as a teacher and coach,
where he
coached football for 19 years, with the team being WPIAL runners-up to Rochester in
1991. Rich also coached baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, and
track and field.