Region mourns death of local legend Ace Brogna

Theres a reason sports fans in Northeast Pennsylvania had to ask what Ace Brognas first name really is.

Because if he walked in your gym, on your football field wearing the white hat or was standing in your dugout coaching high school or college baseball, you knew you had one of the best.

For the record, Brognas first name is Alex.

But nobody needed to call him that.

A true champion in local sports, Brogna always had the best game on a Friday night in the fall, the top games on a Tuesday and Friday in the winter during basketball season, but his true passion was baseball.

Whether it was at Pittston Area, Kings College or most recently Keystone College, Brogna knew more about the game of baseball than the manager on the other side of the field.

The region lost a true legend Saturday when it was announced that Brogna died at 86.

He leaves a lasting mark on not just the Wyoming Valley Conference and the Lackawanna League, but the entire athletic community across the state because if you knew Ace Brogna, you were good.

Whether it was the pointed index finger he gave you, the massive handshake he was ready to provide or the booming voice calling your name, it was easy to see why everyone called him Ace.

Ace was classic, said Gary Ruby, the former pitching coordinator for the Phillies organization and assistant coach at Keystone College with Brogna.

He refereed football games I played in.

The guy is a legend.

He is well-respected everywhere he goes.

He was always great to me.

Every day he would see me he would remind us to always recruit local.

If you talk to Keystone College baseball coach Jamie Shevchik, who guided his team to 20 consecutive conference championships, he never claimed to be the smartest guy in the room.

Thats because he knew he wouldnt be.

You put Ace Brogna in a room, start a conversation about baseball and the best advice that could be given would be to shut up and listen.

The guy is an absolute legend.

He and I over the last 10 years became so close, Shevchik said.

He was just not a mentor, but a father figured to me.

Brogna was a member of the Minnesota Twins organization and was once a roommate of Tony Oliva, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.

Ace and I go way back, District 2 chairman Frank Majikes said.

You knew there werent going to be any problems when he was in the game.

He was well-respected.

I cant say enough about him.

His knowledge of baseball.

Our hearts go out to the Brogna family.

Brogna coached at Pittston Area, Kings College and Keystone College.

During his time at Kings, he was a mainstay on the local high school scene firmly believing the local products were the best products.

I used to marvel at him as the white hat officiating high school football games, said Charlie Coslett, a veteran area umpire.

He was a renowned football official.

He was a true representative of what college baseball is all about.

Ive known him more than a quarter-century.

He was just a terrific guy to be around, just always nice to talk to before the first pitch.

As far as the impact he had on the local baseball scene, Brognas fingerprints are immeasurable.

He brought his knowledge to Pittston Area, Kings College and Keystone.

All the while leaving a lasting impression on every player he coached.

It doesnt matter how much success you have, you are only as good as the people you have around you, Shevchik said.

He was just not a mentor to me, but a father figure.

He always held true to his values.

Respect the game and respect your opponent.

Im going to miss the guy.

He loved being around the game and I loved being around him..

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