Washington County Sports Hall of Fame set to welcome Class of 2023
The Washington County Sports Hall of Fame will induct three new members at its 35th banquet July 22 at Elks Lodge No. 378 on Robinwood Drive in Hagerstown.
The Class of 2023 includes:
Suzy Abeles
Abeles, a 1981 North Hagerstown graduate, was a three-sport standout for the Hubs.
In basketball, she helped lead North to its first state title in program history as a senior, averaging 10 points per game and earning All-County first-team honors. In softball, she was an All-County first-teamer as a junior and senior, and in cross country, she was a two-time District 1 champion.
In 1981, Abeles was honored with the Principal’s Award, given to the student with the highest GPA and most varsity letters.
She continued her softball career at Shippensburg State College, where as a freshman center fielder, she helped lead the team to a national runner-up finish at the AIAW Division III College World Series and was named to the All-Tournament team.
Abeles transferred to Slippery Rock University, where she played softball and graduated in 1986 with a degree in health and physical education.
In 2019, she retired from the Washington County Public Schools after 33 years of teaching elementary physical education.
Josh Conway
Conway, a 2009 Smithsburg High graduate, starred in football and baseball for the Leopards.
On the gridiron, he earned Herald-Mail All-Area Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior after leading the Leopards to their first unbeaten regular season in 24 years as a receiver, running back and kick returner. He also stood out on defense, and his 12 career interceptions are still a school record.
On the diamond, he was the The Herald-Mail’s Washington County player of the year as a senior, batting .500 with five home runs while going 4-0 on the mound with a 1.00 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 35 innings.
After being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 42nd round of the 2009 MLB draft, Conway opted to continue his career at Coastal Carolina University. After college, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round and pitched three seasons in the minors (2014-16).
In recent years, Conway worked as a minor league pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles.
Marty Lumm
From 1991 to 2022, Lumm directed and coached the local Challenger Little League baseball program, based out of Maugansville, for players with special needs and disabilities.
After serving as the Maugansville Little League president, Lumm took over the second-year Challenger program in 1991 when his late son, Kevin, who was blind, joined the team.
Under Lumm, Challenger baseball flourished, offering the sport to children who might otherwise not be able to play. During his tenure, players and their families weren’t charged for registration, uniforms, equipment, parties or awards. Highlights included annual games with the Hagerstown Suns at Municipal Stadium.
Lumm also umpired District 1 Little League games for 35 years, and as an avid distance runner, competed in the JFK 50 Mile and the Marine Corps Marathon.
For 20 years, he’s coordinated the “Kevin’s Fund” Golf Tournament, which has raised $250,000 to assist special-needs children in Washington County and support the Batten Disease Support & Research Association.
Other honors and awards
The Washington County Sports Hall of Fame will present a number of awards and scholarships for high school sports. They include:
• Donald Stoner Coach of the Year: Adam Rudy, Smithsburg.
• William Lightner Officials of the Year Award: Donnie Souders and Rodney Nave.
• Sara “Skip” Ward Scholarship Award: Cami Row, Boonsboro.
• Harry L. Cunningham Jr. Scholarship Award: Joshua Hegbe, Smithsburg
• Robert “Turtle” Smith Baseball Scholarships (in memory of Paul “Brandy” Bradenburg and Robert T. Clark, and in honor of Bill Kercheval): Kaden Jackson, Williamsport; Jacob Hill, St. Maria Goretti; Sam Bono, Smithsburg; Lucas Strickland, North Hagerstown; and Ethan Earley, Grace Academy.
• Millie Shank Athletic Academic Scholarship: Adrianna Miller, Smithsburg.
• Gregg DeLauney-President’s Award Scholarship: Emily Kopp, Williamsport.
• Carroll I. Reid Jr. Scholarship, sponsored by Cumberland Valley Athletic Club: Michaela Carney, Boonsboro.
• Carroll and Virginia Reid Memorial Scholarship: Adam Batey, Smithsburg; Kayla Ward, Smithsburg.
• Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship: Hutson Trobaugh, Clear Spring.
• Jeff Scuffins Memorial Scholarship: Ethan VanMeter, South Hagerstown.
• Dotty Piccolomini Scholarship: Anna Smith, North Hagerstown; Cami Row, Boonsboro.
Banquet information
Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event begins with a social hour at 5:30. Dinner starts at 6:30 and the program follows.
For information or to purchase tickets, contact Frank Linn at 301-730-8401 or Gregg DeLauney at 240-675-1228.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County Sports Hall of Fame to induct three new members
