Another year come and gone.

But not without its moments.

On Page C2 of today's sports section, you will find our staff's selection of the Butler County area sports story of the year and our top 15 sports happenings for 2008.

Here are a few other items so unique that they rank as best in their category for this year:

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"FIRST" OF THE YEAR — The

Butler City American Legion baseball team made the Butler County league finals for the first time. That's not bad for a program that was defunct only a few years ago.•

RETIREMENT OF THE YEAR— World kickboxing champion and Butler's own Jimmy Stewart was forced to retire after he was struck by a car in Las Vegas.Stewart was undefeated in his career, but his sport never reached the mainstream and his achievements have been ignored by many. But he was a true champion who proved it's never too late to pursue a dream.•

SHOCK OF THE YEAR — Clyde Conti's resignation as head football coach at Slippery Rock High. This is a man who loves the game and has gotten the most out of his players at Clarion-Limestone and Slippery Rock.There is a place in football for Conti. Look for him to wind up somewhere, maybe even back with the Rockets.•

BROTHER-SISTER ACT OF THE YEAR — Adam and Amanda Sharbaugh. While Adam led the Knoch boys soccer team in scoring and was named his section's player of the year, Amanda broke the Gannon University women's soccer scoring record as a freshman.•

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR— Cranberry Township's Samantha Scholl breaking the national long jump record at the U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh.•

BLOWOUT OF THE YEAR— The Butler girls basketball team defeating Allderdice 66-4 in the state playoffs.•

COMBO DEAL OF THE YEAR — Seneca Valley quarterback C.J. Brown and receiver Matt Plautz. Brown threw for 2,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Plautz caught 60 passes for 1,009 yards and seven scores.•

COACH OF THE YEAR— Scott Heinauer, Mars football. The Planets coach graduated his all-time rushing leader, lost his leading rusher this year to an injury midway through the season and still got to the playoffs and won a game.•

TURNAROUND OF THE YEAR— The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team, which won its first seven games this season after finishing 7-20 last season.•

LOSS OF THE YEAR— The death of Butler bocce enthusiast Dom Bonefeste, who brightened the spirit of every human being who knew him.•

BIG-STAGE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR— Tyrell Sales, Butler graduate and linebacker who's started all year for Penn State's Rose Bowl-bound team.•

UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR— Karns City quarterback Anthony Stimac, who quietly rushed for more than 900 yards, passed for more than 900 yards and accounted for 34 touchdowns for the Gremlins.