What if?

Nobody wants to go through life asking such a question.

But Bill Sepich has.

The 1954 Winfield-Clinton High School graduate was invited to spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1958 and thought he had prepared properly for it.

"The Pirates held a tryout in Kittanning and I did pretty well there,"Sepich said. "I hit a triple and a home run. They had me report to Forbes Field for some workouts, then invited me down to spring training that following year.

"I was told to go down there in shape, so I worked out in the high school gym all off-season. Later, I found out that was the worst thing I could have done."

Sepich struggled to adapt to outdoor workouts in Florida and was released by the Pirates late in spring training.

"I was just starting to come around when they let me go," he said.

He was invited back to spring training in 1959. One week before he was to report, he was drafted into the military.

"I was prepared (for spring training) the right way this time,"Sepich said. "The timing of that draft notice was tough to take. From time to time, I wonder what might have been."

For his baseball and softball exploits, Sepich is entering the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame at the organization's annual banquet April 29 at the Butler Days Inn.

Sepich was team captain and leading scorer of his high school basketball team his senior year as well.

But baseball is where he made his mark. Sepich played center field for Sarver and Freeport in the Tri-County League, winning that circuit's batting title in 1963 and home run crowns in 1963 and 1965.

Sepich played baseball until he was 32 years old.

"I loved baseball," he said. "A local softball team wanted me to play for them and I explained I was still a baseball player. The manager of the softball team pointed out that I was too old to go anywhere in baseball.

"I realized he was right and my softball career began."

Sepich played softball until age 57. He played for Alexander's Inn, Amerikohl, Serventi's and Kelly's.

"Our Alexander's Inn team traveled to tournaments and our team and a Kittanning team usually dominated everybody,"Sepich said. "We decided to combine forces and became Negrich Brothers."

That team wound up winning the USSSA Class B world championship in 1975, its first year of existence.

Sepich went on to play in 10 world tournaments and made the all-world team five times. He has competed in softball tournaments in Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio and North Carolina, among other states.

"I played outfield until I crashed into a wall one time and dislocated my shoulder,"Sepich said. "I could still hit and run, but couldn't throw anymore. So I became a pitcher."

Sepich had back surgery when he was 50 and played a few more seasons before ending his career.

"The overall talent wasn't there anymore,"he said. "The leagues weren't as good. It was easy to get out."

Sepich said he learned discipline from his years in athletics.

"All the managers and players you played with and against, you form a bond there that lasts forever," he said. "I still feel that bond today."

• Led Winfield-Clinton High School basketball team in scoring his senior year.• Tri-County Baseball League batting and home run champion in 1963.• Invited to free agent tryout with Pittsburgh Pirates in 1958 and 1959.• Played on 1975 Negrich Brothers USSSA world tournament championship softball team.• Played in 10 Class B and A world softball tournaments and was a five-time all-world team member.• Played on 20 or more softball and baseball championship teams.The Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame Banquet is at 6:30 p.m. April 29 at the Butler Days Inn. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children. Tickets are on sale at Moses Jewelers, Bill's Beer Barn, Snack 'N' Pack or by calling ticket chairman Richard Pribis at 724-482-4200.

<I>This is the fourth in a series of eight articles profiling the 2006 Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame inductees.</I>