Steve Prokopchak

NEW CASTLE — When it came to his sports future, Steve Prokopchak had options.

The 1952 Butler graduate was offered a basketball scholarship to Westminster, Grove City, Lafayette and Youngstown State. He was also offered a Class B professional baseball contract by the Cincinnati Reds.

“There was no bonus money available from the Reds at that time,” Prokopchak said. “I had to think about my future. I decided to take the opportunity to go to college.”

He wound up earning nine athletic letters at Westminster, compared to the seven he earned at Butler.

Now Prokopchak has earned a place in the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame. He will be inducted during the BCSHOF’s annual banquet at 6 p.m. April 23 at the Butler Days Inn.

He will join his brother, John, in the Hall. John Prokopchak was inducted in 1987 — and was a catcher in the Reds farm system when Steve turned down a chance to go there.

“That was a very hard decision to make,” Prokopchak admitted.

He primarily played third base and second base on the diamond. Because Butler had no high school baseball team then, Prokopchak earned attention from pro scouts through his play in the Eagle County and Tri-County sandlot leagues.

Prokopchak lettered three years in basketball, three in golf and once in football at Butler. He played all three positions — guard, forward and center — in basketball and played offensive end, defensive back and did some place-kicking in football.

“A bunch of guys I grew up with, we continually played sports one season after another,” Prokopchak said. “Baseball, basketball, football ... It all depended on what time of year it was.”

He said he was one of “8 to 10 guys” who caddied at the Butler Country Club for a few years.

“That’s where we honed our golf skills,” Prokopchak recalled. “We were allowed to play the course on Mondays. Some members even allowed us to use their clubs.

“I remember caddying for Arnold Palmer one time at the country club. We worked at the golf course or in the pro shop quite a bit.”

At Westminster, Prokopchak earned four letters in golf, four in baseball and one in golf. He was captain and coach of the golf team for three years and was captain of the baseball team for a year. He was on the basketball team all four years.

“I wanted to play football, too,” Prokopchak said. “I wanted to be their kicker, but I didn’t qualify. I had one tryout and they said no.”

Prokopchak was also a member of the 1952 Butler YMCA basketball team that placed second at the national tournament that year in Scranton. He made the national YMCA all-star team as well.

Now 82, Prokopchak still golfs at Castle Hills, near his residence in New Castle.

“I shoot in the 90s now. There was a time I averaged in the 70s,” he said.

Prokopchak coached basketball and football for three years at Moniteau High School before going into military service.

“It’s a great honor to be entering this hall of fame,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be going in with the Lyndora gymnastics team of 1957. I was playground director where all of those guys trained. I knew them well.”

Tickets for the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame banquet are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. They are available at bcshof.com, Parker’s Appliance in Chicora, Saxonburg Drug, Moses Jewelers, Snack n’ Pack and Bill’s Beer Barn in Butler.