ALTOONA, Pa. — The Penn State Altoona Athletics Advisory Council announced its third Hall of Fame class on Monday, Jan. 13, as five individuals and one team will join 12 previous inductees. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, in the Adler Athletic Complex.
Selected to the Penn State Altoona Athletics Hall of Fame were Frank "Junie" Moore (men's basketball, 1947–1949), Reese Piper (men's basketball, 1971–1972), the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 women's basketball teams, Tony Petulla (baseball, 2005–2008), Jimmy Baum (baseball, 2009–2012) and Cord Heine (baseball, 2009–2012). Moore enters the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Achievement Inductee.
"The Penn State Altoona Athletics Advisory Council is proud to honor our third Hall of Fame induction class this May. This class represents a diverse and dynamic group that highlights some remarkable individual careers, as well as unprecedented team achievements," said Josh Baker, chair of the Athletics Advisory Council. "We are thrilled to honor the life of Junie Moore, who was an extraordinary example of leadership throughout his 38-year career as an educator and coach. Our council and college are proud to induct these special individuals and teams who represent the best of Penn State Altoona on the field, court, classroom and their communities."
Moore returned from military service and attended the Altoona Undergraduate Center from 1947 to 1949. A team captain at A.U.C., Moore went on to enjoy success on the hardwood at University Park as a starter and letterwinner in 1950 and 1951. Upon graduation, he began his career at Morrisons Cove High School as a teacher and coach. He had a distinguished 38-year career in the Spring Cove School District.
Piper had arguably the greatest season in Penn State Altoona basketball history, averaging 27.2 points per game in 1971–1972. His 54 points against Potomac State established a school record for points in a game.
The 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 women's basketball teams, coached by John Nardozza, went back-to-back as Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) champions. The teams had a combined record of 20-4 in two seasons of conference play and a 5-0 mark in AMCC postseason play.
Petulla, a two-time AMCC Player of the Year and 2008 Penn State Altoona Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, still holds the all-time program records for batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, while being in the top five in triples, home runs and total bases.
Baum, a four-time AMCC All-Conference team member, is the all-time leader in games played, starts, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, total bases and stolen bases. His .480 batting average in 2010 remains the highest in program history for a season.
Heine, the 2009 AMCC Newcomer of the Year and 2012 Penn State Altoona Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, is the all-time program leader in home runs, runs batted in and sacrifice flies. He ranks in the top two all-time in six other offensive categories. His 16 home runs in 2009 are the most in a single season in program history.
Both Baum and Heine were members of the 2009 team that won a program-best 32 games en route to an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship. In 2011, their team won an AMCC Championship and became the first Penn State Altoona team in any sport to win an NCAA postseason game.
"In honoring our rich athletic history at Penn State Altoona, we are excited to welcome a new class to the Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame," said Brent Baird, director of athletics. "This year we honor champions, leaders and pioneers from our past that we hope inspire our current student-athletes to succeed."
The Penn State Altoona Athletics Advisory Council considers many criteria in its inductee selection process. Selection as a regular inductee is open to individuals and teams who have, by participation as undergraduate student-athletes in the Penn State Altoona Intercollegiate Athletics program, performed at a high level of athletic excellence.
Distinguished Achievement inductees may earn selection through their involvement or accomplishments in athletics or athletically related areas after attending Penn State Altoona, or by their example, character and life accomplishments that set standards of excellence worthy of induction. Distinguished Achievement inductees can also be administrators, coaches or other significant contributors to the success of Penn State Altoona Athletics.
Ticket and partnership information will be available soon on the Intercollegiate Athletics website, on Penn State Altoona Athletics' social media platforms, and by contacting Tom Koehle at 814-949-5152 or tjk181@psu.edu.