A truly special athlete in one who enjoys
a successful career as a player and continues to be involved by turning his attention to the
youth of his community. Lefty Cepull was just such an individual.
Lefty was a strapping 6’-2”
lefthander with a wicked curve and a blazing fastball. Born in
Tarentum, his family moved to Aliquippa while he was still an
infant. In high school, he was quite a basketball and baseball
player and his pitching prowess helped give the school a section title.
Following high school graduation in 1931, Lefty received fame far
and wide for the next two decades. Not only did he help teams from
Sewickley, Conway, Aliquippa, Beaver, and Beaver Falls win various
titles, he also was highly regarded in the Youngstown area. In 1939,
he led the Strothers team to the Ohio State semipro crown and into
the National semipro tourney in Wichita, Kansas, receiving
All District and All Ohio honors for those efforts. In that
tournament in Kansas, Lefty averaged 14 strikeouts and three
hits per game, capped by a 12-K-one-hit performance in the
championship game. In another tournament in Ohio, he threw a
no hitter in a game witnessed by 8000 fans. Once, in an Aliquippa uniform, Lefty struck out 20 batters in one game. Lefty signed a
professional contract with Detroit, but for family and job reasons,
never left the area. When his playing days ended, he became
involved with the Aliquippa Little League program and put his time
and energy into it for more than thirty years. On May 31, 1982, the
Aliquippa Little League field was renamed Lefty Cepull Field for his
long and dedicated years of service to youth baseball. Lefty passed
away on April 10, 1984.
A truly special athlete in one who enjoys
a successful career as a player and continues to be involved by turning his attention to the
youth of his community. Lefty Cepull was just such an individual.
Lefty was a strapping 6’-2”
lefthander with a wicked curve and a blazing fastball. Born in
Tarentum, his family moved to Aliquippa while he was still an
infant. In high school, he was quite a basketball and baseball
player and his pitching prowess helped give the school a section title.
Following high school graduation in 1931, Lefty received fame far
and wide for the next two decades. Not only did he help teams from
Sewickley, Conway, Aliquippa, Beaver, and Beaver Falls win various
titles, he also was highly regarded in the Youngstown area. In 1939,
he led the Strothers team to the Ohio State semipro crown and into
the National semipro tourney in Wichita, Kansas, receiving
All District and All Ohio honors for those efforts. In that
tournament in Kansas, Lefty averaged 14 strikeouts and three
hits per game, capped by a 12-K-one-hit performance in the
championship game. In another tournament in Ohio, he threw a
no hitter in a game witnessed by 8000 fans. Once, in an Aliquippa uniform, Lefty struck out 20 batters in one game. Lefty signed a
professional contract with Detroit, but for family and job reasons,
never left the area. When his playing days ended, he became
involved with the Aliquippa Little League program and put his time
and energy into it for more than thirty years. On May 31, 1982, the
Aliquippa Little League field was renamed Lefty Cepull Field for his
long and dedicated years of service to youth baseball. Lefty passed
away on April 10, 1984.