Mike
(Lefty) Sebastian wasn’t born in Beaver County, and he didn’t play
his high school ball here, either. But he did coach two area high
schools for 15 years, netting ten winning seasons and three unbeaten
squads. Born on June 7, 1910, Mike played football and track at
Sharon High School, earning All State honors in both sports. But one
particular gridiron game netted him national attention when he scored 63 points on
ten touchdowns and three extra point conversions. Mike earned a
scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he again starred in
both sports and earned All American recognition in 1932 and 1933. In
1934, he was the starting running back in the very first College All
Star Game, which pitted collegians against the defending
professional champions. Mike also played in the Shriner’s All Star
Game, and he later played pro ball for four different franchises,
including the Pittsburgh Pirates (later renamed the Steelers). Mike
retired from playing in 1938 and after WWI was appointed assistant
coach at Rochester High School in 1946, with his team going 9-1 that
first season. When head coach Earl Ewing resigned, Mike was made
head coach for the 1947 campaign and made an instant splash with an
8-0-1 team that featured
Richard "Skip" Doyle and
Babe Parilli. Mike stayed
with the Rams three more years, compiling an overall 23-12-4 record.
After Moe Rubenstein resigned as head coach of the Bridgers,
Ambridge hired Mike, who helmed the team for the next eleven
seasons. His first team went 7-1-2, but in 1954 the Bridgers
finished with a 8-0-1 record that started a four year 31-5-2 run.
His 1956 team as 9-0 and outscored their opponents 367 to 51. Mike
continued to coach Ambridge through the 1961 season to an overall
64-38-4 mark, then moved on to New Castle before retiring in 1974.
Mike died in California on June 28, 1989.
Mike
(Lefty) Sebastian wasn’t born in Beaver County, and he didn’t play
his high school ball here, either. But he did coach two area high
schools for 15 years, netting ten winning seasons and three unbeaten
squads. Born on June 7, 1910, Mike played football and track at
Sharon High School, earning All State honors in both sports. But one
particular gridiron game netted him national attention when he scored 63 points on
ten touchdowns and three extra point conversions. Mike earned a
scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he again starred in
both sports and earned All American recognition in 1932 and 1933. In
1934, he was the starting running back in the very first College All
Star Game, which pitted collegians against the defending
professional champions. Mike also played in the Shriner’s All Star
Game, and he later played pro ball for four different franchises,
including the Pittsburgh Pirates (later renamed the Steelers). Mike
retired from playing in 1938 and after WWI was appointed assistant
coach at Rochester High School in 1946, with his team going 9-1 that
first season. When head coach Earl Ewing resigned, Mike was made
head coach for the 1947 campaign and made an instant splash with an
8-0-1 team that featured