Joe Zerilla was a guard on the 1930 Ambridge
High School basketball team that compiled a 20-1 record, losing only
to Aliquippa in the WPIAL playoffs. He earned All WPIAL honors that
year and then went to Duquesne University, where he was a member of
the 1930-1931 freshman cage team that rolled to a perfect 30-0
season. For the next three seasons, he played on a strong Duquesne
varsity basketball team that compiled a 51-7 record. After
graduating from Duquesne in 1934, Joe turned to basketball coaching
and had a combined record of 253-73. His 1943 North Catholic High
School cagers won the State Catholic title with a perfect 28-0
record. At St Veronica High of Ambridge, his cage teams had a total
record of 125-52, winning the Pittsburgh Catholic League title in
1938. He also coached the National Electric basketball team and was
player-coach of the famous Sonny Boys semipro cagers. In baseball,
Joe managed the 1947 Ambridge Senior Legion team to the state title.
He also managed the Ambridge Junior Legion baseball team from 1952
to 1964, winning the Amateur Baseball Federation Junior Title for
Western Pennsylvania in 1955 and the State Legion title in 1961, a
team on which his son
Jim
played. Joe managed National Electric baseball teams in 1950-1951
and Moon Township Legion from 1965-1967. He also was a well known
college and high school football and basketball official for more
than 30 years.
Joe Zerilla was a guard on the 1930 Ambridge
High School basketball team that compiled a 20-1 record, losing only
to Aliquippa in the WPIAL playoffs. He earned All WPIAL honors that
year and then went to Duquesne University, where he was a member of
the 1930-1931 freshman cage team that rolled to a perfect 30-0
season. For the next three seasons, he played on a strong Duquesne
varsity basketball team that compiled a 51-7 record. After
graduating from Duquesne in 1934, Joe turned to basketball coaching
and had a combined record of 253-73. His 1943 North Catholic High
School cagers won the State Catholic title with a perfect 28-0
record. At St Veronica High of Ambridge, his cage teams had a total
record of 125-52, winning the Pittsburgh Catholic League title in
1938. He also coached the National Electric basketball team and was
player-coach of the famous Sonny Boys semipro cagers. In baseball,
Joe managed the 1947 Ambridge Senior Legion team to the state title.
He also managed the Ambridge Junior Legion baseball team from 1952
to 1964, winning the Amateur Baseball Federation Junior Title for
Western Pennsylvania in 1955 and the State Legion title in 1961, a
team on which his son