Middletown golfer leads latest class for Butler HOF

Staff Report

Middletown-area golfer Karl Heffner and pitcher Ricky Stone, graduate of Hamilton High School, will be honored in the 30th class of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame.

Ceremonies will be Nov. 27 at The Courtyard by Marriott in Hamilton.

Other new inductees will be Mark Current, Middletown;, Ernie DeBord, Lakota High School; Chris Elzey, Talawanda; Troy Evans, Lakota; Lee Hart, Talawanda; Marty New, Taft; Clinton Spearman, Garfield; Bill Triick, Middletown; and Bob Walton, Ross.

Heffner played baseball and basketball at Lebanon High, but it was on the golf course where he excelled.

He has won two Middletown City championships in 1972, the first year the event was held at Weatherwax Golf Course, and again in 1996.

Heffner also has won eight Middletown Senior titles, one Cincinnati Senior Met championship, three Miami Valley Senior Met titles, four Wright Patterson Senior Open championships and five Shaker Run Club championships.

Stone (HHS class of 1994) pitched three years for the Big Blue and was named team MVP as a senior. He also won the Connie Mack World Series with the Midland Redskins.

He was drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and played in the majors from 2001-07 with the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres. In 2002 Stone pitched in 78 games for the Astros.

Over his big-league career Stone appeared in 220 games, all in relief.

Tickets for the induction dinner are $25 and can be purchased in the Middletown area by calling (513) 423-7734 or in Hamilton at Tom’s Cigar Store.

Tickets for the induction dinner are $25 and can be purchased in Hamilton at Tom’s Cigar Store. Only reserved tickets are available; there will be no walk-up sales the day of the event.

A general reception will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 and the induction program at 7.