BRUSHTON — The Brushton-Moira Athletic Hall of Fame inducted three people and an entire championship baseball team into the 2022 class during an ceremony at Brushton-Moira American Legion Post 939 Friday evening.
Recipients of the honor gathered for registration and cocktails before a sit-down dinner, followed by the induction ceremony itself. Dozens gathered to recognize the accomplishments of former student athletes.
The 2007 Brushton-Moira varsity championship baseball team was this year’s team selection.
The team beat Lisbon in the Class D quarterfinals with a final score of 7-5. Advancing to the Class D semifinals, they then played Edwards-Knox, sweeping them 9-0. They later played in the Class D championship game at St. Lawrence University, where they faced Morristown and beat them 7-2 for the Class D championship.
Reid “Reider” Saxton participated in baseball, basketball and cross-country while attending Brushton-Moira Central between 1962 and 1965. He was an active runner in cross-country for two years and played baseball for one year.
Saxton was a key player on his varsity basketball team. His team finished with an overall record of 10-2 in his 1963-64 season. The following year, Saxton and his team finished with an overall record of 11-1. He served as co-captain for both his junior and senior years. Saxton’s talents helped earn him First Team All-Star in both his junior and senior years.
Keith “Charlie” O’Connor was a standout athlete and 1974 graduate of Brushton-Moira. His son, Ryan, is also being inducted as part of this year’s class.
As an eighth grader in 1970, he was a part of the varsity wrestling team, and as a sophomore was named 1972 wrestler of the year in his league. According to coach Fred Compeau, O’Connor, as a junior, was the best heavyweight in his section. He was undefeated his junior year and as a senior he and his team were Oswegatchie league champions.
Ryan O’Connor participated in soccer and baseball during his time at Brushton-Moira and also played hockey for Salmon River Central School. He earned 13 varsity letters and was inducted alongside his father.
Ryan played varsity soccer for three years. As a midfielder, he was named to the All-Northern Athletic Conference First Team. He played five years on the varsity baseball team, earning multiple First Team All-NAC awards, one as a sophomore and another as a junior. He was also named captain of his baseball team.
Ryan was a standout hockey player during his five years on the Shamrocks’ hockey team. As a defensive player on the ice, he earned multiple First Team All-NAC awards. During his 2003-04 season, he was named First Team All-State. In his 2001-02 season his team won the New York State Division II Championship.
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