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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Triplets hit home runs in order of their birth
John Harcha (No. 13), pitcher/shortstop, is shown with his brothers, Matt (No. 1), third base and pitcher and Howard (No. 18), a catcher.
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- Howard Harcha used to take guff from his brothers about being a home run hitter only in practice.
That all changed during a tournament game earlier this year against South Point.
Now Howard could get a mention with his brothers, John and Matt, in Ripley's Believe It or Not. The three triplets all hit home runs in a baseball game for Portsmouth High School in the order of their birth. It was the only home run Howard hit all year.
"It was a fun and neat experience," Howard Harcha said. "It was our last home game. We've been playing baseball together since we were 7. We play a lot of baseball, but it was the first time we all hit a home run in the same game."
And they did it in the order of their birth during a May 17 game at Branch Rickey Park in Portsmouth.
Howard, the oldest by about a minute hit the first home run for the triplets, John hit the second one and Matt, the youngest by a few minutes, hit one, too. "They used to say I could hit home runs in scrimmage, but not in a game. I hit a grand slam."
All three are right-handed, and they were born about a minute apart, according to their mother, Peggy Harcha.
"I had the most pressure on me," Matt Harcha said. "The other two hit one and everyone was looking at me. The pressure was on. It was our last home game, and it was my last at bat when I hit mine."
Having all three of them hit a home run was "pretty awesome," he said. "It's pretty cool."
The three of them smashed 10 home runs this year. John had the most with five and Matt hit four. Howard had just the one in their last home game of the year.
The three of them just graduated from Portsmouth High School and plan to attend Ohio State University this fall.
"I'm thinking about law school, and Matt's thinking about veterinary medicine," Howard Harcha said. John currently is undecided as to his major.
John Carpenter, a Firebrick, Ky., sports memorabilia collector, has had a dozen items in Ripley's Believe It or Not over the years and plans to make an entry about the Harcha's his 13th.
"I've always been interested in sports," Carpenter said. "I think this is pretty phenomenal."
Ripley officials say the item about the Harcha's will be placed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., Carpenter said.
Harry Shope, founder of the Greater Southern Ohio Tri-State Sports Hall of Fame, said the Harchas will be honored for the home-run feat at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at Branch Rickey Park.
"I've never heard tell of anything like this before," Shope said. "It's unbelievable. They went from the oldest to the youngest. It's unique. It may never happen again."
Names: Howard Harcha, John Harcha, Matt Harcha
Age: 18
Occupation: students
Education: Portsmouth High School graduates, attending Ohio State University in the fall
Hometown: Portsmouth
