Saturday, June 29, 2002
Derry, Kelly top players
There are five-tool baseball players, and then there's Shane Derry. Stamford's Derry can hit for power, hit for average, run, throw and field, which helped him become the 2002 Daily Star Player of the Year. However, it's a sixth attribute that separates him from others — his intangibles.
Derry, Kelly top players
By all rights, this should be about Afton senior Kris Kelly, who was named The Daily Star's Player of the Year in softball for the second straight year. But mentioning Kelly without teammates Brigitte Hansen and Ashley Sherman would be like mentioning Crosby without singing mates Stills and Nash.
O-State baseball loaded with locals
Baseball fans looking to see 40 percent of the first-team Daily Star All-Stars won't have to go far next year. Oneonta's Kevin Sobers, Bainbridge-Guilford's Erik Weber, Walton's Josh Gransbury and Milford's Will Laible are all going to Oneonta State next season.
Connolly wins first in NY-P
Oneonta High graduate Jon Connolly got his first victory as a member of the Oneonta Tigers, who defeated the host Batavia Muckdogs, 6-2, in the first game of a double-header Friday. Left-hander Connolly (1-0) scattered eight hits over five innings, allowing two runs — both earned — with one walk and five strikeouts.
Friday, June 28, 2002
Fishing's fun when you throw them back
The bright orange sun steadily settled toward the mountains in the west. It had been a hot and humid day. Dark clouds were forming, and a few rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. Cool water clung tightly to my waders, as I false cast my weight-forward line a second time. A nice trout fed on the emerging insects that floated downstream in front of me. I brought the line forward and gingerly dropped the Light Cahill on the water 10 or 12 feet upstream, ahead of the fish. It drifted down his feeding path, passing directly over the sleek brown trout. He let it pass.
O-State graduate homers in Moscow
Oneonta State graduate Brendan Heslin hit an inside-the-park homer Thursday, but the SUNY All-Stars fell to Tokay University (Japan) in Moscow, 7-4, at the eighth Matsumae Memorial International College Baseball Tournament.
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Tigers shut out Batavia
Three pitchers combined on a four-hitter and the visiting Oneonta Tigers scored twice in the fifth inning to defeat the Batavia Muckdogs, 2-0, Wednesday in a New York-Penn League game.
Oneonta Legion falls
Tim Mastro threw a three-hitter and Justin Sheldon made a diving catch in right field to save two runs in Sherburne's 4-2 American Legion victory over visiting Oneonta on Tuesday. Oneonta scored twice in the sixth to pull within, 4-2. Mike Konstanty drew a walk to score one run and Kevin Sobers' groundout scored the second run.
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
O-Tigers win weird, wild one, 11-8
ONEONTA — Between the mental and physical mistakes, crazy bounces and weird plays, the Oneonta Tigers found a way to win Tuesday night. Behind a 13-hit attack, the Tigers defeated the Tri-City Valley Cats, 11-8, completing a three-game sweep and improving to 6-0 at Damaschke Field this season.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
Vin Mavaro, a New York City firefighter and battalion chief who discovered a baseball in the World Trade Center debris shortly after the events of Sept. 11, will speak at the National Baseball Hall of Fame at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Pitching keys Tigers' victory
ONEONTA — Winning was as easy as 1-2-3 for the Oneonta Tigers on Monday night at Damaschke Field. All four Oneonta pitchers had three-up, three-down innings in combining on a four-hitter against the Tri-City ValleyCats, giving the Tigers their sixth New York-Penn League baseball victory in seven games, 3-0.
Eagles' Baier arrested for DWI
ONEONTA — Downsville athletic director and boys varsity basketball coach Jeff Baier was arrested early Sunday morning for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, Oneonta police said.
Soccer Hall to induct three
Not that it needed any help, but Shannon Higgins-Cirovski's soccer resume just received an assist of World Cup proportions. Seattle native Higgins-Cirovski, Vladislav "Bogie" Bogicevic and Adolph Bachmeier were announced Monday as inductees to the Hall of Fame.
Water polo team has success out of the pool
Lauren Scott had the top grade-point average for the Hartwick water polo team and was named to the American Water Polo Coaches Association and the Collegiate Water Polo Association 2001-2002 All-Academic Teams.
Monday, June 24, 2002
First baseman Caravella saves Tigers
ONEONTA — Drew Caravella's bad day ended with runners at second and third in the top of the ninth inning Sunday at Damaschke Field. At the same time, the Tri-City ValleyCats' day went from bad to worse.
Connolly debuts with no decision
Oneonta native Jon Connolly shut out the host Vermont Expos through six innings Saturday, but his Oneonta Tigers lost in 11 innings, 2-1. Connolly, a left-handed pitcher making his first start of the season, allowed four hits, struck out three and walked one. He left with the score tied, 0-0, after completing the sixth inning.
Saturday, June 22, 2002
Christman traded to Marlins affiliate
Tim Christman saw his first minor-league baseball action of the season, and fellow Oneonta High graduates Clay Bellinger and Mike Connolly have continued their solid play in 2002.
Tigers move to 4-0
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Chris Maples went 3-for-5 with two runs scored Friday to lead the Oneonta Tigers to a 7-3 victory over the Vermont Expos in a New York-Penn League baseball game.
ALL-STATE BASEBALL
The 2002 all-state baseball teams for classes A, B, C and D as selected by the New York State Sports Writers' Association and the New York State Baseball Sportswriters and Coaches Organization. Section followed by grade, position, name and school.
Unatego graduate All-America in academics
Ithaca College sophomore Amanda Laytham, a Unatego High graduate, earned a selection to the Verizon College Division Women's Cross Country/Track and Field Academic All-America Team for her efforts during the 2001-02 school year.
Friday, June 21, 2002
O-Tigers improve to 3-0
ONEONTA — This is when it gets really tough to be a manager. After using 25 of his 26 players during the Oneonta Tigers' three-game homestand to open the season, manager Randy Ready could have a tough road ahead.
Stamford duo is all-state
The key players to Stamford's best baseball season in school history were rewarded with all-state honors Thursday. Shane Derry was a first-team selection in Class D and Paddy Power a second-teamer.
Bucks' and does' instincts unique
A pregnant whitetail deer found a quiet place on our lower meadow to give birth. She discovered the same flat where two spotted babies had previously matured.
LOCAL SPORTS
Results June 19 of the Upper Susquehanna Pedalers and Paddlers Bicycle Hill Climb. The race was a 2-mile climb starting between the Main St. bridge and the bottom of Franklin Mt. in Oneonta.
Hartwick's Williams to compete at Jr. Nationals
Hartwick College's Renata Williams will compete in the shot put at the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals on Saturday at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
Thursday, June 20, 2002
Oh what a relief! O-Tigers win
ONEONTA — Perhaps experience is overrated. Three Oneonta Tigers relievers made their professional debuts Wednesday before 1,764 at Damaschke Field and each left with their earned run averages still at 0.00.
Defending Player of the Year pumped after opening round at Afton
AFTON — Have steroids invaded the BUY.ROB Tour? Can someone actually win money with Tommy Gunn as his partner? Will anyone step up and challenge the tour's reigning Player of the Year? Those questions and more will be addressed in conjunction with the tour's opening event of 2002 — the FONY Championship.
Oneonta Post 259 tops Cooperstown
Kyle Thomas struck out 12, walked three and allowed two earned runs Wednesday to lead Oneonta Post 259 to a 7-2 American Legion baseball victory over Cooperstown at Neahwa Park.
Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Expos pitcher returns to area
ONEONTA — Though he won't pitch in the season-opening series against the Oneonta Tigers, Chris Barlow was re-tracing family footsteps Tuesday. As a starter for the Vermont Expos, Barlow became the third member of his family to step foot on Damaschke Field.
Tigers fly past Expos in opener
ONEONTA — The Oneonta Tigers made it look easy Tuesday at Damaschke Field. Robert Watson's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning scored Kevin McDonald for the decisive run, giving the O-Tigers a 5-4 victory over the visiting Vermont Expos in the New York-Penn League season-opener for both baseball teams.
Oneonta Legion wins opener, 6-2
Mickey Erbe went 2-for-3 and Mike Konstanty struck out six in three innings to lead Oneonta Post 259 to a season-opening 6-2 American Legion baseball victory over Walton on Tuesday at Neahwa Park.
O-State trio headed to Russian tourney
Brendan Heslin, Bob Kelly and Rick Vesely are going on a Russian vacation. The three Oneonta State baseball players were selected to a 21-player State University of New York all-star team that will compete in an international tournament at Moscow State University next week.
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Mystery machine
ONEONTA — The 2002 Oneonta Tigers are a mystery, but it appears as if first-year manager Randy Ready has a clue. Oneonta opens its Single-A New York-Pennsylvania League baseball season at 7 tonight against the visiting Vermont Expos, who will remain in town for a three-game series that runs through Thursday.
'Veteran' Connolly ready for second season
ONEONTA — Left-hander Jon Connolly is the youngest player on the Oneonta Tigers' roster, but that's hardly his most impressive distinction. He's also the only player on the roster from Oneonta.
Ready or not, here he comes
ONEONTA — First-year Oneonta Tigers manager Randy Ready is simply a messenger. The young men who'll wear O-Tigers uniforms this season have to decide whether they want to listen to Ready's message.
2002 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT PICKS
The top 10 draft picks and team selections for the Detroit Tigers for 2002. Complete draft selections can be found at the website mlb.com.
Saturday, June 15, 2002
O-Tigers in town Sunday
ONEONTA — Oneonta High graduate Jon Connolly may be feeling his age Sunday. Connolly, drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of high school in 2001, is the youngest player on this season's Oneonta Tigers' roster, which was released Friday by the Single-A New York-Penn League team.
Numbers game: Glavine ranks among era's best
Earlier this season, Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves pitched his 22nd career shutout and 51st complete game. And no statistic I have ever seen, and none that I can visualize, more starkly depicts the changes in baseball over the course of time.
NASCAR should not place safety ahead of competition
While you and I were watching the Indy 500 a few weeks ago to admire the daring styles of the high-speed open-wheel drivers, NASCAR officials apparently had another agenda.
STATE SOFTBALL RANKINGS
Final rankings for high school softball from the New York Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.
LEGION BASEBALL
Shane Derry struck out 11 and walked three in leading the Stamford Legion baseball team to an 11-3 victory over visiting Walton on Thursday.
Friday, June 14, 2002
Local businesses making supplies
While fishing on the AuSable River near Whiteface Mountain a week or so ago, I struggled in the deep, fast water. The large, slippery rocks made it very difficult to get to many of the good fishing spots.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
The National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta will hold a "Breakfast at the World Cup" starting at 7 a.m. today.
Thursday, June 13, 2002
O-State soccer to open season on road
Oneonta State's men's soccer team opens on Aug. 31 in the St. Bonaventure Tournament. The Red Dragons' 19-game Division-I schedule was released Wednesday, and it includes eight home games, with the home opener against Canisius at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. After the opening tournament, O-State will compete in the 27th Mayor's Cup at Hartwick on Sept. 6-7. Opponents are Hartford and Albany. The Red Dragons play two more road games before their home opener.
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
M. Connolly, Bellinger hitting stride in the minors
Oneonta High graduates Mike Connolly and Clay Bellinger have both picked up their play after slow starts to their minor league baseball seasons.
Power, Derry lead Stamford to DL title
Paddy Power pitched five innings of no-hit ball and Shane Derry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, leading Stamford to a 9-3 victory Tuesday over Gilboa in the Delaware League title game at Jefferson.
Sports Briefs
The Catskill Mountain Ladies U-14 AAU basketball team (14-6) won the Rochester May Madness tournament last weekend. The team went 4-0 behind the scoring of Jarrin Hayen and Marie O'Malley, and the defense of Renae Alvarez.
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
ECAC first-team honors awarded to O-State trio
Oneonta State's Brendan Heslin, Matt Puerta and Beth Oppenheimer were named first-team all-Eastern College Athletic Conference in their respective sports Monday.
The hacks are back next week
For anyone who's ever skull-hooked a wedge from the fairway into a pond 40 yards left of the green, we've got good news for you.
AFTON SOFTBALL
A year-by-year look at Afton's sectional softball record of eight straight championships with years, opponents, opponent's leagues, scores of title games and Afton's final season records.
AREA RUNNING AND CYCLING
Results Saturday of the Delhi Covered Bridge 10-kilometer run. Place followed by name, class and time.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
Afton resident Kurt Decker earned his first trip to victory lane Friday night at Afton Speedway, winning the 15-lap pure stock main event.
Cooperstown Legion opens with 2 victories
Cooperstown's American Legion opened the season with two victories Sunday at Doubleday Field. Cooperstown defeated St. Johnsville, 9-5, and Cato, 3-1.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD — FINAL TOP THREE PERFORMANCES
The top three performances for high school track and field athletes in The Daily Star circulation area during the 2002 spring season, based on phone calls from coaches this season. The top performances reflect the best times and distances of the top three athletes in the area.
ECAC honors Hawks' King
Hartwick College softball player Amy King, who was in the top five in a number of offensive categories in the Empire 8 Conference this season, was named an Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Upstate second-team all-star.
Monday, June 10, 2002
Karhio on road to glory
HENRIETTA — Cherry Valley-Springfield senior Kristen Karhio admitted Saturday that she doesn't spend much time at home. But Karhio's parents need not worry about her whereabouts.
OHS story, season ends at 10-3 loss
HERKIMER — Oneonta's storybook season had a MacBeth-type ending. The Yellowjackets fell, 10-3, to W.T. Clarke in the Class B state final Saturday at Harmon Field, ending Oneonta's best season in school history.
Business as usual for Sidney's Farrell
HENRIETTA — It was only moments after Sidney's Adam Farrell won the Class C-D high jump title at the state meet Saturday and I found myself feeling sorry for him. Why?
Indians cruise to semifinal victory
UNIONDALE — Four Afton players had two hits, including Kris Kelly who homered in the seventh, to pace the Indians to a 7-1 victory over Section Nine's Chapel Field Saturday morning in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinal at Mitchel Field. Afton went on to a 2-1, 9-inning triumph over Fort Ann in the final later that afternoon to capture its second consecutive state crown.
Area running/cycling
Milford's Michael Rutledge and Greene's Charlene Lyford each won by comfortable margins Saturday in the Delhi Covered Bridge 10-K road race
DuMond your average state title winner
HENRIETTA — It wasn't a perfect day for Sidney's Josh DuMond, but how many athletes can have an average performance and still win a state title?
Thomas made an impressive return
HERKIMER — Fifty rounds of the Major League Baseball draft went by last week without Oneonta senior Kyle Thomas' name being called. Whether it's because of the five-week suspension he served to start the season will never be known for sure, but Thomas said he thinks it was definitely a factor.
'Jackets string along Hornell
HERKIMER — Oneonta High did it one more time Saturday. The Yellowjackets extended its string of one-run baseball victories to five with a 3-2 defeat of Section Five's Hornell in a Class B state semifinal at Harmon Field.
Junior college golf
SUNY-Cobleskill's Nate Dyer finished third overall and the Fighting Tigers took fifth Sunday at the NJCAA Division III Championship at Chautauqua Golf Club in Jamestown.
Oneonta High's Shea well on his way
HERKIMER — Some time at Cortland next fall, Matt Shea and his buddies will likely gather around and look back on the glory days of high school. And when it's his turn to talk, he's going to have a lot to say.
Saturday, June 8, 2002
OHS baseball feeling it
Call it a feeling. The Oneonta baseball team is on an indelible streak, and the players don't sound as though they're ready to see it end yet. "It's not that we're cocky, but there's just something about us," catcher Kevin Lishansky said. "It's exciting, and honestly, I don't believe anyone stands a chance against us."
Sidney senior stuns
HENRIETTA — It's almost unimaginable that Josh DuMond didn't start competing in the 400-meter hurdles until about two weeks into this track and field season.
Indians try to repeat themselves
Cindy Bostelman had to repeat herself Thursday night. "Come again," the Afton softball coach crackled through her cell phone during her eighth consecutive bus ride to the Class D state semifinals. That connection was lost, but Afton's appears as strong as ever.
Gambling by umpires hurting the game
It's a matter of historical record that Julius Caesar divorced his first wife, with no explanation beyond the comment that "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion." As far as I know, the lady was not engaged in any scandalous behavior, but I know from first-hand experience what it's like to be falsely accused. And there may well have been malicious rumors afloat in the case.
Milfor's Cotter wins long jump title
HENRIETTA — Milford senior Ben Cotter was seeded in a tie for fourth entering Friday's Class C-D long jump competition at the New York State Track and Field meet at Rush Henrietta High School in suburban Rochester.
'Let's make a deal' with crew chiefs is out of control
This crew chief swapping is getting carried away. It was novel when car owner Richard Childress switched bosses on the cars of Dale Earnhardt and Mike Skinner early in the 1998 season, with Kevin Hamlin heading to the No. 3 car and Larry McReynolds joining Skinner's No. 31.
Friday, June 7, 2002
Best ever?
Oneonta native Clay Bellinger has two World Series rings, but he has nothing on this year's Oneonta High baseball team. And whether the players know it or not, they'll forever be known as the first group to reach the state's final four.
Busy track weekend on tap
Most athletes at Rush-Henrietta High School this weekend will have the luxury to focus on one or two of their favorite events. Sidney senior Adam Farrell is not most athletes. Farrell's schedule won't differ much from any other meet this season when the two-day State Championships in track and field begin at noon today in suburban Rochester.
Returning home to finish on Otsego Lake is like a vacation
Why do two weeks of vacation go by so much faster than two weeks of work? As you know from the last couple of articles, Pat and I were fishing on the Salmon River near Pulaski and on the Au Sable River near Lake Placid during our vacation.
Thursday, June 6, 2002
State semifinals set for Oneonta, Indians
Oneonta High baseball and Afton softball rank right up there for state semifinals Saturday. Oneonta (16-6) will meet Section Five's Hornell (20-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Harmon Field in Herkimer.
Draft has father-son flavor
Bruce Bochy, Ron Gardenhire and Jerry Manuel might manage their sons someday. The San Diego Padres drafted pitcher Greg Bochy, son of manager Bruce Bochy, in the 36th round of baseball's draft Wednesday.
HIGH SCHOOL STATE SOFTBALL RANKINGS
State rankings for high school softball teams by the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS
The Race Investigation Oneonta Adult Summer Soccer League is seeking teams and players for this season, which begins play June 17 and concludes Aug. 9.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD
Schedule of events for area athletes at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships in track and field. The meet begins at noon on Friday and resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rush-Henrietta High in Rochester.
Wednesday, June 5, 2002
OHS baseball advances to semis
POUGHKEEPSIE — One has to wonder if words such as fate and destiny have attached themselves to Oneonta High's baseball team.
Mooch on top of World
Hartwick College graduate Glenn Myernick is the country's foremost expert on Portugal, South Korea and Poland. Since December, when they have moved he has moved, tracking defensive tactics, offensive capabilities and individual tendencies.
Afton advances to semis
OSWEGO — Afton's Renee Kemmerer and Brigitte Hansen admitted they felt a little sorry for Oriskany on Tuesday. The Indians scored 13 runs in the third inning and rolled to a 17-0 softball victory in a Class D state quarterfinal at Legends Field.
Tuesday, June 4, 2002
Stamford's season ends with 2-1 loss
ROME - Senior Shane Derry went 2-for-3, and allowed three hits in five innings, but even that effort could not save Stamford's baseball season.
Milford senior has unusual day at track meet
Take Thursday, for example. It's the biggest track and field day of the season and it's just miserable outside. The thick, gray sky will ambush no one.
OHS, Afton in states today
The ball is in Kevin Sobers' hands today as Oneonta plays its biggest baseball game since 1993.
STATE BASEBALL RANKINGS
High school state baseball rankings by the New York State Sports Writers' Association, as of June 2.
'Wick's Thomson an All-American
Hartwick's Megan Thomson was named an American Water Polo Coaches Association Division I All-American for the second year in a row.
Monday, June 3, 2002
OHS takes title in a pinch
ENDICOTT — After a highly emotional and well-played game that included an improbable path to victory, Oneonta High baseball coach Joe Hughes let out a laugh upon hearing a reporter's question.
Finishing touch: Indians win in 'D'
ONEONTA — A sign reading "Unfinished Business" has hung in Stamford's locker room all season. But when Coach Curt Hoffman was showered with a water cooler full of ice after Saturday's Section Four Class D final, it signified the time has come to take it down.
Fifteen area athletes qualify for states
BINGHAMTON — Area athletes got by with a little help from their friends Saturday at the Section Four Track and Field State Qualifiers. From Sidney's multi-title winners in Adam Farrell and Josh DuMond to Oneonta High's distance relay teams to Cherry Valley-Springfield pentathlete Kristen Karhio, Saturday's meet at Alumni Field was all about who you knew.
Indians slam Devils
NIMMONSBURG — Poor Margaretville simply got Afton-ed in Sunday's Section Four Class D title game. The Blue Devils trailed by three runs before you could say, "eight straight sectional championships," and wound up losing, 14-1, at the BAGSAI Complex.
Delhi baseball ousted
ENDICOTT — Delhi hitters never looked comfortable against left-hander Scott Wood and the Bulldogs saw their baseball season end Saturday with an 8-2 loss to Moravia in a Section Four Class C semifinal at Union-Endicott. It ended Delhi's deepest penetration into sectional play in school history.
Saturday, June 1, 2002
Rain, rain go away
Think we've had enough rain this week? Oneonta High's baseball team had its third postponement this week when the Section Four Class B title game against Chenango Valley was wiped out Friday because of rain.
OHS doubles team out
Oneonta High juniors Ben Kabat and Brian Rothermel hit a Long Island wall Friday at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Tennis Championships.
Jarrett's plunge from top is unprecedented
Dale Jarrett, the 1999 driving champion, is languishing 15th in points this Winston Cup season. To hear him talk you'd think his No. 88 race team has been saddled with preparing the family station wagon each week instead of a Taurus.
Time to set story straight on Claude Hendrix
Baseball historians have said for years that an old-time major league pitcher named Claude Hendrix was banned from baseball, though without any specific reason being given.
Nations' leaders showing what World Cup means
Russian President Vladimir Putin was late for his appointment with U.S. President George W. Bush on May 23. Nothing major, Putin was simply saying goodbye to the Russian national soccer team headed for Japan to play in the World Cup.
