Local Sports
Former players embrace Classic
By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
Jeff Kent, the former major
leaguer who was often portrayed
as moody, ornery and standoffish
during his playing career, was
clearly awe struck Sunday morning.
Kent, a likely first ballot Hall
of Famer, was one of 23 former
big league players to take part in
the Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural
Father’s Day Classic Sunday
afternoon.
During a half-hour press conference
at the Clark Sports Center
Sunday morning, Kent said
being in Cooperstown, and talking
with the other players as well
as five Hall of Famers, was an
eye-opening experience.
``I was never much into the
history of the game before now,’’
said a smiling, affable Kent. ``But
being here and talking to these
guys really makes me want to
learn more. I listened to some of
the old-timers’ stories and it’s
just neat. I’m looking forward to
touring the Hall of Fame too. I’ve
never been inside. I’m not one to
worry about things out of my control,
but yeah, I’d like to be in
this fraternity.’’
Kent played 17 seasons and
broke Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg’s
record for home runs by a
second baseman, finishing with
351; 74 more than Sandberg. He
was the 2000 Most Valuable
Player, and drove in 100 runs or
more for six straight seasons
from 1997-2002.
``Now that the opportunity to
go into the Hall of Fame (Kent
will be eligible in 2014) presents
itself and I stop and look back,
I’m proud of the things I accomplished,’’
he said.
Kent said he was also excited
to get on the field for the Classic.
``This is a chance to bridge the
gap between the players and the
fans,’’ he said. ``Sometimes, major
league players can seem inaccessible
to the fans, but we’re going
to try and change that.’’
Later that afternoon, Kent
won the inaugural hitting contest,
besting Steve Finley in the
finals.
Christian Mass, the 12-yearold
son of Kevin Maas, a former
Yankee, walked around the Clark
Sports Center trying to get all
the players’ autographs.
``I want to get them all, but
I’m not sure if I did or not,’’ said
Maas, who like Kent, seemed to
be in awe of the players around
him.
Maas said he plays the infield
in Little League, and he received
fielding tips from former major
league second baseman Bobby
Grich during the media conference.
``I’d like to make it to the big
leagues someday,’’ Christian
said.
During the game, Christian
watched, and videotaped, as his
father, Kevin Maas, a former
New York Yankee, hit the first
home run in the history of the
Classic, a line drive over the right
field fence off Anthony Telford in
the top of the third inning.
Hall of Fame third baseman
Brooks Robinson said he was just
as excited to mingle with fans as
play in the Classic.
``I can still dive,’’ said Robinson,
famous for several outstanding
diving plays he made at third
base against the Reds in the 1970
World Series. ``The difference is
now I can’t get back up.’’
Robinson started at third base
for Team Wagner in Sunday’s exhibition,
and his team rallied for
a 5-4 victory.
Robinson received the biggest
ovation from the fans during pregame
introductions, that is until
Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller’s
name was called. Feller, 90, received
a long, standing ovation
from the roughly 7,000 fans in attendance
at Doubleday Field.
He then opened the Classic on
the mound, facing Hall of Fame
Paul Molitor, who singled to center
field.
``He called me over right before
I hit and he said there are
two rules,’’ Molitor said afterward.
``No bunting, and no hitting
up the middle.’’
Another former Yankee, Mike
Pagliarulo, had the game-winning
hit, an RBI double in the
bottom of the sixth inning of the
seven-inning exhibition.
The Classic, which took over
for the Hall of Fame Game — a
nearly 70-year tradition — went
very well, National Baseball Hall
of Fame President Jeff Idelson
said.
``The weekend was a smashing
success,’’ Idelson said. ``The
feedback we’ve gotten from players
who were here said how they
enjoyed being here and how they
were energized by the crowd. The
visitor experience, by and large,
is what we had hoped for. There’s
a good connectivity and accessibility
to the players.’’
- Local Sports
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Pair complete lake swim
EMILY KERR, LEFT, David Bonderoff and Amy Hage Delli-Coli were all smiles after their lake swim on Saturday.
David Bonderoff, 17, of Cooperstown and Amy Hage Delli-Coli, 41, of Exeter, N.H swam the entire length of Otsego Lake last Saturday. They began their 9.2-mile swim at Springfield Landing at 7 a.m. on the north end of the lake, along with their friend, Emily Kerr, of Exeter, New Hampshire.
Continued ... -
Patriots have shot at another stellar season
The Cherry Valley-Springfield boys soccer team had a dream season last fall, coasting through the regular season undefeated and capturing its third straight Tri-Valley Championship title with a 3-0 victory over Morris.
Continued ... -
Former CCS star to play for Hartwick
Former Cooperstown girls basketball and Herkimer County Community College star Samantha Fox is taking her hardwood talents to Hartwick College next season.
Continued ... -
Deer suggestions made
A citizen task force for the 4F Wildlife Management Unit, which includes most of Otsego County, has recommended the DEC set a no net change in the estimated deer population.
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Hawkeyes players honored
Two Cooperstown Hawkeyes players earned Second Team All-League honors from the New York Collegiate Baseball league on Monday.
Continued ... - Thursday, August 19, 2010
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Girl is in a league of her own
Some may argue that girls do not belong on the ballfield playing among boys, but a 13-year-old Little League girl from Plant City Fla., has proven she can hold her own.
Continued ... -
Perez to represent the East for National Title
Last spring, Elias (E.J.) Perez was the recipient of Cooperstown Youth Football’s inaugural Youth Football Camp Scholarship award, and recently attended the Offense/Defense football camp held in Rochester.
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Benefit golf tournament is Aug. 29
Prizes, good food and fun will be ``par for the course’’ at a benefit Golf Tournament on Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Otsego Golf Course. The Tournament is organized by the newly created Cooperstown Rotary Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit, tax deductible organization.
Continued ... -
Edmonds named athlete of the year
Cooperstown’s Caleb Edmonds did more than enough to earn Daily Star Athlete of the Year honors in track.
Continued ... - Thursday, August 5, 2010
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Petroskey homers, but Hawkeyes eliminated
Cooperstown Hawkeyes owner Tom Hickey said on Monday the team’s inaugural season was a success on every level except for one.
Continued ... -
C’town Legion finishes season 11-8
The Cooperstown American Legion baseball team completewhat head coach Ed Dubben called a successful season by defeating Herkimer, 5-2, last Thursday at Doubleday Field.
Continued ... - Thursday, July 29, 2010
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Dawson has harsh words for steroid users
Andre Dawson entered the Hall of Fame wearing a Montreal Expos cap on Sunday, but it was clear his heart was still in Chicago.
Continued ... -
Hall voting process restructured
Thanks to a restructuring in the way the National Baseball Hall of Fame selects veterans for enshrinement, the late George Steinbrenner might have a plaque in the Cooperstown shrine next summer.
Continued ... -
C’town girls lose first
The Clark Sports Center hosted four games in the girls summer basketball league last Wednesday.
Continued ... -
Hawkeyes will host playoff game
This much is sure: The Cooperstown Hawkeyes will host a playoff game at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Doubleday Field. Who their opponent will be though, is still very much up in the air. Cooperstown clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory over Albany Tuesday evening at Doubleday Field and played two games on Wednesday. They are currently 21-19, a halfgame ahead of fourth place Glens Falls. They played Glens Falls at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and with a win would lock up third place and a likely first round match-up with the Oneonta Outlaws beginning Friday night.
Continued ...
The Outlaws ended their regular season on Tuesday with an 8-5 win at Albany. - Thursday, July 22, 2010
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'Hawk,' 'Whitey,' 'God' to enter Hall
When former Cubs’ second baseman Ryne Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, he took time during his speech to single out former teammate Andre Dawson, who was in attendance that day.
Continued ... -
Tennis tournament 'a success'
The third annual Chris Gentile Memorial Tennis Tournament was held last weekend at the Clark Sports Center.
Continued ... -
Ozzie to host Play Ball on Friday
He blazed a trail across the baseball world for parts of three decades, forever changing the game with fielding accomplishments never before seen.
Continued ... -
Hawkeyes in playoff hunt as season winds down
If the New York Collegiate Baseball League playoffs were to begin today, the Cooperstown Hawkeyes and Oneonta Outlaws would meet in a first round series. The top four teams in each division qualify for postseason play, and currently Oneonta is in second place and Cooperstown in third with one week left in the regular season.
Continued ... -
Cooperstown All Stars fall in final
The Cooperstown Major League All Star team advanced to the finals of the week-long Oneonta tournament, but fell to the hosts, 15- 8, in the championship game on Sunday.
Continued ...
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