It’s the bottom of the ninth for Base Paths, time to yield this Monday space to lesser games for which they can not even afford a round ball. Replaying the season’s biggest events:
POWER DOWN – The Niagara Power decides “nine is enough” and, feeling not in control of its situation, leaves Sal Maglie Stadium to the dust of destiny, a dark stain on Niagara Falls’ reputation.
THIS JUST IN – Justin Walker, fourth arm in a three-man rotation, strolls in from center field to throw five strikes through the heart of the Cayuga order and save the Niagara Falls youth baseball championship for Whirlpool.
BLOCK HEADS – Allison Block hurls Starpoint to within a twinkle of the State Class A championship before taking her talent and fan base to Canisius.
SOOOO CLOSE – Both the baseball and softball teams at Niagara Falls High trail by eight runs going into the final inning of a title game, and rally bravely to bring the tying runs to the plate before the final out. Against storied Orchard Park, baseball coach Joe Contento calls the Wolverines’ effort one of his finest moments ever.
HEY, HO, STEVERINO – Steve Geltz makes Tampa Bay’s opening-day roster only because he matches up better against the Rays’ first-week foes, sets a world record by striking out five straight and by mid-August leads the American League in appearances. Base Paths waives the nickname “Newfane Nuke” again, as everyone in Wilson is born in Newfane, except for livestock. One hometowner suggests “Wilson Workhorse” as he enters the village’s Hall of Fame in October.
“CAITY” DID IT – Caitlyn Attfield is named Conference USA’s Player of the Year, hitting .471 for University of Alabama-Birmingham. Unfortunately, the conference’s press release says she’s “from New York.” What, they thought “Niagara-Wheatfield” was too hayseed for the USA?
NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS – The Tonawanda News closes, depriving the Kenmores, Tonawanda, O’Hara and Mt. St. Mary’s the exemplary coverage of decades.
JIMINY, CRICKET – In British territories, they see baseball as “arena cricket,” and now, staffed by a legion of batsmen from the subcontinent, the game sets up shop in Niagara Falls. As they say behind the wickets, “well let.”
PLAY OF THE YEAR – As undefeated Niagara Falls trails Grand Island softball 2-0, Wolverine Toni Polk limps off the disabled list to face the sensational Alley Cutting. It is an enormous of wills, Polk poking foul after foul, finally lashing a liner to left, dropped, Grand Island surviving on another player’s base-running error. Polk and Cutting, fond rivals since playground days, head off to Division I ball, along with Wolverines Jerri Ann Orfano and Jasmine Petrishin. Never has the game been so honored.
And, from late March:
“BECAUSE YOU INSIST: American League – Baltimore, Chicago, Angels at Anaheim; Detroit and Yankees the wild cards. National League – Washington, St. Louis, Dodgers; San Francisco and Atlanta the wild cards. Series, Nationals over Angels in six. Most Valuable Players – Tommy John surgeons.”
‘outta here. See ya’
Base Paths will comment only occasionally on diamond sports until next spring. E-mail pollyndoug@hotmail.com
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