By PAUL GOTHAM ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Bobby Grich suffered a back injury in 1977 that cut short his season. After having 80 percent of the disc between his fourth and fifth lumbar removed, doctors gave the California Angels' second baseman a 20 percent chance of returning to play baseball at the Major-League level. The former Red Wing great went on to appear in four … [Read more...] about ‘Those two years here catapulted me to the Major Leagues’ Grich recalls time with Wings
Casey's Clipboard
Catch and release: Friendship of Blocker and Ross-Simmons goes beyond the court
By PAUL GOTHAM ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- It happened between games of an AAU tournament when they were 9 and 10 years old. Looking for something to do with their down time, teammates Justus Ross-Simmons and Darren Blocker, Jr. headed for a nearby pond. Blocker’s dad had fishing poles in his Jeep. For the first time, together, the current East High duo wet a line. “I feel like we … [Read more...] about Catch and release: Friendship of Blocker and Ross-Simmons goes beyond the court
Embracing his past, Luke Pavone takes life head on
By PAUL GOTHAM Luke Pavone carries the mental image with him wherever he goes. He needed some fresh air, a break from the condolences, from the hugs, from the tears, from the prayers being offered up for his family. He exited the funeral home through a side door and made his way to the parking lot. There he caught a glimpse of the impact that his late father had on the lives … [Read more...] about Embracing his past, Luke Pavone takes life head on
A’s rookie, Heim, has Rochester connections
By PAUL GOTHAM Matt Dryer's earliest memory of Jonah Heim came nearly a decade ago. Then a member of the East Coast Grays, Heim took the mound for a night game in Long Island, New York. There under the lights against a team from that locale, Heim tossed a no-hitter. Ten years later he's traded pitching responsibilities for catching and the Amherst, New York native is thriving … [Read more...] about A’s rookie, Heim, has Rochester connections
Former Athena Trojan Jori Davis finds purpose mentoring fellow athletes
By PAUL GOTHAM Jori Davis spent her time on the court with the Greece Athena Trojans and Indiana Hoosiers filling the basket. Now entering her 10th season of professional basketball, Davis is looking to help build bridges for other athletes. "When you come out of high school or college, you just want to play and don’t want to know anything else," she said recently by phone. … [Read more...] about Former Athena Trojan Jori Davis finds purpose mentoring fellow athletes