Anne Delaney

Farley resignation bad for Notre Dame girls basketball

2008-07-21T21:59:00.001-07:00

The girls basketball program at Notre Dame High School is going to be poorer for the resignation of Bill Farley.

The longtime varsity coach stepped down earlier this month, citing changes in the school's administration. Jugglers assistant coach Tommy Hynes and athletic director John DePerno also stepped down. Farley, who had 214 wins in 14 years, was a teacher of the game and one of the top girls coaches in the area.

Farley was interested in his players' development on the court. After games - win or lose - he often talked about what the players did well or no so well and what he wanted them to understand as the season progressed.

Notre Dame had a few down seasons in recent years, but the teams improved from beginning to end and that had to be due to Farley. High school sports is cyclical, and with a coach of Farley's quality the odds were good the team would again be competive in the Tri Valley League and the post season very soon.

A nice night for baseball

2008-07-17T21:50:00.001-07:00

There was everything a baseball fan could want Thursday at Little Falls Veterans Memorial Park.

It was a warm summer night for the New York Collegiate Baseball League game between the Bennington Bombers and Little Falls Miners. The NYCBL is a 14-team wooden-bat league for college players. On a nice night there are few things better than sitting outside enjoying live baseball.

On Thursday, it was so warm and humid that Digger, the Miners mascot, cooled himself by a press box fan between stints of entertaining the crowd of about 120 fans. Digger's highlight was leading a few willing fans in the 'chicken dance.'

The game was well played with Bennington scoring all its runs after the fifth inning in a 6-0 win. Little Falls had its chances. The Miners left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings. The teams will play two games in two nights - Friday in Vermont and Saturday back in Little Falls.

In the late innings, a full moon tinged with orange hung low over left field.

Every year is unique at the Boilermaker

2008-07-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

Bill Rodgers ran another Boilermaker. Six-time wheelchair winner Saul Mendoza returned for a physical challenge that requires more will than most of us can understand. Public address announcer Phil Stewart was again on a scaffold, several feet above the finish line to entertain and inform throughout the day the volunteers and spectators in the vicinity of Court Street.

There were things about the 31st Boilermaker Road Race that were the same in races past. This year, as with the previous 30, created its own personality with events that will forever link the 31st running to July 13, 2008. Here are a few:

The rain: never before had I left the house on Boilermaker Sunday with a jacket and without my sunglasses on my face. The glasses stayed in a pocket for a while because of steady rain that started about two hours before the 15K's 8 a.m. start. For some, there were more questions about the speed of the narrow front that produced the showers than the speed of the runners in the start corrals. Women's open division winner Ashu Rabo Kasim of Ethiopia was one of the concerned. Former race director Earle Reed was another. Kasim's worries drifted toward the back of the pack when the 23-year-old reached Valley View Golf Course and realized she could she enjoy the race's hilliest section. Reed was relieved at the post-race party the rain passed through the area, but the safety of the runners was on his mind because of the humidity.

Dave Reichert wasn't worried about the rain. The assistant race director confidently walked through the F.X. Matt Brewery parking lot about 6:45 a.m. in shorts and a jacket he knew he wouldn't need later. Reichert was right.

The winners: never before had Ethiopian runners won both the men's and women's overall titles. Terefe Maregu raised his arms above his head before he crossed the finish line, and Kasim sprinted the last mile to defeat four-time champ and running legend Catherine Ndereba by one second to complete the Ethiopian sweep. Maybe this year will be the start of Utica rivalry between Ethiopian runners and the always dominant Kenyans? Ndereba was back for the first time since her record setting run in 2001 and the return was made memorable by the close finish in the women's race.

The brewers: never before had Nick Matt seen so many people in the parking lot for the post-race party. The brewery president, who said he thought the party was in doubt six weeks ago after a fire jeopardized the bottler's processing facilities, was overwhelmed when he addressed a crowd that stretched as far out as any in his memory.

The timers: a malfunction of the timing chip equipment forced most runners in the field of 11,000-plus to rely on the slower 'gun time' results.

After the start gun goes off, the majority of the athletes in a race as large as the Boilermaker don't begin their run for several minutes and by that time the clock is ticking. With timing chip, a runner's time starts recording when he or she steps on the start mat.

The do'ers: the most notable would be Bob Ingalls, whose seven years as the calm, cool and collected race director made this year feel strange since his death on July 2. Ingalls was patient with multiple media requests and questions. He was accessible and willing to work with a reporter, even one who should know better, through the process of fleshing out an important story about the race. Ingalls' tenure as race director was going to end with the 2007 race - planned before he was diagnosed with cancer last summer. His absence, though, robs all involved of working with a knowledgeable and professional gentleman whose influence on the race will always be there.

The 32nd Boilermaker will be run on July 12, 2009. Will be Bill Rodgers be there? What about Saul Mendoza and Catherine Ndereba? We'll have to wait and see along with whatever new turns up.

Let's Get It Started

2008-07-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

There are flags on telephone poles along Whitesboro Street leading to the Boilermaker Court Street finish line.

Bleachers are already in place at the finish, along with fencing and the scaffolding for the public address announcers. On Thursday afternoon, there were enough trucks and people near the brewery and on Varick Street to make you think something is going on. Just a little somethings is going on: a party for 20,000 people.

It's that time of year

2008-07-08T13:28:00.001-07:00

It's beginning to look like the Boilermaker near Utica College. There is a sign of support over Champlain Avenue encouraging Boilermaker runners and I expect to see the orange fences on the UC grounds any day now.

Nadal-Federer among best ever

2008-07-07T20:53:00.001-07:00

The Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer men's Wimbledon final on Sunday wasn't just the best men's final at the All-England Lawn & Tennis Club, as many are saying.

It must rank as one of the best sporting events ever.

The others that come to mind, in no particular order: 1980 Winter Olympics, U.S.-USSR ice hockey semifinal; February's Giants-Patriots Super Bowl XLII; Tiger Woods' victory in the U.S. Open in June; the 2004 American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Red Sox; the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final between the U.S. and China.

Manning Makes Most of Euro 2008 Experience

2008-07-02T18:06:00.001-07:00

Herkimer girls soccer coach Glenn Manning was in Switzerland and Austria for the recently completed UEFA Eureopean Football (soccer) Championship. Manning went to the Switzerland-Portugal match on June 15 in Basel, Switzerland and saw Russia play Sweden June 18 in Innsbruck, Austria.

Manning watched the other matches on big screens set up in public viewing areas with friend, Urs Fischer, a Basel resident.

Manning planned the trip for two years. He couldn't go to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and was determined not to miss the Euro. The experience more than matched Manning's long wait. He visited Switzerland once before, in 1998 when he went to the World Cup in France.

"It's hard to describe one event that is the best," Manning said. "I'd have to say it's the people."

Manning was approached every day by people who heard him speaking English and they asked him why an American would be there. He said he told them it was an experience unmatched in the U.S. Manning said he saw a post-match parade for Holland after the team won a first-round game. After an hour, Manning had to leave but the parade was going strong.

"These were people who didn't have a ticket to the game because the stadiums only hold 40,000," he said.

Manning said it was common practice for fans at the game to exchange items from different teams, such as hats and scarves. After watching the Switzerland-Portugal match, a Portugal fan asked Manning for his Swiss scarf in exchange for the man's Portugese scarf. Manning obliged and received a warm 'thank you.'

"This big Portugese man is giving me a bear hug," Manning said.

Manning's friendship with Fischer is a story in itself. The men met in Baltimore in 1994 on the way home from a World Cup game in California. Manning missed his connecting flight to Syracuse and was stuck in Baltimore with his brother, Gary. Glenn and Gary were eating pizza in a hotel when Fischer and his brother, Stefan, walked in. The Fischers, who were on the same plane as the Mannings, didn't have a place to stay so Glenn and Gary shared their pizza and a bond over soccer was formed. Glenn and Urs kept in touch, and Urs visited the U.S. several times.

"That was back before e-mail so we had to send letters," Manning said.

Euro 2008 shows soccer skills

2008-07-01T20:13:00.001-07:00

Who says soccer players aren't tough? They do play football, after all.

I was intrigued by the recently completed Euro 2008 Tournament and watched as much as I could. The Germany-Turkey semifinal on June 25 and the Sunday final between Germany and Spain were highlights of my off days. I was in front of the television with an iced coffee by 2:45 p.m. ET both days and didn't do anything else until the matches were over.

I was impressed by the players' footskills. They routinely made passes that were unbelievable - pinpoint, right on the money every time. These guys are athletic, too. Fernando Torres made a couple of great moves, maneuvering past a German defender and leaping over keeper Jens Lehmann, to create his goal in Spain's 1-0 final win.

Now, if someone from FIFA or UEFA or wherever can get rid of the flopping. It ruins the game, and whenever a guy goes down you never know if it's legitimate.

In the ESPN telecast of the Germany-Turkey semifinal, a camera caught Turkey's Ayhan Akman being treated with a staple gun for a gash on his head. The Turkish midfielder collided with Germany's Simon Rolfes, who also came away bleeding and was treated by his medical staff for a head wound. The camera showed Akman sitting on the ground while someone tended to his injury and I couldn't help but think how tough Akman was though I read he didn't return. In the final, German midfielder Michael Ballack was treated for a cut over his eye. There was a trail of blood on his face and neck but he returned to the match.

Hoffman exchanging bats for sticks

2008-06-21T22:35:00.001-07:00

Whitesboro senior shortstop Lauren Hoffman is the 2008 All Mohawk Valley Softball Player of the Year, but the game isn’t necessarily in her future.

The 18-year-old Hoffman is going to Union College to play ice hockey for the Division I Dutchwomen. She’s played hockey since she was four years old and played for the Syracuse Stars for the last four years. Given the time commitment of college and playing college hockey, Hoffman doesn’t have plans to play softball.

Allen in right place at right time

2008-06-09T21:05:00.001-07:00

In the top of the fourth inning of New Hartford's state regional playoff game against Franklin Academy, Spartans pitcher Haley Butler's throwing error allowed Abby Premo to reach base. Butler threw high to first baseman Maureen McCoy and the ball went to the fence. Premo took off for second base. New Hartford right fielder Caitlynn Allen backed up the play and threw the ball to shortstop Dominique Carcone, who tagged Premo well before the runner reached the bag for the second out of the inning.

New Hartford led 1-0 at the time, and though Franklin Academy would go on to tie the game at 1-1 in the fifth, Allen's play was key.

Trainers able to carry it all

2008-06-07T20:27:00.001-07:00

In the middle of the Gillette Road Softball Complex on Saturday during the Section III finals was a blue and green trailer.

Though in the colors of the host school, Cicero-North Syracuse, the trailer served a greater purpose for the championship than school spirit.

The trailer was being used by Brian Buckland and Bill Brown, two C-NS athletic trainers on duty for the final games played on a day with temperatures hovering around 90-degrees.

"Things have been very good today," Buckland said. "Knock on wood there have been no major issues."

Buckland and Brown were on-site working for Section III, which oversaw Saturday's finals. The men said they've staffed the event the last several years, but never before with a complete complement of equipment.

In addition to water in the generator-powered trailer, the trainers had ice, oxygen, splints, an automated external defibrillator - everything they'd need in case of an emergency. Two training tables covered by a canopy were set up outside of the trailer.

In the past the men had to cover an event with less equipment, limited by what they could fit inside one of their cars or in a pickup truck.

"We can take care of anything that comes down the pike," Brown said.

Emerald Knights will ride again

2008-06-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

Hamilton's loss to Oriskany on Monday in a Section III Class D-1 semifinal was frustrating for Emerald Knights coach Bill Dowsland.
The teams split their Center State Conference Division III games during the regular season but Oriskany got the best of Hamilton in the D-1 final last year, a 4-3 win at Washington Mills Athletic Park.
"I'm tired of losing to Oriskany," Dowsland said after Monday's game.
Dowsland is a competitive coach, but he manages and develops players very well and certainly will have Hamilton contending for sectional titles again soon. Only three players in the lineup for Hamilton on Monday are seniors - Liz Unger, Nicole Beers and Mallory Carhart. The others, including sophomore pitcher Sam Martin, will return.
Junior second baseman Kylie Martin, who did not bat against the Redskins in favor of designated player, made contributions with good defense. Martin started two double plays for Hamilton. In both cases, Martin caught line drives and threw to first to double runners off the bag.

Emerald Knights will ride again

2008-06-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

Hamilton's loss to Oriskany on Monday in a Section III Class D-1 semifinal was frustrating for Emerald Knights coach Bill Dowsland.

The teams split their Center State Conference Division III games during the regular season but Oriskany got the best of Hamilton in the D-1 final last year, a 4-3 win at Washington Mills Athletic Park.

"I'm tired of losing to Oriskany," Dowsland said after Monday's game.

Dowsland is a competitive coach, but he manages and develops players very well and certainly will have Hamilton contending for sectional titles again soon. Only three players in the lineup for Hamilton on Monday are seniors - Liz Unger, Nicole Beers and Mallory Carhart. The others, including sophomore pitcher Sam Martin, will return.

Junior second baseman Kylie Martin, who did not bat against the Redskins in favor of designated player, made contributions with good defense. Martin started two double plays for Hamilton. In both cases, Martin caught line drives and threw to first to double runners off the bag.

Butler does it again; IR's Jones unusual at short

2008-05-31T18:51:00.001-07:00

In two Section III softball tournament games, New Hartford pitcher Haley Butler has given up one hit, struck out 24 and walked two. Not a bad line for a player who split time at the position with teammate Stephanie Romanow during the season.

"She's a good pitcher," New Hartford coach John Cunningham said. "She doesn't pitch every day. It's my fault I pitch her evenly with Stephanie. She pitched a lot last year and overpowered some people and got great results."

Heading into Wednesday's Class A semfinal against Tri Valley League rival Oneida, a team that beat New Hartford twice during the season, Cunningham might want to stay with Butler. Romanow played third Saturday in New Hartford's 8-0 semifinal win over Indian River.

Indian River lead off hitter Kwanishia Jones is the Warriors shortstop. She is also left-handed, a rare sight in softball and baseball because of a longstanding belief that first base is the only infield position for lefties. The rationale is a left-handed middle infielder has more trouble turning a double play, though this is less true for a shortstop than the second baseman. With more left-handed hitters in the game now, there is really no reason a lefty couldn't be a catcher.

Jones, a point guard on the school's basketball team, was one of the best athletes on the field against New Hartford on Saturday. Jones' athletic skill ultimately won over Warriors coach Ryan Lanigan. Following conventional thinking, Lanigan was determined to put Jones in the outfield when she came up to varsity two years ago.

"She wanted to play there. It's her quickness and speed," Lanigan marveled.

Sweeney quick in center for Golden Bombers

2008-05-27T20:35:00.001-07:00

Ilion center fielder Erin Sweeney made the play of the game Tuesday in Ilion's Section III Class B-2 first round softball game against Syracuse CBA.

In the fifth inning, Sweeney made a nice catch on a sinking liner hit by Brothers shortstop Maggie Fennell. Sweeney timed the play perfectly and stuck out her glove to make the catch on the run.

Sweeney also made a nice throw into the infield on a ball hit by CBA pitcher Grace Rooney in the sixth inning. Rooney hit the ball deep to center, and Sweeney started the 8-4-2 relay that got the freshman pitcher at the plate, keeping the game tied at 7-7.

Ilion lost the game in the top of the seventh inning on two errors. One on a throw to second by catcher Marissa Maldonado and Sweeney misplayed the ball in the outfield on the same play. There was more to her day than the seventh inning.

Basepath blunders

2008-05-20T19:49:00.001-07:00

Exciting, yes. But Tuesday's Whitesboro-New Hartford softball game at Washington Mills Athletic Park wasn't without flaws.

On the basepaths, the Tri Valley League rivals combined for four double plays. Whitesboro, which lost 5-4 when New Hartford scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning, ran itself out of innings three times getting doubled off a base. New Hartford got caught once.

The Warriors got their lead-off batter on base in each of the first two innings, only to get nabbed off the bag.

"Honestly, it's just mental mistakes I guess," Whitesboro shortstop Lauren Hoffman said. "Maybe we were too nervous. We haven't been in a tight game for a while"

Hoffman, who had two hits and two RBIs, was smooth at short for the Warriors. Whitesboro's Lauren Dudziak made a couple of nice catches in right field. In the bottom of the fourth, with no one out and Stephanie Romanow on second, Brianna Pristera ripped a ball toward Dudziak. Dudziak reached up and the ball was there for the first out. Warriors pitcher Jaymie Rosati retired Katie Cadieux and Raechele Leone to get out of the inning still tied at 1-1.

Adirondack softball a model program

2008-05-19T20:05:00.001-07:00

The Adirondack Central softball team might be the most dominant girls program in the area.
It's hard to argue with the numbers: nine of out 10 league titles, and 70 wins in 72 league games over a six-year span.
Since 2003, the Wildcats have won four Section III titles, advanced to a state quarterfinal game and been runners-up in two other overall sectional final games. There is an expectation of softball success at Adirondack.

Senior pitcher Ashley Zeigler, who struck out nine in a two-hitter to clinch the CSC Division I title at Herkimer on Monday, is the team's primary pitcher for the first time in her high school career. Adirondack coach Tom Maurer has always been able to rely on having one good pitcher, while often being able to groom a successor. Before Zeigler, there was Halie Tyler, Kallie Mathis, Sarah Millich and Randi Maurer, the coach's daughter.

Adirondack's success wasn't lost on first-year Herkimer coach Missy Richvalsky, whose team watched the Wildcats celebrate the division title on the Magicians' field.

"I wanted that to happen," said Richvalsky, who played basketball and softball at Elmira College. "I want my girls to see that. Adirondack has been successful in the past. I want to bring Herkimer to that point."

Rogers Plays Well Through Tough Time

2008-05-14T20:26:00.001-07:00

Westmoreland shortstop Calla Rogers had a good day on the field Wednesday against Oriskany.

Rogers had three hits and scored two runs in the Bulldogs' 10-8 key CSC Division III win. Rogers also started a game-ending double play with two Oriskany players on base to preserve the win. Oriskany's Brittany Higgins lined out to Rogers, who threw to first to double off Kile Washnis.

"I knew it when I saw her move," Westmoreland coach Cheryl Smith said of Rogers' play. "I said 'she's got it.' It was natural."

Rogers' week to this point has been anything but easy. She is a cousin of Oneida sophomore Ryan Aldasch, who died in a car accident last Friday. Rogers attended a memorial service for Aldasch earlier in the day.

"She's had a lot on her mind and she wanted to do well for him," Smith said. "She really used that to get going."

Oneida holds momentum in win at New Hartford.

2008-05-13T21:15:00.001-07:00

The Oneida girls softball team got a rush of momentum with a first-inning lead on Tuesday.
The Indians expended a lot of energy trying to hold the lead in a 5-3 win over New Hartford.

The Tri Valley League game couldn't have started any better for the Indians, many of whom were emotionally drained after the death of a classmate on Friday.
Beth Kann hit a two-run home run in the top of the first at Washington Mills Athletic Park. The senior pitcher then struck out the side in the bottom of the first and the Indians were rolling.

"Against a good team you've got to get ahead early," Kann said.

Things only got better. Kara Peck's fourth-inning triple scored another run, and the Indians shortstop came in on the same play after an error on the throw to the infield.

New Hartford rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on Oneida errors. The Indians' energy started leaking, and they came out of the fifth lucky to be still up three runs. New Hartford scored its third run on an error in the seventh and Tessa Trainor prolonged the game with a gritty two-out at-bat. The Spartans second baseman, down 1-2 in the count, fouled off six-straight pitches before finally reaching base on an error.

"The whole team emotionally was a little drained," Kann said of the team's games Monday (vs. Camden) and Tuesday. "To get these wins is great for our program."

While not making excuses for the errors, Kann and Oneida coach Mike Curro said the infield surface at Washington Mills might have had something to do with the team's miscues. The dirt causes the ball to take different hops than it does at Oneida High School where the Indians play and it takes some time to adjust. New Hartford shortstop Dominique Carcone was nearly eaten up by Kristin Kinney grounder in the fifth inning. The ball bounced up on Carcone, but she stayed with it nicely and made a throw that just missed getting the Oneida catcher.

We Are Family

2008-05-06T20:45:00.001-07:00

Being a 'family' must be the theme of Upstate New York lacrosse teams this spring.

Members of the Herkimer County Community College men's team, and Generals coach Rich Dommer, used the word 'family' several times after two games this season. The unifying force of a 'family' unit was the explanation offered for the Generals' win over Monroe Community College in a Region III semifinal Saturday.

"We just played together as a family," said HCCC sophomore defender Kris Docherty. "You gotta believe in yourself and as a team."

On Tuesday in a girls game at New Hartford, Fulton broke each huddle with the chant 'family' before going back on the field.

Maybe other teams should follow the Red Raiders and Generals. HCCC lost to Onondaga Community College on Sunday in the Region III final for the fourth-straight year. The Generals, though, received an at-large bid to the NJCAA tournament this weekend and their title hopes are still alive. Fulton defeated New Hartford, 14-2 at Myles Elementary School to improve to 8-3.

RFA-Proctor softball has playoff quality

2008-05-05T20:40:00.001-07:00

The RFA and Thomas R. Proctor softball game at Proctor on Monday was a good one. There was playoff quality to the Central New York Counties League regular-season match up. The game was scoreless through four innings and each team committed one error.

Defense ruled the day and RFA shortstop Lydnsey Brognano made the play of the game in the bottom of the seventh. With RFA leading 2-1, Brognano completed a game-ending double play. The shortstop went way to her left toward second base to catch a pop-up by Caitlin Fox and then threw home to RFA catcher Danielle Phillips to get Proctor's Ellie Reilly trying to score from third.

Proctor coach Dave Scarlino, in the coaching box at third, sent Reilly but wasn't happy with her effort.

"The fielder was going that way," Scarlino said pointing toward the right side. "She jogged in."

RFA center fielder Julianna Van Meter threw out Proctor's Jenae Morrissey at the plate in the sixth inning to keep it a 2-0 game. Morrissey, the Proctor catcher, was aggressive on the bases trying to score from second on a Jennifer True single and plowed into Phillips, who was on the ground for a while but stayed in the game.

"We work on it a lot," RFA coach Jerry Tabolt said of the outfield assists. "Everyone was in the right position where they needed to be."

Proctor center fielder Kaitlyn Brown made a nice catch on a hard-hit fly ball by Brenna Ricci to end the top of the seventh. RFA right fielder Emma Duchesneau ended the third inning with a long run and falling catch in foul territory on a pop out by Brown.

Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux should enter Hall together

2008-04-30T21:07:00.001-07:00

I hope John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux all retire at the end of this year and go into the National Baseball Hall of Fame together.

Smoltz and Glavine passed each other on trips to and from the disabled list this week. Smoltz went on the DL with a right shoulder injury Tuesday as Glavine was coming off after injuring his hamstring. The Braves pitchers have served the game well, and I hope if balky injuries mar their 2008 season the 40-somethings step aside. Maddux will probably still be working his magic and going strong.

Hamilton, Oriskany out in the cold

2008-04-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

Almost every way the Hamilton and Oriskany softball teams could commit an error on Wednesday, the Emerald Knights and Redskins found a way. The teams combined for 12 errors and eight unearned runs in a Center State Conference Division III game.

"It's too many for two good teams," Hamilton coach Bill Dowsland said.

Oriskany is the defending Section III Class D champions and Hamilton has had some very good years in the recent past, including an appearance in the state finals in 2004. The teams met in the Class D-1 final last year, won by Oriskany 4-3.

I expected a compelling game, but Mother Nature had other plans. On a cold and windy afternoon - though it was nice when the sun was out - the teams were nowhere near post-season form. Three of those involved said the poor play was due to the weather, which was an interesting admission from someone in sports.

"I think that is the biggest thing," Oriskany coach Eric Enos said.

Oriskany was sweating in the fifth inning. Hamilton, which trailed 8-2 at the end of the fourth, rallied for five runs to make it 8-6 before Redskins pitcher Kayla Dunning got Jenna Whyatt to fly out to center.

"Thank you, Lord," said the left-handed Dunning. "I was relieved to be out of that inning."

There was one good defensive play in the game. In the top of the sixth, Oriskany first baseman Liz Horan made a nice shoestring catch on a pop-up by Nicole Beers for the first out.

Hamm, Foudy inductions among best of 2007

2008-04-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

The 2007 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction featuring Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy ranked ninth among the top 10 moments in women's sports last year as selected by the Women's Sports Foundation. A clip of the August induction ceremony was shown on April 15 when the top 10 list was announced at The Billie Awards, named for WSF founder Billie Jean King.

The number one moment of 2007 was Wimbledon announcing equal prize money for men and women. The 35th anniversary of Title IX, the federal education amendment of 1972 responsible for equality in college and high school sports, was No. 3.

I covered the Hamm and Foudy inductions on Aug. 26, though I had no idea the event would make a top 10 list. I cover high school soccer for the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, NY, which is about an hour from the National Soccer Hall of Fame and I was thrilled to go to Oneonta.

Soccer was my first sport. I was about nine when AYSO came to my hometown. I'll never forget my first jersey. I don't remember the number - probably No. 10 for Pele because this was in the 1970s. It was a mesh maroon v-neck and it looked snazzy with the white shorts. Maybe that's the pride many of the young girls at the Soccer Hall of Fame last summer felt as they walked in Hamm and Foudy jerseys. Most wore Hamm's No. 9 but there were a few in Foudy's No. 11.

The crowd was enormous, the bigger than those I'd seen at the Oneonta grounds for the boys state tournament games I covered there. That alone should've been a sign of the significance of the day. The women were inspirational in their speeches, given in front of a record. Neither Hamm nor Foudy talked about their records, World Cup wins or Olympic medals. They spoke of the people they met during their careers, the teammates and family who helped become two of the most accomplished athletes in American history, among men or women.

One of the last things I did before I left Oneonta to return to the newspaper was talk with a young family: a husband, wife and toddler-aged daughter. The child's name was Mia and the pregnant woman pointed to her stomach and said the unborn child would be named Julie. I asked the couple if they were serious and they said yes. I didn't get them into the story that ran in the paper the next day and I don't remember their explanation for the girls names. I could understand parents naming their children Peyton or Eli, Brett or Brady. But Mia or Julie? Come on. You can't put a number on that.

Moran plays good defense in loss

2008-04-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

Whitesboro catcher Colleen Moran had a good day on Tuesday, despite the Warriors' 4-1 loss to Oneida.
In the top of the second inning, Moran made a diving catch on a foul ball for one out and threw out a runner at second base for the second out. Moran had a passed ball in the seventh innning that led to Oneida's fourth run, but the Indians' win was in the bag.

Moran's day was sealed with her second-inning defense. Oneida's Clare Henry led off the inning with a base hit. The next batter, Jenn Rougeux fouled off a ball toward the Indians' bench on the third base line. Moran raced over and caught the ball with an outstretched arm near the screen. Moran threw out Henry at second base during the next at-bat to Erika Williams. Whitesboro pitcher Jaymie Rosati finished off the inning with a strikeout of Williams.

Moran was also active in leading Whitesboro chants while the Warriors were at-bat. Long a part of softball, there are a variety of chants that seem to be standbys for girls softball teams. Moran led a new one, dedicated to teammate Lauren Hoffman when the senior shortstop was at the plate. H-O-Double F Hoffy!!