Leading off today: Congratulations to Cardozo senior Lindsay Rowe, who's heading to the big leagues of collegiate track and field.

   Rowe, winner of the 55-meter hurdles at the last two NYSPHSAA indoor championships, signed her letter of intent this week to attend UCLA in the fall. UCLA leads the country in Olympic track medals since 1976, and women's head coach Jeanette Bolden will coach the U.S. team in Beijing in 2008. The Bruins, by the way, are 72-0 in dual meets under Bolden.

   Ticked off by turf: A Rochester-area environmental group is warning that artificial-turf fields could be health risks.

   Rochesterians Against the Misuse of Pesticides says turf samples from fields at East Rochester and Irondequoit showed small amounts of heavy metals and toxic chemicals that might be carcinogenic.

   William Crain, a developmental psychologist at City College of New York, told the Democrat and Chronicle that studies of turf fields in the New York City area yielded similar results. He believes the rubber pellets layered beneath the surface are the culprit.

   "This is one group making these claims," said East Rochester AD Mark Michele. "If we discover what we have is dangerous, we'll react."

   Do a Google News search on "artificial turf" these days and it's a good bet that 20 percent of the most recent results have to do with environmental concerns. It will be interesting to see how this debate unfolds in the coming months.

   Slam-o-rama redux: I received an e-mail the week from sportswriter Andrew Santillo at The Record regarding prolific baseball performances.

   He pointed out a pair of spectacular slugging performances last week than would have been noteworthy as stand-alone items. The fact that the performances came from Troy High teammates just three days apart borders on amazing.

   First, senior John Barna hit for the cycle and drove in a school-record 10 runs April 27 in a 25-1 rout of Bishop Gibbons. Barna went 6-for-6 with three singles.

   Then on Monday, senior third baseman Mike Krogh drove in 13 runs during a 31-2 victory against Bishop Maginn. Krogh was 6-for-6 (he was also hit by a pitch) and hit two grand slams and a three-run home run.

   Barna also hit a grand slam in that game, in which the Flying Horses scored 19 runs in the fifth inning.

   Impressive performances, indeed. But here's my question(s): 25-1? 31-2? Anyone in Section 2 ever hear of the mercy rule? When the scorekeeper starts showing signs of repetitive stress injury, it's a good indication that it's time for everyone to go home and start prepping for the Regents physics exam.

   By the way, nice follow-up column this morning by Kevin Witt on the subject of players hitting two grand slams in the same inning. Acting on a tip from a reader, Witt tracked down a newspaper story about Denis O'Leary performing the feat in 1978.

   It's a crime that so few extraordinary performances by New York athletes ever get submitted to the National federation for inclusion in the record book.

   Extra points: Newsday reports that today's scheduled showdown between Connetquot and East Hampton, both 14-0 in softball, has been postponed. East Hampton coach Lou Reale has been hospitalized with an arm infection but hopes to be released Monday in time for a game against Miller Place, another top Long Island contender. . . . Hoosic Valley junior Jen Mineau allowed a leadoff single and then struck out 21 batters to blank Hoosick Falls, 6-0, in softball on Monday.

   A short item on WWE.com said that surgery in Boston on Matt Cappotelli to remove a brain tumor on Tuesday was a success. There was no word on the prognosis for the former Caledonia-Mumford football star, who has forged a successful pro wrestling career.

HOME | BLOG | RANKINGS | BRACKETS | REFERENCE | KERR CUP | ABOUT US

©2007-19 Abbott Trento Online Media. All rights reserved. Contact us via e-mail.