Byline: M.F. Piraino Staff writer ; Staff writer Neil Kerr
Westhill baseball coach Bob Weismore has seen a lot during his 30-year career but nothing compared to the situation that unfolded against Skaneateles on May 5.
With an 8-2 lead over the Lakers, Weismore called on Mike DeCarr to pitch in relief. Weismore wanted his junior ace to get an inning of work in preparation for his start against CBA later in the week. DeCarr took all his warm-up pitches and threw two pitches to his first batter. That's when the game's home plate umpire stopped the game and walked to the mound.
'I thought maybe Mike was hurt,' Weismore said. 'But when I got out there he (the umpire) said he had to leave.'
The umpire ejected DeCarr from the game because he was wearing a red wristband, which the Warriors had been selling to raise money and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Westhill raised $1,300 for ALS, the highest donation of any tournament team. The Warriors and seven other local teams were involved in the Strike Out Lou Gehrig's Disease Classic this weekend at Alliance Bank Stadium.
Any type of jewelry or adornment such as a necklace, earring or bracelet is prohibited during varsity competition. But Weismore was outraged that the umpire didn't issue a warning during warm-ups or just simply ask DeCarr to take the wristband off.
'I explained what it was, why he was wearing and it was an honest mistake but he wouldn't listen to any of it,' Weismore said. 'The whole thing was ridiculous.'
Weismore said Syracuse umpire assigner Mark Grosso called to apologize for the incident. But that did little to temper Weismore's indignation.
'It was an absolute disgrace,' Weismore said. 'It's the worst thing I've ever seen in my 30 years of baseball. I know what the rules are but some of these umpires need to use some discretion in certain situations.'
Because DeCarr's ejection was for an equipment violation and not for unsportsmanlike conduct, he was allowed to compete in the CBA game. DeCarr pitched four innings and gave up just two hits but the Warriors lost 6-2.
Vikings challenge Sandy Creek win streak
Sandy Creek softball's seven-year league win streak came close to being snapped May 7 as the second-ranked Comets and Thousand Island played to a 4-4 tie before the game was suspended after seven innings because of rain.
The Vikings had a man on third in the bottom of the seventh but Sandy Creek pitcher Lyndsay Rowell got the third out on a strikeout to end the threat.
The Comets (11-0) have won 95 straight Frontier League games since 2001. Sandy Creek's last league loss was to Lowville.
One team in Syracuse?
In the sport of wrestling, all scholastic candidates for that sport -- boys or girls -- in the City of Syracuse must travel to Fowler High in order to have a team to wrestle for. Prospective wrestlers attending Corcoran, Nottingham or Henninger have no choice but to compete as a Fowler athlete if they wish to participate in the sport.
With that in mind, maybe it's time for city schools to consider a similar merger in other sports.
For example, the four city school girls softball teams owned a combined record of 9-51 through Saturday. Nottingham at 4-11 was trailed by Henninger (3-13), Fowler (1-12) and Corcoran (1-15). Of those nine wins, seven came in games vs. each other. The only two times a city school triumphed against a team outside the Syracuse city limits were Henninger's 6-4 over Watertown and Nottingham's 4-3 victory over Central Square.
If one team was formed from four schools, it would certainly be more competitive against powers such as Liverpool, Cicero-North Syracuse and West Genesee among others.
Or, perhaps the city schools should consider merging just two teams, as is now the case with girls playing lacrosse at Henninger and Nottingham. Those schools have combined to form one competitive team which had a 10-3 record as of Saturday.
Opponents of merging city sports teams will quickly protest that opportunities to play a varsity sport are being denied to players at each city school. That's true, but how important is it to have the 'opportunity' to get thrashed by 10-to-20 runs by Liverpool and C-NS year after year after year?
Off to college
Here's a list of Section III athletes who recently chose a college.
Connor Sweeney of Bishop Ludden will play football at Bryant University.
Faith Heritage soccer player Michael O'Donnell received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Danielle Gannon of Liverpool will play soccer at Le Moyne College.
Kevin Roy of Bishop Ludden will play golf at the University of Hartford.
Goalie Kyle Blackmer of Marcellus will play soccer at Adelphi University.
Homer's Heather Wilson will compete in track and field at the University of Connecticut.
Shante White of Henninger will compete in track and field at the University of Buffalo.
East Syracuse-Minoa's Alicia Vasiloff will play soccer at Daemen College.
Mark Sperduti of Liverpool will play football at Buffalo State.
