Sports
A huge shout-out to Ithaca College sophomore Jalen Leonard-Osbourne, who brought the men’s track and field program its first ever national championship by winning the 60-meter dash in a time of 6.76 seconds at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in North Carolina. In winning the title, Leonard-Osbourne becomes the 32nd student-athlete to capture a national title at Ithaca College, and the 51st overall individual national championship. His time in the preliminary heat (6.72 seconds) broke his own school record and is the sixth fastest time in Division III history.
Play Ball! By Ste ve L aw re nc e
T
he Ithaca College baseball team took the field in Florida on Sunday for the first of seven spring trip games, and after the game I spoke with senior pitcher/first baseman Buzz Shirley. Given Buzz graduated from Ithaca High School, I made an assumption, and he politely corrected me. I said, “Buzz, most Ithaca High players start dreaming of playing for the Bombers when they’re very young. When did that dream start for you?” “Actually,” Shirley stated, “I didn’t have I.C. in my sights at first, as I was recruited by Wells College.” As most local baseball fans know, Wells College launched its first-ever baseball team with David Valesente at the helm, but when George Valesente retired after 41 years as the Bombers’ coach, David was hired to fill his father’s shoes... or spikes... and Shirley transferred to South Hill. One thing that did start early for the young Shirley was that given he is a lefty, some savvy coach saw fit to give him a try on the mound. I remarked that “If you’re a southpaw you’re gonna pitch,” and Buzz said, “Yes, it’s true that the ball moves differently, and if you can throw strikes you’ll be on the mound.” As one of the top pitchers in the Bombers’ rotation, Buzz hopes to get about 10 starts and about 40 innings, and when he’s not pitching he’s a solid first baseman with a reliable stick. A 2021 Liberty League First Team selection, he hit .389 with 37 hits in 95 at-bats, including 10 doubles and three home runs. Shirley said he did appreciate the “hometown factor,” adding, “I am very comfortable with the coaching staff,” and when asked what it’s like to have his high school teammate, Gil Merod as his battery mate, Buzz offered, “He was a bit behind me in high school (Shirley is a fifth year
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Ithaca High grad Buzz Shirley wields a big arm and a big stick for the Bombers. (Photo: Provided)
senior), but Gil and I have a very good relationship.” Our phone call found Shirley in a good mood. He had just walked off the mound after a win in Florida, it was 70 degrees and sunny, and all seemed right with the world. In Shirley’s words, “It’s very exciting to know that we’ll get in a full schedule for the first time in three seasons.” Like any real ballplayer, Buzz plans to play as long as he possibly can, and he has already received a handful of contract offers from Independent League teams. He said, “Of course, I’d like to be drafted, or sign a free agent contract, but we’ll see how it goes.” He has seized every opportunity to put in the work, having spent several summers grinding it out with teams like the Onondaga Flames, the Cortland Crush, and he has played in the prestigious Northwoods League. Those teams play around 40 games per summer, and Buzz said, “We get a taste of what pro ball is like. We play double-headers, get on a bus, get home at 11 p.m. and then get up and do it all over again, and those 40
games feel like an extra season of experience. We play all summer, and it feels like real barnstorming baseball.” ● ● ●
The Cornell men’s basketball team wrapped up its season over the weekend, surpassing many expectations. The Big Red was picked to finish seventh in the eight-team Ivy League, but instead found themselves taking top-ranked Princeton down to the wire in the Ivy tournament. Cornell saw the game tying shot rim out before falling 77-73, and finished a very respectable 15-11 on the season. It was the program’s first winning season since the 2009-10 Sweet 16 team. The team’s surprising success (after losing all five starters) earned head coach Brian Earle the Ivy League coach of the Year award, becoming the first Cornell coach to win the award since its inception in 2014-15.
Mask Up!
TCHD continues to recommend masking indoors & around others
KN95 Masks Add Protection
from COVID-19 for You and Your Family
When to wear a KN95 mask
• While you are indoors and around others, especially those who are ill or not yet vaccinated. • If it will be crowded or if masks are required.
How to wear your KN95 mask
KN95 masks that fit tightly to your face will stop the virus. • Ensure a good seal around your cheeks and adjust nose clip for a close fit. • A tight seal stops air flow through sides of the mask so the mask filters the air you breathe in and out.
Where to get your KN95 mask
• The County has distributed 1,000s of masks to towns, villages, and organizations. Scan the QR for a list of locations. tompkinscountyny.gov/health
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