TRR photo by Tom Kane The field at Jeffersonville will be home field of Sullivan West's Bulldogs football team. (Click for larger image)

By TOM KANE

JEFFERSONVILLE, CALLICOON AND NARROWSBURG - This is the way the Sullivan West interscholastic fall sports program will play out next year, according to Delaware Valley athletic director Debbie Owen.

FOOTBALL: both varsity and junior varsity football teams at all three schools will be merged into one team-the Bulldogs. Modified football will have two teams, one in Jeffersonville as before and one new team combining Narrowsburg and Delaware Valley athletes. The new team will be housed at Delaware Valley.

SOCCER: Boys' varsity and junior varsity soccer will be merged. Girls' soccer will not be merged. Delaware Valley will have girls' varsity, junior varsity and modified programs, as will Jeffersonville and Narrowsburg.

CROSS COUNTRY: there will be a three-way merger of all boys' and girls' cross country squads, varsity and modified.

VOLLEYBALL: a new merged volleyball team, for girls only, will be created with a modified program to be housed at Jeffersonville. Owen said the district shall add the advanced levels as time goes by and the players develop.

CHEERLEADERS: Squads at all three schools will be merged for varsity football. Another squad for junior varsity football will also be merged.

By TOM KANE

JEFFERSONVILLE -Tom Manza of Rock Hill won the Jeffersonville Jamboree 5K Race with a time of 17:35.

Manza also won the Run Like The Wind 5K Race in Ellenville this year and in 1998 won the Warwick Lions Club Labor Day 5K Race.

Coming in second was 15-year-old Matt Manzi of Parksville at 17:47 and third was Otto Hoering of New York City with a 15:54 time.

The women's title was claimed by Jean Velasquez of Wurtsboro in 19:13. Virginia Layton of Equinunk was second with 21:59 and Tracy Gates of Hortonville was third with 22:55.

Organizers of the Jamboree held the fifth annual race during their gala celebration last Saturday.

SULLIVAN COUNTY - The upcoming set of indoor intramural soccer includes instruction, play, league fees, insurance, game shirt, gym space and team equipment and are open to boys and girls between the ages 8 and 18. Season runs November 1 to March 31. There is a fee of $50.

Locations to be determined by sign-up and site availability. Travel teams will be selected during the program. Tournament fees are additional.

Sign-up dates are: August 23 at Austin Physical Therapy, Roscoe; August 29 at the Presbyterian Church, Liberty; August 31 at the Delaware Youth Center, Callicoon and September 5 at the Neighborhood Facility, Monticello. All sign-ups are from 7 to 8 p.m.

Participants should bring the following to sign-up: $50 check made out to Sullivan United Soccer, Birth Certificate copy (if first time participating) and a picture of player (passport type.) Parent and player signatures both required.

If not able to attend the above sign-ups or for any questions call Debbie Owen at 845/887-5830.

BETHEL - High school players and volunteer coaches are needed for the inaugural fall fastpitch softball program being organized in the county. Female softball players under the age of 19 with modified, junior varsity or varsity experience can join a local team that will play in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) sanctioned league. Beginning on September 10, games will be played at the Collins Park in Mongaup Valley on Sunday afternoons and evenings. The league will feature round robin play followed by a season ending double elimination tourney.

League promoters will hold an organizational meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday August 15 at the Smallwood Fire House. Interested players, parents and coaches are urged to attend. For more information call Mary Feusner at 845/292-2949 or Dennis Dietrich at 845/583-4211.

	TRR photo by Tom Kane Joel Turner of Rod's Taxidermy slams a three-run homer. (Click for larger image)

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS - Rain doesn't stop them. As long as there's beer, they'll play.

The unofficial beer league of Sullivan County is a relaxed group of men who just like to play ball. The rules are relaxed but the play is serious.

Last Wednesday evening proved the group's flexibility and love of the game when Rod's Taxidermy was to face-off with Hankins House at Pingel Field in Tyler Hill, PA on Route 351. At starting time, Hankins House had only six players. "We'll give you three players until the rest of your team shows up," said Rod Smith of Rod's Taxidermy.

The game began on time and when Hankins House players showed up, the borrowed members returned to their own team. "We just like to play ball," said Jeff Gombita, coach of Hankins House.

Besides these two teams, the league includes teams from Heinle's General Store in Cochecton Center, H&H Construction from Fremont, Ron's Ringers who also play at Heinle's field, the Callicoon Saloon in Callicoon, Dick's Auto in Jeffersonville and the Callicoon Center Fire Department.

Last weekend, at a two-day benefit to aid the family of Patrick Hubert who was seriously injured in a auto accident last month, many of these same players held a marathon of games, often in the down-pouring rain.

The team from the Callicoon Saloon won the tournament.

Sitting on the sidelines were Bob and Marie Diehl. "We watch every game," Bob said. "We wouldn't miss it." The couple cheered wildly when their grandson, Joel Turner of Rod's, hit a three-run homer.

On August 18, 19 and 20 beginning at 8 a.m., Rod's Taxidermy will hold a softball tournament at Pingel Field and will donate the proceeds to the Patrick Hubert Fund. "We're also going to hold a chicken barbecue on Saturday and on Sunday a pig roast and a gun raffle to benefit Pat," Smith said.

In case you're interested, Rod's Taxidermy won by a score of 18 to 4.