TRR photo by Tom Kane Cougar's Adam Burton holds up at third with a two-run triple. (Click for larger image)

By TOM KANE

MOUNTAINDALE - The Catskill Cougar's baseball team is moving in the right direction. Up.

With their 16 - 10 win last Tuesday night over the Quebec Capitals at Baxter Field, they moved to one half a game behind the Elmira Pioneers in their division - the Northern League East: Southern Division.

If they win their division, they play the winner of the Northern division and move on, if successful, to play the Northern Division Central champions.

The last game of the regular season is on September 1. The Championship series will be held between September 3 and September 20.

In last Tuesday night's game, the Cougars sent 16 men to the plate in the first inning, scoring 11 runs. Twelve Cougars batted before Quebec recorded an out.

The inning featured five RBI singles by five different Cougars, but the biggest run producer was a base-clearing three-run triple by Cougar Adam Burton.

Cougar's Ben Utting went 4-for-4, with two runs and two RBI.

The Cougars are owned by celebrity Bill Murray of Hollywood and Saturday Night Live fame along with Van Schley, a well-known baseball entrepreneur.

The Cougars have six players from Australia who will be trying out for the Australian Olympic team in September.

Baxter Field is located in Mountaindale, NY. The team will have its last home-stand between August 22 and August 29. Tickets can be obtained by calling 914-436-4FUN.

By TOM KANE

JEFFERSONVILLE - High school fall sports started on August 15 and Sullivan West School District is having trouble filling some coaching positions.

"So far at Sullivan West we haven't been able to find a coach for JV boy's soccer, assistant varsity coach for boy's soccer, varsity girl's cross country, JV boy's head football and JV boy's assistant football," said school Superintendent Michael Johndrow.

In addition, Delaware Valley (DV) needs a girl's JV soccer coach and a modified football coach; Jeffersonville needs a girl's JV soccer coach and boy's modified soccer coach and Narrowsburg a modified girl's soccer coach, Johndrow said.

"I'm optimistic about us filling our two positions, JV girl's soccer and modified football," said DV athletic director Debbie Owen. "Sometimes people wait until the last minute to apply for a position. We need to see how many students sign up for a sport before we can get a true picture of what our needs are."

Narrowsburg athletic director Scott Haberli and Jeffersonville athletic director Dave Franskevicz could not be reached for comment.

"I think there are two major reasons for the shortage," Johndrow said. "One is the salary we pay and the second is that it's hard to get someone who is free between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m."

Young teachers are often getting their masters after school and can't find the time, he said. "They might love the sport but they need the master's degree."

Johndrow said that the shortage is wide spread and not limited to Sullivan County.

Intrested candidates should contact the athletic directors at their community school building.

By TOM KANE

MOUNTAINDALE - Cougars' star catcher Guye Senjem will get a stab at major league baseball next spring.

Senjem, 25, said the Cincinnati Reds of the National League have invited him to their spring training camp at Lakeland, Fla. Senjem said the scout told him he would be assigned to no lower than Class AA Chattanooga of the Southern League.

Cougar general manager Michael McGuire said Senjem would stay with the team for the remainder of the Northern League which ends September 1.

Senjem is hitting .309 this season, with nine homers and 34 RBI.

SPARROWBUSH - On September 9 the Barbara McDonnell Vogt scholarship fund will hold the second annual scholarship fund-raiser, a memorial tournament celebrating the life of Vogt, with all proceeds going directly to the scholarship fund established in her memory.

This golf outing will be in a scramble format. Tee off is at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday September 9 at the Eddy Farm golf course, Sparrowbush, New York, and will be followed by a Texas bar-b-que at the Eddy Farm pavilion.

For information call Fred Reber at 845/557-8600 or Andy Boyar at 845/557-8319.

The Barbara McDonnell Vogt scholarship will be given to a graduate intent on pursuing higher education with an awareness that the skills and learning to be acquired are valuable in becoming a successful and productive citizen.

FOSTERDALE - Sullivan County's Annual Stickball Contest will return on Saturday August 26 at The Fosterdale Motor Lodge. In addition, the Annual Yo-Yo Competition and Foul-Shooting Contest will also take place. The contests start at 1:00 p.m. and will continue until 5:00 p.m.

The event includes even more 'City Games' including a Double-Dutch and Kick-The-Can Contest. Also, we are looking for Sullivan County's best joke teller in the County's First Annual Joke-Off Contest.

The Fosterdale Motor Lodge will celebrate its 12th Anniversary with a pig roast and homemade Italian pasta. The day will feature crafters, vendors, community booths, music, and door prizes.

For information call Joe at 845/932-8538.