TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Reia Shiff (left), Nicole Beach, Taylor Stoddard, Dara and Lila Schiff take part in opening ceremonies at this year’s Sullivan County Women’s Softball All-Star game.

Sullivan County Women’s Softball League

All-stars shine in a league of their own

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONGAUP VALLEY, NY—Present and accounted for at the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League All Star game on July 30 were good times, smiles, high fives, hugs, beer, plenty of good hits, fine base-running, excellent fielding and great sportsmanship.

Reminiscent of the film, “A League of Their Own,” starring Rosie O’Donnell, Gena Davis and Madonna, the women who comprise this league have something special and unique that sets them apart from oft-male dominated world of sports. They have sisterhood. This is their domain and it is evident from their faces and body language that heaven is a place called Collins Park. It’s been that way for upward of 20 years.

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Summer league basketball

Teachable moments

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY—The next to the last week of summer league games provided an eleventh-hour opportunity for coaches to impart vital important lessons before the playoffs come and go.

Honing the mechanics of setting picks, switching on defense, passing to the wings and running set plays, determines the level of a players’ game this coming winter and is the point of summer league play.

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Empire State Games

Tri-Valley’s Wolfe takes gold at Empire State Games

By RICHARD A. ROSS

BINGHAMTON, NY — When it comes to running the 3000 steeplechase, Travis Wolfe of Tri-Valley is Section Nine, Class C’s premiere runner. After capturing the Sectional title this past spring with a time of 10:19.4, Wolfe continued to train into the summer. The work paid off. The Tri-Valley senior won a gold medal at this year’s Empire State Games Scholastic Boys division with a time of 10:1.78. He beat out county rival Mike VanWagenen of Sullivan West, who took the silver medal with a time of 10:19.94. The two will be competing against each other during the course of the coming year, which should make for an interesting rivalry.

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