And now the Saugerties Dutchmen report, with thanks to our Hudson Valley correspondent, Babs O'Reilly. A classic confrontation was scheduled this weekend at Lake Katrine's Gruner Field, between the Dutchmen and their neighbors to the south, the Kingston Mariners. But a common enemy faced them both, namely the weather. The teams did manage to play amid dismal skies Saturday, with the Colonial side (that's Kingston) prevailing 9-3. The game was a benefit to raise money for Jim "Boomer" Felton, a young area athlete suffering from Leukemia. Boomer, who graduated from Kingston High School in 1990 and played ball for the Tigers of KHS, the Kingston America Legion squad, Ulster County Community College, the Mariners and the Dutchmen, was on hand throw out the first ball.
On Sunday, the Dutchmen managed to get in their early game, triumphing over Grand Slam USA by a 9-8 margin thanks to Donavan Cavallero's game-winning RBI to cap off a rally in the bottom of the seventh and last inning. But then the rain came, forcing the second straight cancellation of the annual Kingston-Saugerties Old Timers' game, as well as that night's Mariners-Dutchmen contest.
This Thursday the Dutchmen and Mariners give it another shot in the traditional July 4th contest in Saugerties. The Dutchmen host three more games over the weekend at Cantine Memorial Field, with Mama's Pizza coming to town on Saturday, followed by the return Sunday of Grand Slam USA for a doubleheader.
With the Saugerties Dutchmen report, this is Joe Schlobotnik, Mr. Squishy Sports.