THE SPORTS BEAT

IN THE HALL OF HEROES

Amanda Hoepker/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Bert Blyleven, who with Roberto Alomar will be one of two players inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at the end of July, made his orientation visit to Cooperstown Tuesday, May 3, to get prepped for the event.  Walking through the Hall of Plaques gave him “goosebumps,” the former pitching standout said.  Born in the Netherlands, he will be the “first Dutchman” in the Hall.

Outlaw Manager Returns For Year 2
The Oneonta Outlaws (NYCBL) have announced manager Greg Zackrison will return to lead the team in 2011 after guiding the Outlaws to a second best league record of 26-16, including a league best 18-4 at home and playoffs in 2010.
Zackrison also coached the Saratoga Phillies to a third place finish and playoffs in 2009 before the team’s relocation to Oneonta. Greg is presently an assistant coach at Massasoit Community College in Brockton Massachusetts.
Outlaws Co-Owner and Managing Partner Keith Rogers said, “Greg’s a leader and has the rare ability to get the most out of his players while keeping a fun, loose clubhouse.’’
The season begins in June.

Second Hartwick Hill Race Is Here
The second annual Hartwick Hill Race will be Saturday, May 7.
The Family Resource Network and the Hartwick College Fellowship of Christian Athletes have organized the race for the second year. Registration begins at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Saxton Hall and the race begins at noon.
The route is from the base of the Hartwick College campus to Elmore Field at the top, where the Hartwick College men’s and women’s soccer teams will be hosting the EDD Fund Soccer Clinic for individuals with disabilities from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Registration fee, $10. The fee for the Caterpillar Race (a team of four which runs the race tied together) is $40.  There are prizes for first, second and third place. There will also be a prize for the individual or team with the most spirit, inspired by last year’s Hobart Fire Department Bagpipers, who ran the race in their kilts.  An ice-cream social follows.
To pre-register, visit www.familyrn.org, call 432-0001 or e-mail familyrn@gmail.com.

Hamm SUNY Oneonta Athlete of Week
Edmeston graduate and Oneonta State freshman Kori Hamm was named the school’s Athlete of the Week for the week ending May 1.
Hamm placed second in the triple jump for the women’s track and field team at the Lion’s Invitational hosted by the College of New Jersey this past Saturday.
Her hop, skip and jump of 37.27 feet automatically qualifies her for SUNYAC’s, ECAC’s and the NCAA provisional list. It was also her personal best on the 2011 outdoor season.

E-mail items for The Sports Beat to Eric Ahlqvist at eahlqvist@hotmail.com