Santana powers Puerto Rico to Classic title MVP belts three home runs in final

By Michael Sharp
Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON — Puerto Rico\’s players streamed out of their dugout and greeted Heriberto Santana at home plate by raising their arms high over their heads and lowering them in unison as if to bow down to their first baseman.

Out past the left-field fence, along the backstop to an adjoining diamond at Conlon Field, fans scrambled after Santana\’s latest home run.

In a match-up of perennial powers in the championship game of the STOP-DWI World Youth Classic on Sunday evening, nothing seemed quite as powerful as Santana\’s swing.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Santana homered three times, driving in six runs to lead Puerto Rico to a 13-2 win over defending champ Brooklawn, N.J., in the title game of the American Legion-age baseball tournament.

\”He\’s my best clutch hitter,\” Puerto Rico head coach Javier Centeno said of Santana, who is headed to the University of New Mexico in the fall.

\”When he\’s hot, he\’s very hot. He\’s very difficult to get out.\”

Santana, who earned Most Valuable Player honors, gave Puerto Rico a 2-0 lead with a two-run blast to left-center field in the top of the first and increased the lead to 5-0 with a towering three-run shot to straightaway center in the third.

He added a solo homer in the sixth, bringing out the salutes from his teammates.

\”Those runs he drove in with the three home runs — we were confident of ourselves,\” Puerto Rico pitcher Miguel Valcarcel said.

\”We were just having a good time, enjoying the home runs he hit. So it was great.\”

Santana\’s Reggie Jackson impression proved more than enough support for Valcarcel, who took a no-hitter into the fourth and allowed just one run on two hits over five innings.

Valcarcel, who is bound for St. John\’s University, struck out seven for the Guaynabo-based Puerto Rico team, which finished the tournament a perfect 7-0 and won its first Classic title since 2003.

Puerto Rico topped Gibbsboro, N.J., 13-1 in a semifinal Sunday, thanks in part to two more home runs from Santana. Brooklawn, which topped Haddon Heights, N.J., 13-7 in Sunday\’s first semifinal, finished 5-2 at the event.

Roy Diliberto broke up Valcarcel\’s no-hitter and accounted for his team\’s only run over the first six innings by leading off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to center.

\”No way a Legion team can compete with those guys, they get it from all Puerto Rico,\” Brooklawn coach Joe Barth said. \”All our kids are within five miles of my ballfield.\”

He added later: \”We just play for practice, to get better. We go home, we\’ll be a better team for facing some of their pitchers. We don\’t see as good of pitching in my league as I saw here.\”

Like Barth, Puerto Rico was also looking ahead.

\”It\’s a great feeling,\” Valcarcel said of the win. \”Our team is hot right now, and then on Friday we start the state tournament at home. So the way we\’re playing, we shouldn\’t lose.\”

In addition to MVP, Santana won the home run award for hitting six in the tournament, including five on Sunday. Puerto Rico\’s Efrain Nieves was named outstanding pitcher after getting 11 of the 13 outs he recorded by strikeout in a relief appearance Saturday against Johnson City.

Brooklawn\’s Steve Bruno won the sportsmanship award.

Sunday\’s finale closed out the first classic under new tournament director Dan Miller and it put an exclamation point on an event that was in question less than two weeks ago because of flooding in the Binghamton area.

The tournament lost the use of one field — at Union-Endicott — but moved games instead to Maine-Endwell.

\”Things went very well,\” Miller said. \”Once we were able to get off the ground and start playing baseball, everything started rolling.

\”And that\’s what it\’s all about. The key is just to get playing. And once you get playing, everything else takes care of itself.\”

Dog Quote: The other day I saw two dogs walk over to a parking meter. One of them says to the other, \”How do you like that? Pay toilets!\”
….Dave Starr…………..

puppy Darby Tussey

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Stop Dogs from Chewing….

By Allan

Stopping your dog from chewing everything in sight. It is only natural for dogs to want to chew. It is a natural instinct, but they need to be trained what they can and can\’t chew without causing problems.

While they might feel the need to sharpen their teeth you certainly don\’t want them to be doing that on your furniture. It is a lot cheaper to invest some money in suitable toys that the dog can chew or get their teeth cleaned professionally than to replace expensive household items.

The simplest method of training a dog not to chew everything in sight is to confine it to a small area where only those things that it should be allowed to chew are present. The dog will then become accustomed to the smell of those things that it is allowed to chew and then when it is allowed out into the household where other items are present you can teach it not to chew items such as furniture, shoes, clothing, etc.

It is also possible to teach an old dog not to chew items by using the same techniques although it is harder if it has been doing this for many years of its life.

It is always preferable to teach your dog the lessons they need to know as soon as possible as training gets harder with the age of the dog.

If the dog is going to be left inside for extended periods while you\’re not around it is wise to remove any items that you don\’t want it to chew until it is fully trained. Until that time, the dog should be content with suitable chewing toys.

http://AboutDogs.info

LYNCH, PHYLLIS M.
(nee Leggieri) On July 5, 2007 of Haddon Twp., NJ, age 94 yrs.
Wife of the late James P. Lynch, Sr.; mother of the late John J. Lynch. Survived by 2 sons: Dennis M. Lynch of Haddon Twp. and James P. Lynch of Phila., PA; 2 grandsons: Sean M. Lynch and Dennis P. Lynch; and 4 great grandchildren.
Prior to her retirement, Phyllis was a secretary for Lippincott Publications (formerly Curtis Publishing) in Phila.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at Transfiguration Church, White Horse Pike, Collings-wood, NJ followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. Arrangements are under the direction of HENRY FUNERAL HOME, Audubon.

Some of the donations sent to the family of the three girls lost in the 2002 fire was used to build Angels Playground and the Fallen Firemen\’s Monument

Katia Williamson, 28, the mother of the girls who died in the July 4, 2002 fire in Gloucester City was interviewed recently by the Courier Post. In the interview Williamson thanked the firefighters who lost their lives. This Fourth of July marked five years since the fire and building collapse that killed her girls and three firefighters — Fire Chief James Sylvester and Deputy Fire Chief John West of Mount Ephraim and Thomas Stewart III of Gloucester City. 

\”To this day, I\’ve never spoken to or met any of their families, but I\’ve always felt bad,\” Williamson said of the fallen men. \”I lost my family and their families lost people they loved very much.\”

Williamson survived severe third-degree burns in her throat and lungs from the fire. She expressed her gratitude to all those who donated money in their time of need.

If you recall there was much controversy about the donations that people sent to help the family. Williamson lives in Northeast Philadelphia said a total of $77,500 was collected. She and her ex-boyfriend Frank Slack, the girl\’s father, lost three daughters, Alexandra Slack, who was five when she died along with 3-year-old twin sisters Claudia and Colletta Slack.

As for the donations after years of legal wrangling with the bank, she and Slack finally accessed the money this April. After a 9 1/2-year relationship, she separated from Slack, who now lives with his girlfriend and infant son in Philadelphia.

The Camden County Prosecutor\’s Office froze the memorial fund\’s account in the months after the fire and referred the matter to the state Attorney General\’s Office when questions arose about how the money was being spent, spokesman Bill Shralow said. He noted the state reviewed the fund and determined the money should be released to the girls\’ parents.

Instead, the matter went to court where a judge ruled the fund could only be used for a charitable cause, said Williamson, who successfully fought the court decision.

Of the money collected, $14,000 has gone to the Fallen Firemen\’s Monument that the Gloucester City Fire Department built on North King Street, she said, presenting copies of the check.

Another $10,000 went to Gloucester City to pay for a playground named \”Angels Park\” (see Photo) in memory of her daughters, she said. The playground replaced the dilapidated 3-corner $100,000 city park at the corners of Middlesex and Burlington Streets.

After legal bills, Williamson and Slack got $17,600 apiece, Williamson said.

\”I wish I could write a thank-you card to everyone who gave, but I don\’t know who they are,\” she said. \”I\’m grateful for what people did. It helped to know people cared that much.\”

see Courier Post article

see more stories on Tragic Fire

By MATT DUNN
[email protected]

DOWNE TWP. — A fisherman was taken to South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center in Vineland after being stung by a stingray Friday afternoon on Fortescue Beach.

The 73-year-old Millville man, whose name was withheld by authorities, was injured when he tried to throw a stingray caught by a family next to him back into the Delaware Bay around 2 p.m.

\”The tail went right through his hand,\” said Downe Township Fire and Rescue Chief Cliff Higbee. \”The barb got him.\”

According to Higbee, when paramedics arrived at the scene, a person there was attempting to control serious bleeding from the attack by the poisonous creature.

This was the first stingray injury this year, Higbee said, adding \”two to a half dozen\” are reported each year in the county.

\”This was just a guy trying to be a Good Samaritan,\” he remarked.

PHILLIPS, CURLY
Died Wednesday, July 4, 2007 at his residence in Westmont.
Born in German Twp., PA, Curly was 82 years old. He formerly lived in Moorestown and grew up in Audubon. He proudly served his country in the Army during WWII. Curly was a route driver for Amoroso\’s Baking Company in Philadelphia for over 20 years and later worked for Neighbor Care Pharmacy in Moorestown.
Beloved husband of the late Evelyn Phillips. Loving husband of Rosana Phillips, father of Nancy L. Phillips of Southampton, Charles D. Phillips of Merchantville and the late Pamela S. Phillips. Grandfather of Kevin, Alyssa, Jackie, Zach, Josh, Jimmy and Cassady.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Curly\’s Life Celebration Tuesday 5-7 p.m. at INGLESBY/GIVNISH OF MAPLE SHADE 600 East Main Street. His Life Celebration service will follow at 7 p.m. www.lifecelebration.com

LARWA, BRONISLAUS L. \’BENNY\’
Of Westville, NJ on July 5, 2007. Aged 87 years.
Benny proudly served in the US Navy during WWII. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Haddon Heights, and life member of the Santa Maria Council #1143. Benny retired as a machinist for the Philadelphia Inquire and Parade, where he worked for 45 years. A summer resident of Ocean Gate, NJ for 55 years, he enjoyed boating, clamming, crabbing, and hanging out with the gang. Benny will be remembered as a fun loving guy, who loved to dance, sing and spend time with his family. He will be sadly missed.
Beloved husband of the late Eleanor (nee Krause) of 52 years. Devoted father of Stephen (Eileen), Peter (Betsy), James (Irene), Victoria (James Finnegan) Bauer, Janice (Stephen) Shuda, Joseph and John (Ida). Loving grandfather of 18 and great grandfather of 18. Viewing Tuesday 8:30 AM-9:45 AM in St. Anne\’s R.C. Church, Westville, NJ, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary\’s Catholic Home, 210 St. Mary\’s Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. Arrangements under the direction of the McGuinness Funeral Home, Woodbury, NJ Tributes may be shared at www.mcgfuneral.com
\’The Lifetime Tribute Funeral Home\’

source Gaby Wizard\’s Blog