Bernie Fratto

Speaking
of
Sports 

by
Bernie 
Fratto


 Novi in 3D…
Again

10/25/04
The Wildcat Varsity boys soccer team came within a whisker of a District Championship Saturday, dropping a 1-0 decision to Livonia Stevenson in a hard fought game. At times the Cat’s dominated, and Novi even had a goal called back. Stevenson had just toppled #1 State Ranked Northville, so Novi proved they could compete with the best.
 
Congratulations to Coach Brian O’Leary for another successful season, and a winning record.

Meanwhile, it’s déjà vu all over again (as Yogi Berra would say), as the Wildcat Football team heads back to Northville for a First round playoff game and a rematch of last Fridays 35-7 Novi Victory. The winner will advance to play the victor of the Canton-Belleville game (I like Canton in this one), and unless the host Mustangs can find a way to solve Novi’s speed, this would set up a rematch of a 2001 District game in which Novi visited Canton and lost in the last few seconds, 9-7.

Should Novi prevail in the District, they could potentially face KVC nemesis Howell, Brighton or South Lyon in a Regional tilt. That would be Round 3, and for the record, Novi has not only beaten all three of those teams, they would probably get the game at home!

And don’t forget to mark your calendar for Monday November 15th, as Coach Bill Kelp will lead his Girls Varsity Basketball squad into Canton for District play against the likes of Canton, Salem, Northville, Churchill, etc.

After their terrific road win at Pinckney last Tuesday, the Lady Cats proved they can compete with anybody, anywhere, and in just his second season at the helm, Coach Kelp has this group poised to make some serious noise in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if they swoop in and capture the District crown.

It’s that time of year again; the time when the courageous Cats show they have nine lives and then some.

It’s District Time.

It’s déjà vu all over again, and Yogi Berra knows it ain’t over until it’s over.

(c) 2004 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org

___________________________________
Bernie Fratto
is a freelance writer, radio personality, and motivational speaker.  His passion for sports comes in part from his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand.  "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings" said Fratto.  "These athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also the voice of Novi Wildcat Hockey and host of Wildcat Face-off, a local radio program dedicated to youth sports in Novi.