Speaking of Sports Column Archive

Speaking
of
Sports

by
Bernie
Fratto

Spring has Sprung

Give me a splendid silent sun
in the Spring with all his beams
full-dazzling - Walt Whitman

4/3/06

When George Kortlandt deftly cut the ribbon at home plate on Friday, officially christening the re-birth of baseball on the Novi High School campus, the cheers erupted. It was fun to be there. I wanted to be there. In fact, I got there early.

It was spring, it was 68 degrees (even though a storm was just around the corner), baseball was back and everything new had begun again.

The past few days, we’ve been teased and treated with the rites of spring. The weather is improving and both the baseball and Women’s Soccer team are off to good starts.

For the record, the Baseball Wildcats opened up the season with a 9-6 victory over KVC member Pinckney, so not only do they take care of business the right way with an opening day win, they also take a 1-0 record into KVC league play. The Novi Wildcats have won six straight division titles, and this year they’ll even be hosting District play against the likes of Northville and Catholic Central.

Meanwhile the defending State Champ Women’s Soccer team is off to a 3-0 start and they’ve outscored their opponents 13-1. And even though it’s only early spring they look to be in mid-season form, which makes this Friday’s clash against State power-house and cross-town rival Northville all the more exciting.

Lest we forget, the State Champs in 2004 were of course the Northville Mustangs. So on Friday, April 7, fans will be treated to a showdown between the State Champions from the last two seasons, and interestingly enough, many of the same players that were a part of those teams still remain and will get a chance to square off at least one more time.

It is ironic that two of the better teams in the state, and possibly the nation would have such proximity. But, I’m not complaining. I look for a big crowd and an exciting display of soccer.

Spring has sprung. See you there.

You might want to get there early.

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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 on the broadcast team at Live 97.1FM talk-radio, and is a frequent co-host on the popular "Parker & The Man Show," a nightly sportstalk show which airs Monday-Friday from 7-11pm.