Speaking of Sports Column Archive

Speaking
of
Sports

by
Bernie
Fratto

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie…and Wildcat Fever

5/30/06

We’ve crossed Memorial Day and it’s hot and sunny, so it must be baseball season…and the Novi Wildcat family has got you covered on all levels, from High School to the Professional Ranks.

First, Novi’s Kevin Cislo and his Michigan Wolverines just received a playoff bid and they’ll head to the tough Atlanta regional as they open up against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Friday June 2nd. A Four-Team, double-elimination tournament, they could also face the likes of #1 seed Georgia Tech and the always-tough Stetson Hatters from South Florida. The winner will head to a best-of-three ‘Super Regional’ for the right to compete in the College World Series.

Cislo has had an impressive freshman campaign, and has successfully made the jump to Division I college baseball. Coach Rich Maloney considers him one of their better defensive infielders with his sure hands and athleticism.

Meanwhile, Novi’s Mitch Maier (Class of 2000) is knocking on the door of the Major Leagues. He is currently in the Kansas City Royals organization, and his Manager Frank White, considers him the best defensive outfielder, and best athlete in their system. Given the Royals difficulties, I would look for Maier to receive a call-up to the big leagues by September at the latest.

And don’t forget, Coach Rick Green’s Novi Wildcats are hosting MHSAA District baseball playoff action this week at their home field adjacent to Taft Rd. It’s been a challenging season so far, but no time for negative emotion at this point. You have to play the cards you’re dealt, and I have a feeling the Cats will roar this week. They open up against Canton-Salem, and they owe them one from 2004.

I look for Novi to prevail, which would set up another rematch from 2000 against Catholic Central HS on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if the Novi Wildcats scratch out a victory, which could possibly result in a District Final Championship game against Northville!

It’s playoff time, anything can happen. As the legendary Satchel Paige once said, “You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you ‘got to’ show up for all of them.

I couldn’t agree more…

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie go very well with Green and White.

See you there…

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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.