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Suspense taken out of the draft

So much for suspense.

The Miami Dolphins took care of that Tuesday by signing former University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long as the No. 1 pick in this Saturday’s NFL Draft in New York.

Yes, you read that right!

The annual selection process is still days away and the Dolphins have made their pick. Sounds a little strange, doesn’t it?

I find it hard to believe that my favorite team, the beloved aqua marine and orange, would take an offensive lineman with the top pick.

After struggling to a 1-15 mark last season, it seems to me that the ‘Fish’ need more than one player to turn around a franchise that was once of the better one’s in the league.

I’ve never been a big fan of Bill Parcells, mostly because he used to coach the hated AFC East rival New England Patriots and New York Jets. I know he’s been a winner at his various stops in his career, but why an offensive lineman when there are so many glaring gaps?

Who is this guy going to protect at quarterback?

Who is he going to open holes for in the running game?

Maybe more importantly, how is he going to help a defense that is aging and floundered more than the ‘Big Tuna’ last season?

Too many questions, not enough players to make my team competitive this season.

Sorry Dolphins fans, another long season is looming on the horizon if Parcells and his other ‘Cowboy’ cohorts don’t do something drastic.

Maybe, I’ll just root for the ….. .

Not!

Marinacci sparkles for Bethany

St. John Central graduate Ashley Marinacci is enjoying a fine sophomore season for the Bethany College softball team.

The Lady Bison are off to a 16-16 start (8-4 in Presidents Athletic Conference action).

As of Tuesday, the Bison shortstop is hitting .301 (28-93) with 14 runs scored, which is second on the team. She has a team-high 10 doubles, two home runs and 17 RBI. Her slugging percentage is .473 — also second on the team — and she has a .337 on-base percentage.

With runners in scoring position, she is hitting .350 (14-40) and she is 4-7 (.571) with runners in scoring position with two outs. She also has nine two-out RBI and is 13-39 (.333) with two outs.

Tuesday she had a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Lady Bison upset Washington & Jefferson (25-7, 10-2) by a 3-2 count.

Play of the Game not on the field!

While covering the Bellaire-St. Clairsville Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class AAA Baseball Tournament game Tuesday at Memorial Park in the Belmont Couty seat, an amazing catch of a foul ball was made, not by a player, but by a fan!

It was the top of the second inning and the Big Reds’ Anthony Rocchio skied the ball high into the bowl area that is located behind the backstop. A Bellaire fan rose to his feet and sprinted some 40 yards before making a one-handed snag with his hat.

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