You don’t get something like this done overnight.

    But Jeff Paolina of Irish Junior Sports is one determined guy. He envisions St. John Central kicking off its 2010 football season in an attractive new facility.

    Driving north on Route 7, passers-by will notice the groundwork has been laid and dirt is being moved. “Until this spring, you couldn’t see much progress,” Paolina explained. “But now, things are beginning to take shape. We’re very encouraged.”

    Paolina, Junior Sports co-founder Paul Rose and young, enthusiastic Irish varsity coach Scott Holt envision the day when St. John’s returns to prominence on the gridiron.

    “Playing on a field the kids can call their own is a great first step,” says Paolina.  “Over the years, they’ve played at Nelson Field, Bridgeport, St. Clairsville and even Wheeling Island. There’s nothing like playing on your own field and dressing in your own lockerroom.”

    Paolina suggests a new field with seating for 800 along with a scoreboard and fieldhouse can serve many purposes. “It’s going to promote good vibrations and all things positive,” he remarked. “It’s true, we’ve had to endure some lean years, but I’m confident that is going to change.”

    A non-profit organization, Irish Junior Sports, not directly affiliated with St. John Central High, has conducted numerous fundraisers, generating in excess  of $100,000 and will continue to do so.

    “Eventually, we want to include a track facility. The idea is allowing (our young athletes) to have their own identity…a home atmosphere they’ll call their own.”

    Eastern Ohio residents interested in assisting the project or with fundraising ideas can contact Paolina via Irish Junior Sports, 5120 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Oh. 43906.

    Paolina may also be reached at his place of business: 740 676-2065.

EXTRA POINTS

    A LARGE contingent of family and friends were in the stands at Cooper Stadium in Columbus last Thursday to watch former St. Clairsville resident Jeremy Sowers work the hill for the Buffalo Bison.

    Sowers, who has made two spot starts with the Indians this spring, was returned to triple-A Buffalo recently. With the Bison, the lefthander is 2-3 with a 2.45 ERA.

    Those numbers include a seven-plus inning stint at Columbus. Sowers took the loss in a 4-1 outcome, yielding four runs and six hits.

    With eight big league wins under his belt, Sowers is caught in a numbers crunch in his quest to return to the majors.

    “All I can do is work (down here) to the best of my ability and wait for a call,” he said following Thursday’s game.

    After going 7-4 with a 3.57 ERA as a Tribe rookie in 2006, Sowers endured a 1-6 follow-up in 2007.

    “More than anything, my arm speed has improved,” he noted. “There are many variables involved (in terms of sticking in the big leagues),” he observed. “I’m confident I’ll be back up there soon. I just have to hang in there.”

    Currently, Cleveland could probably use Sowers’ bat as much as his arm. The Tribe has yet to generate offensive consistency. Entering play last week, the Tribe was dead last in the American League in composite batting average.

    Sowers father, Jerry, a St. Clairsville resident, was on hand for Thursday’s game as well as his mother who made a three-hour drive from Louisville….

    This is the final season of play for Cooper Stadium. The Clippers open a new downtown 10,000-seat facility for the 2009 campaign….

    LOOKING for a potential ‘dark horse’ in what appears an unlikely bid to deny Big Brown racing’s first triple crown in 30 years?

    From Japan comes Casino Drive, bred in Kentucky, but shipped overseas in 2006. His return stateside earlier this spring resulted in an impressive victory in the May 10 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, site of June 7th’s third leg of the crown.

    So highly thought-of is Casino Drive, he’s installed at 5-1, a relatively close second to Big Brown’s 1-5 opening in a potential 10-horse Belmont field.