PETER JAKEY: Baseball?s strange post season

The drama of Major League Baseball in this week?s playoffs can only be outdone by professional wrestling. The only difference is baseball doesn?t have a script. How could it? Former Tiger Karim Garcia punches out a Boston Red Sox security guard, Pedro Martinez throws beloved bench coach Don ?Popeye? Zimmer to the ground, and then the events of Tuesday involving the Cubbies. I?m not a believer in curses, hexes or voodoo, but weird stuff happens to the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies last won a championship when the Titanic was being designed, while the last time the Red Sox won it all, World War I was nearing an end.

I was stunned with the score of the Cubbies/Marlins game Tuesday. Heading into the eighth inning, with one of the National League?s best pitchers from the Cubs, tossing shutout ball, the score was 3-0 at Wrigley Field. The Marlins pulled off a 8-3 win. I believe the Cubs players must have thought they had the game, and for a few minutes, they were caught off guard. It didn?t help that a fan interfered with a ball that would have been the second out of the inning, or the shortstop, who had committed only 10 errors during the season, had a routine play go bad on him. In defense of the fan, I may have done the same exact thing if put in the same position. If the Cubs don?t get to the series in game seven (played Wednesday), he?ll get the blame and probably should shop for a home elsewhere.

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Senior Aaron Smuda earned his third Straits Area Conference most valuable player/athlete award for another outstanding season. Smuda, who enjoys running to his friend Dave Partyka?s house six miles from Rogers City in his spare time (that?s 12 miles round trip), is into the last couple of weeks of his cross country career for the Hurons. Smuda looks to qualify for state at Brooklyn for the third year in a row next week and had a season personal best of 16:43 at Fairview, although the modest young man said the course may have not been measured properly.

A couple of course records were set last Saturday. Smuda is our Sportsbeat profile subject of the week: Smuda?s favorite website: RunMichigan.com (no surprise). Favorite store: East Bay (a running merchandise store. Again, no surprise). Best gift ever received: A 3-D puzzle of a castle. Most prized possession: computer. Biggest fear: embarrassment. Favorite beverage: orange juice (he doesn?t drink pop). Biggest influence: mom and dad. Favorite toy as a kid: wagon. Favorite breakfast cereal: Lucky Charms. Favorite sport as a kid: football. Most memorable athletic accomplishment: making it to state every year. Person you would like to have dinner with: Lance Armstrong.

Favorite holiday: Christmas. Favorite ice cream: Cherry. Nickname: Smuda. Favorite actor: Russell Crowe. Favorite musician: Mozart. Favorite comedian: Robin Williams. Favorite superhero: Superman. Favorite cartoon: Garfield. Favorite television show: ?Survivor? or ?CSI.? Favorite movie ?Gladiator.?

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The Bears kept it close during championship games Saturday, but both the fifth and sixth graders in Rogers City and seventh and eighth graders in Standish ended their seasons with a respectable second. The ?freshmen? lost 13-0 against a determined Indian River squad on Gilpin Field. In the battle of undefeateds in Standish, the ?varsity? lost 16-12 to Gladwin. Both teams were 7-0 going into the final game.

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Earning this week?s Kromel is a player who finds a way to shed blockers and make plays on defense. Number four seems to always be buzzing around the ball or making opposing players wish they were playing for the golf team. Ron Kroll had 15 tackles, nine in the first half against Hale, to earn the award that

shares his name. Matt Ponik has really emerged defensively this season and can dish out his share of licks. He had 10 tackles and an interception for four defensive stars. James Sobek had nine tackles and a quarterback sack and earns three stars.

Russ Kamyszek (eight tackles), Aaron Hincka (seven tackles), and Jesse Romel (six tackles, fumble recovery) earn two stars. There are co-winners of the Stemcook this week from Rogers City. Kyle Greene and Judd Vekaryasz led the Huron defense at Pinconning. Kyles had eight tackles, six assists, and a fumble recovery, while Judd had seven tackles and eight assists.

Tyler Gorlewski had eight tackles and an assist for three stars. Tim Cercone and Scott Heinzel both recovered a fumble for two stars each.

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