SPORTSBEAT by Peter Jakey: Kaylee’s missed season; World Series journal
Hats off to Huron cross country coach Rob Kortman and the Rogers City girls on their performance at the state finals in Brooklyn. It ends the season for the 2006 squad and the careers of seniors Chelsea Kreft and Becky Hopp. Most of the athletes on this year?s team will be returning in ?07, and, hopefully, with Kaylee Kreft leading the way. The season has come and gone, without her participating in a single meet. A lot of good things were expected from Kaylee in 2006 after a sensational freshman season. At the Division IV state finals last year, she was the second best runner in the state, and didn?t even run her best race of the season. That occurred in Rudyard when she set the school record of 18:15.
WHEN COMPARING her best times from last year and the times at this year?s finals, Kaylee would have placed second again in Division IV, behind Marissa Treece of Maple City Glen Lake, who had a time of 17:54. The next best time was turned in by Megan Carter from Southfield Christian (18:59), a very beatable time for Kreft. When asked if she did any comparing herself, she did not want to talk about it. From an emotional standpoint, it has been tough on the sophomore, not only because she misses participating in meets, but she likes to run as well. The challenge will be overcoming, through the proper diagnosis and physical therapy, an injury called kneecap pain.
KAYLEE HAS an off center kneecap, which is causing her discomfort. She went through 12 weeks of rehabilitation, three times a week last summer, and continues to strengthening the VMO muscle near the kneecap. Isolating and strengthen the muscle will help keep the kneecap in its groove. Kaylee has been making strides, according to her Dad Randy, in a second round of rehab. She also is going to have a change in her orthotics. An orthotic will be placed in her shoe, which will change the way her foot lands. Hopefully, this will be the remedy Kaylee and her family have been looking for, and one of the best high school cross country runners in the state, will finally be well on her way to recovery, and we will be talking about her again being at the front of the pack, and not watching from the sidelines.
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LET?S REWIND to a few weeks ago. The American League champion, Detroit Tigers, were coming off a sweep of the Oakland Athletics and were preparing to host the World Series at Comerica Park, the first World Series game to be played in Detroit in 19 years. Wayne Karsten of Rogers City, a fifth grade teacher in Posen and the Rogers City High School JV baseball coach, was there to take in all the festivities. He paid $95 ? no, not for a seat ? but for a standing-room-only spot. Karsten, who is a die-hard baseball fan, and has visited ball parks across the country, did not want to miss out on an opportunity to see a World Series game, even if he had to stand for five plus hours. Here is a diary of his experience in Detroit:
5:00 p.m. — Karsten arrived at the Ford Field parking garage and paid the bargain price of $20. This is truly a deal, he said, ?as we saw lots for $50.?
5:15 p.m. — The streets were filled with Tiger fans, and not a Cardinal fan in site.
5:30 p.m. — He enters the park to find thousand of fans already there. He strolled through the crowd and found an empty standing room spot down the right field line. ?Don?t dare move for fear of losing your spot.? Truly a bargain as we see lots for $50 on our short walk to Comerica.
7:00 p.m. — It’s beginning to dawn on me that I am at the World Series, in DETROIT!!! 7:30 p.m. — Legs are getting tired but the pregame is starting. The crowd is in a frenzy as Willie Horton and Al Kaline throw out the first pitch. The biggest cheers come as Ernie Harwell delivers the game ball to the mound. It brings chills to hear the crowd of 42,000-plus to chant “Ernie, Ernie.” During the pregame introductions, no one in the park is in their seats as Magglio Ordonez is introduced. Bob Seger comes out and sings “America the Beautiful.” As the Tigers take the field a buzz goes through the crowd and a question. Where was the National Anthem?
8:03 p.m. Flashbulbs are popping all over the field as Justin Verlander delivers the first World Series pitch in Detroit in 22 years. In the bottom of the first the crowd erupts after Craig Monroe doubles, and the crowd goes wild as Mags drives him home with a single.
8:45 p.m. — A hush goes over the crowd as Albert Pujols deposits a Verlander pitch into the right field stands.
9:30 p.m. — Things are falling apart. The Cards are up 7-2. Verlander is out. Inge has made not one, but two errors. Looks like i
10:18 p.m. — We are staying to the end of this no matter what. Paying $95 per ticket will do that. The crowd comes to its feet once again as Craig Monroe hits a bomb in the bottom of the ninth.
10:24 p.m. — Leaving the stadium, people are still in a festive mood. The city looks much better with the streets crowded with people.
10:40 — On the expressway headed home. I recommend the Ford Field parking garage. Easy to get back on the expressway, and quick.
As quick as the Tigers World Series departure? Just kidding. It was the season that surprised us all, and one that left us all proud to be Tiger fans, again.