Sportsbeat – Huron sports trivia Watson would never get

by Peter Jakey

Here?s a sports trivia question not even Watson the computer of Jeopardy fame could figure out. Answer: two. The question: What is the most district titles the Rogers City boys basketball program has ever won in a row? That?s right, in the long storied history of the successful program, and with some talented athletes delighting basketball fans over the years, it?s really hard to believe Rogers City?s never had a district three-peat. With two already in the books, the 2010-11 team could make their mark on the history books.

Head coach Jesse Streich admits the team has struggled through the regular season with a 5-12 record, but anything is possible come tournament time. Look at what happened only two seasons ago when the Hurons went to Hale and shocked a team that had only two regular season losses, and they did it in front of Hale?s fans.

?Hopefully, we can turn it around in the next two weeks,? said Streich. JORDAN BELLMORE, who has been slowed by a nagging bout of strep throat in recent weeks, could become the first player in school history to be a part of three-straight district championships. He?s the son of Doug and Tracy Bellmore. What would it mean?

?It would be awesome. There have been so many good players in Rogers City, so many players who have gone on to play college basketball, and it?s never happened. For me to be the one player it could happen with, it would be quite an honor,? said Bellmore, ending the comment with a cough. ?I?m trying to get better, that?s my main goal right now.?

What?s it going to take? ?I think we need to work on our team chemistry,? he said. ?We?ve got a good team, we?ve got a lot of talent, we?re just not using it in games. You can see it in practice. We had a good practice today (Tuesday), we have to take what we do in practice and put it together in a game.?

Bellmore said what matters most now is how they come together come playoff time. ?Our district isn?t the strongest in the state, we?ve got a shot,? said Streich. ?We are going to have to have our three seniors, who are Jesse Wilbert, Chris Waibel and Bellmore, step it up and play like they can.? Getting Bellmore back to good health will be a nice first step.

It was brought to my attention that my Wertz Warrior story from a few weeks ago needed a correction. It mentioned that founder Vic Wertz was

a pitcher. Wertz, a four-time all star, played first base and outfield in his Major League playing days, but he?s also part of one of the most famous plays in baseball history. The problem: we rarely see him involved in the black and white highlight. Wertz hit the long fly ball that Willie Mays caught in the 1954 World Series. It went 450 feet to dead center of the Polo Grounds in New York. Mays made the famous over-the-head catch, spun around and threw the ball in. He was with the Indians at the time. Wertz?s legacy will be the establishment of the Wertz Warriors to fund the Special Olympics winter games.

The Posen Sports Boosters are hosting a tailgate party at the conclusion of Friday?s game against Mio. A free will offering will be accepted. Anyone interested in helping by donating items or bringing a dish to pass, contact Laura at 766-2293.