By May 3, 2004
Four games, four wins. This statement summed up the baseball teams’ only hopes for a Gehrig Division crown prior to this weekend’s four-game set with Princeton. Indeed, the Red had four games, but just one win as the Tigers took home their second consecutive Gehrig title. The first of two doubleheaders between these two ballclubs was played Friday on Hoy Field, with Princeton (24-18, 12-8 Ivy) taking the first game, 14-2. Princeton came out swinging in the seven-inning contest, scoring three runs in the first inning, with the big blow coming from Will Venable’s single to drive in two runs. The Red (12-29, 6-13) tacked on two in the bottom half of the inning, as freshman Kaleb Hutchinson drove in sophomore Seth Gordon, and then senior co-captain Dan Parant scored on shortstop Matthew Becker’s error. Yet, that would be all the scoring for the Red, as the team mustered just six hits in the contest. Gordon led the Red at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base, while Hutchinson and senior Ned VanAllan tallied RBIs. The Princeton lineup torched the Red for six runs in the second inning off senior Dan Gala, who started the game and lasted just 1 1/3 innings. Gala gave up seven hits and eight earned runs while walking two and striking out three. Gala took the loss to fall to 1-5 on the season. Gala was relieved in the second by sophomore Michael Hudson, who lasted just 1/3 of an inning, after allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks. Senior Sam Sinkavich closed out the second inning for the Red, but he too needed relief, after giving up two unearned runs in the top of the fourth. Sinkavich left after giving up four hits and one walk, while striking out one Princeton hitter. Junior Matthew Light, the Red’s fourth pitcher of the game, finished up the fourth inning with no problem. However, he was tossed around by the Princeton lineup for a run in the fifth inning and another two in the sixth. The growl in the Tiger offense came from B.J. Szymanski, who contributed five hits to Princeton’s 20 overall in five at-bats, scoring three runs and driving in four. The Red bats came alive in the second game of the doubleheader as the lineup smacked 10 hits in a 7-5 victory. The Red took an early 1-0 lead as sophomore William Pauly hit a sacrifice fly to score Gordon, and then went up 3-0 in the fourth on senior David Bredhoff’s double which plated two. Junior Tad Bardenwerper, who got the win to improve to 2-4 on the season, went 6 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs in the top of the sixth. He allowed eight hits and three walks in the game. Freshman Blake Hamilton pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief — giving up three runs in the top of the ninth — but it wasn’t enough as the Red plated one in the seventh and two in the eighth to make its lead 7-2. The Red was led at the plate by Parant, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and an RBI, and VanAllan, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. The Red had less success in its doubleheader with Princeton yesterday on Clarke Field in New Jersey. In a 4-1 loss in game one, the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three innings, before Hutchinson scored the Red’s only run of the game off a stolen base and a wild pitch. Senior Luke Staskal suffered the loss, dropping him 1-5 on the season, after going six innings and giving up four runs — three of them earned — on four hits and five walks. He struck out four Princeton batters. At the plate, the Red, who tallied just five hits in the seven-inning affair, was led by VanAllan and Pauly, who were each 2-for-3. The Red managed 12 hits in the second game, a 3-2 loss, but left 10 runners stranded on base. The Tigers scored all three of their runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and held a 3-0 lead before the Red tallied a run after three straight singles in the top of the sixth to score VanAllan. The Red made it a 3-2 ballgame in the seventh on a double by Gordon and a Princeton error. Yet, that is the way the game would end as the Red couldn’t push another run across the plate. The leaders for the Red at the plate were VanAllan, who was 2-for-4 with a run scored, Gordon, who was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, and a run scored, Bredhoff, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and junior Matt Miller, who was 3-for-5 with a stolen base. Gala fell to 2-5 after six innings, as he gave up three runs — two of them earned — on seven Tiger hits, and four walks. Sinkavich struck out two in his two no-hit innings in relief. The Tigers will travel to face Red Rolfe Division champion Dartmouth next weekend in the Ivy League Championship Series, after a game with Rider on Wednesday. The Red will close out its season today, as it plays host to Columbia in a make-up game. Archived article by Chris MascaroSun Assistant Sports Editor
By May 3, 2004
A new memorial honoring workers who died on the job was dedicated last Saturday at Union Fields. The dedication was held in conjunction with the commemoration of Workers’ Memorial Day, set up by the Midstate Central Labor Council. In attendance were members from various labor unions within Tompkins and Cortland counties, Mayor Carolyn Peterson and Dan Lamb, the district representative for Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.). According to Linda Smith, president of the Midstate Central Labor Council and a health and safety trainer for the labor coalition, Workers’ Memorial Day has two components — to mourn for the workers who died on the job or from occupational diseases, and to rededicate workers toward improving health and safety conditions. “Work kills more people than war,” Smith said. According to the AFL-CIO, each year 60,000 workers die from job illnesses and injuries, and 6 million are injured. To honor and remember those who have died, the Midstate Labor Council came up with the idea of placing a stone in Ithaca as a memorial two years ago. According to Smith, “that was the year more people recognized hazards of work because of 9/11.” The labor council chose to place the stone at Union Fields because the park was built through voluntary labor. “This was a park that was done by the blood and sweat of workers saying our children need a place where they can run and play,” said Brian Goodell, president of United Auto Workers 2300. A plaque will be placed on the rock that reads “Dedicated to the memory of fallen workers and the continuing pursuit of workplace safety and health.” “We need this,” Peterson said. “It’s important to have these memories here.” She also read and signed a formal proclamation that officially recognized April 28 as Workers’ Memorial Day in Ithaca. “I look forward to explaining this rock to [my son], as I believe most parents will do,” Lamb said. During the ceremony, specific issues surrounding safe work conditions were addressed by a number of speakers. “We’re advocating for higher penalties from employers that knowingly and willingly ignore public safety rules that lead to death and injury,” said Tony Del Plato, delegate for Service Employees International Union 200 United. Smith explained that workers who are not protected by unions are often afraid to speak to their employers about unsafe working conditions because they are afraid of losing their jobs. Smith supports the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that she claims will make it easier for workers to form and join unions. The bill was introduced to Congress in November 2003 and currently has 30 senators and 180 house representatives co-sponsoring the bill. “Low-wage, non-union jobs are more likely to be unsafe,” Smith said. “The right to join the union is a big part to a safe workplace.” Dave Marsh, a member of the Local Laborers 589, spoke about the current situation facing people who were exposed to asbestos at their workplace decades ago and are now being diagnosed with asbestos poisoning. “It’s a slow painful death,” Marsh said. “It’s affecting many of our elders right now.” He said that the state is currently making a deal with corporations to create a pool of money for people who will be diagnosed with asbestos poisoning in the following years. Marsh believes that the money will be less than sufficient to help everyone and once the pool of money runs out, the corporations will no longer be held responsible for future diagnosed victims. Lamb spoke out against the Bush administration decision to repel ergonomic laws that have been developed over the past 10 years. Ergonomics is the science of designing equipment that maximizes productivity and focuses on the comfort and safety of the worker. “This administration stands to be the worst administration in history, in terms of [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] regulations,” Lamb said. Smith said that Workers’ Memorial Day could be summed up in a quote by labor organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, who worked with mine workers at the turn of the century — “Mourn for the dead, fight like hell for the living.”Archived article by Casey HolmesSun Staff Writer