C-Town, Oneonta Rivalry?

2-19-10

Baseball Teams May Vie For Seward Cup


By JIM KEVLIN : ONEONTA

To pour oil on troubled waters – or scuffed infields – Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller has unveiled the Seward Cup, aimed at promoting a friendly intra-county baseball rivalry.
The cup, named for state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, would go to the Cooperstown Hawkeyes, the Oneonta Outlaws or Little Falls’ Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs, whichever team has the best record in New York Collegiate Baseball League play next summer.  (Seward’s district includes Little Falls.)
The cup was announced Tuesday, Feb. 16, at a reception at Stella Luna to introduce owners of Oneonta’s new NYCBL team:  Keith Rogers and Dan Scaring, who are moving the Saratoga Phillies to Damaschke Field.
He also announced the team’s new name – The Outlaws.  The owners’ goal is to develop a train-robbery theme in line with Oneonta’s railroad history.
The reception culminated two weeks of rapid-fire and sometimes rancorous negotiations, as Oneonta’s new mayor sought to attract a NYCBL replacement for the New York-Penn League Oneonta Tigers, which had been lured away to Norwich, Conn., Jan. 28.
Another flashpoint came Saturday, Feb. 13, when NYCLB owners, by a split vote in a conference-call meeting, granted Oneonta the franchise over the objections of Tom Hickey, Fly Creek, owner of the fledgling Hawkeyes, which is due to play its first season at Doubleday Field this summer.
In a widely distributed e-mail, Brian Spagnola, owner of the Amsterdam Mohawks, gave an indication of the content of that conference call, accusing his fellow team owners of a “lack of professionalism.”
The debate centered on a rule, adopted by NYCBL owners last May, granting teams exclusivity within a 25-mile radius.  Damaschke’s home plate is 24.2 miles from Doubleday’s.
Reports had mentioned the possibility of a legal challenge, but Hickey said he has not yet decided whether to pursue that course or seek a settlement.
Miller’s first strategy, Hickey said, was to try to lure the Hawkeyes to Damaschke Field.  “I refused to do that,” the owner said.  “We have a commitment to Cooperstown.”
Meanwhile, Hickey this week announced the Hawkeyes’ management team, including David Pearlman of Cooperstown, a well-known youth-sports coach, who will be assistant general manager.
The team will be coached by Jake Denstedt, who  coached the Brockport Riverbats.  Jesse Coughlan, former SUNY Oneonta catcher, is director of public relations, and Schuyler Pindar of Edmeston will handle marketing and sales.
Hickey also released the team logo, the result of a national contest circulated online: An antique “C” adorned with two feathers.