By Chuck Slater

     For the third time in the three-year existence of the Rockland Boulders, Briarcliff native Bobby Blevins will be the team’s opening-game starter.

     The veteran right-hander has been told by new manager Jamie Keefe that he will have the ball when the Boulders open their independent professional Canadian-American League season on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Providence Bank Park in Pomona against the visiting Newark Bears.

     “It’s always an honor,” Blevins said.

     The heavily revamped Boulders are coming off two losing seasons in which Blevins has been a rare bright spot and a fan favorite. Last season he was 8-9 with a 3.64 earned run average in a hitter-friendly league. Then after the Boulders’ season ended, he joined the professional Long Islands Ducks and helped them win an Atlantic League championship. He had a 2.42 e.r.a. late in the season and started the decisive fifth game in both of their playoff series.

     “The major leagues is still the big goal,” the 28-year-old former member of the Dodgers farm system said, “but my job is to do the job here.

     “As the No. 1 pitcher I should both lead and set a good example for the rest of the team.”

     Blevins spent the pre-season teaching pitching to both amateur teams and individuals.

SLATER'S SLANT
BY CHUCK SLATER

Ossining lacrosse star Molly Malone – who had an awesome 10 goals against Rye on May 3 – got an early introduction to the sport. But it was far from an easy one.

Her two older brothers played lacrosse for Fordham Prep. Big sister Kate would go on to become a high-scoring midfielder for Ossining. And Molly would join her three older siblings for impromptu games in the family backyard.

They were engaged in the competitive zeal that runs in the family. "We tore down every shingle in the backyard," Molly Malone recalls.

But surely they took it a bit easy on little sister? Little sister's response is a rueful laugh.

"We never let up on her," relates Luke, the oldest of the Malone siblings, who now works for a sports marketing firm. "She's probably the Molly Malone is within reach of Ossining High lacrosse career goals record of 252, held by her sister Kate. Photo courtesy Molly Malone

SLATER'S SLANT
BY CHUCK SLATER

South Salem's Will Pope made the Iona Prep varsity football team as a freshman. He was on it again as a sophomore – until he suffered a concussion.

"The best thing that ever happened to me," said Pope, now a Penn State-bound senior.

The "best thing" because previously the strong 6'2", 230-pounder had been splitting his time between football and the weight events of track and field. Since then, concentrating solely on track, especially the shot put, Pope has twice won the Westchester indoor shot championship, placed second in March's Federation championships while plagued with a high fever, competed in the main draw of the prestigious Penn Relays, became a top contender for the state outdoor shot gold, and earned a partial track scholarship to Penn State.

And it all goes back to the concussion the defensive end suffered.

Pope had only been introduced to track and field as a freshman. Following the football injury, he had an important conversation. "Head (track) coach Jan Mitchell approached me about concentrating," he said, "and I'm really happy he did."

Pope's personal-record shot toss of 

"He's very mentally tough; he knows never to be satisfied," says Iona Prep Coach Chris Scarella of shot put strongman Will Pope. Photo courtesy Christopher Pope