Published: October 12, 2008 11:47 pm         

BASEPATHS: Erie's empire has fallen

Has the Erie Empire gone the way of the Evil Empire?

That’s what they’re wondering around Niagara County Community College a week after the Trailblazers obliterated Erie Community College 14-2 in the semifinals of the Western New York Conference baseball championships in Batavia.

That the Blazers then rallied to rout Division I Monroe 14-7 in the 200-minute finale was almost anti-climactic, even with a triple play started by Brett Backes. This is the second season in a row that the once-dominant Kats were on the sidelines when the hardware was passed ‘round.

This bears comparison to the slide of the Yankees. Within the memory of most players, ECC has had the region’s pre-eminent two-year program. Guided by AD Peter Jerebko and Coach Joe Bauth, the Kats excel in recruiting, then deliver what few comforts are allowed players at this level. It was a classy, well-rested team (first-round bye) that Erie sent to Batavia.

Niagara took Erie out of its game with a rally built on smallball, three consecutive textbook bunts. Then there was the defensive wall on the left side of the infield, hard-hittin’ Matt Whidden at third and slick Sean Jamison at short.

In one inning, Whidden handled hotshots to his left, center and right. The last was the stuff of which legends are made. He swatted the missile into the coaching box, retrieved it and fired a 90-mph strike to first.

This later provoked a fiery debate between Blazers Coach Matt Clingersmith and Batavia baseball guru Bill Seifert over the relative merits of Hall of Fame third-sackers Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson, one of those marvelously heated exchanges peculiar to autumn baseball. One agreement: Whidden’s play was worthy of them both.

Jamieson must have impressed major-league scouts with his take-charge attitude in the eighth. Having booted a leadoff grounder, he felt personally responsible for Erie rallying to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle with two out. When a popup rose behind third, Jamieson demanded it. Heaven help anyone, even the bulky Whidden, who got in his way. Inning over, flub redeemed, although Jamieson was still kicking himself for costing Paul McKenna a second consecutive strikeout. (In N-Trip’s regular-season finale, one of the region’s finest umpires quietly described McKenna as “basically hittable.”)

Still, N-Trip has a few things to work on. A pitcher since kindergarten (six feet tall even then), coach Clingersmith has to be alarmed at his hurlers balking five times between noon and midnight.

And the team’s best friends need some tuning. Erie wasn’t playing well, but ridicule is never in style. One supporter, reportedly with a connection to the team, was ejected from the premises by a very patient host staff.

N-Trip has been quick to emulate the Erie Empire’s skills on the field. Now those who love the Blazers most need to refine their swagger. Your team has deserved everything it’s achieved. Act like it.

Signal Base Paths via pollyndoug@hotmail.com.