By Diane R. Chodan
editorial@
post-journal.com
SINCLAIRVILLE - Athletes and musicians at Cassadaga Valley Central School will have some opportunities for travel this spring.
Recently, the Cassadaga Valley Central School Board endorsed the participation of the girls varsity softball team and the boys varsity baseball team in non-league tournaments in Myrtle Beach, S.C., over spring recess.
The date of the trip for the girls is April 1-5 while the boys' trip is scheduled for April 2-6. In both cases, all travel and lodging expenses will be the sole responsibility of the parents and students.
Kenneth Balling, softball coach, and Joseph Mistretta, baseball coach, attended the recent school board meeting to explain the trip to the board and answer questions.
Board member William Carlson asked whether students who did not go on the trip would be excluded from the team.
"No," answered Balling, "I had a couple of girls who couldn't go last year, and they did get quite a bit of playing time."
Junior varsity players are also invited to go on the trip. They suit up and in most cases do get playing time. A local trainer is on site during the all the games to handle medical situations. In most cases, the teams play larger schools.
"Not many small schools participate," Balling said.
The board approved a trip to Cleveland from May 10-13 for the school's jazz band. John Cross, band director, attended the school board meeting. He said he wasn't certain whether the trip will begin on May 10 or May 11 because of some difficulty with hotel reservations for May 10.
Either way the band will perform on the stage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cross explained that he had to submit a recording of the band. The band would play for about 45 minutes and would be one of two public performances that day.
"It's an honor," he told the board.