So let’s get started with a bit of sports with the news about a “Big” Little League Tournament scheduled for Saranac Lake.

“The Saranac Lake Lions Club and the Saranac Lake Rotary Club will co-sponsor their Fourth Annual Little League Tournament in Saranac Lake this weekend August 10-11.

“Between 150 to 200 boys from all over northern New York will compete in this single elimination tournament.

“This year sixteen teams have been invited and to date 11 teams have accepted. Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh, Malone and the Clinton County Youth Program will each have two teams along with teams from Tupper Lake and Lake Placid.

“The Malone Yanks are the defending champions having defeated Clinton County Youth Commission, 6-3 in last year’s final. The Saranac Lake ‘A’s’ won the title in 1972 while the Lake Placid All-Stars were crowned the champions in the 1971 inaugural.”

Now maybe we can get in a few names of the local players: “Russ (I remember him as my pal ‘Bugs’) Pratt will be coaching the first Saranac Lake entry the ‘Lil Redskins’. Team members include John Cates, Scott Kubica, Vinnie Pellitieri, Brian Boula, Lyle Munn, Andrew Brosseau, Dave Doty, Bob Corson, Jim Camelo, Dennis Martin, Greg Fuller, Dale Finlayson, Fred Wilcox and Tim Pratt.

“The Saranac Lake Streakers will be coached by Wes Strack, Pat Romeo and Chuck Reynolds. Benji Ellithorpe, Doug Ellithorpe, Curt Reynolds, Kip Mitchell, Bill McGill, Tommy Glover, Eddie Meslin, Bill Hogan, Greg Flick, Bill Begore, Curt Tyler, Mark McCormick, Richard McIntire, Eric Sawyer, and Brian Paye will be playing for the Streakers.”

(Apparently The Streakers were not really considered a Saranac Lake team because they had players from Lake Clear, Paul Smiths, Gabriels, Bloomingdale and Vermontville.) “The Saranac Lake Raiders are coached by Jerry LaMay and Mark Sardella. Playing for the Raiders will be Steve Bombard, Larry Smith, Mike Sardella, John Grant, Jeff LaMay, Brain Muldowney, Ralph Blue, Walter DeNicolo, Ty Fobare, Danny Ryan, Phil Bomyea, Chris Hyde, Dan Wilson and Chuck Coventry.

“The Tupper Lake All-Stars are coached by Vin Jessie and playing for Tupper Lake will be Jimmy Kentile, Tim Snyder, Steve Gagnon, Tim Clark, Richard Berard, Dennis Arey, Larry Root, Robbie Eggsware, Mark Thatcher, Darrell Bell, Scott Stuart and Robert Delair.

“The Lake Placid All-Stars are coached by Dick Smart and playing will be David Reiss, Phil Dawson, Jim Patterson, Brad Colby, Steve Fell, Tim Preston, Andy Preston, Ken Reid, Brian Barney, Fred Levitt, Tommy Blair, Ed McCasland, Guy Conklin and Andy Whittemore.”