April 17, 2008 12:45 pm
—
By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
ONEONTA — A pair of former
high school rivals are now the best
of friends, and both are off to strong
starts for the Oneonta men’s baseball
team this spring.
Cherry Valley-Springfield graduate
Scott Dubben and Edmeston
graduate Sam Ackerman are key
members of the Red Dragons this
season.
Three years ago, the two were
the top two pitchers in the Tri-Valley,
and Ackerman beat Dubben in
the Tri-Valley Championship Game
in 2005.
Dubben’s pitching career likely
came to an end after suffering a
season-ending shoulder injury last
season, but he has found success at
shortstop this year.
``I had surgery on my shoulder,
and the rehabilitation was a long
process,’’ Dubben said Monday
night. ``It was hard to sit out a year
and watch, and now that I’m back
on the field I’m enjoying every minute.’’
Through April 12, Dubben was
hitting .341, good for second on the
team, and has worked his way into
the starting shortstop job after beginning
the season in a three-way
battle for the position.
Dubben is 14-41 at the plate,
with a home run and eight runs
batted in for O-State, who own a
10-10 SUNYAC record.
``I’m hitting the ball well right
now, and I think that’s the reason
I’ve been starting,’’ said Dubben,
who also occasionally serves as the
team’s designated hitter. ``My arm
feels great. I have a strong arm
from short, but I haven’t tried anything
off the mound yet.’’
Dubben, a red-shirt sophomore,
said he hasn’t completely ruled out
pitching again, but does not want
to jeopardize his arm again.
``I’m having a blast and I want
to stay healthy,’’ Dubben said.
Oneonta State head coach Rick
Ferchen said he admires Dubben’s
hard work to get back with the
team.
``He has shown the willingness
to help us in any capacity we ask of
him,’’ Ferchen said.
Ackerman, a hard-throwing junior
right-hander, has developed
into Oneonta State’s number one
starting pitcher.
He has started six games this
season and is 3-2 with 44 strikeouts
in 36.1 innings pitched.
``Sam has been our number one
pitcher all year and is pitching
against the top teams,’’ Ferchen
said. ``He has been contacted by
some professional organizations
and rightfully so. His fastball has
been consistently in the low 90’s
and his curveball has been very
good this year. If he can stay consistent
with his control and location
he will not only help us but
help himself as the year goes on.’’
Dubben said he and Ackerman
did not talk much during their high
school days, but have developed a
close relationship since arriving in
Oneonta.
``I think we had respect for each
other in high school but we’re best
friends now,’’ Dubben said. ``We
worked out together all summer at
the Clark Sports Center and we
hang out all the time.’’
Ferchen said Ackerman will
pitch one of two games this Saturday,
when the Red Dragons host
Cortland, their biggest league rival,
for a doubleheader beginning
at noon.
``We’re pretty young this year,
but we’ve been improving and Saturday
will be a big test for us,’’
Dubben said.
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