Tom King

Here’s a few tids and bits as we hit the final regular-season week for many spring high school sports, the start of the high school tennis tournament, and believe it or not, the opening of the Silver Knights season:

Let’s start with some Silver Knights thoughts:

– Hard to believe as we just said that the Silver Knights open up the season at Holman Stadium this upcoming Thursday. In fact, players who aren’t still in school (incoming freshmen finishing up high school) or in conference tournaments are due to report on Tuesday, giving the team a couple of days to get acclimated before the Pittsfield Suns come to town for the what the team is considering to be its “soft open.” You get the feeling that their big night will be their “603 Night” on Friday, June 3, their sixth home game.

– The Silver Knights would love to have Nashua South standout Albert De La Rosa be their starting shortstop once the Panthers season ends, but general manager Cam Cook knows that if De La Rosa is drafted in July, he’s signing.

“I think that’s something unfair to the guys who are here the whole year,” Cook said, “for us to pick up a guy we know is only going to be here for half the time.

“He’s not one of those guys that if it’s not the first 10 rounds he’s not going. If he gets the call, he’s going. I told him and I told Gaj, that if he doesn’t sign, I’ll give him a contract that day.”

– We still think the Futures Collegiate Baseball League starts perhaps a week too early, as there are so many players in conference tournaments that have to join their teams late. Cook favors a star of June 1 and has suggested it. “You maybe lose two home games but those could be Tuesdays and Wednesdays and you don’t make money on a Tuesday-Wednesday home game,” he said. “And your product is that much better for Opening Day.”

– It’s official, former Nashua Pride owner Chris English now owns only one team in the Futures League, as he has sold the Brockton Rox to an out-of town owner Brian Kahn, a businessman who has owned other teams, recently an independent league team in the Chicago suburbs. English, who owns the FCBL champion Vermont Lake Monsters, spends a lot of time in Vermont with his family in the summer, according to FCBL Commissioner Joe Paolucci, so it made sense. Brockton’s Campanelli Stadium is getting a complete makeover, but there’s even more news with the Rox. Last year they had the son of former Red Sox great Pedro Martinez on their roster.

But get this: Brockton will have the sons of former Sox greats Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Keith Foulke, plus the son of another former Major Leaguer, Gary Sheffield. Former big leaguer Reggie Williams will the manager. The Rox are here on Thursday, June 2.

– Vince Wilfork was the obvious, popular fans choice for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. As for the other two finalists, Mike Vrabel coaches for the enemy Titans, and while he was a great player, was offensive lineman Logan Mankins all that popular? Guess here is he may have come in third out of three, but who knows.

We’ve given up on the idea of Bill Parcells getting in. Too many bad memories of how he left and also how he signed away Curtis Martin, etc., despite how Parcells began the march to making the Patriots relevant for years to come.

– We’ll take a good look at the high school tournaments next weekend, but keep an eye on that Hollis Brookline baseball team. The Cavs as of this writing had just one loss, put up a 22-spot on Pelham, and seem to be taking no prisoners these days.

– Love the atmosphere at Rivier University for a high school softball game. It was great for North-South nearly two weeks ago, and Hollis Brookline vs. Pelham was played their this past week and Campbell has a game there vs. Mascenic this current weekend (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.). Had wondered why the NHIAA is making the Division I and II teams hoof up to Plymouth for semis and finals when there’s a spot to possibly play in the southern part of the state, and they did play the Division I and II finals there last year.

However, according to Nashua athletic director Lisa Gingras, who is also the chairperson of the NHIAA softball committee, there was a concern that Riv just doesn’t have enough of a capacity with its stands. And Southern New Hampshire University now has an all turf field, which most if not all high school teams don’t play on during the regular season. Shame. South would be a great spot if they could truck in bleachers, but there are no lights which many want.

The Merrimack Valley region in Massachusetts, and New England in general, lost a great one recently with the sudden passing of longtime Lawrence Eagle Tribune sportswriter Mike Muldoon. Muldoon was detailed, professional, well liked and knew more local MV high school sports than anyone. Every fall the paper would publish his same column written to athletes, coaches and parents, updated or not, giving them advice and thoughts on the upcoming school year sports, almost like a sports creed. It’s a must read if you have the chance.

Mike you are and will be sorely missed.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.