Published September 8, 1998

MOUNTAINDALE - At the end of the 1998 season, things are apparently up in the air as to whether minor league independent baseball will be back to Baxter Stadium, next year - at least under the ownership of Billy and Patsy Resnick.

“I'm glad it's the final game, because I'm exhausted,” said Billy Resnick moments after the final out of Tuesday night's game, a 4-0 win by the Catskill Cougars over the Elmira Pioneers.

“I'd like to see it continue, (but) I'd like to see somebody else doing it. I can't physically do it anymore. I don't know where this is going to take us, but with the ‘Drop Dead Date' coming up in a couple of weeks, I've got to let the league know one way or the other.”

According to Patsy Resnick, “It's been an exciting season, and the fans have been wonderful and faithful.”

What about next season?

“We're not sure right now,” she replied. “We love doing it, but Billy's very tired. It's rough running three businesses and it's taken a toll. We're not going to right it off just yet, (but) we need a week to rest up and think straight. Time will tell.”

Asked to describe the ‘98 season, Cougars General Manager Mike Babcock said, “It's been a very successful season based on attendance, fan support and help from the business community.”

“The advertisers really stepped up this year to support us,” he noted. “We sold out all the outfield and concourse signs and our program was twice as large as last years.”

“I wish we could have won a few more games,” added Babcock. “We had a heck of a team and there weren't many games this year we were out of. I think we have one of the most beautiful stadiums in New York State, and we had about three hundred more people turn out for home games this year than last season.”

Babcock continued, “I'm happy with the way things worked out, (and) hopefully we can get some of these guys signed on with (major league) affiliates.”

Noting that prior to this season, the players had never played together as a unified team, Babcock said, “We had a championship team this year. Given time, these guys will produce. We ended the season with not one face from last year. Our defense wasn't what I would have liked to have seen, but we led the league in double plays. And that's not bad.”

Summing up the feelings of many, Mark Schwartz, former journalism major and, for the last three years, volunteer official scorekeeper of the Cougars, said, “If this was the last game the Cougars ever see in Baxter Stadium, this was the way to go out; with a crowded house and a win.”

A Statistical Snapshot

Here's a statistical rundown of the Cougars in 1998, according to the final, unofficial figures released by the league.

• In attendance, the Cougars were sixth (out of eight teams) with an average attendance of 1,219 per game. Allentown led the league with a 3,068 per game average.

• Dan Kopriva of Albany led the league with a .391 average and also had 16 homers and 64 RBI. Catskill's Andres Duncan, brother of former Los Angeles Dodger Mariano, was second with a .345 average.

• Also in the top 10 league batting list were Wayne Weinheimer (.328, 12 HR, 63 RBI, team-leading 18 doubles) and Juan Guerrero (.327, 10 HR, 55 RBI). Just off of the list was Earl Cunningham, with a .326.

• Weinheimer was tied for fourth in RBI with 63. Lorenzo DeLacruz of Allentown had 85. Duncan's 30 stolen bases put him third in the league, behind the 41 of Allentown's Billy Hall.

• Making the top 10 pitching list was Al Montoya, helped by the two-hit blanking of Elmira in Tuesday's finale. Montoya also led the league in complete games (8) and shutouts (3). The top statistical hurler was John DaSilva of New Jersey (8-1, 1.56 ERA). Tim Lucey was tied for second in wins with nine, one behind Ray Davis of Allentown.

• In spite of their 36-47 record, the Cougars as a team made out well in the final stats. Their team batting average of .276 was second only to Allentown's .294. On the mound, Catskill hurlers combined for a 3.86 ERA, third behind New Jersey (2.82) and Waterbury (3.30).