Kyle Charron (left) and Chris Sand (above) will not only be rooming together at Iona College this fall, the duo will represent the South Troy Dodgers in an American Amateur Baseball Congress World Series for the third time this Friday when the Dodgers face the Durango Thunder in the first round of the 10-team, double-elimination Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M.

It sounds like just another story of talented baseball teammates, unless you know Sand and Charron's personality.
Sand, sporting a recent Mohawk haircut, couldn't be a more vocal cheerleader.
Charron, on the other hand, might fall through the cracks unless you watch him rake in the Dodgers' leadoff spot.

"I'll get fired up sometimes, but I'm more of a quiet kid," Charron said. "I won't get fired up like he will, though. It's always good to have someone like that who can get the team motivated and to bring all of the other kids up to his level."

Sand went to Christian Brothers Academy and Charron just graduated from La Salle Institute. They might joke around about how the Cadets maintained control of The Sabre in 2008, or discuss their Big 10 basketball rivalry, but these polar opposites compliment each other well on the diamond.

"We've always been on opposite sides of the spectrum, but they say opposites attract," said Sand, an Altamont native. "We've been real good friends and we always talk and get together to hit in the offseason. It's always been a relationship where we might not always be the same and we might not do the same things, but we'll always be there for each other."

For the full story, pick up a copy of The Record on Wednesday. We'll also have more on South Troy shortstop Branden Cogswell and the ordeal of planning a cross country trip later on in the week.

For more information on the World Series, including a printable bracket, visit the City of Farmington's website by clicking here.

2009 American Amateur Baseball Congress Connie Mack World Series

Farmington, N.M.
Ricketts Park, capacity 6,100
Dimensions: RF-330, RCF-370, CF-400, LCF-370, LF-330

Opening Round Games
Friday, Aug. 7

All times Mountain Time
Puerto Rico Giants vs. Dallas Tigers, 5:15 p.m.
South Troy vs. Durango Thunder, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8

Illinois Sparks vs. East Cobb Yankees, Noon
Dallas Mustangs vs. Florida Legends, 5:15 p.m.
Midland (Ohio) Redskins vs. Danville (Calif.) HOOTS, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 9

Home run derby, 3 p.m.
Second round games start Monday, Aug. 10

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The Lansingburgh Royals picked up a win in the first game they played in the American Amateur Baseball Congress 15-and-under World Series in Owasso, Okla.
The Royals snared a 8-5 victory over the Tucson All-Stars and will face the Dallas D-Bats in a winner's bracket game on Wednesday.

Andrew Brachu and Alex Grayson contributed RBI doubles and Marcus Uhmann, Zeb Gaston and Anthony Ragusta added two singles apiece for the Royals. Gaston pitched a complete game victory for the Royals.

LANSINGBURGH 8, TUCSON 5
Lansingburgh 100 223 0 – 8 9 4
Tucson 300 011 0 – 5 9 4
Gaston and Ragusta Aktanaron, Mahunda (6) and Guana.

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Royals tryouts: The Lansingburgh Royals are holding baseball tryouts for players aged 13-15 interested in playing fall ball in 2009. A tryout session will be held Thursday at Knickerbacker Park at 6 p.m. Players from Troy, Brunswick, Waterford, Cohoes and Watervliet are eligible. Please contact Joe Henkel (542-6919) with any questions.

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Now that the old New York-New Jersey high school football All-Star game is just a memory, some folks are pining for an Upstate vs. Downstate game.

What do you think about that? Most importantly, where would they draw the boundary line?

We're hard at work right now on our massive high school football preview section, which is going to come out on Thursday, Sept. 3, one day before the games begin. I'll be posting updates here sporadically in the meantime to keep you in touch.

Coaches, players, parents and fans (of all fall season high school sports) feel free to send me an email at the address above right with any story ideas or information you'd like to pass along before the season begins.