Marc My Words!

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Rockland Boulders veteran first baseman Jerod Edmondson dreams of a ticket to the big leagues.

“Why not?” asks second-year manager Jamie Keefe, who was drafted out of high school in the third round by Major League Baseball and has 22 years in the game — the last 12 as a skipper and his fifth in the independent Can-Am League.

“Everyone here is trying to get better, and playing for two, three different reasons,” continues the 40-year-old father of two boys (Brigham, 13, and Brooks, 8). “No. 1 is their love of the game, No. 2 is to win, and No. 3 every player wants to get signed by a Major League club. You never say never until it’s over.”

Edmondson, who feels he is still improving at the age of 30 and still running and swinging as well as ever, is the type of player any manager at any level would covet.

“If you look up professional ballplayer, his picture should be up there,” offers Keefe who, like Edmondson, is making his home in Suffern during the season. “He’s the ultimate professional; here at 1 every day for a 7 o’clock game. The most important thing, as a person he’s just a fantastic guy, a great human being, and a wonderful baseball player.

Extra innings: In partnership with United Way of Rockland County, the Boulders will stage the 2^nd annual Boulders Dash 5K Run/Walk on June 14 starting at 9 a.m. at the stadium. Registration is $20 in advance and $25 at the ballpark. It includes one (1) T-shirt and one (1) ticket to that day’s game against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks to follow. The dash will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Way of Rockland County, with all proceeds being donated. Those interested can register via the link provided here, or by downloading and completing the registration form. All race-day information can be found online at www.rocklandboulders.com.

GRIDIRON SHOWCASE: Having earning a scholarship to the University of New Haven, CJ Fitzpatrick of Pearl River will represent St. Joseph Regional HS in the Bergen County All-Star Football Classic on June 14 at Overpeck Park in Palisades Park. The first Classic was held in 1996, and alumni of the game include NFL Pro-Bowlers Miles Austin, a receiver with the Dallas Cowboys, and linebacker Tamba Hali of the Kansas City Chiefs. Fitzpatrick, who is also a standout in track and field and basketball, was a starting linebacker the last two seasons and a three-year varsity player. The Green Knights finished No. 1 in New Jersey the last two seasons and No. 8 in the country, with CJ making a team second-best 66 tackles, and also averaging six yards per carry as a running back. Fitzpatrick capped his scholastic career with an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown at Met Life Stadium in the state championship game against Pope John XXIII.

QUICK HITTERS: Led by national finalists in women’s lacrosse and baseball, the SUNY Cortland intercollegiate athletic program finished 23rd in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup competition among approximately 440 eligible NCAA Division III programs. Anthony Simon of Suffern was a starting infielder on the baseball team, and North Rockland HS alumna Tara Monaghan of Stony Point was a stalwart on the women’s lacrosse team that set a school record with 22 consecutive victories. … Clarkstown South alum Roberto Dashi of Nyack, a forward, and Rockland CC alum Chuong Tran of West Nyack, a midfielder, are preparing for their season seasons on the men’s soccer team at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry. The Mavericks will open the schedule at the Adelphi Tournament, where they will face host Adelphi University on Sept. 4 and six-time national champion Southern Connecticut State University on Sept. 6. Mercy hosts American International College in the home opener on Sept. 10.

THIS & THAT: Beyond Sport — a global organization that supports, promotes and funds the use of sport to address social issues in communities around the world — is holding its annual Beyond Sport United event at Yankee Stadium on June 11. Details at: http://www.beyondsport.org/united/. … Bayern Munich is looking for a marketing intern based in New York to help manage all the details of its summer tour and other  initiatives for its brand in the United States. The opening is immediate for the summer to those interested in soccer, branding and sports business. Interested candidates can

contact [email protected]. … Bloomberg Sports seeks a baseball systems analyst. More details at: https://www.smartrecruiters.com/BloombergSportsLLC/76246608-analyst-baseball-systems