By Rob Potter
LIBERTY — June 6, 2006 – For the past three years, Mike Cook and Casey Pazzalia have been teammates on the Liberty Central School varsity baseball team.
Next spring, the two seniors will again be playing for the same team. Back in April, Pazzalia signed a national letter of intent to attend Sullivan County Community College and play for the Generals’ baseball team.
On Wednesday afternoon at Liberty High School, proud parents Todd and Lisa Cook, Liberty Central School Athletic Director Tim Bult and SCCC Coach Mike Marra looked on as 17-year-old Mike Cook signed a letter of intent to play for the Generals in 2007.
Cook, a left-handed pitcher, had a 2-3 record for the Indians this season.
Although he is not sure what he will major in next year, Cook is sure that SCCC is the right school for him.
“It’s close to home and the team is competitive,” said Cook, who lives with his parents in the Village of Liberty. “I just want to go out there and represent Sullivan County.”
Cook noted that he and Pazzalia both decided to attend SCCC earlier this spring and Pazzalia just happened to sign his letter first.
Before becoming Generals’ teammates, the two Liberty baseball players will be playing for the same team this summer. Mike Cook and Pazzalia will be members of the Catskill Cougars, a 19-and-Under baseball team that is coached by Todd Cook. The squad will play several games against other 19-and-Under teams from around the Hudson Valley. The Cougars are also scheduled to compete in a tournament in Scranton, Pa.
Mike Cook began playing baseball in a T-Ball League when he was 5 years old and then played in the Liberty Little League. He was a member of the LCS modified team for two years and the school’s junior varsity team for one season.
He is looking forward to wearing the Generals’ uniform.
“It’s going to be fun representing Sullivan County,” Cook commented.
Marra is happy that Cook decided to attend SCCC.
“We are pleased to add another talented Sullivan County player to our roster,” he said. “We didn’t have any left-handed pitchers this season, so Mike should help our pitching staff. He’s great on the bump and we’re looking forward to him doing some exciting things next spring.”