Mike Trout would have been forgiven if he wasn’t in the best of moods last Sunday.
The longtime Eagles season-ticket holder had just watched from his Millville home as the Birds suffered a last-second, 20-18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
In addition, a torrential rain kept him from an early-morning or late-afternoon round at his new golf course, Trout National – The Reserve.
But his smile was as bright as ever.
Trout, the three-time American League Most Valuable Player for the Los Angeles Angels, hosted approximately 200 local children at Total Turf Experience in Pitman for the Mike Trout Youth Baseball Camp.
“It all started right here for me, in a small town just down the road,” Trout to WPVI-Channel 6 at the camp. “It’s pretty cool to see all the kids here. It’s going to be a fun day and I look forward to meeting all of them.”
The group included a certain 10-year-old, who happily participated in the camp while his Poppy watched from the sidelines.
Hampton bounced from station to station, fielding grounders, catching popups, hitting off a tee and doing soft toss with an instructor, during a three-hour session.
The highlight for him – and me – was undoubtedly having a catch with Trout and posing for a photo with him.
“Mike is from here, he’s one of us,” Total Turf Experience owner Jerry McGough told the TV station. “He’s very giving to the world around him. We received a call to scholarship some kids who normally couldn’t afford the camp and that warmed my heart. That’s what Mike’s all about. He’s here to make sure every kid has a good time.”
I know one kid who had a great time.
And a Poppy, too.
Fourth-and-44
Pleasantville High School punter Raliel Wiggins made one of the most amazing plays in recent seasons last Friday night in a 20-18 win over Lower Cape May Regional.
Back-to-back sacks by the Caper Tigers and a personal foul penalty had backed Pleasantville to its own 9-yard line, leaving them with a fourth-and-44 late in the third quarter.
Wiggins caught the snap at his own goal line, but instead of kicking, he tucked the ball in the crook of his right arm and took off upfield.
He bolted up the right sideline, then veered across the field, evading at least a half-dozen Lower defenders along the way, en route to an 86-yard gain to the Lower 5-yard line.
“I was going to punt it, but my long snapper (Jayden Duncan) told me to run it, so I did,” Wiggins said. “I saw an opening and I knew they couldn’t catch me, so I took off.”
It marked the second time in as many seasons he pulled off a fake punt. According to Wiggins, he also had a 60-yard gain last season.
“He’s an electric player,” Pleasantville coach Elijah Glover said. “You never know what to expect.”
Local NFL update
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen, Jr. (Millville) made two tackles on special teams in a 19-17 victory over the Eagles, including a big stop in the first quarter. After the Jaguars scored a touchdown, Eagles returner Britain Covey broke loose and was headed for the end zone before Allen made a touchdown-saving tackle after a 42-yard gain.
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) had three tackles and a pass defense in a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver/returner Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) had two receptions for 20 yards and returned two kickoffs for a combined 48 yards in a 31-7 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek), Bo’s brother, had three tackles and a pass defense in a 45-21 loss to the Detroit Lions.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
