Saturday, August 05, 2000
Metro Softball Tournament
Riggs has long ties, short trip to park
By Jeff Carlton
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In the summer, Mike Riggs spends most of his time traveling between three points located within a few hundred yards of each other: his home, his business and Rumpke Park.
His house is easily seen from most of the fields at the park. And his business, which makes stones for fireplaces, is just down the road.
On Friday, Riggs was playing softball at the park, helping M.R. Stone to a 13-10 win against Nieman Crossroads in the B division loser's bracket of the Fry Fastening Metro softball championship.
In the winner's bracket of the majors division, H & W Sports played Meiners Cafe for the right to take on top-seeded Watanabe today.
Riggs isn't in the lineup just because he sponsors the team. On Friday, he backhanded several grounders at third base and went 2-for-3 with two singles.
“He deserves to play where he plays,” said Billy Joyce, the team manager and pitcher. “He's not just the team sponsor, he's also the best hitter we've got.”
Riggs has spent a lot of time at Rumpke Park, starting at age 11 when he picked up trash after games. He stuck around long enough to get to drive a tractor and cut the grass, thrilling stuff when you're 14.
Now 28, Riggs is trying to help his team to a B-division title. M.R. Stone faces BW-3, to which it has lost twice in league play this season.
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