Father’s Day is a time of warm reflection for me. It is a day I give thanks for my dad, Ernest Adornato Jr., and the precious gift he shared with me, as a very young boy. That gift, the love of sports, inspired and challenged me throughout my youth. Sports taught me how to compete, […]
It is a day I give thanks for my dad, Ernest Adornato Jr., and the precious gift he shared with me, as a very young boy. That gift, the love of sports, inspired and challenged me throughout my youth. Sports taught me how to compete, on the field, in school and in life. And sports became a cherished way of life, as an important part of my career for more than four decades now.
Dad, who passed at the age of 90 on Aug. 9, 2022, was a first generation American born to Italian immigrants, Ernest and Mary Adornato.
Dad was known as Juidy (juh-dee) to friends and family, largely because his mother’s broken English twisted the word Junior into that pronunciation. As a young man, his handsome good looks made him a dead ringer for the King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis Presley. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps and settled into a long career as a brewery worker.
Born and raised in Highlandtown, a blue-collar bastion of Baltimore City, dad was described as quiet, yet mischievous. As an athlete, he was a bit undersized but fiercely competitive. He played football and baseball in the sandlot leagues of East Baltimore, excelled at racketball and volleyball and played senior softball well into his 70’s. In the final two decades of his life he became an avid golfer, hitting as many as 500 balls per day all the way up to the final weeks of his life.
He instilled his love of sports in his two sons, coaching us on various baseball teams and encouraging our efforts in other sports as our No. 1 supporter. He rarely missed a game.
Prior to joining High School On SI in 2022, I operated my own high school sports web site in Maryland, which I sold to The Baltimore Banner. In introducing our site to the Banner’s audience, I penned the following words about the exact moment I fell in love with sports. My dad was front and center in the story.
I vividly remember the day.
Already an avid sports fan and aspiring young athlete, my love affair was cemented on one gorgeous afternoon in the summer of 1968. It was my first Orioles game.
The excitement built as we drove up 33rd Street and caught a glimpse of Memorial Stadium off in the distance. Not one to fight the traffic on the parking lot, much less pay the $4 fee for the right to park right next to the ballpark, my dad weaved his way through the adjacent neighborhoods until we found a spot on the street.
I was too excited to be concerned about the half mile (or so) jaunt. I practically floated as my anticipation built with every step. I was oblivious to the thousands of other fans filtering along the same sidewalks, but as we reached the stadium lot, the smell of ball park hot dogs, the color, the chirp of the vendors and the murmur of the crowd began to intoxicate me.
I hadn’t seen anything yet.
My dad stepped up to the window and purchased our seats and in we went. The lower concourse seemed massive. I tried to pull free from his grip and rush up one of the nearby tunnels into the stadium’s seating bowl, but my father held firm and said, “No. We go over here.”
Over here was the entrance to one of the stadium’s massive ramp towers which led to the upper deck. Anxious to see the field and the players, all I saw as we began our steep, zigzag ascent up the outside of the stadium was a wider view of the parking lot.
I was starting to become impatient but, about halfway up, it happened.
Through a narrow opening where the upper and lower decks separated, I gazed through a chain-link fence and got my first glimpse of the field. The vision was stunning.
Lush green grass framed the perfectly raked reddish-tan infield dirt. The bright orange popped from the white uniforms of the hometown Orioles and all of the other sights and sounds moved me unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
From that moment forward I was a sports junkie and, although I did not know at the time, my journey to becoming a sport journalist was underway.
Being a sports journalist was not my first goal. I wanted to be a professional athlete. Despite the fact that I lacked the physical talents to fulfill that dream, playing sports provided more joy than I could ever imagine. The teammates, the victories, the loses and the dreams, they remain with you always. I played nearly every organized sport, at one point or another, with baseball and football being my favorites. Along the way, I learned that I had an aptitude for wrestling, which allowed me to compete as a Division I athlete at Towson University. For more than two decades, I ran a national caliber men’s slow-pitch softball team and, like my father, have developed a love of golf.
As a sports journalist, I found the next best thing to getting paid to play the games.
I have had a front row seat to some of our country’s greatest athletes in their most formative years, as high school athletes. It has never been hard to spot the ones destined to turn professional. There is just something extra special that is abundantly clear when you see them play.
Most of those athletes, just like myself and many others who developed a love for sports, also owe a debt of gratitude to their dads. The bond between fathers and sons through sports is one of the most enduring and emotionally resonant relationships in many families.
Fathers often use sports as a way to teach life lessons — perseverance, teamwork, humility, resilience in defeat, and grace in victory. These moments become a way to communicate values that extend far beyond the field of competition.
For some, especially in families or cultures where emotional expression isn’t always verbal, sports become a love language of their own. A nod of approval after a big play, a high five in the stands, or even the silence shared following a tough loss can say more than words ever could.
On this day, I salute Ernest Adornato, Jr. and all dads who have shared their love of sports with their sons and daughters. It is a special gift each us can share.
Nottingham vs. Sunnybrae in District 12 Little League Baseball – Trentonian
Nottingham players and coaches pose for a photo after winning the District 12 Little League Baseball championship game on Saturday evening at Ed Nevius Field in Hamilton Twp. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Nottingham players celebrate with the district banner after defeating Sunnybrae, 11-3, during the District 12 Little League Baseball championship round on Saturday evening […]
Nottingham players and coaches pose for a photo after winning the District 12 Little League Baseball championship game on Saturday evening at Ed Nevius Field in Hamilton Twp. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
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HAMILTON TWP. — Nottingham won its third straight and 31st overall District 12 Little League Baseball championship on Saturday evening with an 11-3 victory over Sunnybrae.
Check out some snaps from the game and make sure to read our full tournament coverage below:
Little League Baseball: For starters, Robbinsville overcomes Bordentown in eight innings to open District 12 Tournament
District 12 Little League Baseball: Sunnybrae, Nottingham advance
Little League Baseball: Matteo Pandolfini throws no-hitter, hits homer to power Nottingham to District 12 championship round
District 12 Little League Baseball: Sunnybrae gets past Bordentown in seven innings
District 12 Little League Baseball: Nottingham lifts 3rd straight Jim Davis Cup and 31st overall title
Sports Camp and Community Day dribbles into Green Lake Co. | Local News
Sports equipment sits outside of Princeton School District, where The Green Lake County Health Department and Terrace Shores Church will host a Sports Camp and Community Day. The sports camp will feature basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and football. Jessica Duch photo It’s game time in Green Lake County as a new community initiative is coming […]
Sports equipment sits outside of Princeton School District, where The Green Lake County Health Department and Terrace Shores Church will host a Sports Camp and Community Day. The sports camp will feature basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and football.
Jessica Duch photo
It’s game time in Green Lake County as a new community initiative is coming to the area that promises a day of sports and community resources.
The Green Lake County Health Department and Terrace Shores Church will host the first-ever Green Lake County Community Day and Sports Camp Thursday, July 17 at Princeton Public School.
The event was planned by the Green Lake County Health Department to address social factors affecting the health of community members. It’s also meant to bring awareness to the services and resources available to residents around Green Lake County.
The Green Lake County Health Department teamed up with Terrace Shores Church because it already was hosting a similar event.
“We wanted to provide a fostering environment for youth to grow in skill development, physical fitness and teamwork,” Green Lake County Deputy Health Officer Lauren Olson said. “We added the services and resources to help meet families where they are at and provide direct services all in one location.”
The event will be split into two parts: the sports camp and the resource fair.
The sports camp will go from noon to 4 p.m. and is open to area youth who will be in grades six through 12 this fall. Kids will have the option to play football, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball.
Brad and Suzanne Dolata play pickleball at Lake Street Outdoor Sports Complex in Green Lake.
Jessica Duch photo
The resource fair will go from 2 to 6 p.m. and anyone in Green Lake County can attend. The resource fair will feature free haircuts from Berlin Beauty Salon, a diaper giveaway from Jake’s Network of Hope and free sports physicals for students.
Additionally, employment assistance will be provided from Forward Services Corp. Mental health resources and presentations from Community Clothes Closet, Womens, Infants, and Children, the Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area, Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services and more will be offered.
ThedaCare Rural Health initiative will share information on blood pressure and vision checks, and the Green Lake County Extension FoodWIse will talk about nutrition. The Green Lake County Food Pantry, Advocap Head Start and the Green Lake County Aging and Disability Resource center also will provide information and resources.
The event also will feature a community meal that anyone can attend.
“We hope to see this event continue on an annual basis and help bring together the community and provide valuable resources to those that need it,” Olson said.
For more information or to register for the Green Lake County Community Day and Sports Camp, visit the Green Lake County Public Health Facebook page.
Terrace Bluff Wednesday men’s league under 40 Kevin Vogel 35 Mike Pilon 35 Rich Mortl 36 Jason Micheau 36 Terry Hoffmeyer 38 Jeff Hurtubise 38 Rick Steele 38 Nick Aird 38 John Nevala 38 Alex Sullivan 38 Kyle Marenger 38 (hole in one on No. 7) Tim Strasser 39 Paul Stemick 39 Greg Buckland 39 […]
Parks & Recreation opens registration for Co-ed Youth Soccer League | Sports
Warren County Parks & Recreation has opened registration for its Co-ed Youth Soccer League for boys or girls ages 5-17. Registration will continue through July 31. Register in person at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton on online at https://warrencountync.com/345/parks-recreation. For more information, call 252-257-2272 or email parksandrecreation@warrencountync.gov. Link 5
Warren County Parks & Recreation has opened registration for its Co-ed Youth Soccer League for boys or girls ages 5-17. Registration will continue through July 31.
Register in person at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton on online at https://warrencountync.com/345/parks-recreation.
For more information, call 252-257-2272 or email parksandrecreation@warrencountync.gov.
‘It was an annihilation!’ 
| First Take
