HIT: To an Auburn native etching his name into the Major League Baseball record book.
Auburn's pride in Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Tim Locastro has been abundant throughout his professional baseball career, but it's overflowing this week after the Auburn High School and Ithaca College alum set a new record for most consecutive stolen bases to start a career. The new mark of 28 straight success steal attempts broke a record that had stood since 1981.
With his swipe of second base during a game on Saturday night, Locastro broke the mark set by one of the greatest base stealers of all time, Tim Raines. That's some impressive baseball company to be keeping.
The cleats Locastro wore to set the record have been secured for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. We imagine a few trips to Cooperstown from Auburn will take place in the coming months to check out that new artifact.
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MISS: To another uptick in local COVID-19 cases.
Fortunately, we're far from the horrendous spike in infections in Cayuga County that took place from mid-November through early January, but the trend of the past two weeks has not been going in the right direction despite the steady progress of vaccinations.
Through Sunday, the state reported Cayuga County's seven-day average test positivity rate was up to 2.6% after being as low as 0.9% on March 22. The data should serve as a reminder that we can't start being lax with best practices for minimizing viral spread, including social distancings, mask wearing and hand washing.
HIT: To area schools that are producing musicals and plays this spring.
The traditional live performances with stages packed with student actors looking out at big crowds may not be happening, but finding ways to allow students the opportunity to take part in these productions is vital. Kudos to the school districts that have come up with creative formats and venues to pull it off, and to the students for their hard work in bringing these shows to life.
Gallery: Auburn native Tim Locastro through the years
Tim Locastro, right, talks to Steve Komanecky during an Auburn Little League game July 12, 2004. Auburn defeated Geneva to win the district title.聽
In this 2004 photo, Tim Locastro slides into home plate to score a run for the Auburn Little League All-Stars.聽
Auburn second baseman Luke Christinntelli pumps his fist after shortstop Timmy Locastro completed a double play by getting Liverpool junior Mike Parsons out at second to end the first inning at Alliance Bank Stadium in 2010. Auburn beat Liverpool 7-2 for the Section III, Class AA championship.聽
Tim Locastro fields a ground ball for the Auburn Maroons.聽
Auburn Maroons shortstop Tim Locastro puts a ball in play during a varsity baseball game.聽
Auburn native Tim Locastro gets a hit for the Ithaca Bombers in May 2013 at Falcon Park against the Moravian Greyhounds in the Division III NCAA Tournament in May. Locastro was drafted by Toronto that month.
Auburn native Tim Locastro makes a catch for the Ithaca Bombers at Falcon Park against the Moravian Greyhounds in the Division III NCAA Tournament in May 2013.
Bluefield Blue Jays manager Dennis Holmberg directs shortstop Tim Locastro toward home plate during a game in 2013 in Bluefield, W. Va.
From left to right, Bluefield Blue Jays manager Dennis Holmberg, pitching coach Antonio Caceres, shortstop Tim Locastro and general manager Jeff Gray. Holmberg (2003-2010) and Caceres (2006-2008) managed with the Auburn Doubledays, while Locastro (2010) and Gray (2008) are Auburn High School alums.聽
Auburn native Tim Locastro shortstop makes an out with the Bluefield Blue Jays in 2013.
Auburn native Tim Locastro, right, and teammate Chase De Jong pose with the trophy after winning the California League championship with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in September 2015.
Tim Locastro, an Auburn native, makes a throw during a game for the Tulsa Drillers, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Double-A affiliate, in 2017.聽
Los Angeles Dodgers' Tim Locastro (70) steals second base under the tag of Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed during the ninth inning during a baseball game Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Phoenix. The Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 5-2. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Dodgers' Tim Locastro waits to bat against the Diamondbacks May 3, 2018 in Phoenix.
Arizona Diamondbacks player and Auburn native Tim Locastro hits his first major league home run, against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium, July 31, 2019.
Tim's big day: Arizona Diamondbacks' and Auburn native Tim Locastro walks to his position in right field during the game against the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., July 31, 2019. Locastro went to Yankee Stadium once in his life as a 7-year-old fan and now returns for the first time as a major leaguer. Locastro's day wall filled with career firsts for the young player including a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Colleen Locastro snaps a photo of her son, Major League Baseball player and Auburn native Tim Locastro, after he received a proclamation marking Tim Locastro Day in Cayuga County, from the legislative body during student government day in Auburn in 2019.
Arizona Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro makes a catch during a summer baseball training camp workout Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
The Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro dives back to first base during a game against the Mariners Sept. 13 in Phoenix.聽
Auburn native Tim Locastro's cleats are shown in this photo posted to Twitter by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Locastro's cleats are being sent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.聽
Arizona Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro makes a turn at third base during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Tim Locastro donned his New York Yankee uniform for the first time on Saturday against the New York Mets, following the Thursday trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Locastro was not in the Yankees' starting lineup in an 8-3 loss.聽
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and left fielder Tim Locastro, left, celebrate after defeating the New York Mets in the second baseball game of a doubleheader on Sunday in New York. The Yankees won 4-2.
The Yankees' Tim Locastro walks off the field during a game against the Boston Red Sox Friday in New York.聽
New York Yankees' Tim Locastro at bat during the second inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets on Sunday, July 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Auburn native Tim Locastro returns to CNY with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to play the Syracuse Mets in Syracuse.
Auburn native Tim Locastro returns to CNY with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to play the Syracuse Mets in Syracuse.
New York Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa (12), Giancarlo Stanton, center, and Tim Locastro celebrate after their baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, April 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees won 3-0.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New York Yankees' Tim Locastro celebrates after a homerun during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, July 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Yankees pinch runner Tim Locastro steals second base safely ahead of the throw to Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez during the eighth inning of Game 2 of an American League Division series game Oct. 14 in New York.聽
水果派AV editorial board includes publisher Michelle Bowers, executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd.
