Could this be Nick Swisher's breakout year?
Before he pulled a hamstring and missed a week's worth of games, he was the RBI leader of the New York Yankees.
Now that he's back, he still is the RBI leader. He's driven in more runs than A-Rod, Jeter, Teixeira and all of the other members of the Bronx Bombers.
He returned to the lineup on Saturday and contributed a home run, taking up where he left off.
When his contract ran out following the end of last season, the Yankees inked him to a one-year deal.
It appears he's going to give them their money's worth.
The one thing the Yankees never have to worry about is getting Swisher's best effort.
No one plays harder or hustles more than Swisher, who is a crowd favorite for his obvious love of the game.
This is shaping up as one of the most interesting years ever to be a baseball fan with many of the traditional powers -including the Yankees -off to slow starts.
But as I reminded my friend who told me a couple weeks ago he was ahead by 15 points in his fantasy league, being in first place in April doesn't mean much.
We've got the state tennis tournament, regional track meets (two at Ritchie County and one at PHS), regional semifinal softball tournaments and sectional baseball tournaments.
Throw in the Boy Scouts Leadership Dinner on Wednesday night featuring Bobby Bowden and today's primary election and our newsroom is going to be a busy place.
By the way, the Boys Scouts Dinner will be the third major event that has brought sports celebrities to Parkersburg in a three-week period.
First was the 66th annual Victory Awards Dinner, sponsored by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, which featured all the major statewide award winners.
Then came the Mountaineer Coaches Caravan which in addition to featuring West Virginia University athletics officials and coaches, also brought former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims to town to promote WVU's entrance into the Big 12.
I have fond memories of coach Bowden, who was the football coach when I attended WVU.
I'll never forget the day I was sitting in the stands reading a book while football practice was taking place down below.
"What are you studying?'' said a familiar voice. It was coach Bowden. And he really wanted to know what I was studying. I've met coach Bowden several times since and he hasn't changed. He deserves the legendary status he has achieved.
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
