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The Roanoke Times: Press Box

with our sports staff

Blue Jays won't be hurt by loss

Posted Apr24, 2008 at 10:27 AM

Kudos to the Toronto Blue Jays for taking a strong stand — and a big financial hit — on Frank Thomas. The club released its slumping slugger Sunday, one day after Thomas sulked for being benched. The Big Hurt refused to shake hands with teammates after Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the Tigers, and that should tell you all you need to know about his priorities. Perhaps if he had more than four hits in his previous 35 at-bats and a batting average higher than .167, Thomas would have actually had a case. He’ll still get the big bucks left on his two-year, $18 million deal he signed in November 2006. But it’s good to see the money didn’t cramp the Jays’ brains and convince them to give in to a petulant malcontent. — Aaron McFarling

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  • Celtics a pleasure to watch -

    The story of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen sacrificing for the good of the team has been talked about and written about throughout this season. When Danny Ainge put this Boston Celtics team together, I didn't believe it would end with an NBA championship. Too many egos, too much of a chance of injury and too many unknowns among the role players. A team coming together like this proves again that money doesn't have to be the ultimate pursuit of a millionaire athlete. You need defense to win a championship, but more than that you need players sold out to the team. -- Jeff Gilbert

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    Another pitcher from Timesland will be pitching on a national stage Saturday. Casey Hodges, a senior from Franklin County High School, will start for Mount Olive College of North Carolina in the NCAA Division II national championship game against the winner of Friday's game between Ouachita Baptist and Sonoma State. And Hodges will be pitching on TV as well. The game will be telecast on CBS College Sports and MASN. Hodges is 9-1 this season with a 2.67 ERA. He has three complete games and 81 strikeouts in 81 innings. Mount Olive is 55-6. -- Jeff Gilbert

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The Press Box blog will post entries on a variety of sports at both the high school and collegiate levels in Southwest Virginia. Contributions come from staff writers of The Roanoke Times sports section.

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