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Off the bench

‘Fans mean everything’ Best of the best Off the bench With Adam Roberts

In the 1980s and 90s Mars Blackmon, the alter-ego of Spike Lee, popularized the slogan “Is it the shoes? Money, it’s gotta be the shoes,” in a string of ads for the Air Jordan shoe franchise.

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While they are remarkably less flashy than Michael Jordan’s high tops and carry little notoriety, the work boots of Phil Mortell bring to light a worthwhile adaptation of Blackmon’s query for the Abington Heights High School baseball team.

“Is it the boots?”

Well, Money, it’s hard to say, but Mortell, whose son Matt plays catcher for the state champion Comets, provided the team with one of its many good luck charms.

Earlier in the season, Phil was working in his yard wearing a T-shirt, shorts and weathered, tan work boots. He wore the garb to a game and was met by some snickers from his son’s teammates.

The team won the game, so Phil reasoned with his hecklers that the boots had something to do with it. From then on the fashion faux pas became Phil’s required attire for all subsequent games; including the Friday, June 12 state title game.

Phil was among the proud parents who lined the third base-side bleachers at the Blair County Ballpark in Altoona to give congratulatory hugs and handshakes to the team members after they beat Chartiers Valley 3-2.

After the massive infield pile up and award ceremony, most of the players made their way along the line to see their families, their fans and the families of their teammates.

Among those fans was the Comet student section which was brimming with enthusiasm and bodies even with the game being held more than three hours away on graduation morning.

Back in the Abingtons there was no shortage of baseball-backers. Local businesses and municipalities dedicated their marquees to well-wishes, and eventually congratulations.

The electronic billboard on Northern Boulevard near the I-81 on-ramp, went even further, providing passers-by score updates during the contest.

With business taken care of in central Pennsylvania, the team returned home.

As their classmates prepared to process into Comets Stadium, the team was met by three police vehicles and two firetrucks that escorted them directly to graduation.

Prior to the 5:30 p.m. ceremony, the team walked across the football field to roaring applause.

The reality that so many people were behind the Comets was not lost on Matt Mortell, who like the rest of the team, is most likely still smiling today.

“The fans mean everything to us,” Matt said, after finally letting the championship trophy go into the waiting arms of Mike Burke. “We play for our families, we play for our school and we play for each other.”

So to answer Blackmon’s question:

No, it’s not the boots. Money, it’s gotta be the support.

Adam Roberts is a reporter for The Abington Journal. Reach him at aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com.