BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Tim Tebow understands how to make an entrance.

Tebow made the first pitch he saw as a Double-A professional baseball player exit NYSEG Stadium Thursday night with a line drive that he ripped well over the right-field fence.

More known for his exploits on the football field where he won two national college championships, a Heisman Trophy and a National Football League playoff game as a starting quarterback, the 30-year-old is in his second season of trying to restart his athletic career on the baseball diamond.

The New York Mets assigned Tebow to Binghamton this season and he helped turn the Rumble Ponies season opener into a success with a three-run homer to cap a five-run bottom of the first in a 6-0 win over the Portland Sea Dogs.

By the time the weekend was over, the Rumble Ponies were rolling along at 3-0 and Tebow was working on coming up with consistency at a new level. He went 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in the first two wins and sat out Sunday's game.

"I'm still young and new as a baseball player," Tebow said, "but on the other hand, I've played a lot of sports and I've been in a lot of environments where there's been a lot of praise, criticism, highs and lows. So, if I can take any of that experience I have on just a big scale and share it with younger guys or talented guys or guys that have amazing futures but maybe haven't had as much experience that you can't get too high or can't get too low. It's just one day, one time. That's something I'd like to bring to the rest of the guys."

Tebow said it works both ways.

"At the same time, there's a lot of guys who are sharing advice with me, like, 'he just threw that, now he's probably coming back with this'," said Tebow, who had stopped playing baseball after his junior season in high school to concentrate on football. "I want to be just as humble as a learner as I am sharing with the rest of the guys."

Something Tebow has learned is how to react when a pitcher just walked the batter in front of him on four pitches. He resisted the urge to assume Teddy Stankiewicz would be too wild to find the plate after walking two straight two batters in the first inning.

"A lot of times after a catcher makes a visit to the mound, the next pitch is going to be a fastball kind of down the middle to try to get going again," said Tebow, who played left field and batted seventh in both of his games. "That's kind of what I anticipated and that's what it was.

"It felt pretty good."

It also felt familiar.

The shot was nothing new for Tebow.

"There's a lot of people who were obviously here to see him tonight," Portland manager Darren Fenster said. "He has a history of having a little bit of a flair for the dramatic."

Tebow stepped away from the college football television studio after signing with the Mets in September of 2016.

With the minor-league season over, Tebow went to the Mets instructional league where he hit a home run in his first at-bat. He homered again in his first official professional at-bat April 6, 2017 with the Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League.

"Knowing the history, knowing that in every first at-bat of his professional career, he's done the same thing, it's pretty impressive," Rumble Ponies manager Luis Rojas said.

Work remains to be done.

Tebow finished up last season hitting .226 with eight homers and 52 RBI in 126 games with two Mets Single-A teams. He is among a group of five players likely to share four positions – the three outfield spots and designated hitter role.

Inevitably, Tebow was comparing football and baseball after his first game in Binghamton. He said he has played football in colder weather, but had never played a baseball game with wind chills in the 20s, as he did in the opener.

Tebow also took a hit that he wouldn't have liked as a quarterback. He ran hard into a low chain-link fence chasing a foul ball into the corner with the spirit he once carried a football.

"One of the things that gets you a little bit is it's kind of low," said Tebow, who walked slowly back to his position after the play. "It was kind of shocking.

"I always liked it when defensive players hit me up high. I didn't like it when they went low."

Tebow, the former University of Florida, Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback, hit .226 with eight homers in 126 games last season.

Attendance was announced at 5,247 with all field level box seats sold out. The weather conditions appeared to keep actual attendance below that and the crowd thinned out considerably beginning after Tebow's third at-bat to end the fifth inning.

Tebow played 35 games in three NFL seasons.

WEEK IN REVIEW

The harsh spring weather kept outdoor competition to a minimum, delaying the start of Lackawanna League play for most teams.

Montrose defeated Lackawanna Trail in the only Lackawanna League Division 4 baseball and softball openers that got played. The Meteors won 10-0 in baseball and 9-2 in softball.

In boys' volleyball, Forest City and Blue Ridge each recovered from their first losses to win Thursday

Forest City ended the week 3-1 and in second place. Defending champion Blue Ridge was third at 2-1.

In professional hockey, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins qualified for their 16th straight berth in the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Playoffs, the league's longest active streak.

The Penguins clinched Saturday night when they defeated the rival Binghamton Devils, 7-4, in the final home game for team captain Tom Kostopoulos, who announced his retirement earlier in the week.

The Penguins opened a 4-0 lead in the first period, following pregame ceremonies honoring Kostopoulos.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which also scored four first-period goals in Sunday's 5-2 road win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, has three more road games remaining in the regular season.

In professional baseball, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders rallied from four runs down in the bottom of the inning to win their International League season opener, 6-5, over the Syracuse Chiefs Friday night at PNC Field in Moosic.

Abiatal Avelino hit a three-run homer to end the game.

The RailRiders went 2-1 in their season-opening series.

COLLEGE CORNER

Freshman Whitney Tyler has made four pitching appearances as a freshman at Keuka College.

The Elk Lake graduate is off to an 0-3 start with a 6.30 earned run average She has 14 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.

Keuka is 1-7.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Defending champion Blue Ridge is at unbeaten leader Abington Heights Thursday in a Lackawanna League boys' volleyball match.

TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com or followed on Twitter at @tomjrobinson.

"ROWDY" KYLE IS ALL SMILES

Kyle Busch, son Brexton and wife Samantha after Texas win

FT. WORTH, Tex.-- "Rowdy" Kyle Busch finally found victory lane after three second-place finishes. But his victory in part is due to the sloppy pit crew work of runner-up driver Kevin Harvick.

Harvick won the first stage of the race, but from lap 86 through lap 314 of the 335-lap race, his pit crew went sour. Three different times he lost spots after stopping for tires. Once, he lost eight positions, and then another time the team left some lugs loose on a tire, and he to pit a second time, which put him a lap down.

He had the fastest car of the field and when the race's last caution came out on lap 303, he was lined up second, behind Busch, winner of Stage One. The green flag was given with 21-laps to go. Busch got a good jump on Harvick and the rest of the field, and opened up a .52-second lead over Harvick. But that was all the distance he could put on the second-place driver.

Harvick inched his way closer every lap, but was unable to make it to the rear bumper of Busch's No. 18 Toyota, and could only watch as Busch crossed the finish line 0.30 seconds ahead.

"Well, I think Harvick might have had a tick faster car than us, but I was sure to hit my marks, because I knew that was what it was going to take to win today," said Busch. "I don't think I could have gotten anymore out of the car. I had just enough."

For Harvick, who has won three races this season, it was a bitter finish.

"It was unfortunate that we had things happen in the pits like we did today," said Harvick. "We had a great car. A winning car, and we threw it all away. But we will win again."

Jamie McMurray finished third, followed by Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Darrell Wallace Jr., Clint Bowyer, and William Byron.  

During lap-3 Alex Bowman's No. 88 began slipping up on the front straightaway. He slowed, trying to regain control and was bumped from behind by Paul Menard in the No. 21. Bowman slid around, but was able to continue. Several other cars including the No. 3 driven by Austin Dillon and the No. 19 of Daniel Suarez were also involved. All the cars except the No. 19 of Suarez were repaired and back on the track within two or three laps. Suarez did not return to the race.

Martin Truex Jr. had a right front tire blow on his No. 78, causing him to slam into the turn-4 outside wall on lap-80. The damage to his car was extensive, and he was out of the race, his first DNF of the season.

"I don't know what happened," said Truex. "It was just one of them racing deals. But I can tell you, that was a really hard lick when I bounced off the wall."

There was a four car wreck during lap 178 involving Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Aric Almirola. Neither of the four drivers were able to return to the track.

"I was running the bottom groove and was getting squeezed by the 10-car (Aric Almirola)," said Hamlin. "I tried to let off and drifted up, and then I don't know what happened."

Top-10 leaders after 7 of 36: 1. Kyle Busch-316, 2. Logano-278, 3. Blaney-265, 4. Harvick-257, 5. Truex-250, 6. Bowyer-249, 7. Keselowski-237, 8. Kurt Busch-224, 9. Hamlin-222, 10. Larson-202.

BLANEY WINS TEXAS XFINITY RACE

Here are the results of Saturday's Xfinity Series race: 1. Ryan Blaney, 2. Christopher Bell, 3. Daniel Hemric, 4. Cole Custer, 5. Ryan Preece, 6. Matt Tifft, 7. Jamie McMurray, 8. Elliott Sadler, 9. Austin Cindric, 10. Spencer Gallagher.

Top-10 series points leaders after 6 of 33: 1. Sadler-228, 2. Reddick-217, 3. Bell-208, 4. Hemric-203, 5. Allgaier-196, 6. Custer-181, 7. R. Truex-179, 8. Gallagher-174, 9. Tifft-165, 10. B. Jones-162.

YOUNGER FANS AND YOUNGER DRIVERS

NASCAR and track owners know their future is with the next generation of young people, and they are doing everything imaginable to get them to embrace the sport.

"The love of racing has been passed down from generation to generation," said Bristol Motor Speedway general manager Jerry Caldwell. "BMS wants to be sure that tradition continues."

In addition to all the other entertaining events, prior to and during a race, the track has specifically added new activity packages for youngsters of all ages. It includes activity sheets, stickers and a new coloring book based on the kids' favorite drivers.

To keep the kids attention they have constructed a fan zone. It combines an indoor and outdoor area with a racing simulator, video games, bungee jump, rock wall, inflatables, and face painting.

NASCAR columnist Monte Dutton wrote a short time ago that in evaluating the future, tracks were being forced to focus their attention on children.

That's right. A certain percentage of the older generation leaves us each year. By that I don't mean they just go to the corner grocery for a six-pack and cigarettes. Most never return.

The most lavish, expensive, fan-friendly, interactive facilities in NASCAR are large tracks that have huge debt. They know the difference ticket and TV dollars bring in, along with all the lesser revenues.

That debt must be paid off. They mortgaged the present with the expectation of racing being around for a long time. And since mom and dad and Uncle Joe can't be counted on, they have got to entice a new group of fans.

It would be great for their effort if some young cowboy could ride off with the Cup Series championship. Most of the top teams have replaced older drivers with younger talent – in some cases, much younger.

Drivers like Chase Elliott, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez and others have come into NASCAR showing a lot of promise. None of them are 30 years old.

Observers believe that the first young driver who can back up his promise with performance, bring with him a pleasant personality, and a talent for gathering and keeping fans, will become a powerful drawing tool for the youngsters.

Racing Joke of the Week: Joey Logano is out taking a stroll in the snow. He slips off an icy bridge, hits his head, and falls into an icy river.
Three kids see it happen. They jump in and save him. When he comes to, he says, "Boys, you saved me. You each deserve a reward. You name it, and you got it!" The first kid says, "I'd like to go to Disneyland."

Logano says, "I'll send you and your whole family for a week at Disneyland."
The second boy says, "I'd like a four wheeler so I can go mudbogging out behind my house."

Driver of the No. 22 said, "I'll get you the best four wheeler with all the safety features and I'll have someone teach you how to drive it safely."
The third kid says, "I'd like an electric twin-turbo wheelchair with a hi-fi stereo and cruise control."

"I'll get you the best," continued Logano, "But wait a second, you're not handicapped, You don't need a wheelchair."
The third kid says, "I will be when my father Matt Kenseth, finds out who I saved from drowning."

Weekend Racing: The Cup and Xfinity teams are at the .54-mile Bristol Motor Speedway.

Sat., Apr. 14; Xfinity Series race 7 of 33; Starting time: 1 pm ET; TV: FoxSports1.

Sun., Apr. 15; Cup Series race 8 of 36; Starting time: 2 pm ET; TV: Fox.

Racing Trivia Question: Which driver has the most Cup wins at Bristol?

Last Week's Question: Who won the inaugural race at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997? Answer. It was Jeff Burton.

Gerald Hodges is a syndicated NASCAR photojournalist and author. You may contact him by e-mail at: hodges@race500.com.

Travis Craig, Susquehanna Basketball

Travis Craig was not opposed to occasionally testing the physical and mental toughness of the basketball players he was assigned to stop.

The senior guard thrived on the role of defensive stopper while helping Susquehanna to its first two state boys basketball tournament wins since 1999.

For his efforts, Craig has been selected as the Susquehanna County Transcript Athlete of the Month for March.

"It's definitely part of the game plan," Craig said of the ability to aggravate opponents with his intensity on the court. "A lot of guys are not emotionally tough, so the quicker you can get in their head, the more they're going to struggle with their game.

"I think I have a pretty good handle on it. I don't let it get too far so it doesn't get out of hand."

Craig used the quickness and toughness necessary to succeed as a 145-pound defensive end in football and used it to his advantage on defense, whether harassing a ballhandler or trying to deny the ball from a scorer.

"His impact on our team was unreal," Susquehanna coach Lawrence Tompkins said.

The Sabers won their first Lackawanna League Division 4 and District 2-11 Class A Subregional titles before winning a pair of state tournament games in March. They were just 3-6 before Craig's insertion into the starting lineup and 16-4 after the move.

"I felt like it was always my role to take on the opposing team's best offensive player as a guard and try to shut him down, so everyone else on our team can have an easier job on the defensive end," Craig said. "Coach does a good job of scouting for us and telling us what guys we're going to be playing, what their strengths are.

"I try to take away their strengths and make them play to their weaknesses."

With February Athlete of the Month Mason Deakin out of the lineup, Craig took over at point guard in the state tournament opener. He had seven assists, grabbed seven rebounds and made a late free throw in the 58-54 win.

Craig hit another late free throw to wrap up a 57-54 win over Lancaster Country Day in the second round.

After Country Day's Andrew Williams went 3-for-4 on 3-pointers and scored 15 points in the first half, Craig's defense limited him to six more in the second half.

"We told Travis Craig, 'you don't have any other responsibility but to glue yourself to him'," Tompkins said. "I think he did that."

Craig led Susquehanna's football team with 7 sacks, 12 total tackles for losses and 3 forced fumbles in his senior season when he was second in total tackles. He had been a special teams player for the Sabers as a sophomore and a part-time starter as a junior.

Craig is currently on the volleyball team as an outside hitter and setter. He started on the team as a sophomore before taking last spring off.

Travis lives in Thompson. He is the son of Tim Craig and Nicole Shimer.