Happ keeping busy during offseason

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ is keeping busy during the off season.

The former St. Bede Bruin will head east this week for autograph signings at two malls in the Philadelphia area. These are autograph shows in which the dealer pays the athletes a flat fee for their appearance.

Signatures for Happ on “flat items,” such as baseballs and mini-helmets, will go for $39. Premium items, including bats and jerseys, can be had for $49.

If you are interested in getting the “John Hancock” of our local big leaguer, they are taking mail orders. Perhaps a Christmas present for your sports fan at home. Call (570) 881-4814 for more info.

I came across an auction on the Internet this week for a Happ bobblehead dressed in his former Lehigh Valley minor league uniform. The price wasn’t bad, and I would have been interested, but I already have a Happ bobble in his Lakewood BlueClaws.

Meanwhile, Happ’s name continues to come up again during this week’s winter baseball meetings as the Phils’ show renewed interest in Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. I know you have to trade good talent to get good talent, but if I were the Phillies’ management, I’d plug Happ in the rotation and keep him there. He’s young, cheap and now a proven big league winner.

Keep the faith: Princeton native Blair Hubbard and his Faith Christian Eagles won their second straight Colorado 2A state football title, defeating Kent Denver 21-0 Saturday. It was Faith’s third state crown since 2004 and fourth in school history.

You can go to milehighsportspreps.com to view some game highlights.

Game announcers called Hubbard one of the best coaches in the state. Blair’s a great guy, a winner on the field and off the field.

Stocking stuffer: Need a stocking stuffer for the former Princeton Tiger in your family? Dave Moore may have just the thing. The PHS coach has a collection of PHS football tapes from 1994-2002 he would like to give away.
If interested, give him a call at (815) 875-3308, ext. 232.

Going Gonzaga: Sheffield native Grey Giovanine and his Augustana College Vikings got the opportunity of a lifetime Wednesday night with a date playing against nationally ranked Gonzaga. You won’t find too many Division III teams like Augie play a Division I team, especially one like ‘Zaga that’s ranked in the top 20 in two polls.
Gonzaga couldn’t get anyone to fill a home date and offered Augie an attractive deal to pay their way out to Spokane, Wash. The Vikings are 5-0 and ranked 15th in Division III.
Giovanine, who played for his dad’s Buda Western Rams state teams in the ‘70s, is in his 11th year as head coach at Augie. He previously coached at Division I Lamar University.
• Well, I’m supposed to be taking some time, so I’ll cut off my column here. Hope everyone gets dug out of the snow OK.

Kevin Hieronymus is the sports editor for the BCR, he can be contacted at khieronymus@bcnrews.com