Yanks’ Curtis is Coming Up Grand
River Avenue Blues celebrated the one-year anniversary of Yankees center fielder and MVP candidate Curtis Granderson’s resurgence yesterday. Granderson hit just .239 with 10 homeruns up until Aug. 11 last year. The slugger asked batting coach Kevin Long to help him with his swing. After sitting out a game against the Texas Rangers to let the changes sink in, Granderson has hit .271 with 45 home runs in 161 calendar games. He hit his 32nd home-run of the season in the 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim yesterday, tying teammate Mark Texeira for the second most homers in the league.

For Norwood Baseball Team, Age is More than Just a Number
The boys of the Next Millenium youth baseball team from Norwood are headed to the Cal Ripken Baseball League world series, but not without some controversy. Eight of nine teams in the region have complained about the age of kids on the Next Millenium roster, with one team filing a protest with the league. One player on the team lists the year he was born at 1995 on his Facebook page, making him at least 15. The league only allows 12-year-old players.

Homegrown Boxing Talent Returns
Up-and-coming Bronx boxer Eddie Gomez will be squaring off against Michael Perez at the Paradise Theater on Aug. 19. Just 18 years old, this is the first time Gomez, 5-0 with four knock outs, is putting on the boxing gloves professionally in his home borough. His opponent, Michael Perez, is also undefeated, with his record sitting at 13-0-1. The bout will be broadcast on Telefutura starting at 11:30 p.m.

New Monroe Volleyball Coach Looks to Spike the Competition
Vaunted volleyball coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes has signed up to coach Monroe College’s women’s volleyball team. In Puerto Rico, Reyes coached the Adianez JV to third place in the Primera Hora National Tournament in 2006. Recently he led a Top Select 15 Elite Team to the tops of four different volleyball tournaments this year alone. Reyes said his goal is to win a championship with the Lady Mustangs every year.

College Basketball Programs SCANing for Talent in the Bronx and Harlem
A program for youths in the Bronx and Harlem is getting some looks from some of the nation’s top basketball programs. Two members of Team SCAN’s (Supportive Children’s Advocacy Network) have received offers from top college basketball programs. The team also won the Hall of Fame National Invitational U-15 this year. SCAN provides academic help like SAT prep. Bronx native Chris McCoullagh has offers from schools like St. Johns and Rutgers.

Street Basketball Tournament Scoring with School Supplies Too
Bronx basketball fans: get ready to hit the courts. This weekend the Gardiner Memorial is hosting its sixth annual basketball tournament, Aug. 13 and 14 from noon to 8 p.m. at St. James Park on West 192 Street and Jerome Avenue. The tournament pits some of the country’s best street ball players in the country against each other. College scholarships will be awarded to five high school seniors, and backpacks filled with school supplies will be given away. Head to Lawyertime.com for more information.