Oneonta, New York, is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The town is 20 miles from Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame; thus many baseball activities spill over into Oneonta. Until 2010, the National Soccer Hall of Fame was based in Oneonta and soccer remains a popular sport in the town.
Races
Runners have several chances throughout the year to compete in races. The Annual Pit Run, held every October, named after a local State Trooper who died in the line of duty, features a 2k walk, a 5k run and a 10k run. Proceeds benefit local scholarships. Both the 5k and 10k are on United States Association of Track and Field certified courses. Other races include the Heart Run and a First Night race.
Baseball
Baseball holds a place near and dear to Oneonta's heart. Minor league ball, featuring the Oneonta Yankees (a NY Yankees farm team) and later the Oneonta Tigers (Detroit), occupied many a summer evening at Damaschke Field in Neahwa Park. Currently, the Oneonta Outlaws, a collegiate team, calls the park home. Cooperstown Baseball World and Cooperstown Dreams Village are baseball summer camps located within Oneonta.
Hiking
The Catskill foothills afford many hiking opportunities in and around Oneonta. Short hikes are available at Riddell and Gilbert Lake State Parks. The Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway is a 6-mile walk from Fortin Park in the East End to the Susquehanna Park in Oneonta's West End. The Susquehanna chapter of the Adirondack Hiking Club is extremely active with regular hikes. Recent outings include hiking the Winney Hill Ridge, Mount Otsego, Collier's Dam and Arnold Lake.
Soccer
With two Division 1 college teams, soccer has long played an important role in Oneonta sports. Both Hartwick College and the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, take their soccer seriously. The Mayor's Cup is the longest-running college soccer tournament in the United States and features Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta against other colleges. For the younger set, the Oneonta Soccer Club and Oneonta Youth Soccer Association are very active year-round with both indoor and outdoor soccer games. An adult league exists as well.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Canoeists and kayakers take advantage of the Susquehanna River meandering through Oneonta. There are several launch points within the town of Oneonta, and canoe/kayak rentals are available nearby in Portlandville. The General Clinton Canoe regatta is held every Memorial Day weekend. It is a weekend of canoe races with the crowning glory being a 77-mile race down the Susquehanna from the headwaters in Cooperstown to Bainbridge. Canoeists from around the world come to compete.
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