One of the most significant and well-known statistics in sports is Joe DiMaggio’s record 56-game hitting streak. My own streak – and far less significant in sports annals – of covering sports seasons for The Evening Sun reached 56 last month, but like DiMaggio, I will not see 57.

Perhaps you didn’t see my online blog last week where I noted that this would be my final sports season. I am about halfway through my 19th year covering Chenango County sports, and will likely write my last words as a staff member in early March.

My better half, Aidamarie Rull, accepted a job in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the largest architectural millwork firm in the state. She and her four kids relocated last month, and I will make the long drive – about 2,000 miles – to join her.

Word-of-mouth moves information fairly quickly in a small community such as ours, and some of you already knew about my decision. Maybe you saw the “Want Ad” for my position in this week’s ES editions, and that led to some questions about what is happening in the sports department.

Finding a competent writer/editor at any newspaper is not a quick process, and when I started in August 1995, the sports editor position had been vacant for nearly three months. I have no idea how former managing editor Jeff Genung and his staff of non-sportswriters kept the flow of local sports information flowing, but he managed.

So now, the search is on, and managing editor Ashley Biviano is currently accepting applications. The hope is that we find a replacement before I leave so that I can assist in the transition.

If you know of any aspiring sportswriters, please encourage them to submit a resume and cover letter. My mom saw the advertisement for this position nearly 19 years ago, passed it on to me, and my decision to apply for this job was the best one I ever made.