Police: Pa. man smashed Yankees affiliate's trophy

[August 29, 2009]  SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -- A northeastern Pennsylvania man has been charged with smashing a championship trophy won by a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Lackawanna County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dominick Manetti says 40-year-old Michael Cortezar entered the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees administrative offices during Thursday night's game upset about a catering problem. Manetti says Cortezar then grabbed the 2008 Governors' Cup from a trophy case and smashed it on the floor.

The farm club won the International League title last year to capture the trophy.

Manetti says Cortezar was arraigned Friday on charges including vandalism and making terroristic threats. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 2.

A woman who answered the phone at Cortezar's Peckville home said he had no comment.

[Associated Press]

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