By RITA FERRANDINO

Staff Writer

New York City firefighters will return to Cooperstown this fall and take on the local fire department on the diamond at Doubleday Field.

Noelle and Eric Hage hosted firefighters from St. Albans, Queens, last November, because her brother-in-law, Mark Montgomery, is a firefighter with Engine 317, Ladder 165, Battalion 54, and needed a break from the trauma of losing friends and colleagues and participating in the recovery effort at Ground Zero.

"Cooperstown did a wonderful job for the guys in my firehouse last year," Montgomery said. "We spent a lot of time at Ground Zero and I can't put words on how relaxing it was to come to Cooperstown. The World Series was going on at the time and Dale Petroskey hosted us for that. We had him and Jane Clark down to the firehouse for a thank you dinner. Father John did a lovely mass which we plan on having again this year."

Montgomery said that it's a relief to have the rescue and recovery effort behind them, but the impact of September 11 will never fade. Three men who were promoted from his house to higher ranks were killed that day, and one firefighter, Tony Marden, searched tirelessly for six months for the body of his cousin, Tommy Casoria.

"Tommy's was the second to last body found," Montgomery said.

Casoria was buried on August 9.

Last year, firefighters chatted with their children and wives over hot dogs, peanuts and popcorn, offered by the Hall of Fame, before the game in which the New York Yankees were thrashed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. World Series tickets were given away during the festivities. Montgomery said they would like to give back to the community this year by having assemblies for elementary children about fire safety.

"Our first trip to Cooperstown was phenomenal," he said.

Noelle Hage said hosting the firefighters was the best experience she and her husband ever had.

She said she was overwhelmed by the support shown by the community. A second grade class at Cooperstown Central School made welcome signs that were posted in shop windows along Main Street. Brewery Ommegang dropped off two cases of beer. An anonymous person left a case of Budweiser on the ninth hole of the Leatherstocking Golf Course with a sign that said, "NYC Firemen, This Bud's For You!" So many people offered rooms that the Hages had to turn them down.

They are hoping this year that B&B owners or people with carriage houses will be equally generous with their space during October 4,5 and 6.

"They will be playing baseball on October 5 against our local volunteer firemen to raise money for the Widows and Children Fund," Noelle Hage said.

The Hages can be reached at 547-6062 for information or to donate space or goods.