Suffern Blue Devils win the tournament for Vincent and Chris
Spicer, Kolinsky hit slams for a 16-6 win over New City in first Crotty and Konkowski tournament final
Tony Pinciaro
TonyP@RocklandSportsNews.com
SUFFERN -- The unthinkable was happening to the Suffern Blue Devils through two and one half innings of the first Vincent Crotty and Christopher Konkowski Memorial Tournament
The Blue Devils, the emotional favorites, were trailing the New City Outlaws by five runs. Even though Suffern was the winners' bracket representative and had a loss to spare, the Blue Devils did not want to take any chances.
Suffern would rally to even the score, then erupt for 10 runs in the sixth inning for a 16-6 win over New City in the final on Vincent Crotty Memorial Field at Suffern Recreation Complex.
The tournament was held in honor of former Suffern baseball standouts Vincent Crotty and Christopher Konkowski, who lost their lives in a car accident in March. Crotty and Konkowski were to be members of the Blue Devils this season. All of the money raised during the tournament is to be divided equally between the “Vincent Crotty Foundation” and “Christopher Konkowski Athletic Scholarship Fund.”
Ironically, the tournament came down to the two Rockland County teams and members of the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League. New City also has a strong Suffern connection with former Mounties Wayne and Wes Poppe playing for the Outlaws, along with Suffern Junior Varsity boys' basketball coach and varsity boys' hoops assistant and former freshman baseball coach, Mike Amendola.
"It was a very emotional weekend," said Suffern manager Vinnie Randazzo, who is best friends with Crotty's father, Peter. "I wish we weren't doing this because then the boys would be playing for us.
"I am happy that we were playing the Outlaws because of the huge connection between the two teams."
Amendola, a Yonkers' school teacher, was all for playing in the tournament. He coached Konkowski on freshmen baseball and spent the past two seasons with Crotty on varsity.
"Having been around Chris and Vincent, I will never forget them," said the 33-year-old Amendola, a Clarkstown South graduate. "They were alot more than just ballplayers. They were two great kids.
"I am good friends with Vinnie Randazzo and I will always put a team in this tournament every year. We want to be here."
Wes Poppe, who had a two-run double and single in three official at-bats, got to know Crotty and Konkowski through the years because both young men were friends with and had played little league with his younger brother, Wade,.
Poppe said when he learned of the tragedy, it was especially shocking and upsetting because Crotty and Konkowski were Suffern guys. When Poppe learned of the tournament, he was looking forward to playing in it.
"I felt this was good because I knew they were doing it for them and to raise money," said the 21-year-old Poppe, a recent graduate of Central Connecticut State with a degree in Business Management. "I hope they have this tournament every year and expand it so they can raise more money for the foundations."
Randazzo pointed out that the goal was raising money for the two foundations, and it was met with contributions from many companies in the area. Randazzo thanked the companies and everyone who donated to the funds. He also thanked the adults who donated food and water and their time this July 4th weekend.
Randazzo is already planning the 2011 event for the third week in June, with an eight-team field.
Facing a 6-1 deficit through two and a half innings, the Blue Devils rallied to score four runs in the bottom of the third and evened the score at 6-6 through four.
Suffern batted around, amassing 10 hits en route to its 10 runs. The inning was highlighted by a pair of grand slams from Ryan Spicer, inside-the-park, and Jordan Kolinsky, a poke that bounced 30 feet beyond the right-field fence. George Wargo initiated the barrage with double, scoring Spicer, who led off with a triple, with the go-ahead run.
Even though Spicer, a Pearl River resident and St. Thomas Aquinas player, did not know Crotty and Konkowski, he understands what both families are going through, especially after Friday's opening ceremonies when Sean Crotty, Vincent's brother, and Rebecca Morris, Chris' sister, threw out the first pitch.
Spicer, who has a brother and two sisters, including Kaitlyn Spicer, an Albertus Magnus basketball standout, was inspired by the opening ceremonies.
"Watching them thrown out the first pitch definitely touched my heart," Spicer said. "It put a drive behind all of us."
Game notes -- Dan Roeser went 4 for 5, including a triple, and scored four runs. George Wargo doubled twice among his three hits and drove in two runs and Vincent Martorelli also had two doubles. Will Sheehan went 3 for 4, scored twice and had two RBI. Reliever Tom Enright, a Nanuet graduate, allowed one run on three hits and struck out four in four innings to earn the win. ... New City's Mike Oliva was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Eric Nanton doubled, singled and scored two runs for New City. Wayne Poppe added a two-run double and Oliva singled twice and scored a run. New City advanced to the final with a come-from-behind 15-14 win over the Hastings Lookouts in the losers' bracket final.
New City Outlaws 105 000 0 -- 6-10-1
Suffern Blue Devils 014 10 (10) x -- 16-21-0
RBI -- NCO: Wayne Poppe 2, Wes Poppe 2, Mike Amendola, Brian Brophy; SBD: Ryan Spicer 4, Jordan Kolinsky 4, George Wargo 2, Will Sheehan 2, Matt Marotta, Vincent Martorelli, Matt Aquilino. 2B -- NCO: Eric Nanton. SBD: Vincent Martorelli 2, George Wargo 2. 3B -- SBD: Dan Roeser, Ryan Spicer. HR -- SBD: Ryan Spicer, Jordan Kolinsky.
Vincent Crotty and Christopher Konkowski Memorial Tournament
Results
Sunday
Final
Suffern Blue Devils 16, New City Outlaws 6
Losers' bracket
Final
New City Outlaws 15, Hastings Lookoouts 14
Saturday
Winners' bracket
Suffern Blue Devils 10, Hastings Lookouts 2
Hastings Lookouts 5, Somers Cyclones 0
Losers' bracket
New City Outlaws 12, Somers Cyclones 7
Friday
Suffern Blue Devils 4, New City Outlaws 3
Friday, July 2, 2010