Monday, Oct. 4, 2010
Weekend highlights
Brebbia leads Pearl River football to third consecutive win
Tappan Zee girls' cross country finishes second at Grout Invitational
John Brebbia threw two touchdown passes and the Pearl River defense turned in another strong performance in a 29-6 win over host Peekskill in a non-league football game.
The Pirates have won three consecutive games, outscoring their opponents, 83-18 during this string.
Brebbia connected with Sean Wilson, a 41-yard scoring strike, and an 11-yard throw to Tyler Petrone. Brebbia also connected with Chris Spadaccini for a two-point conversion.
Kenta Umezaki (13-yard run) and Anthony Verdicchio (16-yard run) scored touchdowns. Connor O’Sullivan went 3 for 3 on extra points.
John Donovan, Mike Scarinci and Connor Madigan combined for 16 tackles in the first quarter. Wilson intercepted two more passes, giving him four on the season.
Cross Country
Caile Kohlbrenner led the Tappan Zee girls’ cross country team to a second-place finish in the Division I race at the Grout Invitational in Schenectady.
Kohlbrenner finished second, spanning the 2.75-mile course in 16 minutes 38.94 seconds. She was one of four top-10 finishers for the Dutchies, who had 39 points, six shy of titlist Colonie (Section 2).
Kellyanne Bondulich placed fourth (16:41.99), Taylor Jo Gillen was sixth (16:48.97) and Madison Goldrick was next, in seventh (16:50.71). Meagan Jaskot (17:34.76), Matilda Mullen (17:47.51) and Megan Curran (18:12.9) were 20th, 22nd and 27th, respectively.
The Tappan Zee boys’ cross country team finished in fifth place in the Division II race at the Grout Invitational.
Nathan Kotch and Joe Dinan were the top finishers for the Dutchmen, in 12th (14:21.41) and 16th place (14:26.76), respectively.
Conor Kohlbrenner came in 26th (14:49.46), Chris O’Brien was 34th (15:06.82), Nick Aleles finished 48th (15:45.04), Jack Skelly was 52nd (15:53.41) and Kyle Grant placed 60th (16:27.98).
Soccer
Chris Montera snapped a tie score with a goal in the second half, giving Clarkstown South a 2-1 win over rival Clarkstown North in an American League boys’ soccer game.
Chuong Tran and Clarkstown North’s Alfred Godinez exchanged goals in the first half. Sean Diffley and Tran had assists for the Vikings. Clarkstown South goalie Joe Abdullatif and the Rams’ Josh Pleeter each made 12 saves.
Szem Szeglia had a hat trick as part of a five-goal first half as Tappan Zee defeated Nanuet, 6-1 in a National League boys' soccer game.
Mike Sullivan added two goals and Chris Kane had a goal and an assist.
Daniel Traum-Steinberg scored for Nanuet and Ben Bolke made 21 saves.
Rachel Stark and Taryn Brady each had a goal and an assist as Nyack defeated Irvington, 4-0 in a girls’ soccer game. Natalie Ceresnak and Lindsay Sundvik also scored. Jessica Gelbman (six saves) and Jalin Cunningham (two saves) combined on the shutout. Gina Miele also had an assist.
Pearl River received goals from Lauren Cook, Kiera McMullan and Marissa Scognamiglio in a 3-3 overtime draw with Eastchester. Amanda DeCourcey and Kerry Sullivan had assists. Maddie Wilson (three saves) and Francesa Cobuzzi combined for eight saves.
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 Boys soccer
Domiguez scores decisive goal in second half of Suffern's 2-1 win over Tappan Zee
Breaks tie score at five-minute mark, Miller makes nine saves
ORANGEBURG -- Christian Dominguez scored five minutes into the second half, lifting Suffern to a 2-1 win over Tappan Zee in the season-opener for both teams.
Dominguez, who was a member of the 2010 Hudson Valley scholastic men’s gold-medal-winning soccer team, assisted on a first-half goal by Keith Diaz-Albertini.
Tappan Zee took a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game as Mike Sullivan scored on a header, but Diaz-Albertini answered six minutes later.
Alex Tonelli assisted Dominguez on his game-winning goal.
Suffern coach Bob Walkley credited goalie Ryan Miller with making an “outstanding save” later in the second half, to preserve the win. The junior goalie made nine saves in his first varsity start.
Walkely also cited midfielder Alejandro Ramon with doing an “excellent job.”
Suffern 1 1 -- 2
Tappan Zee 1 0 -- 1
Goals -- Suf: Christian Dominguez, Keith Diaz-Albertini; TZ: Mike Sullivan. Assists -- Suf: Alex Tonelli, Christian Dominguez; TZ: Joey Amoia. Saves -- Suf: Ryan Miller 9; TZ: Cian Lynch 8.
Records -- Suffern 1-0; Tappan Zee 0-1.
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 Girls soccer
Miele scores two goals, adds two assists in a 7-2 Nyack win over Dobbs Ferry
Brady adds two goals and an assist and Delaney scores twice
DOBBS FERRY -- Gina Miele scored two goals and registered two assists yesterday as Nyack opened its season with a 7-2 win over Dobbs Ferry in a non-league game.
Taryn Brady also scored twice and added an assist and Kate Delaney netted two goals. Sophie Marshall also had a goal.
Ifetayo Tyler, Rachel Stark and Sierra Raglin had assists for Nyack.
Nyack 3 4 -- 7
Dobbs Ferry 1 1 -- 2
Goals — Ny: Gina Miele 2, Kate Delaney 2, Taryn Brady 2, Sophia Marshall; DF: Alyssa Chipelo, Rebecca Bortz; Assists — Ny: Gina Miele 2, Ifetayo Tyler, Taryn Brady, Rachel Stark, Sierra Raglin. Saves — Ny: Brenda Costabile 3, Nora Voss 2; DF: Jessica Gelbman 2, Jalin Cunningham 1.
Records — Nyack 1-0; Dobbs Ferry 0-1.
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010
Football
Turner's two touchdowns lead Clarkstown North to big win over Gorton
Six players score as Rams run for 226 yards in 47-14 win
YONKERS -- Tareek Turner scored two touchdowns and Brian Rinciari ran for a team-leading 55 yards and had a touchdown as Clarkstown North opened its season with a 47-14 win over Gorton in a Class AA non-league game.
Four other players scored touchdowns -- Dan Macalena, Nick Termine, Billy DeLay and Nick Windman -- as the Rams broke open the game with a 33-point second quarter. Clarkstown North ground out 226 yards rushing on 36 carries.
Along with his two touchdowns, Turner had two receptions for 52 yards. Quarterback Luke Sullivan completed three of six for 67 yards.
The defense, which shut out Gorton through three quarters, had a big day as Rinciari and Delay had fumble recoveries, Dan Asheim registered an interception and Charles Regalbuto forced a fumble.
Placekicker Marco Cavaliere converted five of seven extra points.
Clarkstown North 7 33 7 0 -- 47
Gorton 0 0 0 14 -- 14
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2010
Wrestling
Skokos making his move on the mat this summer
Nanuet eighth-grader finishes second at National tournament
Tony Pinciaro
TonyP@RocklandSportsNews.com
NANUET -- It only took Vinny Skokos one wrestling season to realize he was going to dedicate himself to the sport.
Skokos, an 11-year-old eighth-grader at A. MacArthur Barr Middle School, in his first exposure to wrestling, had a successful modified season under Nanuet coaches Pasquale Perrone and Mike Skokos.
“I enjoyed it and felt it was a good sport,” Skokos said. “I would also to to tournaments with my dad and there was something about wrestling that I just knew it was going to be a good sport for me.
“It’s a one-on-one sport. It’s you against your opponent. If you lose, it’s because he wanted it more and when you win, it’s because you wanted it more.”
Skokos realized once he dedicated himself to wrestling, he could not give it a half effort. In order to excel, Skokos sacrificed his summer vacation. So while his friends and peers were enjoying their summer at the pool or beach, Skokos was “enjoying” himself in the wrestling room, three times a day, six days a week. His day in the room ends at 10 p.m.
His determination and attention to detail has led the 93-pound Skokos to a break-out summer season, highlighted by a second-place finish at the National High School Coaches Association championships. While he finished second, his father, Mike, finished third. Skokos has wrestled in tournaments up and down the east coast.
Among some of his other accomplishments was a fourth-place finish at the Gene Mills Eastern Nationals, and Skokos is the NYACE Poli Shore Summer Series champion, amassing 135 points. Skokos also wrestled in the National Folksyle Wrestling Championships, also known as the ‘War At The Shore,’ in New Jersey.
“His work ethic is what impresses me,” said Mike Skokos, 37, who wrestled for retired Nanuet coach Rich Conklin. “I’ve never seen a kid at his age work as hard at his sport. All summer long he has trained, working out three times a day, six days a week and going to tournaments.
“He does this by his own choice and there is never a complaint out of him. He wants to excel.”
Pictured (L-R): Vinny Skokos, 11, and his father, Mike Skokos, of Nanuet, with their trophies from the National High School Coaches Association National Championships. Vinny Skokos finished second and Mike Skokos was third. (Photo courtesy of the Skokos family)
When he began placing at spring tournaments and registering quality wins against tough competition, Skokos took the next step. He began going to the Olympic Wrestling Club in Wyckoff (N.J.) where his dad also doubles as a coach. Skokos also came under the tutelage of Florian Ghinea, Olympic’s well-respected coach. The younger Skokos credits his father and Ghinea for helping him achieve his current level of success.
Skokos had the opportunity to work with numerous New Jersey wrestlers.
“New Jersey is tough when it comes to wrestling,” Skokos said. “It‘s been great because going to Olympic has helped me do better and better at each tournament. I can see the progression. I‘ve been able to get better and have beaten some state champs.”
Skokos has made a name for himself in the room. The 11-year-old related how after wrestling a New Jersey state champion, in his age group, his opponent thought Skokos was from the state.
What impresses his father/coach is Vinny’s composure and ability to recognize what may have gone wrong during a match.
“Vinny will come off the mat after a match and let us know and then he will go back into the room and work on it to improve,” Mike Skokos said. “No words can explain what it is like to see Vinny excel. And win or lose, when he comes off the mat he remains composed, like a gentlemen. This makes me even more proud of him.”
Even with the sacrifices Skokos made this summer, he has enjoyed himself. His most memorable moment came at Nationals. He and his father were wrestling on adjacent mats. Both were in the defensive position, in their respective matches, and facing each other.
“My dad looked at me and we both were able to get out at the same time,” Vinny Skokos said. “My dad finished third and I finished second. We both wrestled tough. It was something that my dad and I did together.”
The Vinny Skokos Resume:
Attended 30 tournaments in various states (N.Y., N.J. Pa., Ct., Ma., and Md.)
Sixteen pins and three technical falls among some of his wins in the tournaments.
Points won -- Ten tournaments
Qualified for Gene Mills Eastern Nationals (4th-place qualifier)
Qualified for Nhsca National Championship (2nd-place qualifier)
Wrestled National Folkstyle Championships (War At The Shore)
Placed 2nd NhSCA National championships
NYACE Poli Shore Great 8 Summer Series (Cup Champion)
NYACE Poli Shore Great 8 Points leader (135 points)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010
North Rockland volleyball
First day of practice
Facciola, senior teammates welcome large turnout for North Rockland varsity and junior varsity teams
Eight seniors are nucleus of varsity team
Tony Pinciaro TonyP@RocklandSportsNews.com
THIELLS -- Once the full compliment of players arrived for the first day of North Rockland volleyball practice, senior returnee Stephanie Facciola liked what she saw.
“We had a lot of girls,” said Facciola, the Red Raiders’ No. 1 setter. “The gym seemed a lot more crowded this year than last year.”
Facciola was correct in her assessment as third-year coach Colette Jurman said there are 16 girls auditioning for varsity and 23 trying out for junior varsity.
“This is the biggest squad I’ve had in my three years,” said Jurman, after an exhausting day. “We have a large group of girls who are really good.”
“Having a really good turnout is going to really help our program,” Facciola said. “The girls are really involved with the sport, playing with club teams.”
Even though she is a veteran and a leader, Facciola was the school early and setting up the nets for the morning session.
Following lunch, the girls returned for an afternoon session and later concluded their day with conditioning.
Despite the sultry conditions in the gymnasium, Facciola felt the team had a very good first day.
“We were all really into it and our team was working hard today,” Facciola said. “We were diving for every ball. I don’t think a ball hit the floor.
“We were all refreshed after our lunch break. I think we were more excited and I know we all had more energy.”
Jurman felt yesterday was more advanced than the first day of practice her previous two years.
“The girls did a lot of skill work during the offseason which enabled us to jump right into the more complicated drills and work,” Jurman said.
One major factor for the Red Raiders this season will be their veteran senior leadership. Facciola is one of eight seniors back from last year’s 17-4 team that advanced to the semis where it lost to eventual Class AA champ and league rival, Suffern.
Joining Facciola are Destiney Jones and Samantha Wangenstein, both one week removed from playing in the Little League Senior Softball World Series title game for Haverstraw. Both return as liberos. The senior group is also comprised of Adrianna Fox, Kelly Kurtz, Alexis Santiago, Gabriella Palladino and Domonique Bucci. Palladino gives North Rockland another strong libero in the back row.
Having this experienced group allowed Jurman to concentrate on other aspects.
“When you have eight seniors like we do, I was able to help the younger girls with new skills and new drills,” Jurman said. “The seniors were able to run other drills and with their maturity, they led the team.
“It’s also great that half of the seniors are on defense. We feel we will have a really solid defense because that was one of our best aspects last season.”
Facciola has been with many of her senior teammates since they first began playing. This camaraderie has given this group a strong bond.
“It feels really good to be playing with them because we’ve been together since ninth grade, and I’ve been with Destiney since seventh grade,” Facciola said. “It’s nice that we are going to finish out our senior year together.”
Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010
Suffern field hockey
First day of practice
Suffern enjoys rainy, wet opening day for field hockey practice
Mounties ready to get back to work and season started
Tony Pinciaro
TonyP@RocklandSportsNews.com
SUFFERN -- Allie Califano was too excited to go to bed Sunday.
The Suffern senior and forward, who had returned from Florida that day with her varsity field hockey teammates, was anxiously waiting for yesterday. Califano’s excitement stemmed from the fact that it would be the first official day of field hockey practice, signifying the beginning of the fall sports season.
Along with field hockey, boys’ and girls’ soccer, volleyball, tennis, swimming and cross country all began their practice schedules. Football opened last Friday.
“I couldn’t fall asleep because when we got home from Florida, I was even more excited,” said Califano, who will starting for a third year on varsity.
“I finally fell asleep around 12 and got up at 6:15 a.m. I got all of my stuff and left.”
Califano was one of 56 girls, including 25 for varsity, who came to the first day of practice, hoping to earn a spot on the big squad.
In the last two years, Suffern has established itself as a Section 1 power. In 2008, the Mounties became the first Rockland County team to play for a sectional title when they face Mamaroneck in the Class A final. Last year, Suffern had an unbeaten regular season and advanced to the sectional semis where it was upset by John Jay-East Fishkill.
Not even the rain yesterday morning could put a damper on the enthusiasm the Suffern players displayed.
“It didn’t matter there was a torrential downpour,” said 17-year Suffern coach Bernadette Gannon. “Not once did any of the girls ask if or when were we going in. They just kept going as if it was 85 degrees and a sunny day.”
Califano said she and her teammates are used to practicing and playing in inclement weather.
“We had a lot of rain last year,” she said. “Whatever weather we have, it doesn’t matter, because we are alqays outside, unless there is lightning. We enjoyed ourselves a lot.”
The large turnout has Califano even more excited about preseason.
“We have a lot of girls who have a lot of ability and in the past, we’ve never had this many, but it’s good to see so many trying out,” Califano said.
Varsity, as well as junior varsity spots, will be hotly-contested. Gannon had four impact players graduate in Danielle Conklin, Michaela DeSimone (who is playing lacrosse at Union College), Toni Pjetri and Erica Bloom.
Even though it was the first day, Gannon was quite impressed with her team.
“Their skill level was much higher and this came from playing all summer,” said Gannon, as Suffern won the Sound Shore Summer League for a second consecutive year. “The girls are determined, especially the seniors, about changing the outcome of our season after last season.”
One practice ended, Suffern was not satisfied. They wanted to get back on the field and do more work.
“On our team, we are all so close that we all enjoyed practice,” Califano said. “It’s always fun when you are playing sports with your friends. We can’t wait to go back tomorrow.”
Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010
Looking back -- Little League All-Stars
Memorable moments highlight Little League all-star season
Tony Pinciaro
The 2010 Little League all-star season produced plenty of memorable moments for the District 18 players from the district tournament and, for some, beyond up to the World Series for the Haverstraw senior softball team.
Based on the games that were reported to RocklandSportsNews.com and the games I covered, there were many outstanding performances and games worthy of recognition. It would be unfair to put a summer's worth of highlights into one file so I will do so in parts. The following is part one of "Looking back at the 2010 Little League all-star season:"
Monday, June 26: Sonia Sharma throws a no-hitter and strikes out eight as Haverstraw defeats Nanuet in a District 18 9-10-year-old softball game. Sharma also had two hits and three RBI.
Wednesday, June 30: Sonia Sharma tosses a two-hitter and strikes out 18 as Haverstraw defeated New City in a 9-10-year-old softball game.
Thursday, July 1: Frankie Nigro threw five scoreless innings and struck out 12 as Stony Point bested Congers in a majors' game. … Sean White belts a grand slam and Patrick Metcalfe homers twice in Pearl River’s win over West Nyack in a majors' game.
Friday, July 2: David Pera lines a two-run single, scoring Tim Lazur and William Weber to cap East Ramapo’s seventh-inning rally for a 14-13 win over Pearl River in a majors' game. East Ramapo, trailing by nine runs, scored 10 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to force extra innings. Rhys Farrell-Bryan had two home runs and five RBI for East Ramapo. ... Jordan Landsman crushes a pair of three-run homers and finishes with six RBI in Nanuet’s 11-7 loss to Ramapo in a majors' game. Ramapo’s Robert Iametti hits two solo home runs. ... Justin Rosenberg throws a complete-game four-hitter as New City beats Nyack/Valley Cottage, 5-2 in a majors' game. ... John Greeley tosses a one-hitter, strikes out 10 and also hit’s a grand slam as Stony Point beat Suffern in a majors' game.
Monday, July 5: Victoria Alonso singles in Leann Pulcino with the decisive run as Stony Point outlasts Haverstraw, 3-2 in a 9-10-year-old softball game. After Haverstraw took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth inning, Celia Santini singled in Alonso to even the score. Sonia Sharma struck out 13 for Haverstraw. ... Nick Comparetto scores the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning as Nanuet defeats Congers, 6-5 in a majors game. Nanuet evened the score in the bottom of the sixth on Michael DeMane’s RBI single. ... Michael Fallon belts a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning as Pearl River beats Haverstraw, 6-5 in a majors game. Sean Buckhout cracks a two-run homer and adds a solo shot for Pearl River. ... Alana Vezza doubles twice and drives in five runs in Nanuet’s 16-13 loss to New City in a majors softball game.
Tuesday, July 6: Justin Rabrich doubles twice and drives in four runs as Ramapo beats South Orangetown in a 9-10-year-old baseball game.
Wednesday, July 7: Katherine Gilbride has three hits and four RBI and also struck out five in Pearl River’s win over South Orangetown in a majors softball game. ... Bryan Borruso went 4 for 4, including a home run, as South Orangetown beat Nanuet in a majors' baseball game. Anthony Ricci tossed a one-hitter. ... Frankie Nigro and Dan Wirchansky combined on a no-hitter as Stony Point beat East Ramapo. John Greeley and Bryan Bohlander hit home runs on consecutive pitches. ... Glenn Moran singled in Steven Travaglini and John Vetter with the tieing and winning run, respectively, capping a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning as Stony Point beat East Ramapo, 10-9. This was a Rockland County 9-year-old tournament game.
Friday, July 9: Brian Wholey hits two home runs, drives in four runs and is also the winning pitcher as Stony Point beats Haverstraw for the District 18 9-10-year-old baseball championship. ... Anthony Ricci smokes two home runs and drives in four runs in South Orangetown’s majors' win over East Ramapo. Alex Florencia cracks a grand slam and Bryan Borruso has three hits and four RBI.
Saturday, July 10: Bryan Borruso delivers a grand slam to highlight a five-run sixth-inning rally as South Orangetown overcomes Suffern, 12-10 in a majors' game. ... John Greeley tosses a complete-game four-hitter and strikes out 10 as Stony Point beats Ramapo in the majors' division winners’ bracket final. Greeley also doubles and triples and Bryan Bohlander drives in three runs. ... Luke Pallogudis homers, triples and drives in five runs in West Nyack’s win over Nanuet in a Rockland County 9-year-old tournament game. Pallogudis was also the winning pitcher. Matt Wain doubled, singled and had four RBI for Nanuet.
Sunday, July 11: Katherine Gilbride throws a two-hitter and had a run-scoring triple in Pearl River’s 2-1 win over New City in the District 18 Little League softball majors’ championship series. New City windmiller Brianna Keaveney also threw a two-hitter and struck out five. The game ended with Pearl River leftfielder Erica Collura making a running catch, to steal a hit, for the final out. The game was played in 54 minutes. ... Sabrina Diaz drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the top of the seventh, sending New City to a 4-3 win over Stony Point in the District 19 Little League softball minors’ championship series. Stony Point forced the extra inning with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Winning pitcher Reese Guevarra struck out 16 and allowed four hits. ... Luke Macmillan had a grand slam and solo home run and drove in seven runs in Haverstraw’s win over South Orangetown in a Rockland County 9-year-old tournament game. Sean Liquori had two doubles, a triple and four RBI.
Monday, July 12: Celia Santini hit a three-run homer and Rebecca Carey smacked a solo shot leading Stony Point to an 18-8 victory over New City for the District 18 9-10-year-old softball title. Danielle Chiorazzi, Carly Toscano and Victoria Alonso each had two RBI. ... Kevin Horowitz singled in C.J. Grecco to cap a three-run sixth-inning rally as Ramapo walks off to a 6-5 win over South Orangetown in the majors’ losers’ bracket final. The two-out rally began with a Marco Pecovic single and then Kryzsztof Zalewksi hit a two-run homer. South Orangetown’s Mike Chipperino hit two home runs and drove in three. ... Chris Kelly allowed three hits and struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings as Nanuet beat Congers, 1-0 in a 10-11-year-old baseball game. Kelly also scored the run on a Jack Gilroy double. Ryan Ross allowed two hits and struck out five for Congers. He also had two hits. ... Deangie Jimenez strikes out four of the five batter SHE faces and earns the win as East Ramapo overtakes New City National, 4-3 in a 10-11-year-old game. David Rosa doubled in Bryan Morales with the eventual winning run in fifth inning. ... James Harrigan made a diving catch to end the game and preserve South Orangetown’s 7-6 win over Nanuet in a playoff game at the Rockland County 9-year-old baseball tournament.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010
Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League
Baseball
The Mann sends New City to the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League championship
Three-run homer in the third and three scoreless innings in relief give Outlaws 5-3 win over Rockland Cavaliers
Tony Pinciaro
FISHKILL -- Brandon Mann sensed it coming heading into the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League playoffs.
The New City Outlaws’ outfielder began hitting the ball with authority, consistently. This led to the beginning of a hot streak which carried over into the playoffs, culminating with the championship series.
Mann, a 2002 Clarkstown North graduate and starter on the Class AA state baseball champion, capped his hot postseason with the key at-bat of game five.
The 26-year-old hit a three-run homer, highlighting a four-run third inning as New City went on to beat the Rockland Cavaliers, 5-3 to win the title at Dutchess County Stadium.
The Outlaws rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the series to regain the championship and trophy it last won in 2007. The previous two years the Cavaliers beat the Outlaws in the title series.
Along with his three-run clout, Mann allowed one hit and struck out four in the final three innings to earn the save in relief of Marc Casey. The crafty left-hander allowed five hits and three runs in six innings to complete his first season with the Outlaws at 10-0.
“I felt I had been hitting the ball well throughout the playoffs,” said Mann, who got a shaving-cream pie in the face from player/coach Mike Amendola. “I made a small adjustment, moving my hands back slightly, which shortened my load and got me ready to hit.
“With that small adjustment I started hitting the ball well, and even when I was making outs I felt I was having solid contact.”
In the last three games, Mann went 7 for 11, including six consecutive hits spanning games three and four. Mann homered, doubled, tripled, scored four runs and drove in four.
“Brandon just got into that zone,” said the 29-year-old Casey, who played at Mercy College.
The game was scoreless through two innings when the Outlaws broke through with two outs in the third against Cavaliers’ starter Gerard Moreno, who pitched well in defeat.
With two outs, Amendola singled sending Justin Michalek, who bounced into a fielder’s choice, to second. James Caroleo was down in the count, 0-2, then drove a single between first and second, scoring Michalek for a 1-0 lead. Mann worked the count in his favor, at 2-0, before crushing a breaking ball over the fence in the left field.
“I was looking for a ball up in the zone that I could drive,” said Mann, who played at Lynn University in Florida. “He showed me the breaking ball, I saw it well and stayed back on it.
“When I hit it, I knew we’d get one. I was hoping we’d get all three.”
The four-run lead was plenty for Casey, who faced the minimum 12 batters through four. Casey was keeping the Cavaliers off balance with an array of curveballs and breaking balls which set up his fastball.
“I wanted to mix it up as much as I could because I don‘t have the fastball I once had,” said Casey, who recently moved to Brookfield, Ct. “I was throwing the changeup on fastball counts and making sure I got ahead and make them hit my pitch.
“I felt I had good location, but didn’t have a good fastball or curveball today.”
The Cavaliers broke through with three runs in the fifth, set up by Casey walking the first two hitters, Mike Mobbs and Justin Leon. Matt Gizzi drilled a double down the left-field line, with two outs, scoring Leon, Joe Farina and Mark Duncan.
Following the sixth inning, Casey fully endorsed bringing Mann into the game in the seventh.
“I felt that was the time to do it because it would be their third go-around against me and they would be sitting back on me,” Casey said. “That, plus we were looking at a 15-mile-per-hour difference with Brandon’s fastball against my fastball.”
Mann, who said he hadn’t thrown more than two innings in a game this season, felt good when he stepped on the mound.
“You know it’s a good day when the plate feels so close,” Mann said. “It felt good to pop the glove.
“Marc did an unbelievable job of keeping them off balance. They are a great hitting team and he held them long enough for us to explode.”
Amendola, who has been with the Outlaws since their inception in 2001, noted some off-season moves helped the team.
“We have a great rivalry with them and they had beaten us the last two years so during the offseason we added some very good players because we felt it would come down to our two teams,” said Amendola, the Yonkers’ varsity baseball coach. “Marc is a great guy, great competitor and a true pitcher.
“When he takes the ball, we know we are going to get six, seven, eight quality innings. There is no way we are out of a game with him pitching. And with Brandon hitting the way he was hitting, when he got hot, we were able to ride him.”
Casey, who played for the Yonkers Indians last year, was happy to make the move to the Outlaws, before the season started.
“This is why I joined the Outlaws,” said the cerebral Casey. “I came here to win and get the cup.”
New City Outlaws 004 000 010 -- 5-11-0
Rockland Cavaliers 000 030 000 -- 3-6-0
RBI -- NCO: Brandon Mann 3, James Caroleo 2; RC: Matt Gizzi 3. 2B -- RC: Matt Gizzi. HR -- NCO: Brandon Mann. WP -- Marc Casey. LP -- Gerard Moreno. Save -- Brandon Mann.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League
Best-of-five
Championship series
Yesterday's result
New City Outlaws 5, Rockland Cavaliers 3
(New City wins series, 3-2)
Friday's results
New City Outlaws 7, Rockland Cavaliers 5
(Series tied, 2-2)
Wednesday's game
New City Outlaws 3, Rockland Cavaliers 2
(Series tied at 1-1)
Tuesday's game
Rockland Cavaliers 8, New City Outlaws 4
(Cavaliers lead series, 1-0)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010
Varsity football
Favors happy to be at North Rockland first day of football practice
Nanuet opens with solid first day
Tony Pinciaro
Darius Favors jumped out of bed yesterday morning ready to go for the first day of high school football practice in Section 1.
The North Rockland senior's enthusiasm and anticipation were at a higher level than his teammates. Last April, Favors almost lost his senior year and his life on the gridiron because of a freak accident.
During a North Rockland track and field practice, Favors was hit in the head, accidently, with a discuss by one of his teammates. Favors was rushed to Nyack Hospital and then immediately brought to Columbia Presbyterian for surgery. The date was April 29.
"I had a fractured skull and brain bleeding," Favors said. "I was later told that I would be able to resume contact sports in three months."
When Favors went his doctor Tuesday, he received the word he wanted to hear -- he was cleared to play football.
"It made me feel great that I would be able to play," said Favors, who started at nose guard and fullback. "I feel completely fine and I feel that I have healed good."
Favors showed he was ready to go, leading the stretching drills to open the afternoon session.
"I was up and ready to go today," Favors said. "I wanted to get out here and participate.
"My teammates were happy to see my back and Coach Casarella was also happy to have me back," Favors said.
Joe Casarella began his 31st season as North Rockland's head coach and 44th with the school. Last year, North Rockland went 9-1, falling to New Rochelle in the Section 1 Class AA championship game. North Rockland will host New Rochelle in its season-opener, Sept. 10.
Not only did Casarella welcome back Favors, he has 130 players total, including 70 for varsity.
"The numbers are good," said Casarella, who was fighting back pain yesterday. "We never have any interest problems."
Casarella liked what he saw during the first session, even with a media crush, both print and television.
Favors agreed with his highly-respected coach.
"Everyone was hustling, running full speed through everything," Favors said. "Most of us felt we were in really good shape coming in with all of the off-season work we did."
As a result of the determined hustle, Favors noticed a team strength.
"We have alot of speed on the team from the defensive linemen to the running backs," he said.
Last year, Kyle Hanney was fortunate enough to have older brother, Tom, now a freshman linebacker at Wagner, to drive with to pre-season football practice. Now, Kyle Hanney is the veteran and will drive younger brother, Ryan, a freshman, to practice.
Ryan will be a quarterback on the Junior Varsity while Kyle steps into the vacated signal-caller position on varsity, replacing Tom.
The Hanney brothers are two of 64 total players who were wearing the gold helmets for Nanuet. The Golden Knights enter the season fresh off a Section 1 title, a state-final-game appearance and 11-1 record.
Tom Hanney, Gabe Ostrow and Ryan Maroney are three impact-players who graduated, but Kyle Hanney still feels Nanuet will once again be good.
"I don't think we did anything different from last year on the first day," Kyle Hanney said. "We're moving at the same pace and had a good start.
" Some of the younger guys have picked up really fast."
Hanney pointed out that sophomore Luke Panero, who is playing quarterback for the first time, is one example of this.
"He is picking up the steps really fast and the linemen were doing a good job with the blocking techniques," Hanney said.
Rich Conklin returns for his 35th year at his alma mater. Even though the varsity numbers, 28, are down a minimal amount from last year, 34, he likes what he has.
"They are smart kids and they pick up things very well," Conklin said. "And, the freshmen have been running our system now for two years."
Conklin said mistakes were minimal yesterday and because the first day went so well, the staff can begin implementing the other auxiliary aspects of the offense.
Hanney is one of 13 seniors, which includes John Brezovsky, Greg Caneparo and Rich Berkery, who are 30-1 through Junior Varsity and varsity.
"We're all excited about the season and ready to go," Hanney said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League
Baseball
Four-run first inning sends New City to 7-5 win over the Rockland Cavaliers in game four
Granata scatters nine hits in six innings for the win
Tony Pinciaro
FISHKILL -- Chris Granata showed yesterday that these modern-day escape artists, such as Criss Angel, can learn a few things from the New City Outlaws' pitcher.
In three innings, the second, third and sixth, Granata was confronted with a bases-loaded situation against the Rockland Cavaliers. And in each inning, the North Rockland alumnus extricated himself from it, leaving the Cavaliers with an ever-increasing number of runners left on base.
Granata would allow one run on nine hits in six innings as the Outlaws withstood a late Cavaliers' surge for a 7-5 win in game four of the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League best-of-five championship series at Dutchess Stadium.
The decisive game will be played today, 11 a.m., followed by the all-star game later in the day at 6 p.m.
Granata, who threw an inning and 2/3 in game one, was staked to a 4-1 lead after one inning. This relaxed the 30-year-old righthander.
"It's always nice to pitch with a lead," said Granata, who played for John Sottile at North Rockland. "You just want to go at the, throw strikes and make them hit the ball."
The Cavaliers did this, registering at least one hit in every inning and finishing with 17 for the game. After the Outlaws scored four runs, with two outs, in the first inning to grab a 4-1 lead, the Cavaliers began compiling baserunners. The Cavaliers would leave 15 runners stranded.
In the second inning, the Cavaliers loaded the bases with one out on singles by Matt Gizzi and Donnie Roth sandwiched around a walk to Rob Golemba. Gerard Moreno lofted a soft fly ball to right center that rightfielder Brandon Mann tracked down for the second out. Granata finished the inning, getting Tim Meehan on a comebacker.
The Cavaliers were at it again in the fourth, this time loading the bases with no outs. Granata faced hard-hitting catcher Joe Farina first. Farina, who had two hits, including a two-run triple, in game three, hit a laser to right field that Mann snared. Mark Duncan hit a soft flare to shortstop Larry Castrovinci for the second out and Gizzi lined out to Castrovinci to end the threat.
"Having been in these situations before, the experience always helps," Granata said. "It's all about making good pitches in tough spots. In the third inning I just wanted to prevent the big inning.
"It definitely builds your confidence once you get out of it the first time you can do it every time."
While Granata was short-circuiting the Cavaliers' threats, the Outlaws hiked their three-run lead to six, at 7-1, through four innings.
The Cavaliers swelled the bases in the sixth, with one, but Granata induced Moreno to pop out to first baseman Wes Poppe and Meehan skied out to Mann.
After the Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, on a Mike Mobbs' RBI single, starter Dylan Joyce retired the first two Outlaws on six pitches in the bottom of the first. However, James Caroleo ripped a sharp single up the middle. Mann, who went 4 for 4 in game three, tripled to the wall in right, scoring Caroleo. Mike Oliva walked and Brian Brophy was safe on a throwing error, allowing Mann to score. Mike Butrico followed and flared a ball to left field, scoring Oliva and Brophy.
Granata and his teammates are not surprised the title will be decided by a fifth game.
"We knew it was going to be a war with these guys," he said. "We played well today and hopefully we can carry over the momentum to tomorrow."
The Cavaliers did throw a scare into the Outlaws in the ninth, scoring three runs, the last two on a Gizzi double to deep left, but reliever Wes Poppe got Chris Durso to bounce back to the mound for the final out.
Rockland Cavaliers 100 000 013 -- 5-17-2
New City Outlaws 401 200 00x -- 7-9-1
RBI -- RC: Matt Gizzi 2, Mark Duncan, Donnie Roth, Mike Mobbs; NCO: Mike Butrico 2, Brian Brophy, Justin Michalek, James Caroleo, Brandon Mann. 3B - NCO: Brandon Mann. WP -- Chris Granata. LP -- Dylan Joyce.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, Aug. 20, 2010
Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League
Baseball
Toolan goes eight innings as Cavaliers defeat New City, 6-4 in game three
Albertus Magnus alum allows one hit after third inning, Farina delivers decisive hit
Tony Pinciaro
TonyP@RocklandSportsNews.com
FISHKILL -- Following a difficult third inning for his pitcher, Rockland Cavaliers' veteran catcher Joe Farina felt it was time for a change.
The New City Outlaws has just scored three runs against starter Henry Toolan, an Albertus Magnus alumnus, with some hard hits. As a result, Farina encouraged Toolan to expand his reportoire and add in a wrinkle. Once Toolan did this, he shackled the potent new City lineup.
The Cavaliers would answer the Outlaws outburst with one of its own -- a four-run third inning -- and it would be the difference in a 6-4 victory in game three of the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League best-of-five series at Dutchess County Stadium.
The Cavaliers lead the series, 2-1 and can close it out tonight. Game four is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Toolan allowed three runs on a five hits, but only one hit came after the third inning. He retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced, interrupted by a Brendan Mann double in the sixth and Justin Michalek walk in the eighth. Closer Chris Denisar allowed one run in the ninth before striking out the side. Farina provided the big hit, a two-out, two-run triple to cap the Cavaliers' four-run third inning.
Farina, who knows the Outlaws' hitters better than any other catcher in the league, watched his battery mate gain confidence beginning with the fourth inning.
"We wanted to mix up speeds from what we showed them last night (Tuedsay)," said the 36-year-old Farina, a Congers' native, who now lives in Pomona with his family. "Henry was mixing his four pitches effectively."
Farina pointed out Toolan went with his fastball, curveball, changeup and a splitter. Toolan also would throw in a side-arm pitch, at least once, to each batter.
"Once Henry settled in, he got into his comfort zone and got stronger as the game went on," said Farina, who played collegiately at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.
The Outlaws grabbed a 3-0 lead with all of their runs in the top of the third. Mike Mordeci led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Guerin Raff and scored on Justin Michalek's line-drive double to left field. After Mike Oliva lined out, James Caroleo was hit on the foot by a pitch. Brandon Mann, who went 4 for 4, drilled a single to center to load the bases. Mike Butrico stepped in a smacked a single in the gap in left center, scoring Michalek and Caroleo.
The bottom of the third inning started off good for the Cavaliers when Donnie Roth smoked a single to right field and would later steal second base. However, he was called off when his foot came off the bag as Outlaws' shortstop Larry Castrovinci alertly kept the glove on him. After Gerard Moreno walked, he would be called out when Tim Meehan's grounder to second hit him. With two outs, Greg Schanck walked and Mike Mobbs flared one to right field that fell in, scoring Meehan. Justin Leon kept the inning going with a single up the middle, chasing home Schanck. Farina worked the count to his favor at 3-1 before taking strike two from Outlaws starter Greg Casey. Sitting dead red, Farina crushed a triple to the wall in right field, sending Mobbs and Leon home for a 4-3 Cavaliers' lead.
"The more I've been catching the more I'm seeing the ball and going deeper in counts," Farina said. "I knew he would have to come over and I was fortunate it landed in."
The Cavaliers added two runs in the fifth, on a Schanck double and Mobbs sacrifice fly, scoring Moreno and Schanck.
Denisar came in the close out the game and was throwing heat. He was hitting 88 and 89 miles per hour with his fastball, on the radar gun, consistently. New City did initiate a rally with a lead-off single by Mann. Butrico walked and Brian Brophy cracked Denisar's first pitch to right field to bring in Mann. Farina went out and spoke to his young teammate, along with shortstop Mark Duncan, and also discussed the possibility of New City bunting.
"I just wanted him to throw strikes and get the outs," Farina said.
Denisar did just that, with a piar of punch outs and a strike out swinging.
Game notes -- Cavaliers' leftfielder Tim Meehan made an outstanding catch in the sixth inning. Meehan chased down James Caroleo's foul ball, dove and snagged the ball while hitting the pitcher's mound in the left-field bullpen. ... New City's Mike Butrico had a lengthy, 13-pitch at-bat in the sixth inning. After Henry Toolan got two strikes on Butrico, he proceeded to keep the young fans running with seven foul balls. ... New City centerfielder Justin Michalek threw out a baserunner at the plate for an inning-ending double play in the second. ... In the top of the second, Cavaliers' centerfielder Mike Mobbs doubled up a baserunner at first.
New City Outlaws 003 000 001 -- 4-7-1
Rockland Cavaliers 004 020 00x -- 6-10-2
LOB -- New City, 7; RC: 5. RBI -- NCO: Mike Butrico 2, Justin Michalek, Brian Brophy; RC: Joe Farina 2, Mike Mobbs 2, Justin Leon, Greg Schanck. 2B -- NCO: Brandon Mann, Justin Michalek; RC: Greg Schanck. 3B -- RC: Joe Farina. WP -- Henry Toolan. LP -- Greg Casey. Save -- Chris Denisar.
Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010
Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League
Baseball
Cavaliers take game one on strength of five-run sixth inning
Roth drives in three runs in 8-4 victory over the Outlaws, series shifts to Dutchess Stadium tonight
Tony Pinciaro
TonyP@RocklandSportsNews.com
WEST NYACK -- The New City Outlaws were primed to take a firm grasp of momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning in game one of the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League yesterday.
The Outlaws were leading the Rockland Cavaliers by one run and had Brandon Mann on third base and pinch runner Wes Poppe was at first when Wayne Poppe ripped a sinking line drive into the right-center-field gap. The ball appeared to be ticketed for a base hit, assuring Mann of scoring and possibly We Popppe. However, Cavaliers' rightfielder Gerard Moreno had other ideas.
Moreno came charging, on a diagonal route, to the ball and made a diving, back-handed grab to abruptly stop the Outlaws' rally. Charged up by Moreno's play, the Cavaliers scored five runs in their half of the sixth and went on to an 8-4 win at Germonds Park.
The Cavaliers lead the best-of-five series, 1-0, as the venue will be Dutchess County Stadium for at least the next two games.
Winning pitcher Scott Picerno went the distance, scattering 10 hits and striking out two. However, he did not allow a run after the Outlaws' three-run third inning, which gave them a 4-3 advantage.
Second baseman and No. 9 hitter Donnie Roth had two hits and drove in three runs for the Cavaliers. Greg Schanck went 3 for 4, scored twice and drove in a run and Rob Golemba doubled, singled and scored a run.
"It was huge," said the 22-year-old Roth, a Concordia graduate, of Moreno's catch. "Instead of it staying at 4-3, it could have been, say 6-3. It changed the whole momentum of the game and got us rolling offensively."
The Cavaliers came out swinging the bats in the bottom of the sixth as Justin Leon led off with a single in the shortstop-third base hole. Leon swiped second and raced home on Joe Farina's line-drive single to center, evening the score at 4-4. Farina moved to second on the throw home. Schanck followed and hit a ball deep in the shortstop hole that Outlaws' Mike Amendola knocked down to save a run. Matt Gizzi kept the hit parade going, hitting a two-hopper that took off as it approached third and evaded the leaping Brian Brophy and brought in pinch runner Mike Mobbs with the go-ahead run.
New City starter Justin Michalek got Rob Golemba to fly out and was then relieved by Chris Granata. Roth greeted Granata with an infield hit that Amendola made a diving stop on as the Outlaws had the infield in. Gizzi would score though, pushing the lead to 6-4. The Cavaliers would add their last two runs in the inning on an error.
"I think we were a little sluggish through the first four innings," Roth said. "Once we started laying off of his curveball, we began hitting early in the count and we were finding holes."
Picerno did not allow a hit in the final three innings and was aided by his catcher, Farina, who picked off a New City baserunner in the seventh.
Moreno was at it again in the top of the seventh as Michalek, who was 3 for 3 to that point, lines a shot in the gap in right center, only to have the Cavaliers' rightfielder make another back-handed diving grab.
Even though the Cavaliers won the first game, Roth, who likes the all-Rockland final, knows it won't get any easier.
"It's nice to have and this shows how good Rockland baseball is," Roth said. "They always play us tough. I think they are the toughest team we play all year."
New City took a 4-3 lead on an Amendola sacrifice fly, scoring Larry Castrovinci. James Caroleo singled in Michalek ad Mike Oliva came home on Mann's sacrifice fly. Michalek and Oliva both singled.
New City Outlaws 103 000 000 -- 4-10-2
Rockland Cavaliers 030 005 00x -- 8-9-2
RBI -- NCO: James Caroleo 2, Mike Amendola, Brandon Mann; RC: Donnie Roth 3, Joe Farina, Matt Gizzi, Greg Schanck. 2B -- RC: Ron Golemba, Tim Meehan. WP -- Scott Picerna. LP -- Justin Michalek.