Local Sports News

Yanks Win Senior League Title

The Garden City Senior League concluded an exciting baseball season with the Yankees' heart-stopping 4-3 extra innings win over the defending champions, the Marlins. Both teams played like champs, displaying good fundamental baseball throughout the tight contest. The Marlins fought back gallantly to tie the score with two runs in the top of the seventh inning, only to see the Yankees rally for the win in the bottom of the eighth.

Mike Noone pitched five strong innings for the Yankees as Bobby Horvath and Chris Leopold provided great relief. Anthony Morano came through with another clutch hit for the Yankees, leading off the bottom of the eighth with a double off Marlins' reliever Tom Marino. Morano advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run on an infield hit by Yankees catcher Mike Daniels.

The Yankees demonstrated great teamwork throughout the season, as everyone contributed to the championship. Veteran Horvath and Justin Tauro provided timely hitting and solid pitching. Morano played solid centerfield while displaying great power at the plate. Daniels was a steady force behind the plate with a strong arm and consistent bat. Leopold was rock solid defensively in the infield and proved to be an outstanding leadoff hitter. Noone continued his torrid hitting from Garden City High School with a .500 plus batting average and also distinguished himself as an overpowering pitcher.

Joe Mohen contributed many key hits as well as several good defensive plays in the field for the Yanks. Alex Van Outryve was a solid starting pitcher and Mike Morano demonstrated a good glove and great speed on the base paths. Rookies Dan Kiley and James Mulligan were great catalysts for the team and sparked many rallies. Kiley, a fearless batter, displayed a solid glove and Mulligan, a good all-around player, was the Yankees utility man, playing many different positions for the champs.

Coaches Dan Leopold, Joe Mohen and Marty Outryve were excellent assistants to manager Mike Noone. They congratulate the boys on their outstanding championship series and salute the parents for their outstanding support throughout the season. The coaches would especially like to thank Little League President Mike Crowley and Vice President Bobby Lawkins for their dedication. They would also like to salute Larry Cornacchia for the many great things he's done behind the scenes over the years for the league.

"As my time has now passed in Little League, I encourage the many great young players in the village and those that will follow to keep playing as baseball and softball are great games," Noone said. "I made a lot of friends and quite a few enemies during my tenure. However, I always put the best interest of all the kids first. I am proud to have played a role in having lights installed at the major league field. Now let the kids, boys and girls, play as much as they can, which was our goal all along."

GC Thunder Blankets Mineola

On Sunday, Sept. 22, the Garden City (GC) Thunder 9-year-old football team traveled to Hampton Field to butt heads with their cross-town rival, the Mineola Chiefs. Earlier in the week, GC had its 11-game winning streak snapped in a lackluster 20-0 defeat at the hands of the mighty Baldwin Bombers 'A' squad. This season's lone night game was played at the Mitchell Field Complex and was uncharacteristically marred with Thunder turnovers, penalties and missed tackles. Thus the stage was set in Mineola to see how the Thunder boys would respond to defeat.

Halfway through a scoreless first half, the Thunder defense provided the pivotal turning-point play of the game. With the Chiefs having a first-and-goal from the Thunder 5-yard line, GC defensive tackle Brian Porter stripped the Mineola runner of the ball and cornerback Jack Spencer recovered the fumble for a Thunder touchback.

One play later, GC tailback Charlie Garcia swept around left-end behind fullback Steve Jahelka and sprinted 80 yards to pay dirt. Following a "three-an-out" series for the Chiefs, Thunder quarterback Kyle Johnson, displaying great agility, poise and clock management, engineered a 60-yard scoring drive that culminated with Garcia's 5-yard sweep on the last play of the first half.

The GC offense would begin the second half where it left off by ramming the ball down the Chiefs' throat. Tom Gordon ripped off-tackle for 40 yards before Kyle Johnson would connect with tight end Shane Thorton on a 10-yard bootleg pass, as GC would march to a workmanlike 19-0 victory.

The Thunder defense was lead by the stellar play of defensive end Billy Allen who repeatedly stuffed Mineola's attempts to run outside the tackles. Defenders Brian Noonan, Mike Mahrahmas, Chris Stabile, Joe Horan, Tommy Ryan, Andrew Aballe and John Karikas all contributed towards the Thunder defenses' third shutout of the season. GC improved to 3-1 and hosted the Baldwin Bombers 'B' squad on Sunday, Sept. 29 at Stewart Field.

Sixth Annual Garden City Father/Son Football Classic

The Men's Association of Garden City (TMA) is presently accepting team applications for the 2002 Father/Son Football Classic. The tourney will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Garden City Community Park/Pool. The entry fee is $25 per adult and $15 per child payable on game day.

Pee Wee Bracket - 4th, 5th Grades (kids versus kids)

Coordinator: Contact Richie Anderson at 746-9816

Junior Bracket - 6th, 7th, 8th Grades (fathers versus sons)

Coordinator: Contact Tony DiMasso at 873-0115

Note: A maximum limit of three teams per grade

Senior Bracket - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Grades (fathers versus sons)

Coordinator: Contact Dan Donnelly at 746-5166

Note: A maximum limit of three teams per grade

Sons

Those interested in being a captain for their respective age group (sixth through twelfth grades) and assembling a team of 14 kids to compete against the championship caliber dads should call their designated coordinator by Oct. 7. The rules and tournament details will be discussed at the November draft lottery.

Fathers

Fathers of boys between grades 6-12 and over the age of 35 are eligible to manage, play or coach an elite father team. Call your perspective grade coordinator for details.

Referees

The TMA needs 18 volunteers to be referees for the various games. Those interested should call Dan Donnelly at 746-5166.