This year's Long Island Empire Baseball Team struggled, losing their first three games before Division senior-to-be Kevin Gerard led the Islanders to a 6-3 victory over the New York City team. Kevin allowed no walks while striking out seven for the complete game victory.

Long Island started off slow with a 6-0 loss to the traditionally weak Central team. This year, Central had a spectacular left hander, Chris McAnneny, who dominated the game. In game two, LI lost to Hudson Valley as they could muster up only two hits. Plainview's Tom Hopkins pitched a two-hit complete game, allowing no earned runs. Tom's parents are both Division Avenue grads from 1981. Tom displayed that Levittown spirit and competitive fire that he inherited from his parents. It was a game he certainly would have won with better defensive and a little offensive support. What made Tom so special is he never got down on his teammates and only cheered them on as the tournament went on.

In game three, Long Island got demolished by the western team, that has had two straight great years at this tournament. Brian Benvenuto of the state championship Half Hollow Hills team and Tom Caltabliano of Massapequa both chipped in with two hits showing the only signs of offensive life in the Long Island lineup for the first three games.

Kevin's game four win was mentioned previously, but it was not mentioned that Tom Hopkins started at first base, a position he never played all year long. Long Island coaches knew that the team was flat and wanted Tom's positive attitude in the lineup to motivate the other players. And that Tom did, as well as make two very nice defensive plays. He also chipped in with a big RBI to ice the game. Catcher Bill Aquilliar of Sachem slammed a bases-loaded single in the first to knock in the first run and two more runs scored on errors.

In game five, Massapequa's Kevin Carmody beat Adarondeck 6-4 in an eight-inning game. Kevin pitched flawlessly allowing no earned runs and had to pitch from behind right off the start when the Long Island defense let him down. Kevin never stopped trying and pitched his heart out. Long Island scored in the seventh to tie up the game up, and scored two in the top of the eighth to ice the game. Lindenhurst's Jordan Crystal got LI on the board with a triple and scored on a throwing error. Brian Benvenuto later doubled home Hauppauge's Steve Piscitello to make it 4-2. In the top of the seventh, Long Island scored two runs as Jordan doubled and scored on a double by Planview's Jason Appel. Jason later scored on a two out, two strike hit by Brian to send the game into extra innings.

In the eighth, Brett Lazar of Commack singled when freshman shortstop Lou Perroni bunted for a base hit. Jordan singled to make it bases-loaded when St. John the Baptist pinch hitter Mike Mongello singled in two runs to win the game for Long Island.

Despite the off-showing for Long Island, they struggled through several key injuries to top players that kept the team from achieving full strength.

Last year's star was Estee Harris from Central Islip who was the Yankees second pick in the draft this year. Estee reportedly signed a contract in excess of $800,000. Estee is now playing in the Gulf Coast League in Florida and after 10 games he is hitting .308, with four homers in 39 at bats. Remember that name because he is likely to become a common name on Yankee games in the not-to-distant future.