Nassau Chromium 4, K's Auto Body 4

On April 22, in a curfew suspended game, Nassau Chromium tied K's Auto Body 4-4. Chromium drew first blood, with Michael Granath banging in Chris Brostek in the third but K's tie it in their next at bat when T.J. Gessner drove in Greg Klein. The Chromies showed the mettle in their next time up, plating two runs to go ahead. K's came right back with three runs in the fifth, knocking the Chrome Boys pitcher out of the game. But with two outs in the last inning, the Chromers came back as Chris Labbate knocked in Nick Genduso to tie the game. The pitching was superb, with K's wrecking crew of Tommy Flynn and T.J. Gessner retiring nine Chromers on strikes, and Chromium hurlers Anthony Morais, Chris Brostek, and Michael Granath polishing off 10 batters with strikeouts. Chromium batter Alex Eisen picked up two hits and Alex Lopes scored a run and stole two bases. For K's, Carmine Sarno and Zack Chichi each scored a run while stealing two bases and Kyle Cribbin reached base safely twice.

Mineola Florist 9, Install A Loc 2

Mineola Florist defeated Install A Loc by a score of 9-2. A three-run triple by Kris Lorusso and a double and triple by Gabriel Couto led the hitting by Mineola Florist. Matthew Siwinsky struck out five batters in two innings while Mike Brady stuck out the side in an inning. For Install A Loc, T.J. Winters went 2 for 3 with an RBI and run scored. Mineola Florist first baseman Matt Dadich turned a double play with second baseman Mike Ames.

Barron Body Works 13, Jaclyn's Half Price Cards 1

The weather cooperated long enough for baseball to resume in Mineola as Barron Body Works defeated Jaclyn's Half Price Cards by the score of 13-1 on April 26.

This was an exciting game puncuated by the exceptional pitching performance given by Tiago Rodrigus as he threw a no hitter in the four inning game. After a shaky start in the first inning where he walked the bases loaded, Rodrigus settled down to strike out the side and would go on to dominate the game. Over the next three innings, Jaclyn's Half Price Cards would reach base three more times on two walks and a fielding error as Barron's cruised to a well deserved victory behind the 12 strikeout performance registered by Rodrigus.

Barron's started the scoring in the first inning with two outs. Nelson Lopes walked, Justin Gonzalez singled and Marc Dadich walked to load the bases. Sal Cuomo came to the plate and lashed a single to right center, bringing home two runs. Barron's bats stayed hot as they scored two more runs in the second. Again with two outs and the runners going, Lopes hit a flare over the shortstop which no one could get to. As the ball dropped in, Shawn Wachter and Tiago Rodrigus came around and scored. Wachter, a call-up for the game, had a tremendous night as he would reach base three times (two walks and a double) and made a spectacular catch in left field to help squelch a rally by Jaclyn's late in the game.

In the fourth, Barron's would seal the victory by scoring eight times. Hits in the inning by Robert Maloney, who hit a double, Nelson Lopes, David Esselborn, Allen Silit and Shawn Wachter provided Barron's with the much needed offense they had lacked in the first two games of the year. Steven DeKanchuck scored the Cards' lone run in the fourth. After reaching on an error, DeKanchuk stole second, third and home to break-up the shut-out. Congruatulations to all, on a game well played.

K's Auto Repair 4, Mineola Bicycle 4

The K's Auto Repair played to a 4-4 tie for the second game in a row, this time scoring the tying run in the bottom of the sixth. It was a stong defensive performance by both teams with some tremendous glove work by Nicholas Gallina at first base and Tommy Flynn, who had a strong game behind the plate, combining with Carmine Sarno to catch a runner trying to steal second base. T.J. Gessmer led the hitting attack with two doubles. Michael Diglio, Tommy Flynn, and Carmine Sarno each had timely base hits. Denis Clark worked out a walk in the first inning and came around to score the first run as Greg Klein did the same in the sixth inning to score the exciting tying run to complete the comeback.

Nassau Chromium 9, Mineola Florist 2

Nassau took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Chris Brostek had three hits and three stolen bases and pitched two solid innings for Nassau Chromium. Mineola Florist came back in the second to tie the score at two. John Englis led off with a single to left. Fred Usma followed with a single and they both stole second and third respectively. Up came Michael Ames, who hit a nice single to score both Englis and Usma. That was all the offense that Mineola Florist could produce against the fine pitching of Nassau including Anthony Morais, Chris Brostek and Michael Granath accounting for 12 strikeouts and no walks. Chromie hitters Paul Easton, Alex Eisen, Nick Genduso, and Joe Spollen collected two hits each and David Easton drew two walks. For the Florists, Daniel Fitzgerald and Michael Ames blasted doubles, with Ames driving in both of the Florists' tallies. In his first pitching assignment, Florists' Frederick Usma rose to the occasion and whiffed six Chrome Boys in his two innings of work.

Century 21-Laffey 7, Raynor Garage Doors 7

Century 21's Dan Hastings and Zachary Englis each made good fielding plays. Robbie Clarkin made a good play at first base and also had a hit along with Stevie Magavero and Ryan Brown. Century 21 players would like to wish Zachary and Robbie a happy birthday.

Tsontos Furs 12, Harry Katz 2

Manager John Strein and his coaching staff can be very proud of their team. What a difference a week made for Tsontos Furs. The Furs got solid pitching from Brian Abrams Mike Donato and Craig Strein. Abrams allowed no runs on no hits, allowed one walk and struck out six. Donato allowed two runs on one hit with five strikeouts and Strein finished out the 6th inning with three strikeouts. Harry Katz was held in check, but they gave in their best. Adding to the pitching staff, Joe Werther led the team with a 4 for 4 night, knocking in four runs with two singles, a double, and a triple. Robert McPartlan had three hits, Mike Donato had two hits with two RBI and Steve Keller singled with the bases loaded, knocking in three runs. Tsontos Furs collected 14 hits in total and now for three of the team's four games, they were able to bar around, scoring eight runs in two of the innings and 10 runs in another. The team is playing together and enjoying themselves. For those who want to come and enjoy the action, the schedules are posted on the bulletin board at the Mineola Athletic Association Field House.

MAA's 3rd Annual Diamond Skills Contest

On April 30, sixty Mineola Little Leaguers met to compete in the MAA's 3rd Annual Diamond Skills Contest, a national competition of baseball skills sponsored by Major League Baseball. Diamond Skills tests players in hitting, fielding, and base-running and the winners of the MAA competition will move on to compete against the best young baseball players in Nassau County. With skill, and maybe a bit of good luck, these Mineola players might make it all the way to the National Finals, held this summer at the All-Star Game in Atlanta's Turner Field.

The winners were:

T-Ball Division

Batting-Ryan Winters

Fielding-Tommy Breslin

Base-Running-Ryan Winters

Overall-Ryan Winters

Farms Division

Batting-Nicholas Franzini

Fielding-T.J. Winters

Base-Running-Matt Grieco

Overall-T.J. Winters

Minors Division

Batting-Matt Dadich

Fielding-Chris Orlando

Base-Running-Chris Brostek

Overall-Jimmy Murtha

Majors Divison

Batting-Luke Ammirati

Fielding-Robert Maloney

Base-Running-Nicole Lapin

Overall-Robert Maloney