Whoever invented baseball must have had the New York State Little League Championship Tournament in mind. For four days at the Mineola Little League complex four teams - East Greenbush, Massapequa International, Orchard Park and Rolando Paulino of the Bronx - displayed all the qualities that made American fall in love with baseball. FULL STORY

It is a Sunday afternoon and the pot filled with ravioli is boiling on the stove. The aroma of homemade tomato sauce fills the air. The table is being set, as a traditional Italian dinner will soon be served. For those pasta lovers, there is nothing like the taste of fresh ravioli and homemade tomato sauce on a Sunday afternoon. FULL STORY

In a Little League state championship tournament that will not soon be forgotten, it was Rolando Paulino that "let the dogs out." In an exhibition of all the essential ingredients of championship baseball - pitching, defense and clutch hitting - the Bronx team emerged from Mineola as state champions with a chance to continue their march to the Little League World Series. FULL STORY

As an MAA Volunteer for the recently completed New York State Little League Championship Tournament held at the Willis Avenue Fields, I had the best perspective, figuratively and literally, for the five-game series. From my perch in the announcers' booth, I could observe the camaraderie of the volunteers, the relentless desire of our public works department, the team spirit of the competitors, the honesty and integrity of the umpires and Little League officials, the energy of the fans and the unending feeling of community by all who participated. At no other time in my 13 years as a Village of Mineola resident did I feel greater pride in how a group of individuals could come together sacrificing time and effort to put forth a shining example of our town. It is with this sense of emotion that I pen my thoughts on a fulfilling week of baseball. FULL STORY