Harry Katz 9, Mineola Chamber 6

Harry Katz defeated the Mineola Chamber of Commerce by a 9-6 score. It started in the first inning with the first batter. Katzs' Bruce Defino and Mike LaCava scored off a fielders choice by Mike Brady and a single by Rob Kruse. In the second inning a bases loaded Triple by Bruce DeFino scored Gabe Couto, Zane Kerney and George Braun. In the fifth inning a two run homer by Mike Brady along with a sacrifice by Eric Vande Stouwe and Troy Kerney scored Matt Siwinski and Rob Kruse to end the game. Of course credit goes to the pitchers as well. Rob Kruse made his first start. George Braun, Gabe Couto and Mike Brady also pitched.

Another K's Barn-Burner

K's Auto Repair (5-3-1) and Barnwell House of Tires (4-4) have established THE rivalry of the 2002 MAA Minors season. The two teams had each of their games come down to the final at-bat before determining the outcome. The latest matchup went extra innings before K's took the Rubber game by a score of 11-7.

The Mechanics jumped in front with two first inning runs courtesy of a Scotty Mogavero single, two stolen bases and a Danny McAree RBI forceout. Nick Franzini walked and stole another pair before TJ Winters singled him home. Barnwell cut the lead in half when Anthony Fabrico singled and came around on a John Carlo Clancy rap. Clancy and Jack Clarke then hooked up in a pitchers' duel through the first three innings with each recording six strikeouts. The Repairpeople gassed up in the fourth. Mogavero was again the catalyst scoring on a Winters double. Winters eventually crossed the plate for a 4-1 advantage.

The Retreads rallied in the last inning. Walks to Anthony Benvenga and James Pastoressa scored on singles by Fabrico, who also plated, and Joe Romano to force extra frames. The Car Kids recovered. Seven consecutive batters scored including Andre Lobato and Luke Ruzek with the big blows coming on a Winters triple and an RBI ground out from Emal Rustemi. As has been the trend in this series, the Wheelmen provided greater drama. Nick Martone, Brendan O'Halloran and Bryan Strauss all came around with only one out in the inning to make it 11-7. Franzini shut the door with a comebacker to the mound and a strikeout to close. The two teams have now ended their regular season series but look forward (or maybe not) to seeing each other in the playoffs. K's is now alone in second place behind Mineola Bicycle (6-2).

K's Keeps Koming

K's Auto Repair (6-3-1) advanced their winning streak to five consecutive games with a 7-3 victory over Mineola Florist. The win puts the Repairmen into a first place tie with Mineola Bicycle with three games remaining in the regular season which ends June 8.

The Carburators took the early lead and were never headed when Scotty Mogavero singled and Danny McAree walked in front of Nicky Franzini's two RBI single. Emal Rustemi drove home Franzini and scored on Mike Cerquiera's one bagger. The Flowers came back with a pair of runs on Mike Castellana's single and Bryan Murphy's fielders choice. In the second, the Green Thumbs further cut into the lead when Billy Sullivan walked and scored on Andrew Kaletsky's RBI safety.

The Car Kids finished the scoring in the third. Mogavero got his second hit of the game (along with five stolen bases) and again came around courtesy of Franzini. Jack Clarke's hit sent home Franzini and Cerquiera garnered his second RBI on an infield forceout. On the mound, Mogavero received the win behind five strikeouts and Danny McAree was brilliant in the closer role with three innings of no hit ball and six strikeouts. The game ended on a marvelous fielding play by rookie third baselady Amanda Hassett scooping a ground ball and whistling the throw to first base. Improved hitting strokes were seen from Andre Lobato, Joe Attard and Eric Gettler as the march to the playoffs begins in earnest for the defending runner-ups.

Mineola Florist vs. Barnwell Tires

It was another tough loss for Mineola Florist at the hands of Barnwell Tires. The final score was 7-6.

Despite RBI doubles by Tom McKeever and Nolan McKeown, Barnwell didn't quite have enough offense to pull off the win.

MAA Majors All-Star Game

"Brady Goes Yard as East Bests West"

In one of the most thrilling games in recent MAA memory, the Major League East All-Stars edged out the West All-Stars, in extra innings, by the score of 8 to 6. The East All-Stars were chosen from teams sponsored by Astoria Federal Savings, Harry Katz Floor Coverings, and Kiwanis County Seat. The West All-Stars were selected from teams sponsored by the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, Total Security Alarm Systems, and Barron Body Works.

The lead changed hands eight times during the game that showcased strong hitting, daring base running, and sparkling defense. The game started quietly, with rival pitchers Terry Mooney and Mike Lacava each trading scoreless innings and notching a pair of strikeouts. The East pieced a run together on singles by Michael Diglio and Tommy Flynn, a walk by Michael Granath, and a sacrifice by Robert Kruse. The West came right back to knot up the score when Jimmy Murtha crushed a 2-0 changeup for a double and later scored. Pitchers Shawn Wachter and Chris Brostek allowed no runs during their stints on the mound with Wachter whiffing one, while giving up a single to Matt Siwinski. Chris kayed one batter and was helped defensively by the nifty infield combo of Joe Wellbrock and Andrew Leno. Wellbrock led off the East's fourth inning with a walk and was doubled home by "The Beast of The East", Michael Brady. Chris Brostek chased Brady to third with a single and Brady shocked the crowd when he stole home. Brostek matched Brady's thievery on the next pitch as the East coasted to a three run lead. Freddie Usma woke the West with a double off the fence in left. Anthony Morais knocked Freddie in with a single to right and Shawn Wachter chased Morais home with a single. Anthony then stole home to score the West's final tally of the inning. The East re-gained the lead when Michael Lacava singled home Robert Kruse, who got on board with a double to left. But the West came right back to score two runs and take the lead, on a walk by Johnny Englis and a triple by Matt Dadich. Down by a run, in, possibly, their last bat, Matt Siwinski drew a full count walk. The next batter, Joltin' Joe Spollen tripled into the gap in left to bring Matt home with the tying run. East pitcher Tommy Flynn tamed the West with a perfect inning - and it was on to overtime. Michael Brady led off and sent the toddlers in the playground scrambling as he launched the first pitch high over the centerfield fence for a homer. Chris Brostek followed with a triple and later stole home for the second time on the day, putting the East ahead by a pair. In the West's last at bat, Mark Cira led off with a single and Freddie Usma, representing the tying run, reached safely on a walk. One out was recorded in the field and then Matt Siwinski grabbed a sharply hit base to second, stepped on the bag and threw on to Michael Lacava to complete a double play to end the game. The pitching line for the game had East's pitchers, Michael Lacava, Joe Spollen, Chris Brostek, George Chang, Michael Brady, Tommy Flynn, and Michael Diglio whiffing 11 Westerners. The West's pitchers, Terry Mooney, Anthony Morais, Shawn Wachter, Robert Sallie, John Hinchcliffe, Matt Dadich and Mark Cira, erased 11 Easterners on strikes. On the hitting side of the ledger, Zack Chichi chipped in with a single, Andrew Leno lent a double, and Shawn Wachter picked a pair of hits. Defensively, Pat Lupfer made a brilliant catch in centerfield, Brendan Hickey and Daniel Fitzgerald played the infield corners well, Paul Easton held down right field and Frankie Lao and Carmine Sarno combined to catch a solid game.

The East All-Stars

Michael Brady

Chris Brostek

George Chang

Zack Chichi

Gabriel Couto

Michael Diglio

Tommy Flynn

T. J. Gessner

Michael Granath

Robert Kruse

Michael Lacava

Andrew Leno

Pat Lupfer

Matt Siwinski

Joe Spollen

Joe Wellbrock

The West All-Stars

Mark Cira

Matt Dadich

Paul Easton

Johnny Englis

Daniel Fitzgerald

Brendan Hickey

John Hinchcliffe

Frankie Lao

Terry Mooney

Anthony Morais

Jimmy Murtha

Robert Sallie

Carmine Sarno

Freddie Usma

Shawn Wachter

MAA Farms - Mineola Auxiliary Police vs. Little Docs

Auxiliary Police and Little Docs played to a 7-7 tie. Both teams hits and fielded well. Little Doc's Billy Buehler and Scott Rivera both hit the ball well. Nicky Harran and Tommy Breslin played well in the field.

Leading the way for the Auxiliary Police was Luke Escobar, who went 2 for 3 and scored three times. Stevie Mogavero made three good plays and had an RBI. Zachary Englis went 2 for 3 and had two RBI. Joshue Lopes and Patrick Murray each scored a run.

Mineola Auxiliary Police vs. Mineola Republic Club

Playing a good solid game in the field and hitting the ball hard was Republican's Tyler Kapela and Nico Pantelides.

Mineola Auxiliary's Stevie Mogavero recorded four hits and scored two runs. Kevin Hardiman had two doubles. Matt Stephens hit the ball well and was behind the plate for another good game. Timmy Bracco teams up with first baseman Luke Escobar to make tow good plays.

Zachary Englis and Robbie Clarkin played another solid game in the infield and Kevin Hardiman keeps handling the hot corner well.

Mineola Auxiliary Police vs. American Legion

A fun game was played between the Mineola Auxiliary Police and the American Legion. It seemed that everyone on the American Legion team hit the ball well. Leading the way was Nick Conway and Chris DeStefano, who each had three its. Chris hit a double to left.

Auxiliary Police's Joshue Lopes caught a high pop at shortstop and was 2 for 2 with two runs scored. Mike Fernandes, Pat Murray, Timmy Bracco, Matt Stephens and Kevin Hardiman each had two hits.

The infield of Zachary Englis at second and Robbie Clarkin pitching made two good plays to first baseman Luke Escobar, who continues to improve at first.