Mineola Little League Starts Its 52nd Season

April 15

Nassau Chromium 2

Barnwell House of Tires 0

After a long, cold and snowy winter, it was looking good for an April 12 opening day. But old men winter wasn't done on Monday, April 7, he gave us another six inches of snow.

The season did start on Tuesday, April 15 between Barnwell House of Tires and Nassau Chromium. Both teams played well. Chromium came out on top 2-0.

Nassau scored runs in the 1st and 4th for all the scoring. Billy Sullivan pitched two strong innings striking out 4.

Play of the game came with a Nassau runner on second, Brandon Lobrano hit a line drive that short stop Robby Clarkin knocked down and got the runner at third. Second baseman Zachary Englis and first baseman Vincent Ciuffo also played well in the field. Daniel McAree and Brendan Behan each had 3 strikeouts in two innings of work. Brendan also was 2 for 2 at the plate.

April 19

Barnwell House of Tires 4

Tsontus Furs 3

Tsontus jumped out with a run in the top of the first. Barnwell came back in the bottom of the inning with 3 runs. With 2 outs Brendan Behan singled, Vincent Cuiffo walked. With both runners stealing, putting runners on second and third, catcher Luke Escobar came through with a big 2 out double to score both runners. Peter Ciuffo then singled home Luke for a 3-1 lead. In the third Barnwell's Brendan Behan doubled and scored on a Vincent Ciuffo single.

Tsontus made it close by scoring 1 in the third and 1 in the sixth, but Barnwell held on for the win.

Barnwell pitching trio of Daniel McAree, Brendan Behan and Vincent Ciuffo combined for 15 strikeouts. Behan is also 5 for 5 on the young season.

Katz Improves to 4-0

After a rainout on Saturday night, the Harry Katz team took on the Chamber of Commerce kids at 6 p.m. Sunday evening. A slow start for both teams, with no scoring. The first two innings was about to become a slug fest. Harry got on the board when Mike Cardillo walked. Then Nick Gallina "aka Hank" drove him home with a liner to right center. After a couple of walks, Joseph Calabro was able to steal his way home. John Carlo Clancy was brought home by a sac hit from Robert Sallie which made the score 3-2 going into the 4th.

With great ball playing on both sides of the fence with the likes of pitcher Vin Ruggerio, Martin Hickey going 3-4, Nick Martone and Jack Clark holding it down with solid defense. The Katz team gave much respect.

In the 6th, Harry Katz' bats came alive with hits by Franzini, Calabro, Clancy, Sallie, a base cleaning double by Cardillo, another liner by the "Hank" and a single by Frank Teixeira. All led to a Katz victory of 12 to 9.

In Katz' next game on Tuesday night, the Astoria Federal team would give it a try, but to no avail. Though Astoria scored first by aggressive base running by Peter Granath, Harry's team was able to shut them down with 8 K's by Clancy and great fielding by Franzini, Sallie, Scott Mogavero and Gerstner.

In the third, the "Hank" hit a double, Big Joel Pereira hit a screaming single. A walk by Teixeira, back to back singles by Franzini and switcher Joseph "skippy boy" Calabro all helped give the Katz team a 7-1 victory and move into sole possession of first place in the Major Division.