Authors Posts by Bill Landon

Bill Landon

The Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading River, at 5-0, took on the 3-1 Comsewogue Warriors at Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field on April 19 in what’s always been a bitter Div. II rivalry.

Shoreham-Wading River struck first with a pair of goals in the opening quarter, but the Warriors rattled off five unanswered goals to surge ahead 5-2 before the Wildcats could counter. Liam Kershis’ stick retied the game at 5-all as both teams traded goals before the halftime break. 

Comsewogue attack Brayden Arias split the pipes to put his team out front 8-7 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Kershis then struck again with nine minutes left, retaking the lead 9-8 before teammates Ryan Wilson split the uprights and Alec Gregorek scored his fourth goal of the game as insurance goals. 

Kershis found the net again with less than two minutes, putting his team out front 12-9 for the final score.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Ward Melville broke out to a three nothing lead in the opening quarter thanks to a pair of goals by Nik Barbero along with teammate Stephen Rosano, who scored with minutes left in the opening quarter, but the Patriots soon saw that lead evaporate. Connetquot surged back rattling off three unanswered goals to close out the first half making it a new game. Ward Melville trailed 7-6 to open the final 12 minutes of play but Ward Melville outscored their visitors to close out regulation with both teams deadlocked at nine goals each forcing overtime. With 55 seconds left in the overtime period it was the hat trick by Barbero that decided the game when his shot found its mark to win the game, 10-9, Saturday, April 15 in the Division I matchup.

Rosano topped the scoring chart for the Patriots with two goals and two assists. Barbero followed with his three goals, and Trevor Murray and Zach Brittman each scored along with one assist. Ward Melville goalie Charlie Giachetti, a senior, had a busy day in net where he tallied 13 saves. 

The win lifts the Patriots to 5-0 in their division 5-2 overall. The Patriots retook the field Wednesday, April 19 with a road game against Middle Country at Newfield High School. Results were not available at press time. 

It was Luke Ciminiello’s bat that spoke first with a home run to drive in a run for the Bulls of Smithtown East in the opening inning for the early 2-0 lead in a road game against Centereach Thursday, April 13. The Cougars battled back, edging ahead to win 10-6 in the final game of a three-game series where Centereach won two out of three in the League IV matchup.

The win lifts Centereach to 2-6 in the early season as the Bulls drop to 3-5.

The New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and the New York Jets have joined forces with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and Nike to launch varsity flag football competitions across the state. According to NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas, it is estimated over 140 high school teams statewide are fielding teams this spring and will be recognized as a State Championship sport starting in 2024. 

The Patriots of Ward Melville opened their varsity flag football season with a convincing road victory over Center Moriches Saturday afternoon, blanking the Red Devils 27-0.

The Patriots led 21-0 at the half then added another touchdown in the second half, a lead that triggered the mercy rule — leading by 19 points or more — that ended the game with five minutes left.

The team looks to build on their winning ways when they retake the field with a home game April 13 where they’ll host Riverhead Charter School. Game time is slated at 4 p.m.

It was a one-sided affair when Kings Park hosted John Glenn in a girl’s lacrosse Division II matchup. The Lady Kingsmen peppered the scoreboard with 10 unanswered points in the opening half before Glenn found the back of the cage nine minutes in. The Kings Park defense was swarming and unrelenting allowing only two goals from their visitors to put the game away 18-2 Monday afternoon. 

Kings Park senior midfielder Anne McGovern led the way with four goals and four assists, Mary Ellen Gilchriest had four goals of her own along with one assist, and eighth-grader Sophia Russo had two assists and two goals. Goalie Haley Abraham had a quiet afternoon in net, with four saves.

The win lifts Kings Park to 3-1 in league, and 4-1 overall. Kings Park hosted Rocky Point on Wednesday. Results were not available at press time.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

Renee Stocken’s bat set the tone early when the senior ripped a grand slam to put the Panthers out front 4-0 in a road game against Riverhead on Saturday, April 8. 

Miller Place, undefeated in the first four games of the season, continued to tack on the runs, putting the game away 11-2 in this non-league matchup. Sophomore Ava Zicchinelli pitched a complete game, striking out 12 batters to help her team improve to 5-0 in League VII. 

The Panthers retake the field Wednesday with a road game against Sayville. Gametime is slated for 5:00 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon



The Comsewogue bats spoke loudly in the bottom of the second inning when Laurel Chiaino, with bases loaded, drove in three runs with a stand-up double, followed by Emma Shorts driving in two more to put the Warriors out front 9-2. This lead, however, wouldn’t last long.

The visiting Sharks of Eastport-South Manor rallied in the top of the third with seven runs of their own to make it a new game at 9-all. Comsewogue showed discipline at the plate, laying off several pitches and drawing the walks to inch ahead to lead by five runs in the bottom of the third, but ESM wouldn’t go quietly, mustering another surge in the closing innings to retie the game at 16-all.

The youngest player on the Comsewogue roster made the difference when seventh grader Adrianna Napolitano, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, ripped a single and drove in the winning run, securing the Warriors the 17-16 victory in this League VII contest on April 3.

Comsewogue will hit the road with a pair of away games before returning home Wednesday, April 12, to face the Rocky Point Eagles. The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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The Patriots of Ward Melville were behind by four goals to open the fourth quarter of play in a home game against Garden City on a rainy Saturday afternoon when the Patriots exploded with five goals in the final minutes of play to tie the game at 7-all, forcing overtime play.  

The game’s outcome wasn’t settled in the first overtime period or the second. The third OT period expired with no winner when Garden City scored the game-winner of the fourth overtime period to win the non-league contest, 8-7. 

Ward Melville seniors AJ Folkman and Nik Barbero each scored along with one assist. Seniors Andrew Belli, Trevor Murray and Jaron Popp each scored, as did juniors Brody Morgan and Stephen Rosano. 

The loss drops the Patriots to 2-2 in this early season and will retake the field Tuesday with an away game against Bay Shore before returning home April 12 to host Sachem North. Game time is slated for 4:15 p.m.

Wildcats tame Lions, 18-4

It was wind-driven rain that soaked Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field Saturday morning, April 1, but the weather didn’t hamper Shoreham-Wading River’s surge toward the cage, where the Wildcats dispatched the Lions of West Islip 18-4.

Senior Alec Gregorek topped the scoring chart for the Wildcats with eight goals and two assists, and teammate Liam Kershis stretched the net six times along with an assist. Steven Cain, a senior, also found the back of the cage along with four assists. And Jaden Galfano had 10 stops in net in this Div. II lacrosse matchup.

The win lifts Shoreham-Wading River to 2-0, having defeated Harborfields in the season opener. The cats will retake the field Wednesday, April 5, with another home game against Kings Park. Gametime is slated for 3:30 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon



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The Cougars of Centereach softball took on the Bulls of Smithtown East in their season opener at home on a cold and windy afternoon under brilliant sunshine Thursday, March 30.

Smithtown East took the lead in the top of the second inning, but the Cougars mounted a rally in the bottom of the third, looking to stay within striking distance. It would be the Bulls’ bats that did the talking the rest of the way, putting together a scoring frenzy that Centereach was unable to counter winning the game, 27-8, in the League IV contest. 

Smithtown East senior pitcher Gabby Amicizia was credited with the win.  

Centereach will look for their first win of this early season with a road game against crosstown rival Newfield April 5. Game time is 11 a.m. 

The Bulls are back in action with a non-league road game against William Floyd April 1 at 10 a.m. before resuming league play at home April 3 against Bellport. First pitch is scheduled at 4:30 p.m.