Home Authors Posts by Bill Landon

Bill Landon

611 POSTS 2 COMMENTS

https://www.facebook.com/bill.landon.79

Coach Michael Bowler 1st Inaugural Tribute and Remembrance-Day

by Bill Landon - June 10, 2021

0 1268

The Bowler family at midfield prior to the first inaugural Coach Michael Bowler Tribute and Remembrance-day June 5. Bill Landon photo

1 of 15

Rocky Point’s legendary boy’s lacrosse coach Michael Bowler, who passed away in December of 2019, was honored in the Inaugural Michael Bowler Tribute and Remembrance Day, Saturday, June 5, at Rocky Point High School. Bowler, who established the boy’s lacrosse program back in 1978, fielded a winning season in his first year. Bowler served as head coach for the Eagles through 43 seasons with more than 600 wins to his credit, and led his team to the New York State Championship title in 2008.

A Bowler player has attended every major college, Ivy league school and Military academy in the nation. Recently, Rocky Point lacrosse alum Peter LaSalla, a junior at the University of Virginia, won his team’s second National Championship.

Coach Bowler was named New York State Coach of the Year in boys lacrosse by the National Federation of High School sports in 2020. The award is presented to recipients who have made the greatest impact to student athletes in their respective sport.

Coach Bowler’s family and his wife, Helene, took center stage at midfield prior to Saturday’s game where the Eagles honored the late coach’s legacy with a win 13-2 victory over Kings Park.

Rocky Point captain John O’Conner escorted Mrs. Bowler to midfield wearing No. 43 to honor coach Bowler’s 43 years at the helm. O’Connor won 13 of 18 battles at face off with senior attackmen Charles Gerace scoring 5 goals and Anthony Milano netting 4.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Newfield comes from behind for the win

by Bill Landon - June 9, 2021

0 269

Comsewogue’s Brendan Topper makes the play at first in a road game against Newfield June 5. Bill Landon photo

1 of 10

Trailing Newfield 2-1 to open the 4th inning, Comsewogue loaded the bases when Christopher Valazquez laid off a pitch for the walk to plate Aaron Freidman to tie the score, but it was Dominic Schuch’s bat that spoke next for a base clearing inside the park grand slam homerun to jump out front for a 6-2 lead.

But Newfield chipped away at the deficit loading the bases in the bottom of the 4th inning plating a runner when the batter was hit by a pitch then Mike Madina drove in Stephen Lumme and Dylan Johnson. Newfield’s Joe Hackel scored on a passed ball in the bottom 6th inning to make it a one run game when Medina struck again with a 2 run rbi double to take a 10-9 lead to open the 7th inning.

Newfield’s defense prevailed to close out the one run victory.

With the win Newfield improves to 13-2 for the top spot in league III with 3 games left on their schedule while the loss drops Comsewogue to 7-8.

Post season play begins Tuesday June 15.

Ward Melville Patriots fall to Pat-Med Raiders, 17-5

by Bill Landon - June 9, 2021

0 1577

1 of 19

Ward Melville struggled from the mound falling behind early in a road game against Pat-Med, giving up several walks with bases loaded, then hit a batter to find themselves in an 8-0 hole in the opening inning.

The Patriots mounted a rally in the top of the second, first loading the bases when catcher Thomas Ribaudo crushed a monster shot straight away over the centerfield fence for a base-clearing grand slam home run cutting the deficit 8-4. It would be the only bright spot for the Patriots as their bats went silent the rest of the way, save for a run in the top of the fifth, and fell to the Raiders 17-5 in a Division I matchup June 8.

The loss drops the Patriots to 12-5 with one game remaining before post-season games begins Tuesday, June 15.

Eagles soar into post-season

by Bill Landon - June 5, 2021

0 305

Rocky Point senior Emmarose Hansen clears from behind the cage in a home game against Kings Park June 4. Bill Landon photo

1 of 16

The Eagles of Rocky Point had a six-goal cushion at the halftime break, but Kings Park came out strong early in the second half drawing within three goals two different times when the Eagles slammed the door to win the Division II matchup 19-13 at home, June 4.

Senior Kelly Logue topped the scoring chart for the Eagles with five goals. Lindsey Lucia followed with four, and seniors Kaleigh Wilgeroth and Emmarose Hansen both had hat tricks.

A pair of sophomores led the way for Kings Park with Jaxie Cestone and Anne McGovern scoring three goals each.

Rocky Point senior Jenika Cuocco had 12 saves at net.

The Eagles finish their regular COVID- shortened season at 11-3 to ready themselves for post season play which began Tuesday June 8. Rocky Point was scheduled to play Comsewogue June 9. Results were not available at press time. Kings Park concluded their 2021 contest at 7-6.

Pictured clockwise from above left, Kings Park sophomore Anne McGovern crosses midfield pursued by Rocky Point junior Lindsey Lucia; Rocky Point junior Victoria Curreri takes possession for the Eagles; senior Emmarose Hansen pushes up-field; senior Kelly Logue sets up the play; senior goalie Jenika Cuocco with a save in a home game.

Panthers Prevail

by Bill Landon - May 28, 2021

0 1021

Miller Place junior Kenny Leen with one of his ten saves in a rain-soaked game against West Babylon. Bill Landon photo

1 of 14

It was a rain-soaked Div II matchup Friday night as the Miller Place Panthers trailed visiting West Babylon by one goal at the halftime break. The rain intensified to open the second half coming down in sheets at times but that didn’t dampen the Panthers resolve as they clawed their way back to take the must win game 8-7 May 27.

Co-captain Anthony Bartolotto, a junior , topped the scoring charts for the Panthers with five goals, senior co-captain Nicholas Belvedere stretched the net twice with two assists, and senior Patrick Ging’s shot split the pipes. Kenny Leen a junior, had ten stops in net for the Panthers.

The win lifts the Panthers to 5-6 in the division with three games left in the regular season before post season play begins June 9.

Pictured left to right, Miller Place goalie Kenny Leen with one of his ten saves in a rain-soaked home game; Miller Place co-captain Anthony Bartolotto with a diving shot on goal.

Photos by Bill Landon

Ward Melville Patriots rally around one of their own

by Bill Landon - May 26, 2021

0 2071

1 of 20

It was a game that transcended the scoreboard when the Patriots of Ward Melville hosted a Strike Out Cancer awareness and fundraiser softball game against Central Islip May 25 where the focus was on one of their own. Senior catcher Jordi Montuori’s mom Leigh-Anne, who has been battling breast cancer since last year, watched the game that was a fitting tribute of the support the softball community had for one of its family members.

Coach Joseph Burger sensed there was something amiss with his starting catcher and upon learning what she was enduring, decided to do something about it.

“I talked to Jordi during the winter workouts and wanted her thoughts on the idea and to see how her mom felt about it,” Burger said. “I wanted to make sure that Mom was comfortable because it’s so sensitive but Mom gave the green light [so I put the plan in motion].”

Between the pink Strike Out Cancer T-shirts, the balloons, the signs and the decorations her team put together, along with the nice weather, it made it a day of carefree softball.

Undergoing treatment last spring at the height of the pandemic, Leigh-Anne Montuori learned about the event in bits and pieces.

“I was scheduling my third surgery in April, and I found out that at first Jordi chose not to say anything to her teammates but [when] the coach [learned about it he] just ran with it and slowly Jordi revealed details of the game [he] was planning,” Montuori said, adding she was happy about it, and it helped her get through the tough time.

Jordi Montuori said she was touched with the outpouring of support her team and the softball community displayed.

“My dad’s mom died from breast cancer and so did my aunt’s mom, so it’s for all the moms,” the senior said. “You see all the balloons that the parents spent their own money on, the cups in the outfield fence, they did that for me and my mom so they always have my back.”

Coach Burger said the girl’s raised nearly $1,000 to be donated to breast cancer research.

Pictured clockwise from upper left, Ward Melville senior Jordi Montuori with her mom Leigh-Anne at a Strike Out Cancer fundraiser May 25; Patriots eighth-grader Sara Kropp throws the runner out at second base; and Leigh-Anne-Montuori throws out the honorary first pitch.

Mad Dogs beat Smithtown West Bulls

by Bill Landon - May 25, 2021

0 1328

1 of 18

Having lost their first five games of the season, Middle County needed to get back to their winning ways making short work of Smithtown West at home besting the Bulls, 21-9.

Eight minutes in Middle Country sophomores Kate Timarky and Kaitlyn Ippolito made their presence known with two goals apiece followed by senior attack Alyssa Oddo and Olivia Annunziata who both found the net.

Smithtown West was unable to keep pace trailing by eight at halftime, and three minutes into the second half, it would be a running clock the rest of the way. Smithtown West goalie Erin Fels had five saves in net and Tabitha Bernstein stopped four.

Timarky led the way for the Mad Dogs with five goals and five assists. Oddo had four goals as did teammates Annunziata and Ippolito

The win lifts Middle Country to 3-6 with 5five games remaining while the loss drops Smithtown West to 3-7 with four games left on their schedule.

Royals reel-in Rocky Point

by Bill Landon - May 21, 2021

0 285

Port-Jefferson-Rocky-Point-lacrosse-052021-Trevor-Lamoureux-Landon-4596 — Rocky Point junior Trevor Lamoureux drives on a defender in a D-II road game May 20. Bill Landon photo

1 of 23

Down four goals at the half, Rocky Point scored two unanswered goals in the 3rd quarter to close the gap before the Port Jefferson Royals slowed the pace, took control of the game and closed out the D-II matchup with a 9-6 victory at home May 20.

Port Jeff senior Daniel Koban netted a pair of goals as did juniors Kyle Scandale and John Sheils. Stephen Bayer and Michael Scannell both juniors had one goal apiece as did sophomore Brady DeWitt.

Rocky Point senior Charles Gerace netted two goals for the Eagles.

The win lifts the Royals to 4-3 at the half way point of this Covid shortened season as Rocky Point drops to 2-5.

Photos by Bill Landon

Warriors clip Eagle’s wings

by Bill Landon - May 18, 2021

0 787

Comsewogue senior Jake Deacy looks for a lane against visiting Hauppauge May 14. Bill Landon photo

1 of 5

It was Corey Watson’s stick that led the way for the Comsewogue Warriors with five goals in the Division II matchup at home against Hauppauge May 14.

Comsewogue’s offense struggled early in the game having to overcome three unanswered goals by the Eagles. Overcame they did when senior attackman Corey Watson scored two goals back-to-back, Vincent Herbstman answered the call with a goal then Watson followed scoring two more. Michael Katz got on the scoreboard for a 7-4 lead late in the third quarter. The Warriors controlled the game the rest of the way, allowing Hauppauge only one last score, to win it 12-5

Watson topped the scoring chart for the Warriors with five. Katz finished with three goals, and teammates Jake Deacy, James Mantione and Justin Bonacci each scored. Senior goalkeeper Mason Oak saved six.

The win lifts Comsewogue to 4-1 for a share of third place in the division behind Mount Sinai and Shoreham Wading River.