Authors Posts by Bill Landon

Bill Landon

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Leading the way for the Wildcats’ golf team was senior co-captain Gavin Melandro, a six-year varsity veteran and four-year All-League player, who lived up to his No. 1 position on the team winning his match by shooting a 43 against Longwood at Spring Lake Golf Club, Middle Island, Oct. 8. Kevin Beagan, a senior and co-captain of the team, shined from the No. 6 position defeating his opponent by three strokes. Andrew Vignola, who according to coach Rich Muller is the most consistent player, shot a 48 and is vying for a spot on the final six-man roster for postseason tournament play. Freshman Timmy Manzello, the No. 1 player for the JV squad, made his varsity debut in exhibition play. Muller said he deserved to be brought up, adding that Manzello shot a respectable 56. 

Longwood beat Shoreham-Wading River 7-2.

The Wildcats are back on the links Oct. 11 at Great Rock Golf Club in Wading River where they’ll take on Mount Sinai at 4 p.m. to conclude their regular season.

“I hope to have as many individuals qualify for the county tournament by playing well at leagues and having the team qualify would be special,” Muller said. “I have high expectations for my top three: Gavin Melandro, Tristan Costello, who didn’t play today, and Andrew Vignola to make the county’s. Depending on conditions, and what player shows up, we should do well.”

Photos clockwise from top left: Melandro sinks a putt on the ninth green; senior co-captain Matt Baylous with his tee shot on the 10th hole; senior co-captain Will Cutinella with his approach shot to the ninth hole; Liam Daly, a senior co-captain, chips onto the green; and Manzello chips onto the ninth green. 

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PJ Royals Win in Homecoming Blowout

Port Jefferson homecoming football game against Greenport/Southold/Mattituck Oct. 5. Photo by Bill Landon

The weekend of Oct. 4-6 was one of purple and Royals pride. Hundreds swarmed through Port Jefferson during the annual parade, and more gathered in the Joe Erland Field for fun and games, as the Village of Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson School District, Port Jefferson Free Library and local residents combined their efforts to put on a huge blowout celebration.

When it came to the game at 2 p.m. Oct. 5, it was a Royal’s rout when Greenport/Southold/Mattituck came calling and was blown out by Port Jefferson 62-0. From the opening kickoff it was all Port Jeff as wide receiver Aidan Kaminska proved unstoppable as the senior found the end zone three times, along with teammates Luke Verruto and Luke Filippi who each had a pair of touchdowns. Junior Alex Ledesma split the uprights eight times for the extra point.Senior quarterback Sam Florio, who was healthy after missing last week’s game against Mount Sinai, threw for over 250 yards with four TD passes in the Div. IV matchup.

The win lifts the Royals to 2-3 with three games remaining before the post season and are back in action with a road game against Elwood John Glenn Oct. 12. Kickoff is at 1:30pm.

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Centereach senior co-captain Stephanie Gatto led her team with 10 kills and seven blocks, senior Natalie Walsh killed eight with six blocks, and sophomore Erin Lema had three blocks and seven kills to sweep the visiting Wolverines 25-18, 25-12 and 25-21 Sept. 27.

Centereach Cougars girls volleyball remains undefeated in League III at 5-0, 8-1 overall, where they’ve allowed their play to go beyond three sets only twice this season. Centereach sits atop the League III leaderboard one game ahead of Smithtown West and will retake the court on the road against Hills East Oct. 3. First serve is 4 p.m.

The loss drops Newfield Wolverines to 3-3, and they are also back in action Oct. 3 when they host the Bulls of Smithtown West. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

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All three sets were close for Ward Melville when Sachem East came knocking but the Flaming Arrows swept the Patriots 25-22, 25-32 and 25-20 in Division I volleyball action Sept. 26. The win lifted Sachem East to 3-4 for the season as Ward Melville slipped to 2-5.

The Patriots look to get back on track to put another “W” in the win column with a road trip against East Hampton Oct. 3. First serve is 5 p.m.

Mount Sinai dominated their homecoming game through three quarters of play out scoring the visiting Royals 33-6 before Port Jeff rallied in the final quarter. Royals’ quarterback Luke Filippi (filling in for the injured Sam Florio) found senior Aidan Kaminska on a pair of short yardage pass plays for his 2nd and 3rd touchdown in the game where the senior set a Section XI record with 17 catches for 233 yards placing him 2nd in total receptions in a single game.

But despite Kaminska’s record the Royals fell to the Mustangs 39-20 Sept. 28.

Mount Sinai sophomore running back Joseph Spallina led the way with a16-yard run, a 23-yard pass reception and an 85-yard interception all finding the end-zone for the Mustangs. Senior quarterback Brandon Ventarola punched in from short yardage, while Matthew LoMonaco scored on a 14-yard pass play and Michael Trepeta found the end-zone on a 3-yard run.

Junior Alex Ledesma’s solid boot put up two PAT’s for the Royals in addition to Kaminska’s record making set of catches.

The win boosts the Mustangs to 4-0, tied with Shoreham Wading River in their division at the season’s halfway point.

The loss puts Port Jeff 1-3 in league. Their next game is set for Oct. 5 for homecoming weekend, where they expect to face Greenport at home with a 2 p.m. start time.

Mount Sinai looks to keep their perfect record intact when they hit the road Oct. 12 to face undefeated Shoreham-Wading River, for sole possession of first place in League IV. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

It was a scoreless game Sept. 23 for the first 60 minutes as the Comsewogue boys soccer team looked to put more points on the win column in the early season, but the Bulls of Smithtown East peppered the scoreboard with three unanswered goals in the final 18 minutes to put the game away. Senior Noah Lavrenchik scored for the Bulls as did junior midfielder Nicholas Zodda. Sophomore forward Liam Stanley rounded out the scoring to lift the Bulls to 4-0-1 in league IV, 5-0-1 overall. The Comsewogue Warriors currently sit at 2-3.

Comsewogue hit the road Sept. 25 against East Islip. Smithtown East looked to build on their winning momentum when they took on Deer Park at home — also on Sept. 25. Game times are 4:30pm and 4:00pm respectively.

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Looking to parlay their season opening win, Ward Melville was overwhelmed by visiting William Floyd when the Colonials crushed the Patriots, 45-6, Sept. 20.

Senior running back Michael Fiore provided the only spark for the Patriots when he covered 76 yards on a kickoff return for a touchdown late in the opening quarter.

After their season opening 35-14 blasting of Brentwood, the Patriots look to get back to their winning ways when they hit the road against the Bay Shore Marauder’s Sept. 28. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

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Rocky Point senior Dakota Strong leads his team onto the field in a homecoming football game against Amityville Sept. 21. Photo by Bill Landon

Despite three Rocky Point touchdowns being called back on offensive penalties, the Eagles hammered visiting Amityville in a 35-0 shutout victory at their annual homecoming game Sept. 12. Rocky Point running back Devin Cline led his team when he powered his way to the endzone on three superate occasions as the junior carried the ball 15 times covering 170 yards. Quarterback Gavin Davanzo threw for 34 yards on six attempts and found the endzone on a 1-yard run. Matt Sweeney, a junior, punched into the endzone from short yardage while junior Sean Bernhard was perfect on the day splitting the uprights five times.

The win lifts Rocky Point to 2-0 where they blanked Miller Place last week. The Eagle defensive lineup has yet to allow any points against them.

Rocky Point is back in action when they travel to Eastport/South Manor Sept. 28. Game time is at 2:00pm.

The Centereach Cougars looked to notch their second win of the early season in a Division I field hockey matchup on the road against Patchogue-Medford. The Cougars struggled offensively as they were unable to find the box falling to the Raiders, 2-0.

Centereach senior goal keep Amanda Prevete had four saves in net. The loss drops the Cougars to 1-3 in the division, 1-4 overall.

Centereach retakes the field Sept. 20 where they’ll travel to Ward Melville to face the powerhouse Patriots. Game time is 4:15 p.m.

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Bayport-Blue Point’s field hockey team struck first in a Division II matchup Sept. 17, but it was Miller Place senior Ally Schreck who answered the call to tie the game midway through the opening. Alexa Corbin, a junior, scored the go-ahead goal for Miller Place 13 minutes into the second  half as the Panthers held on for a 2-1 victory at home. Goalie Meaghan Stoessel had seven saves on the day. 

The Panthers are back in action when they hit the road to take on Sayville Sept. 19. Game time is set for. 4 p.m.

The win lifts Miller Place to 2-1 in the division, 4-1 overall.