The Ward Melville boys varsity cross-country team. Courtesy David Seyfert
By Ryan DeLuca
The Ward Melville varsity boys’ cross country (XC) team has had an exceptionally productive start to the 2024 season — a testament to the hard work the athletes put in over the summer. In just the first three weeks of competition, the team has demonstrated their potential as one of the top contenders in the state.
On September 14, the team’s top eight runners traveled to upstate Queensbury to compete in the prestigious Pre-State meet, a 5k (3.1 miles) race. This early-season event attracts the best teams in New York — all vying for a spot at the NYS Championship in November. In a field of 24 teams and 195 athletes, Ward Melville’s runners claimed first place overall in their race.
Senior Jon Seyfert led the charge, finishing 1st overall with an impressive time of 15:50. Junior Anthony Anatol — in his first-ever 5K race — followed as the second Ward Melville athlete, placing 8th overall in 16:19. Sophomore Andy Senf and Junior Luke Jantzen, both competing in just their second and first 5k races respectively, crossed the finish line nearly in unison with times of 16:44.3 and 16:44.4 — placing 23rd and 24th. Sophomore Matteo Ritieni rounded out the top five for Ward Melville, finishing 35th with a time of 16:52 securing a team score of 87 points. This performance beat out second-place finisher Corning — a two-time state champion in the last four years — by an impressive 38 points.
Also competing for Ward Melville were Junior Tim Brown and Sophomores Matt Fumai and Leo Puckett. Brown finished 53rd with a time of 17:23, Fumai placed 62nd at 17:31 and Puckett — in his first 5k — clocked in at 18:10 for 89th place.
When all varsity race results were merged to compare every team that competed that day, Ward Melville once again came out on top — finishing 1st out of 117 teams and defeating the reigning state champions Saratoga Springs by 11 points.
The Ward Melville boys’ XC team is young but highly motivated — fully embracing the program laid out by Coaches DeLuca and Liebowitz. Their dedication to teamwork and relentless work ethic has created a positive competitive environment that is paying dividends. According to the coaches, this season is shaping up to be one of the best in the history of Ward Melville cross country.
In recognition of their stellar performance, the Ward Melville boys’ cross country team is now ranked #1 among all Class A (large schools) teams and #2 overall in New York State.
From left, unidentified man, Tony Musso, Tom Hespos and Mike Denimarck. Courtesy of family
By Rich Acritelli
As a long-time educator, I had the opportunity to meet recently with my former teachers and coaches and hear their interesting sports stories.
Mike Denimarck
Mike Denimarck
Sound Beach resident Mike Denimarck was a talented offensive guard and middle linebacker at Newfield High School, chosen for the Daily News All-League team. He decided to enroll at Kansas State Teachers College, but the Vietnam War disrupted his plans as he did not receive a draft deferment. His father was a Marine who witnessed the World War II flag raising at Iwo Jima, and wanted his son to gain an education and play football.
Denimarck solidified his defensive presence, earning All-District and later All-American football honors at the Teachers College. He played for former Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer in the East-West College All-Star game and was the only player from Long Island and his college to participate. In 1974, Denimarck was drafted in the eighth round by the Detroit Lions. While he had a good training camp, he was placed on waivers. He then signed with the World Football League’s Southern California Sun, but during practice he severely injured his knee and needed surgery.
The next season, he had offers from the New York Giants but signed a three-year contract with Detroit. He was later traded to the Green Bay Packers, where he was briefly coached by iconic Super Bowl quarterback Bart Starr, who advised Denimarck to gain experience in the Canadian Football League. In 1976, the New Orleans Saints invited him to their training camp, where he was with quarterback Archie Manning under coach Hank Stram.
Again, Stram advised him to play in Canada. Instead, Denimarck returned home and was hired by Comsewogue school district in October 1976. For 43 years, he was a dean of students, gym and special education teacher, and taught fifth and sixth grade. He was the defensive coordinator who helped make the football team one of the most successful in Suffolk County. His teams kept rivals scoreless, won numerous league and county titles, and captured the Rutgers Trophy as the best on Long Island in 1990 and 1996. A warm educator, Denimarck also coached junior high wrestling and track, always positively guiding his players.
Tom Hespos
Tom Hespos
Tom Hespos, a Wading River resident, grew up in northern New Jersey and excelled in football, basketball and baseball. Descending from a sports family, he had a “major league” curveball in high school but wanted to play football in college. At C.W. Post, Hespos was a 6-foot 2-inch, 205-pound quarterback known for passing over 2,000 yards in his career and, in one game, throwing for four touchdowns and 400 yards. Alongside some of his teammates, he sang at the 1965 World’s Fair in Queens.
Hespos was C.W. Post’s most valuable player in 1963-64 and was selected to the Little All-America team. After graduating with a business degree, he learned that the Green Bay Packers sent him a free agent contract. He recalled head coach Vince Lombardi’s “agile” mind, expecting his players to be punctual and productive.
Hespos attended meetings with legendary players Starr and Paul Hornung, who took him out for some fun in Green Bay. Lombardi’s first coaching job was at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey, in the 1940s, and he knew that Hespos had defeated his former team 7-6 to win the Tri-County championship in 1961. Competing against veteran quarterbacks, Hespos had an impressive camp and still sees himself on the sidelines through film documentaries, but was cut by Lombardi. That season, Hespos played semi-professional football for the Jersey City Jets and won a championship. After injuring his shoulder, he began his teaching career at Comsewogue in 1969.
Hespos guided winning teams at Comsewogue, North Shore and Hampton Bays school districts. He lives now in Florida, enjoys playing golf, and is pleased that his grandson Zach recently scored 24 points in a summer league basketball game.
Tony Musso
Tony Musso
A soft-spoken Wading River resident, Tony Musso grew up playing soccer and basketball and was an All-County baseball player for Bellport High School. He was a center fielder and third baseman scouted by the New York Yankees. Though his parents did not expect him to attend college, Musso was accepted into Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he earned an education degree. While he enjoyed playing baseball and was a teammate of former Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove, Musso felt discrimination from the coaching staff for being an Italian from Long Island.
After graduating in 1972, Musso was hired by Comsewogue school district as a physical education teacher. By 1980, his teaching schedule allowed him to coach, and he became involved with the dominant sports of football, basketball and baseball. In the mid-1980s, he coached softball, won a state championship in 1985, and over four years his teams earned a 70-8 record. He assisted Bob Davis with the girls basketball team, which emerged as one of the finest in the county and state.
At St. Joseph’s College, Musso coached softball for several years, had many fine teams and was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. He played on several notable travel softball teams, always excelling as a pitcher, fielder and hitter, and was later inducted into three halls of fame for the sport.
Years after retiring, these educators are still remembered fondly by their former students for being special teachers and coaches.
Author Rich Acritelli is a history teacher at Rocky Point High School and adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College.
After the removal of former head coach Chuck Priore in Nov. 2023, the Stony Brook football team has found his replacement in hopes that brighter days are ahead.
Finishing the 2023 season with an 0-10 record — the worst in program history — was not the way the Seawolves hoped to bounce back from 2022 that ended with a 2-9 finish. Just under a month after removing Priore, Stony Brook hired former Western Michigan University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Billy Cosh to fill the role.
Cosh, 32, a resident of Smithtown, started his coaching career at Concord University in 2015, soon getting the position as a graduate assistant and quarterbacks coach for Indiana from 2016 to 2017. Cosh made the move to the Virginia Military Institute in 2018, serving as the wide receivers coach in 2018 and 2019, then getting promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Cosh jumped to Richmond in 2022 where he led a top 20 offensive SP+ rating, advancing to the second round of the FCS playoffs in his lone season. After serving as offensive coordinator at Western Michigan for the 2023 season, Cosh was named the third head football coach in Stony Brook history. At 31 years old, he became the second-youngest current head coach in NCAA Division I football.
Coaching at Richmond in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) — the same conference as the Seawolves — Cosh said he has “always admired Stony Brook from afar.” In his first head coaching position, Cosh will look to pull the Seawolves out of the cellar.
“I knew this place has a chance,” Cosh said. “I knew they had the capability, so that’s kind of what attracted me to the job.”
Football is in Cosh’s blood. Bouncing around from place to place during his upbringing, he is the son of Chris Cosh who played linebacker for Virginia Tech from 1977 to 1981. Chris coached for 40 years at multiple FCS schools such as UNLV, Maryland, Michigan State, South Carolina and many more. He currently serves as an analyst at Western Michigan.
Billy Cosh (right) set to coach Seawolves football for the 2024 season. Courtesy Stony Brook Athletics
“I thought my dad had the coolest job in the world,” Cosh said. “I was like a sponge; I was around the game all the time. I got to see different players that played in the NFL and watched how they work and watched how coaches coached, it was really unique.”
Cosh was raised with his brother, James, who went on to play football at the United States Naval Academy from 2007 to 2011. James is currently a scout for the Chicago Bears in the NFL.
Being brought up around football, Cosh was destined to be a star on the field. Attending Arundel High School in Gambrills, Md. from 2006 to 2009, Cosh won the job of starting quarterback his junior year. He went on to break seven state records that season including most passing yards (3,909) and touchdowns (56), but it paled in comparison to his senior season.
Cosh’s senior year was special, throwing for 3,913 yards and 56 touchdowns. He set Maryland state records for career completions (594), passing yards (7,433) and touchdowns (112), finishing his high school career with a 22-3 record and leaving college coaches clamoring to have him on their team.
Though Cosh’s achievements on the field spoke for themselves, he credits playing with future NFL wide receivers RJ Harris and Alec Lemon for much of his success at Arundel.
“That kind of made a big difference,” Cosh said. “I wasn’t a great player, but I was very appreciative of the guys around me.”
When the college recruitment process came around, the choice was rather simple for Cosh. At the time, his father was the defensive coordinator at Kansas State University. A chance to play at a Big 12 school and have his father guide the way was too good for Cosh to pass on, deciding to play college football as a Wildcat.
Unfortunately, when things seem too good to be true, they often are. Cosh’s coaches opted to give him a freshman redshirt his first season at Kansas State, meaning he would be sidelined and not see action the entire season.
Looking ahead to his sophomore season, Cosh realized there may not be an opportunity for him to play anytime soon. With three quarterbacks on the roster that were returning the following season, all of them were ahead of him on the depth chart. He was paid a visit by James Madison University’s head coach Mickey Matthews who told Cosh he would have a better opportunity playing for him, so Cosh made the move.
Transferring to James Madison for his sophomore year hoping that he would have the chance to play, Cosh’s wishes were not answered. Again, Cosh was at the bottom of the depth chart and did not see action the entire season, later claiming that the move from Kansas State was one that he regretted.
“I really made a rash decision to leave, Coach [Bill] Snyder told me I would regret it, and he was right in some ways,” Cosh said. “I went [to James Madison] and was kind of told I wasn’t good enough, which was probably true, I wasn’t the greatest player, but I was never really given a shot.”
Cosh realized that he would have to step down a level if he wanted to get any real playing time, opting to transfer again, this time to Butler Community College in the NJCAA. Making the move in hopes to impress scouts and get back to the Division I level, Cosh did just that.
Stony Brook football is set to open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at Marshall University in West Virginia. Courtesy Stony Brook Athletics
Stepping down a level gave Cosh the opportunity to see the field, but the talent pool in the NJCAA was very deep. He played with “12 to 15” future NFL players and against current All-Pro players such as Tyreek Hill, Alvin Kamara and Cordarrelle Patterson.
Cosh’s lone junior college season was described as a “rebirth” for him by Butler head coach Troy Morrell. He turned heads by throwing for 2,856 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2012, but he would soon face another obstacle. Cosh tore his ACL in the NJCAA junior college championship game and lost to Iowa Western, 27-7.
Despite the sour ending, Cosh reflects on his time at Butler fondly.
“I loved that time,” Cosh said. “I loved my teammates. I loved the coaching staff … so that was awesome.”
Despite the injury, Cosh had impressed college scouts enough to receive some offers. He committed to the University of Houston before the conclusion of the 2012 season, successfully making his way back to the NCAA Division I level.
However, Cosh soon faced another roadblock. His commitment to Houston came before the injury to his knee, something that he thought would lead the team to pulling his scholarship. To Cosh’s surprise, the Cougars chose to keep him around.
Still rehabbing his ACL tear, Cosh missed the entire 2013 season due to injury. He made his debut in 2014, and though he only saw the field three times at Houston, he was able to end his college career on his terms, not others’.
Though Cosh’s time at Houston was underwhelming on the field, it was where he met his wife, Kelsey.
Being around the game of football his entire life, Cosh has faced plenty of adversity throughout his career. Due to these challenges, it makes sense that Stony Brook Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron believes that Cosh is the man for the job to bring the Seawolves back to relevance.
Kenny Spurrell is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium at Eisenhower Park. Courtesy Don Lockerbie, T20 USA
By John Broven
The 2024 International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup final, held June 29 in Barbados, featured India and South Africa. Both teams had starred locally June 3-12 in Eisenhower Park at a temporary modular facility, grandly named Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
The site was chosen after NIMBY opposition ruled out first-choice Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Credit should go to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) for spotting the opportunities for the local economy and tourism.
The eight games were blessed with almost perfect sunny cricket weather. There was a short rain delay for the key India vs. Pakistan game, which India won and effectively knocked out their intense rival from the tournament. Crowds swarmed to see their Indian and Pakistani heroes from back home. Every one of the 34,000 seats was sold within minutes of the ticket office opening, resulting in a scalpers paradise. The attendance was only slightly less for USA’s honorable defeat by ultimate tournament winners India on the concluding Wednesday. All told, more than 150,000 fans saw the Nassau stadium games.
Overlooked features of the competition included USA, a non-cricketing nation, making it to the Super Eight stage and war-torn Afghanistan progressing to the semifinals stage.
T20 cricket at Eisenhower Park
So, how was my experience of international cricket on Long Island? Quite simply, it was wonderful. It was a joy to see top-class cricket again after many years living over here. Even with the rapid-fire T20 format, with matches hardly lasting four hours, the serenity, charm and strategy of the game came shining through. Somehow the introduction of loud recorded music was only a minor distraction.
The batting, bowling and fielding were all spellbinding on what was acknowledged to be a “slow” wicket, where the ball didn’t come quickly onto the bat. As is often said in cricket terminology, the state of the wicket was the same for both teams.
With friend Richard Tapp, who traveled all the way from England for the tournament, I had tickets for the games on Friday, June 7 (Ireland vs. Canada) and the Saturday (South Africa vs. The Netherlands). Both matches swung back and forth, with Canada edging the first game and the Netherlands almost pulling off a shock defeat after South Africa had lost their top four batsmen cheaply.
Meet-and-greet at Westbury LIRR station
The pleasurable experience started as soon as we disembarked June 7 at Westbury station from Stony Brook. A kind gentleman on the platform led us to the shuttle bus area where we were greeted cheerily by LIRR and NICE bus officials. If there were any fears of being stuck in traffic to Eisenhower Park, they were soon dissipated when we realized that the main arteries, Post and Merrick avenues, were dedicated to bus traffic. A lady driver said that the journey would be 8 1/2 minutes — and so it was.
The spirit of the event was captured by bus passengers discussing their presence with others. There was an Indian national who failed to get tickets for the “big game,” but was attending because he wanted to experience live international cricket in the United States. He said he was a fast bowler from New Jersey and played in a cricket league on Long Island with matted pitches (as opposed to grass). A French lady, who lives now in Nassau, said she wanted to experience the occasion even though cricket is as foreign in France as it is in the United States.
After leaving the shuttle bus, we approached the ticket and check-in areas. There were nervous moments as tickets were available only electronically and then on the day of the match. Luckily, the combination of ICC’s ticketing agency and Apple’s iPhone did the job. We had taken the precaution to acquire see-through bags for check-in, but that didn’t save from the trashcan a tasty deli sandwich or a bug spray, which proved to be unnecessary anyway.
Impressive stadium
As we walked the perimeter of the vast modular stadium it was hard to believe that it had been constructed from nothing since January. This included the cricket outfield grown from Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey and the pitches, which were prepared in Florida based on guidance from the famous Adelaide Oval in Australia.
We were handed big red placards marked “6” — the equivalent of a baseball homerun — and “4,” which were waved vigorously whenever a boundary was struck, adding to the party-like atmosphere.
Our seats in the East Grandstand were perfect for watching the games although there was quite a lot of stair climbing, which was quite hard on the elderly. There was no shortage of bar, food and soft drinks facilities with merch stalls, ice cream vans and, importantly, restrooms and first-aid.
The Friday crowd was on the small side at just over 5,000 people. Although cricket is not a major game in Ireland or Canada, I had expected a larger contingent of Irish and Canadians. Saturday was much fuller, thanks to many enthusiastic South African supporters regaled in green and gold. There were quite a few Netherlands fans, too, dressed in familiar bright orange. The visible security force quietly kept order throughout. Indeed, good humor pervaded at all times among the attendees reflecting the uniqueness of the event.
A touching moment before each game was the competitors’ two huge national flags being unfurled across half the ground by local schoolchildren dressed smartly in white.
There was a strong local connection with T20 USA venue development director, Don Lockerbie, being the son of Bruce Lockerbie, former dean of faculty at The Stony Brook School.
The future of U.S. cricket
Cricket is seemingly destined to be a minnow sport in the U.S., but there’s no doubt that the Long Island T20 series did the game proud — more so than the matches held in Dallas and a weather-hit Florida. As expected, the coverage by the national media was spotty, but credit to the New York Times, News12 and Newsday for their reporting. I think the New Yorker’s doubting headline “If you build it (a cricket stadium on Long Island) will they come?” was well-answered in the affirmative.
English-born John Broven, of East Setauket, is an award-winning American music history author and a copyeditor with TBR News Media. This article is a follow-up to “International cricket coming to Long Island” (Feb. 29).
TBR photographer Steven Zaitz, Al and Carol Rosen and Maria Monda of Trinity Community Art Center. Photo by Napak Zaitz
The original photo of Al Rose by Steven Zaitz.
Al Rose and his wife Carol admire painting by Bob Hendrick. Photo by Marie Monda
Al Rose and artist Bob Hendrick. Photo by Bonnie Mullen
By TBR Staff
The Trinity Community Arts Center in Northport Village hosted Alton and Carol Rose, Northport High School’s renowned girls lacrosse coaches, on Tuesday night. The event featured the presentation of a painting of Alton, based on a photograph taken by TBR News Media photographer Steven Zaitz.
The Roses founded the Northport lacrosse program in 1990 and have led the team to numerous county, Long Island and state championships.
Alton, known affectionately as “Man Rose,” was diagnosed with cancer last year. Despite this, he continues to coach as an assistant alongside his wife, Carol. The Northport community has rallied around the Roses during this challenging time.
Father Andrew of Trinity Episcopal Church delivered the opening benediction. Bob Hendrick, who runs the center with his wife Nancy, spoke about the inspiration he drew from the photograph and the Roses’ story.
“We are here to simply say thank you to one of our heroes. It is an honor for Nancy and me to have created this work for Coach Al Rose,” said Hendrick. “Art was our way of ‘breaking bread’ with our community and honoring our local heroes, the Roses, who are two of the kindest and most caring people we have ever met. We call it game day and thanks to Maria Monda and Steve Zaitz, this all came together as it was meant to. Nothing happens by luck.”
Monda, an artist with work currently featured at the gallery on Main Street, is also the Northport Marching Band Booster Club president. She introduced Zaitz to the Hendricks.
An emotional Carol Rose spoke of her husband’s heroism, as did the four varsity girls lacrosse team captains: Kennedy Radziul, Christina Lauro, Lauren Baudier and Julia Huxtable. They shared how much Mr. Rose means to them, how he inspires them and how he has taught them to live life to the fullest and treasure every day. The team wore red ribbons in their hair throughout the season to honor Rose.
Northport girls basketball coach Rich Castellano, the entire Northport girls lacrosse team, supportive parents and other Northport residents were in attendance, including the Roses’ sons, Cameron and Cobi.
Andreas Simoni and Andrew Smith row in double scull for the Port Jefferson Rowing Club.
Photo courtesy Mary Smith
BySabrina Artusa
The Port Jefferson Rowing Club sent four boats to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships, where all four boats competed in the top heat.
Teammates Andrew Smith, 18, and Andreas Simoni, 18, rowed especially well in their double scull, consistently ranking at the top of their heat in the time trial on June 6 and the semifinals on June 7.
Both athletes began rowing competitively around a year earlier in the Port Jefferson Rowing Club, a nonprofit aimed at bringing novices into the sport.
The pair kicked off the competition by placing second in the time trial, completing 2,000 meters in 6:25.52 — 25 milliseconds behind first place and more than five seconds ahead of the next boat.
In the time trial, the boats don’t line up and begin at the same time as they do in the semifinals and finals, but start intermittently. Each boat gets what Smith compared to a “running start”: after leisurely rowing along, the boat is signaled to begin racing after passing a certain point.
As a result, Smith and Simoni were unaware of how they performed compared to the 23 other boats. When they realized how they fared next to other state champions across the country, they were ecstatic.
“It felt amazing. It was so awesome,” Smith said of the moment when, after returning to the dock, they overheard their neighbors say a team called the Port Jefferson Rowing Club got second place. “You just do your best and hope that you made it,” he added.
In the semifinals the next day, the pair maintained their top-notch performance, ranking first in their heat of eight with a time of 6:48.64.
On Sunday, the day of the final competition where Smith and Simoni were set to compete in Final A, the pair encountered a mishap that, unfortunately, cost them a medal.
At the beginning of the race, Smith slid off his seat, and both rowers had to stop rowing until he was resituated. The incident was attributed to an equipment mishap.
“I was just proud that I made it there and of the times. The times showed that we would have done much better if not for the equipment failure. We possibly would have gotten first or second,” Smith said. “I was just proud that my boat made it to nationals. It was very stiff competition.”
At five years old, the Port Jefferson Rowing Club is relatively new compared to clubs in other states where rowing is more popular. Despite this, the team has achieved success under their three coaches: James Finke, former assistant coach at Harvard University; Jarek Szymczyk, who coached single men’s sculls at the Rio Olympics; and Anna MacDonald, a coach at Stony Brook School.
“We definitely train hard,” said Finke, founder of the club. “We balance between training hard and having a lot of fun.”
“Here, our mission is to make rowing more visible and more attractive to these athletes,” he said.
The club may be intended to attract novices to the sport, but Finke believes that what his team lacks in experience, they make up for in technique.
“Our main philosophy on coaching is making sure our kids have superior technique on the strokes.”
Simoni, who has committed to rowing at the University of California, Berkeley, and Smith began rowing together a couple of months ago after achieving similar times in a singles competition.
“When we got in the boat together, everything clicked and everything felt very good. We just fell into sync and just rowed,” Smith said.
Hugh Macdonald, another member of the club, ranked well in the competition. He scored second in the under-17 singles race but caught a fever before the final, according to Finke. Macdonald raced in the final despite feeling unwell and ranked seventh.
The girls in the under-15 quad race, Sylas MacDonal, Honora Riley, Olivia Timmons, Tatiana Garrison, and Zihe Zhou, also finished fourth.
Your new Long Island Champions in the regional class C final. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place sophomore Laney Vomero drives the ball deep. Photo by Bill Landon
Sadie Hoffmann scores in the Long Island Championship game against Seaford. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place freshman Sadie Bryant steals 2nd base in the Long Island Championship game. Photo by Bill Landon
One out left as the Panthers smell victory. Photo by Bill Landon
Sadie Hoffmann crosses the plate for another run in the Long Island Championship game against Seaford. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place sophomore short stop Laney Vomero throws the runner out at 1st base. Photo by Bill Landon
Winning pitcher Ava Zicchinelli delivers. Photo by Bill Landon
Panthers can smell victory. Photo by Bill Landon
Laney Vomero and Ava Zicchinelli high five. Bill Landon photo
Emily Lopez lays down the bunt for Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore short stop Laney Vomero throws at 2nd base for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place sophomore short stop Laney Vomero throws the runner out at 2nd base. Photo by Bill Landon
Panthers WIN! Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
Without a single senior listed on their roster Miller Place softball team, fresh off their Suffolk County championship victory, demonstrated that this Panther squad will be a powerhouse to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.
After three-and-a-half scoreless innings against Nassau champions, Seaford, Ava Zicchinelli’s bat spoke first with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth. Laney Vomero stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded, and drove in two more runs to put the Panthers ahead 3-0 at the end of four.
Seaford capitalized in the top of the sixth inning on a Miller Place throwing error, plating two runners then drove in two more to take the lead 4-3.
After going 0-3 at bat, Miller Place junior Emily Lopez drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead at 5-4. With two outs, the Panthers plated two more runs on a Seaford error to surge ahead 7-4. Leading by three, Zicchinelli did what she’s done all season and kept Seaford on its heels for the final three outs to claim the first Long Island Class A championship title in Miller Place history.
The Panthers will now enter uncharted territory when they return to the Martha Avenue Recreation Park sports complex in North Bellport Friday, June 7, for the NYS semifinal round where they will face Pittsford Sutherland. First pitch is slated for 9 a.m.Tickets can be purchased at: nysphsaa.org/sports/softballtickets.
The Shoreham-Wading River dance team provided half-time entertainment. Photo by Bill Landon
Timeout Wildcats. Bill Landon photo
The Shoreham-Wading River dance team provided half-time entertainment. Photo by Bill Landon
The Shoreham-Wading River dance team provided half-time entertainment. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River attack Liam Kershis fires at the cage. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Jaden Galfano with a save for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
Wildcats score. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River 8th grader Noah Gregorek pushes past a Hauppauge defender. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Liam Kershis pushes past a Hauppauge defender. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Michael Clemente wins at “X”. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
Scenes from the Lax Out Cancer fundraiser at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Bill Landon
What began with the inaugural battle for the Cat Cup back in February — a fundraising event to help three local families battling cancer — culminated with the annual Lax Out Cancer games at the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field in Shoreham Saturday, May 4.
The event was met with brilliant sunshine in a day-long event that featured lacrosse games, food, 50/50 raffles, auctions along with activities sponsored by the Police Athletic League, with special event gear for sale where the smell of barbecue filled the air.
The event has been held annually since 2009 which is run entirely by volunteers along with generous donations by local businesses.
The girls kicked off the competition with the varsity lacrosse team, which beat Long Beach, 10-7, in a non-league game which was followed by the boys varsity lacrosse team squaring off against Hauppauge. The Wildcats edged Hauppauge 8-6 in the Division II matchup.
These victories made the day an even bigger success.
Senior captains of the 2023 Rocky Point High School football team. From left, Ryan Meyers, Jeremy Graham and A.J. Aschettino.
Photo courtesy Rich Acritelli
The 2023 Rocky Point High School football team hopes for a promising season behind their main senior players, even after an indifferent 0-3 start.
A.J. Aschettino, a team captain, is also one of the finest baseball prospects on Long Island, who will be playing for Northeastern University after graduating from Rocky Point in June 2024.
He will be leading the football team as a safety, running back and possibly even quarterback. Always a quiet team leader, Aschettino leads by example on and off the field.
Last year, Aschettino played well against Islip, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 120 yards on the ground. Against East Hampton, he had four tackles and an interception to help his team to victory.
As the league’s most valuable player for baseball last season, batting an impressive .522, Aschettino will also establish a solid example of hard work and discipline for the younger players on the roster. Longtime head coach Anthony DiLorenzo indicated that Aschettino has “great football knowledge, with speed and agility.”
Jeremy Graham is a senior captain who has played varsity football for the last three seasons. He will be active on the field, leading the team as quarterback while playing cornerback on defense.
Graham had shown flashes of brilliance last season. Against East Hampton, he scored three touchdowns, passed for 60 yards and ran for another 130 yards on the ground. On the defensive side, he had four tackles in last year’s matchup against Eastport-South Manor.
DiLorenzo believes Graham is a “gritty and gutsy” player who fights for every yard. Like Aschettino, he is an exceptional baseball player, having hit .400 in the playoffs last season. He will be on the Hudson Valley Vikings squad after he graduates.
Another excellent football player is senior captain Ryan Meyers. One of the hardest hitting linebackers in the county, Meyers will make his presence felt on the defensive end of the field as well. He will show his versatility in running the ball, where he wants to help the offense gain points against the opposition.
DiLorenzo marvels at Meyers’ physicality, describing the senior linebacker as having the ability “to run through a wall” to help his team win. Last year against Eastport-South Manor, he had five tackles and two sacks to showcase his defensive prowess. After he graduates from Rocky Point, Meyers will play lacrosse at Binghamton University.
DiLorenzo believes that these three senior athletes will help the team attain its goal of establishing “an uncommon effort, with positive energy and a unit that always has support and love for each other.”
The Montoyo Rocks’ album cover. Image from Burton Rocks
When sports agent Burton Rocks got the idea to add Latin rhythms to a traditional baseball song, he called his friend and client Charlie Montoyo, bench coach for the Chicago White Sox.
Burton and Marlene Rocks at the studio. Photo from Burton Rocks
Rocks said he thought it would be interesting to record “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” using congas, which Montoyo plays in his spare time. Rocks said he didn’t think anyone had ever recorded such a version of the classic.
“I said, ‘Charlie, why don’t we do a brand new instrumental, like our own walk-up music, and it will be called ‘El Ritmo de Béisbol,’ and then why don’t we do a conga version of ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game,’ and keep the English lyrics,” Rocks said.
Montoyo loved the idea. After the bench coach was on board, Rocks asked his friend, professional musician TD William, to join them on the project. The sports agent also wanted the woman who inspired his love for Latin music to collaborate with them — his mother Marlene Rocks.
The group decided to call themselves Montoyo Rocks, and soon the Stony Brook residents and William were in a studio in Massachusetts working on the songs. Montoyo, from his Arizona home, recorded his instrumental parts on his phone.
Joining in on Montoyo’s conga playing, Burton Rocks plays the bongos and cowbells on “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,’’ also contributing vocals while his mother sings during the chorus. William was lead vocalist and played the guitar, bass and drums.
During the instrumental single, with Montoyo on congas once again, Burton Rocks plays cowbells with William on cajon and percussion and Marlene Rocks on shakers.
The son said he has loved music since he was younger and remembers his mother playing piano. Burton said he always enjoyed Latin music such as salsa and samba, thanks to his mother.
“It’s one of my favorite genres of music,” he said.
Marlene Rocks, who was a Spanish teacher in New York City and a substitute teacher in Three Village school district, began appreciating Spanish-language music while visiting family in Mexico and studying in the country. The mother said she was glad she passed on the appreciation of the genre to her son. Growing up she would listen to Latin music artists such as ranchera singer and actor Pedro Infante and later would play the records as well as show her son bilingual children’s shows.
“Burton, when he was little, I had him watch ‘Villa Alegre’ and ‘Carrascolendas’ so that he would get that Spanish and Latin flavor,” she said.
Marlene Rocks added it was nice that she was asked to join in with the Montoyo Rocks group.
“It was a thrill for somebody in my age group to play the shakers to Latin music that I had grown up listening to, but this was an original, so I really had a good time with it.”
Burton Rocks was happy she agreed to join them in the recording studio and hopes others will let their interests inspire them to create music.
“I think music is one of the universal languages of love,” he said. “You can spread a lot of love in this world through music.”
The Montoyo Rocks singles are available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and YouTube.