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Ben Amodio at 2nd base for the Royals in a home game Saturday afternoon. Photo by Bill Landon
Third baseman Sam Matvya makes the play for the Royals in a home game Saturday afternoon. Photo by Bill Landon
Conference at the mound. Photo by Bill Landon
Left fielder Chris Lotten makes the play for the Royals in a home game Saturday afternoon. Photo by Bill Landon
Evan Raymond tags the runner out at home plate for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Evan Raymond smacks a ground for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Chris Lotten rounds 2nd base for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Matt Wengatz rips one deep for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Third baseman Sam Matvya makes the play for the Royals in a home game Saturday afternoon. Photo by Bill Landon
Matt Wengatz throws from the mound for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Joey Aronica slides into 2nd base for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Joey Aronica delivers for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Michael Cormier safely on at first for the Royals in a home game against Southampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jefferson short stop Derek Wonderland takes the throw to 2nd base. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Fresh off a two-game winning streak, the Port Jefferson baseball team looked to make it three in a row with a home game Saturday afternoon, April 19, against the Mariners of Southampton, but another win for the Royals wasn’t in the cards. 

Port Jefferson edged Southampton by 2 runs earlier in the week and then followed it with a 2-run victory over John Glenn two days later, but the Mariners bats spoke first. 

Southampton jumped out to a 3-run lead after two innings scored again in the   fourth inning before the Royals plated one runner with two outs in the bottom of the seventh falling to their visitors 6-3 in the League VII matchup.

The Royals have a full schedule ahead with rain-delayed games earlier in the season has of them slated to play four games in as many days. 

— Photos by Bill Landon

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A scene from Ward Melville High School's Military Appreciation Day on April 19. Photo by Steven Zaitz
A scene from Ward Melville High School's Military Appreciation Day on April 19. Photo by Steven Zaitz
A scene from Ward Melville High School's Military Appreciation Day on April 19. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Coryn Rizzo sings the National Anthem on Military Appreciation Day. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville softball vs. West Islip April 19. Photo by Steven Zaitz
A scene from Ward Melville High School's Military Appreciation Day on April 19. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The Ward Melville Softball team paid tribute to local military personnel, past and present in a pre-game ceremony on April 19 that was organized by their booster club and hailed as Military Appreciation Day. Before their game against the West Islip Lady Lions, about 15 military members from all branches of service​ took part in a ‘Tribute Walk’ that deployed the girls on both sides of the left field foul line as every honoree was introduced. They marched toward home plate, as their name, rank, branch and citations were announced to the applauding crowd.

Instead of donning their traditional green and gold, the Ward Melville Softball team wore special American flag-themed uniforms for the occasion that made note of the originally scheduled date of April 12. Due to inclement weather, the event was moved up by a week. Ward Melville won the game by a score of 11-1, as Julianna Russ pitched a complete game, striking out nine. The National Anthem was beautifully performed by sophomore infielder Coryn Rizzo and her sister Samantha served as honorary batgirl for the Lady Pats, who have won 4 of their last 5 and improved to 5-4 on the season. 

– Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Scully competing at a state meet. Photo courtesy of Despina Scully

By Daniel Dunaief

Fresh off setting a county record in the shot put in the winter, Miller Place High School track star Jillian Scully has her sights set on setting a new state record in shot put and another track and field event this spring.

A high school senior, Scully is determined to etch her name into the record books in the discus as well.

Jillian Scully, center, at the 2025 State Championships

“I’m 100 percent confident I’m going to crush” the record in the discus, said Scully, who has suggested that the 2.2 pound discus has been flying out of her hand.

The current state record is 172 feet, while her personal best, which she threw last year, is 159 feet 8 inches.

“She has got enormous potential, which is why so many world class athletes are chasing her,” said Bill Hiney, the Assistant Track and Field Coach during the winter and spring seasons for Southold High School and Scully’s personal coach. Scully took a standing throw that traveled over 120 feet. Scully has also thrown the discus 150 feet against the wind and without warming up properly, Hiney said.

College coaches at several programs reached out to Scully to recruit her to their schools, hoping she could bring her athletic talents to their programs.

“We told her it was her decision” about which college to attend, said Jillian’s father James Scully, who owns and runs the construction company JFS Contracting. His daughter responded that she’d ask them if she needed their help.

As it turned out, she made the decision on her own, selecting Louisiana State University.

“I walked on campus and I said, ‘This is for me,’” said the six-foot, one-inch athlete. She should be able to throw discus and shot put outside year round. Scully would also like to explore competing in the weight throw and the javelin.

“When I go to LSU, I want to try it all,” said Scully.

Scully’s father believes the weather will work to her advantage in Louisiana.

“She practices in the rain and will be out throwing when it’s windy and cold,” he said.

Scully is intrigued by the range of foods available in the Pelican state.

During one of her visits, she enjoyed fried alligator with rices.

“It tastes like chicken,” she laughed.

Academic interests

Scully doesn’t just want to finish strong athletically: she also would like to have a successful final showing academically.

“I want to make sure I hit honor role for the third and fourth quarter,” she said. 

As for her academic interests in college, she plans to study engineering and, in particular, is interested in biomedical engineering.

Scully could see herself as a Paralympic track coach one day.

She recalled watching a video of a world championship event in which a Paralympic athlete was preparing to compete. The athlete struggled with a prosthesis that was causing a problem.

“Not a single person there could help him,” Scully said. “He missed out on competing.”

She recalled telling herself that she’d like to be there to help, particularly after knowing how hard every athlete trains.

“I couldn’t imagine how that felt for him,” Scully said.

California dreaming

As for her own athletic performance, Scully would like to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the discus.

Hiney recognizes that athletes with Scully’s build and determination don’t come along too often.

“You don’t regularly get to train” athletes who have Scully’s strength and frame, he said.

“Ambition is not in short supply,” Scully’s father James added. “She’s motivated and she loves setting goals for herself.”

Scully believes his daughter can accomplish anything she decides to try.

He and his wife Despina “Debbie” Scully have gone to their daughter’s competitions during her high school years and are looking forward to traveling to some of the competitions in Louisiana as well.

As for their expectations, Scully believes they align with their daughter’s.

When she reaches her goals, he said, “Is it surprising? Yes. Is it exciting? Yes. Are we shocked by the fact that she broke a record? No.”

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The Ward Melville JV girls golf team. Photo courtesy the Three Village School District

By George Caratzas

After the closure of the Heatherwood Golf Club in 2020, the Ward Melville Patriots JV girl’s golf team played their matches at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Coram. Now, the Patriots have found their newest home.

In May of 2024, the Spy Ring Golf Club opened on the same plot of land that Heatherwood once occupied in Centereach. With Ward Melville in the market for a new place to play, the match was an easy decision.

“I feel like this is a perfect fit,” head varsity coach Nicole Connelly said. “I think with Spy Ring, this is going to be a much smoother season for a variety of reasons.”

One of the reasons that Connelly mentioned was the course itself, as Spy Ring is the latest course to open on Long Island. Designed by Tyler Rae — a well-known golf course architect — Spy Ring is half the size of what Heatherwood was, only having 9 holes as opposed to the full 18. Nonetheless, Connelly was impressed by her team’s introduction to its new home turf.

“It’s a really great course,” Connelly said. “We got to play it on Thanksgiving Eve this past year and it was awesome. It’s such a great track, the layout is really fun to play and it’s really well maintained. I think the girls are going to have a really great experience.”

A key benefit of Spy Ring is its proximity to the high school. At Ward Melville, JV golf does not get access to a bus for practice or games, meaning that players are responsible for their own transportation to and from team events. While Pine Ridge was about a 15-minute drive from the school, Spy Ring cuts that travel time by two-thirds with the drive clocking in at just about five minutes.

Photo courtesy the Ward Melville junior varsity golf team.

“Not to bash Pine Ridge, but for us it just was not convenient at all,” Connelly said. “I had expressed interest to Spy Ring’s general manager Jimmi Conway and we started to lay the groundwork for the move. The convenience of having it in our own community was huge.”

As indicated by the name, Spy Ring pays homage to the Setauket Spy Ring — a spy network during the Revolutionary War which was based in the Three Village area. While Connelly is a native of Chicago, she has become immersed in the area’s history as she enters her fourth season at the helm of the golf program. She hopes the change will bring educational value to her over 20 student athletes that will have access to the course.

“Spy Ring is all about the community and its history,” Connelly said. “They get to learn about American history in seventh and eleventh grade so I definitely think this will expand their educational experience beyond that curriculum. It’s important to me that they learn about the history of their community and make that connection to their new golf course. Being a team from the Three Villages and being called the ‘Patriots,’ I think this change gives them a little bit of empowerment.”

In a statement provided to Connelly, Conway echoed a similar excitement for the new partnership.

“We are so proud to have our Three Village School Districts girl’s golf team represent our golf course,” Conway said. “We feel this team will be proud to host a match with visiting schools. We are very thankful for the support the local communities have had in regards to having a great impact on our success. We are looking forward to the ’25 season starting and my staff and I will be available to helping and grooming the growth of the game,” he said.

Aside from the Patriots, Connelly is pleased with what Spy Ring has done to the surrounding neighborhoods. 

“I think it’s going to have a really positive effect on the community,” Connelly said. “The course seems to be really working on establishing itself as a place where people can come together and even from the earliest conversations [Conway] told me that he wants to make it a gathering place for locals.”

With the JV team on the move, both the boys and girl’s varsity teams will continue to play at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in East Setauket.

George Caratzas 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.

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Sophomore midfielder Maddy Herr breaks downfield for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
Morgan Lesiewicz wins the draw in a home game against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Maddy Herr. Photo by Bill Landon
Leslie Jablonski breaks free at home against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore goalie Sophia Giangreco with a save for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Grayce Kitchen fires at the cage in a home game against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Grayce Kitchen. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Grayce Kitchen drives towards the crease in a home game against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Anabel Keegan (r) strikes fear in a defender’s face in a home game against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Grayce Kitchen sees a cutter in a home game against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon
Morgan Lesiewicz passes in a home game against Westhampton. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

When the Hurricanes of Westhampton girl’s lacrosse came calling on the Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading River both teams traded scores well into the 2nd quarter when the Canes netted three unanswered goals pushing the Wildcats back on their heels. Westhampton showed why they’re undefeated as they stretched their legs, edging ahead the rest of the way to win the game 15-8 handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season in the division II matchup on April 10.

Senior attack Charlotte Erb led the way for the Wildcats netting three goals and teammates Grayce Kitchen and Morgan Lesiewicz banked two goals apiece. Sophomore goalie Sophia Giangreco had five saves in net. 

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Comsewogue midfielder Hunter Marquardt splits the pipes for the Spartans in a non-league game against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior midfielder Doug Anacelli looks for a cutter for the Spartans in a non-league game against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman defender Dylan Giorlando looks to clear the ball for the Spartans in a non-league game against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue midfielder Nick Saladino fires at the cage for the Spartans in a non-league matcup against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue attack Anthony Marino looks for a cutter for the Spartans in a non-league matcup against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore defender Jack Pacifico charges up-field for the Spartans in a non-league game against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore midfielder Nick Saladino looks to clear the ball for the Spartans in a non-league game against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore goalie Ryan Schnepf with a save for the Spartans in a non-league game against Port Washington. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Comsewogue Spartans boy’s lacrosse team looked to play “up” in their first of two non-league games of the season and play up they did, when they hosted Nassau County conference 1 powerhouse Port Washington (5-1). Comsewogue, a Suffolk Division II team got their nose bloodied in a rain swept matchup that yielded only two goals for the Spartan’s in a home game on April 12. 

Port Washington rattled off eight unanswered points in the first half before Comsewogue senior midfielder Doug Anacelli broke the ice when his shot on goal stretched the net just before the half to trail 8-1.

Junior midfielder Hunter Marquardt would be the only other Comsewogue stick that spoke the rest of the way when his shot found its mark in the third quarter. Port Washington cruised the rest of the way to a 15-2 victory.

Comsewogue goalie Ryan Schnepf had 12 saves in net.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Justin Pagan fires it in for Commack. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville first baseman Jason Stiles put the tag on shortstop M. Heller. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Luke Krzemienski makes solid contact. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Commack baseball vs. Ward Melville April 11 and 12. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Commack baseball vs. Ward Melville April 11 and 12. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Commack baseball vs. Ward Melville April 11 and 12. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville starter Connor McFarland. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Commack baseball vs. Ward Melville April 11 and 12. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Joey Karpowicz rips a two-run double. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The game took 19 hours to complete, but the defending Long Island champion Commack Cougars baseball team took out the Ward Melville Patriots by a score of 8-3 this past weekend, April 11 and 12.

Suspended after 5½ innings due to darkness on Friday, April 11, Commack finished off the Patriots on Saturday despite gloomy weather conditions. Reliever Justin Pagan pitched a scoreless three innings to earn the win that improved the champion Cougars’ record to 5-1 and put them in a first-place tie in Division II with Connetquot. Ward Melville dropped to 1-2 after the loss.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, a two-run double by Pats third baseman Joe Karpowicz highlighted a three-run rally that tied the score at three. It stayed that way until the top of the sixth when the Cougars broke the game open with a 5-run frame. Cougar centerfielder Anthony Antorino hit a two-run triple in that inning that made the score 6-3. They tacked on two more runs with the help of an infield error that allowed both Antorino and catcher Robbie Mascia, who reached on a walk, to score. Ward Melville reliever Dan Cornish was charged with four runs, three of which were earned, in that decisive frame. He suffered the loss.

Ward Melville committed three errors in the game, Commack committed none.

When the game resumed on Saturday morning, Sam Kay, brother of former Commack star and current Stony Brook pitcher Evan Kay, pitched the final inning and a third and struck out three batters.

Commack has won four straight Suffolk County titles and two straight Long Island Championships. During Spring recess, they will play nonleague games against St. Anthony’s and Longwood, resuming league play on April 22 against Lindenhurst.

Ward Melville plays a three-game set against those same Lindenhurst Bulldogs on April 14, April 15 and April 19.

Both teams wore military tribute-style uniforms for the game, with Ward Melville sporting a full camouflage top and Commack, whose school colors are black and gold, wore khaki green shirts.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Patriots score. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville Mia Modica scores for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior midfielder Ava Simonton with an under-hand goal for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Patriots score. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior midfielder Ava Simonton rifles a shot on goal for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Olivia Zummo scores for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Midfielder Kiera Pirozzi wins the draw for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior defender Peyton Phillips clears the ball for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville Mia Modica looks for a cutter. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman attack Emily Costeira clears the ball for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Patriots score. Photo by Bill Landon
8th grader Nicole Manolakes looks for a cutter for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman attack Emily Costeira clears the ball for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore midfielder Giavanna Parente shoots for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Midfielder Kiera Pirozzi fires at the cage for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Longwood Lions girl’s lacrosse (2-2) had their hands full from the opening quarter when they collided the Patriots of Ward Melville in a Division I matchup on the road Friday afternoon April 11.

Ward Melville protecting a three-goal lead coming out of the half time break the Patriots peppered the scoreboard with three more while holding the Lions scoreless in the second half to win the game 9-3.

It was Keira Pirozzi’s stick that spoke the loudest for the Patriots where the junior midfielder notched 4 goals along with Ava Simonton’s goal coupled with 3 assists. 8th grader Nicole Manolakes split the pipes twice and teammates Olivia Zumma and Mia Modica both scored.

Sydney Millett had 8 saves in net for the Patriots.

The win keeps the Patriots undefeated in their division, 4-1 overall.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Ethan Monaco looks for a cutter for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Ethan Monaco fires at the cage for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place Long Stickman Cameron Golding splits a pair of Wildcat defenders. Photo by Bill Landon
Panthers score. Photo by Bill Landon
Jack White, an 8th grader eyes the cage for the Wildcats in a road game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Jack White, an 8th grader splits the pipes for the Wildcats in a road game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place attack Braeden Murphy celebrates after scoring for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Having dropped their season opener against East Islip the week before, Shoreham-Wading River looked to ink their first win of the early season with a road game against Miller Place. The Wildcats dominated the first two quarters of play before holding Miller Place scoreless in the third to cruise to a 16-5 victory Monday afternoon, April 7. 

Shoreham-Wading River midfielder Andrew Cimino, a returning varsity starter, picked up where he left off last season, stretched the net five times and added an assist in the win. Sophomore Lucas Diamond inked four assists, and three goals along with Noah Gregorek, the freshman tallied four assist and two goals.

Jackson Thompson led the way for the Panthers with two goals, and Christopher LoRe had 11 saves.

Shoreham-Wading River senior goalie Angelina Price stopped four in net. 

The win lifts the Wildcats to 1-1 in the division while the loss drops the Panthers to 2-2.

                                      — Photos by Bill Landon 

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Ward Melville’s Ryan Connelly looks for an opening for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville goalie Colby Alister with a save for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville midfielder Bohdan McLaughlin sizes up a shot for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Ryan Connelly fires at the cage for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville midfielder Bohdan McLaughlin looks for a cutter for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior midfielder Andrew Buscaglia looks for a cutter for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Angelo Sobera fires at the cage for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville long stickman Ben Ehlers fires at the cage for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Loius Montellese powers past a defender for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Angelo Sobera wins at “X” for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Patriots score. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Angelo Sobera battles at “X” for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Angelo Sobera wins a hard-fought possession for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Patriots score. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

With the score tied at 5 all after 12 minutes of play, the Ward Melville boys lacrosse team fell into a rhythm in the second quarter, shutting down the visiting Longwood Lions Thursday afternoon April 3. The Patriots held Longwood scoreless in the second half to cruise to a 17-7 victory in the division 1 matchup.

Ward Melville senior attack Liam Banks led the way for the Patriots with four assists and two goals, and teammates Loius Montellese and Bohdan McLaughlin both notched an assist and three goals apiece for the win. 

Longwood keeper Jason Biondi had 10 saves in net and Colby Alister stopped five for the Patriots.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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