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Glen Oaks L.L.: Royals topple Brewers in rain-shortened affair

By The TimesLedger

With the threat of lightning, thunder and heavy rains, the North Shore Towers Royals defeated the Met Food Brewers, 12-7, in a rain-shortened, but very exciting game. Both teams played outstanding baseball, both offensively and defensively, with the lead changing several times during the game.

The Royals took the field with only eight players, but played like a team of 25. With key hits by Michael Ciminera, Raymond Rybak, Conall Ryan and Ralph Straughan and outstanding fielding by Mitchell Cruz, Peter Lynberopoulous and Lenny Manigbas, who also had three RBIs, the Royals were a force to be reckoned with. But the big star of the game was Conor Maher, who came up to bat in the final inning with the bases-loaded and cleared the bases of his teammates with a tremendous triple. Conor ended the game with RBIs.

The game was cut short with the clouds finally releasing the rain that was expected throughout the game, leaving parents, players and fans skurring to their cars to get out of the downpour.

Harp & Eagle snaps losing streak

The 15- and 16-year-old Glen Oaks Harp and Eagle Padres broke a five-game losing streak with a convincing 6-2 victory over Bayside East. Despite playing shorthanded with some key players not available, the Padres managed to hold their own and play spirited baseball. David Chapman pitched a one-hitter, striking out 10 and won his third game of the year. Matt Carneiro was sparkling at shortstop and contributed with two hits, scoring two runs and had two RBIs.

Josh Frost and Kurt Nicoll had their best games of the year, by reaching base three times each. Jon Ganesh, Tim Olwell, Avhik Mitra, Mike Mathlin and Todd Green each contributed a bit in the Padres’ victory. The Padres are now 6-7 as the season is winding down.

Royals beat Giants in slugfest

Sunday June 2, 2002 turned out as the biggest game of the season for the North Shore Towers Royals. On that morning, the Royals defeated the first-place McDonald’s Giants, 23-21, in an excellently played ball game. Exceptional fielding by Kevin Burke, Michael Ciminera and Lenny Manigbas kept the Giants within striking range throughout the game. The outstanding baserunning of the entire team and the big-time hitting of Sean Brodersen, who, along with Michael Ciminera, made a big play at the plate, Conall Ryan and timely hits by Raymond Rybak and Ankit Malhotra kept the team in the game. Mitchell Cruz and Conor Maher accounted for 16 of the 23 runs scored by the Royals. Conor has turned into an RBI machine, getting 15 the last two games. The win inproved the Royals’ record to 6-3.

For the Giants, Danny Graham, Louis Salzberg and Ryan Barrello all hit home runs, while Billy Hannigan had four singles, Steven Pelan and Michael Kelly each had two singles, Kaitlyn Biscotti singled and scored a run, Theresa Conway added two singles and Joey Costanzo was robbed twice by great fielding plays by the Royals.

Ralph’s Ices win two, lose one

In the Major Division, Ralph’s Ices Mets had a busy week, playing three games. The Mets defeated the Andron Reality Yankees and Gregg’s Tire and Auto Repair Pirates before losing to the Waldbaum’s Cardinals. The Mets season record now stands at 11-2.

Against the Yankees, the Mets scored a quick run in the top of the first when Ray Potestio doubled in a run. The Yanks came right back in the bottom of the inning when Brian Biscotti had trouble finding the plate before allowing a two-run homer off the bat of Billy Gillispie. After the first inning, the Mets pitchers settled down and Brian Biscotti, Kevin Salcedo and Ray Potestio combined for five innings of no-hit baseball. The Mets went on to score seven additional runs during the game to secure the 8-3 victory.

The next game for the Mets was against the Pirates in what turned out to be a thiller. Daniel Quinlan started for the Mets and pitched four innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four batters. The Mets scored two runs in the first inning on walks to Jonathan Kruczowy and Brian Biscotti, who both eventually scored on sacrifice flies by Kevin Salcedo and Ray Potestio. They added a run in the second inning on a key hit off the bat of Brian Louie.

Over the next two innings the Mets increased the lead to 6-0 on homers by Kevin Salcedo and Daniel Quinlan. The Pirates were not done though, as Angel Martinez hit a home run and Steven Leccese scored after singling to make it 6- 2. In the top of the fifth, the Mets increased their lead to 9-2 on singles from Ray Potestio, Kevin Salcedo and Anthony Civitano. The Pirates came right back in the bottom of the fifth when they rudely greeted the pitcher Jonathan Kruczowy by scoring three runs. Sean Pabon and Adam Alcamo singled and scored on Angel Martinez’s second homer of the game. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Mets leading 9-5, Chris Mignoli singled with one out, Kevin Carberry reached on an error and Joe Ryan drove them both in with a single up the middle. Ray Potestio came on to pitch for the Mets and retired both batters he faced to secure the 9- 7 win.

Against the Cards, the Mets played another thriller, only this time they came up a bit short and lost 7-6. Scott Gandasequi started for the cards and struggled with his control, allowing the Mets to score four runs in the first two innings. Jonathan Medina came on to pitch for the Cardinals and allowed two runs over the final four innings.

The Mets put men in scoring position throughout the game, but couldn’t come up with the big hit they needed. The Cards jumped on Ray Potestio for five runs over three innings and scored two off Kevin Salcedo in the last three innings. In the bottom of the sixth with the score tied at 6-6, Kevin Salcedo fanned the first two batters he faced, but them struggled with his control and walked the next two. That brought Michael Kaplan to the plate with the winning run on second and two outs. Michael fouled off a couple of tough pitches before singling up the middle. Anthony Civitano got a good jump on the ball, but momentarily bobbled it before throwing a strike to the plate. Unfortunately for the Mets, Nico Decosimo beat the throw and scored the winning run for the Cardinals. The loss now puts the Mets in a first place tie with the Astros at 11- 2.

Queens Surface Rockies defeat Merillon 1

Lorey Giblin won her first game after three previous strong starts, leading the Queens Surface Rockies over Merillon 1, 15-11, in a time-shortened, six-inning game, Sunday at Merillon Field in the Merillon Girls Softball Senior (ages 12 to 15) Division. Nicole Epstein notched the save, pitching the last two innings, striking out three. Unlike their game against Mineola the night before, the Rockies pitchers exhibited strong control, walking seven batters and allowing eight hits.

Queens Surface belted 15 hits led by the one-two punch of Alexis Namit, playing second base, and shortstop Nicole Epstein, who both hit a perfect 3-for-3. Batting leadoff, Alexis scored and drove in three runs and stole two bases. Lorey Giblin, who finished at first base, was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs. Melisa Ritchie, starting in right-cente and finishing at second base, was also 2-for-2 with three steals. Left-centerfielder Cynthia Johnson, the Rockies’ leading hitter at .577, went 1-for-2, scoring and driving home a run and stealing two bases. Jen Francis, who had eight putouts in four innings at first base, doubled and scored a run and had one RBI. Leftfielder Gina Scali, not only scored three runs, but made two fine plays on outfield drives and cut off another drive, holding Merillon to a single. Rightfielder Theresa Pullo, who also played an inning at third, reached and score twice, swiping three bases, including home.

Catcher Marisa Bearak nailed a Merillon runner attempting to steal second with a strong throw to end a fifth-inning rally and had two RBIs. Leading the Rockies with a .700 on-sase average, Marisa also drove three runs in the night before, giving the Queens Surface Rockies clean-up hitter a team-leading 20 RBIs in 10 games. Tara McCullagh, playing five innings at third and one at the plate, scored and drove in a run and made a strong throw on a slow grounder in the second inning. Tara was 2-for-3 with a double the night before against a Mineola team that avenged an early season loss on their home field to the Queens Surface Rockies. Jessica Gauthier, another one of the few bright spots against Mineola, pitched a scoreless seventh, making two putouts and striking out the last batter and blasted a double. Gina Scali also hit a two-base hit. Lauren Epstein, one of only three Rockies to reach base twice against Mineola, continued her fine play at second base, including a grab of a short fly.

Dodgers score win over New Hyde Park 2

On May 19, the Preferred Mirror and Glass Dodgers won their game against New Hyde Park 2, 12-4. Jesenia Dupuy and Toniann Groth both pitched well, setting up many infields plays by Maria Vessia, Jackie Marinoff and Brittany Frary. The win included base hits by Nicollette Pullo, Kerry Bunyan and Nicole Ficarrotta and steals by Karin Lalla and Nicole Guzman. The Dodgers are now 6-2.

Yanks shoot down Cardinals

The Yankees remained undefeated by beating the Cardinals, 3-1. Johnny Liquori and John Siano both singled and scored in a three-run fist inning. John Massa pitched four scoreless innings and had 11 strikeouts to get the win. In the last inning, the Cardinals had one run in and the bases loaded when Brandon Sheiner slammed the door shut by striking out the final batter.

Carvel Orioles raid Braves

The Carvel Orioles defeated the C-Town Braves, 4-3, Memorial Day weekend. The Orioles’ John Rubenau completly shut down the Braves, as he struck out nine of the first 10 batters. Patrick Kelleher’s game-saving catch in center field in the bottom of the sixth was the play of the game. The Braves played well with Mike Mandrin and Sam Hoffman giving up a combined four runs. Nicholas Finiochio got the game ball for his excellent hitting. Adam Spitz, Joey Shafer and Jake Robinson all played well in the field. Vivn Mathew and Rich Fabella said after the game that the Orioles’ coaches were very good. The Braves are now 5-5.