Pee Wee Division
Sunday, April 6, was a beautiful opening day for the Johnson Financial ball club of the Bayside Little League Pee Wee Division. They played a barn-burner of a game against Duce Construction and wound up in at a 5-5 tie.
The players took the field in their gold jerseys with black lettering and gray pants, and all appearances suggested a well-prepared club. This was exemplified by the stellar batting of Constantine Kokis as well as Liam Fitzpatrick, who was awarded the game ball for all-around play. This promises to be an exciting season for the team.
The Texas Division opened its schedule Saturday, April 5, under cold but playable conditions as the 2003 season began with much anticipation. Papazzio’s Restaurant outlasted Mittman’s Medics, 10-5, behind the balanced attack of Zach Droblas, Brendan Cosgrove and Andrew Vitti, who all reached base four times for the victors.
Vitti also got the win on the mound, pitching three solid innings. For Mittman’s it was the fine play of Douglas Chu, who had a triple, and the stellar pitching of Chris Wren, John Marchisello and Nicholas Hurley, who had great performances in the game.
VI Pizza 8, York Electric 5. VI Pizza was led by Sean Feehan who went 3 for 3 and had two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Matthew Correale also went 3 for 3 with three runs scored.
Steven Toumanidis threw three scoreless innings, striking out seven, and Danny Finn threw two scoreless innings, striking out six. York Electric was led by Natalie Pruden, who threw three impressive innings and scored a big run for her team, and John Prudente, who had a monster triple with a run scored as well.
Applebee’s of Bayside 4, A&A Plumbing 3. Applebee’s Michael Tesoriero pitched two innings and struck out five in the win. He was also 2 for 2 at the plate. David Gmuca went 2 for 2 at bat and played great in right field in Applebee’s one-run victory. For A&A Plumbing, Morell Gaskins led off the game with a home run, and Doug Mcgrath had a triple. Thomas Macinovich also pitched well and struck out three with bases loaded to get out of a big jam.
Meric Law defeated Biordi Construction, 10-6, in a well-played season-opener. Both teams played a tremendous game. Meric Laws’ offense included hits by John Paul Koulotouros, Mike Colasuno and Steven Arroyo. Christopher Jimenez had a great game, catching all six innings.
Ryan Magee hit a run-scoring double, and he struck out three batters to end the game in his one inning of relief pitching. Biordi played a great heads-up game. Biordis’ offense was led by Pete Kowpak, who hit a big three-run home run. Dominic Formato pitched two shutout innings in relief, and he had two hits at the plate.
North Shore Baptist Church 4, Prava Construction 3. This was a great game to start off the season. Pitchers Jordan and Jonathan B. threw their A game for North Shore to squeak by Prava in the bottom of the sixth inning on a timely hit by Jonathan S.
Great play in the field by Robert, Yanni, Chris, Joey, Sandy, Charlie, Thomas and “Matt the Catcher” sealed the win in spite of the incredible Prava Pitchers Johnny A., Nick B. and the “Amazing Frankie.” The Prava fielders Joe P., Mikey, Frank M. and the rest of the team made great plays in the field and kept the game down to the wire.
Applebee’s of Fresh Meadows 14, Printing Express 6. Applebee’s of Fresh Meadows defeated Printing Express to open the Bayside Little League’s Junior Division season. Anthony Zupnick pitched three shutout innings as Applebee’s built a 4-0 lead.
David Pereira pitched three shutout innings for Printing Express as they came back to take a 6-4 lead. Then George Rowen picked up the win for Applebee’s by pitching two shutout innings as Applebee’s came back to win the game 14-6. Hitting stars for Applebee’s were Rowen and Eric Strauss, with three hits apiece.
Zupnick, Philip Varsam, Nick Athanasopoulos and Stephen Ching each reached base safely three times. Printing Express’ Pereira had two hits, including a bases-loaded double to give Express the lead. Jimmy Bernard reached base safely in all four at bats, and Frankie Davie played a fine defense game for Express.
