LI Spring II 2011

LETTER Letter From The Video Department

Ultimate Athlete Magazine

Hey fans!

PUBLISHER/CEO EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Jessica Peters here, host of Ultimate Athlete Magazine’s weekly online television show, UA Insider. Our show is a complement to our magazine, with unique, modern, and exciting feature segments on the talent and dedication of our Long Island high school athletes. I hope you’ve been able to check out our show and watch us bring the pages of our magazine to life!

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Enjoy this final spring issue of 2011, and we’ll see you over the summer!

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SPRING 2011Volume II

Conten

S T N CONTE

nts Featur Features

12 Hauppauge Girls Lacrosse

16 H. Frank Carey Baseball

20 Northport Girls Lacrosse

24 Westbury

Track and Field’s Owen Skeete

28 Smithtown West Boys Lacrosse

34 Bay Shore Girls Lacrosse

38 Calhoun Baseball

42 Empire Challenge Gameday Preview

48 William Floyd

Football & Lacrosse - Luke Miller

52 Centereach Softball

56 Holy Trinity Baseball

60 Comsewogue Boys Lacrosse

64 Kings Park Softball

68 Long Island Titans Baseball

72 Wantagh

Boys Lacrosse

78 Sports Psychology Breaking the Slump

82 UA Training Balancing Act

86 Pro Corner

LI Ducks - Ray of Light

SHUTTER

SPEED

>>>

Katie Trombetta of Sachem East High School faces off against Katie Kirk of Bay Shore High School in a heated Division I playoff game.

Photo by Morgan Harrison

SHUTTER

SPEED

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Senior outďŹ elder John Eyerman of the Calhoun Colts slides into 2 nd base just in time to beat the tag.

Photo by Morgan Harrison

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By Ed Krinsky Borluca Photos By Adil

T

he Ohio State Buckeyes women’s lacrosse team is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hauppauge High School superstar Jennifer Porretto next fall. While she will be sorely missed by her Hauppauge teammates next season, the same cannot be said of the Eagles’ opponents, who have had zero success in their efforts to contain the talented Porretto.

goals and recorded 40 assists, giving the Eagles a prolific scoring duo that has been almost unstoppable.

Lauren Descalzo with 38 goals and 20 assists and Jenna Vinci with 39 goals and 18 assists have provided the Hauppauge girls with additional scoring punch and have added to the defensive woes of the Eagles’ opponents.

The Hauppauge girls are currently ranked 50th nationally, 7th in New York State and 3rd among New York State’s Division II teams.

Last season, they were ranked 149th nationally, 22nd in the state and 6th among New York State’s Division II teams. The respect that the Hauppauge girls lacrosse team Lauren Descalzo added four earned during the current season is goals in the win over Huntington a testimony to the coaching skill of and goalkeeper Kasey Kephart, Abigail Zeltman, who is emerging helped by a stifling defensive effort as one of the top women high school by her teammates, had five saves in lacrosse coaches in the country. the one-sided contest. In the sevenWhile the loss of Jennifer Porteen games played so far, Perrotto retto to graduation will be signifihas scored 66 goals and added 58 cant, the high scoring trio of Taylor assists. Taylor Ranftle has scored 57 Ranftle, Lauren Descalzo and Hauppauge dominated Huntington High School in the opening round of the Division II playoffs behind seven goals and two assists

by Porretto. Hauppauge has won all seventeen of its games this season and is the first seed in the post-season tournament.

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L

ike most years, the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) boys lacrosse championship is bound to come down to two teams.

St. Anthony’s High School is the two time defending champion, but this season Chaminade has pulled ahead in the national rankings.

“It’s a great rivalry, it goes back years,” St. Anthony’s head coach Keith Wieczorek said. “We’ve all drawn different levels of blood on each other.

It’s two very good programs that unfortunately have to play each other three times a year. I think it’s very tough to play a team a third time, no matter who it is.”

St. Anthony’s has come out on top in two of the three matchups each of the last two seasons. Both teams won at home and St. Anthony’s took the final game in the league championship.

“I think every year you circle those days on the calendar, especially since Chaminade wacked us the first time that taste is still in our mouths,” Wieczorek said. “I think our kids are ready to compete a little bit more this time.”

The Friars were ranked No. 4 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse and No. 15 in the ESPN Rise poll in the preseason. Getting through injuries early was a tough task for St. Anthony’s but they have since cruised through the CHSAA except for the stumble against Chaminade.

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“I don’t really look at the rankings,” Wieczorek said. “Were we ranked too high? I think every year’s rankings are based on last year’s accomplishments. I think the last two years by the end of the year we could play with anybody in the country. This year I think we can play with anybody as well. Will we beat them? I don’t know but I think we’re going to be in the hunt for our league.”

Jenna Vinci are all juniors and will be returning next season. In addition to Porretto, the other graduating seniors on the current squad are Angelina Bisono and Jessica Venturino. The youngest players on the squad are freshman Darla Poulin and sophomore Tori West. The remaining players on the roster, all eleventh graders, are as follows: Christine Rienzo, Taylor Venturino, Julie Giray, Diana Rienzo, Taylor Wernert, Jessica Hucke, Lindsay Alfano, Stephanie Peragalo, Lisa Verdinakova and Kasey Kephart.

Jennifer Porretto was selected as the “Player of the Week” (May 15th), after scoring six goals and assisting on five goals in the 16-13 win over Harborfields.

Jennifer is Long Island’s second highest scorer with 124 points behind Danielle Jaycox of St. John the Baptist with 135 points. Her 58 assists were the most on Long Island.

Teammate Taylor Ranftle was eighth in total points with 97.

In the second round of the playoffs, Hauppauge faced Eastport-South Manor, who defeated Harborfields in their first round game. Hauppauge easily defeated Eastport-South Manor in a previous game on March 30th, 13-1. Jennifer Porreto had five goals and five assists in that game.

As all the preseason prognosticators predicted, St. Anthony’s put some distance between itself and The the third place team whenfavorites it Eagles, being heavy to pounded Holy Trinity 13-5 oon advance to the finals and emerge as the May 5. Junior attack Sean Mc- EastSection 2 champions, conquered Donagh paced the Friar’s port-South Manor 11-9. offensiveThe attack, as he has Hauppauge done all girls well-balanced year, withteam five fifirst half goals. lacrosse nished its perfect season “He’s a solid athletic player with a convincing 8-5 win over Shoreham-Wading behind three-goal that we had toRiver lean on a lotabeperformance by and Taylor cause of injuries he Ranftle. respond- It was a conclusion a storybook edfitting pretty well, he to answered the season for theWieczorek Eagles, whosaid. won their bell,” “He’sfirst ever Suffolk County Championship been drawing the best defenders a behind theand superlative ofofAbby lot he’s donecoaching a good job it Zeltmann. and is playing a very high level.”

Jenna Vinci added goals and Unfortunately for thethree Friars Jennifer Porretto had a goal and two assists for the victorious Eagles. Goalkeeper Kasey Kephart had twelve saves against Shoreham-Wading River’s Wildcats. Lauren Descalzo scored the final goal for Hauppauge, assisted by Porretto.

Pointing out that her girls were perennial underdogs and that Hauppauge has experienced years of disappointment in post-season play, Coach Zeltmann was obviously thrilled to win the Suffolk Title. But, there is little time for celebrating as she prepares her undefeated (180) team for Saturday’s contest against Nassau County B titlest Garden City for the Long Island Class B Championship.

on s i r r Ha n a org M y sB

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I

n high schools across the country it is not uncommon for a common family name to pop every year or two as siblings make headlines in one school’s athletics.

However, when your last name is Daddino, the legacy before you takes on a life of its own.

For H.F. Carey’s senior pitcher John Daddino, that is certainly the case. Daddino is the youngest of five boys, all of whom have played sports at a high level for the Seahawks. His older brother Tom was a football player and wrestler for local college Hofstra University, while the others, Gerard, Danny, Patrick, and cousin Al all played football in high school.

While John also strapped on the pads for the Seahawks on the football field, his ability on the diamond is what has made him standout from his brothers.

“I’m certainly hoping it’s not a once in a career thing where you a have a 90-plus pitcher like John,” said fifth year head coach Marc Hedquist. “But obviously there’s a possibility it might be.”

This season Daddino was one of the top pitchers in Nassau County, sporting a 6-1 record with a miniscule 1.50 ERA earning him All-County honors once again in his career.

“In general, I probably started little league in third grade,” says Daddino. “But I’ve always been a pitcher.”

As one of the top pitchers in his county and one of the leaders of his staff, the youngest in a family full of athletic prowess says there is no other place he’d rather be than on the mound.

“I like when it’s all on me because if you lose, then it’s all on you,” admits the senior righty. “I don’t want to go home and blame other people. It’s all on yourself.”

Daddino, appropriately nicknamed “Bulldog,” knows that the biggest key to being a standout hurler is to have your mind focused and ready for everything.

“You have to feel like you’re the man out there and take control of the field,” Daddino

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says of his mindset during games. “You just have to stay strong and think everyone is the same and just do you. Pitch what’s your best pitch.”

But what allows a player that has football and wrestling ‘in his blood,’ to dominate on the diamond? Coach Hedquist says it’s his physical stature along with one huge intangible that paves John’s way to success.

“Someone with his size, his strength, the way he throws the ball. I think, more importantly than anything else, he instills confidence in every player on the team,” notes Hedquist. “We go out there with John on the hill and there’s a real aura of confidence and I think that’s the biggest part about seeing John on the mound every game.”

That confidence has helped lead Carey to the Nassau Class AA Finals, where they will face the MacArthur Generals on May 30 at SUNY Farmingdale. The Seahawks will look to their “Bulldog” pitcher to bring a second title in four years home to Franklin Square.

After all, with a name like Daddino, it’s hard not to trust their senior ace.

By Jeff Haber | Photos By Morgan Harrison

Northport Girls Lax Gets Their Revenge

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R

evenge is sweet and the Northport Tigers girls lacrosse team got their revenge as they defeated the Bay Shore Marauders 19-8 in the Suffolk Class A girls lacrosse final on Sunday, June 12.

Last season, Bay Shore ended Northport’s season as they defeated team 13-12 in the Suffolk County Finals and that loss has been in the back of the minds of the Northport players ever since.

“The loss last year, makes us really want to get there [the championship],” said senior midfielder Shannon Gilroy. “The fact that we lost by one to a team that we crushed earlier in the season, that really hit us hard…all of us together.

We want it so bad.”

Northport went on the offensive early just like they had done all season long by scoring right goals in the first half. Kiera McNally, Cortney Fortunato and Paige Bonomi scored four goals each with Allie Pavinelli adding a hat trick.

“Well in the past our strong point has been our defense, but this year its our midfield and attack,” said Head Coach Carol Rose. We have some big time scorers that are tough to stop, such as two players on the U19 team and the world cup team. We have so many weapons and the kids are playing so well together.”

Shannon Gilroy, who had two goals on Sunday, has led the team in scoring this season. Gilroy is one of the leading scorers on Long Island and has been an All-American for the past three years and the Newsday All Long Island Player of the Year.

Northport went on to win the Long Island Championship on Tuesday, June 15 defeating Farmingdale 14-7 at Hofstra University. In the championship game, Gilroy led the way with four goals just like she’s done all season. Defeating Farmingdale was no easy task either. They held the two-time defending New York state champion title and the Long Island title winners of the past five consecutive years to a season low seven goals. This will be Northport’s first trip to the New York State tournament since 2004.

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The Tigers went undefeated in league play going 15-0, and finishing with an overall record of 18-2.

An 18-2 record may seem like it’s a good enough record for most teams, but looking back, Coach Rose believes that those losses were a big deal and in the end helped the team.

“We had two tough losses against Good Counsel and Garden City and that helped us prepare [for these games] during this time of year,” said Rose. “We used those losses as building blocks to make ourselves better.”

Much of their success has gone to Rose and the rest of the coaching and training staff that has worked ex-

tensively with the team year round.

The team doesn’t just play in the spring, but plays fall and winter ball as well. The girls lacrosse program doesn’t just start at the high school varsity level either. The coaching staff starts training with the players when they are as young as in sixth grade. When seniors leave, it is not a huge loss to the team because there are younger players to step up and play better in their new roles and positions the next year.

“I’ve been playing for her [Coach Rose] since the sixth grade and it’s been a big part of my life,” said senior attacker Kiera McNally. “We’re a family. My best friends are on this team because of lacrosse.”

Rose started playing lacrosse in 1979 and played at SUNY Cortland in college. She has been coaching the Tigers for 22 years and will head back to SUNY Cortland, but would first like to coach Northport to a New York State Championship.

“It’s a lot of fun and I enjoy the game,” Rose said. “I love coaching and watching the girls excel and go on to play the sport so well.”

The Tigers ultimately captured their New York State Class A Championship title on Saturday, June 11th as they beat Pittsford 11-10 at SUNY Cortland.

“We have a bunch of seniors on our team [who have] been playing together for so long, so we want to make it a season we want to remember,” said senior midfielder Megan Marinelli.

By Tiffany Vivo Photos By Morgan Harrison

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success. Skeete also admires his other sister’s educational achievements. His placement in honors programs as a child has always kept him a step ahead.

Skeete’s running career began in 9th grade. “My 9th grade year, I was pretty slow… coming off the track I just wanted to get faster, nothing was going to stop me.”

Since that self-promise, nothing has stopped Skeete from achieving success. The quiet sophomore is now a powerhouse on the track.

As of current, Skeete holds the 5k record, and at the nationals indoor championship he placed 5th overall in the nation. He holds the 3200 recrod, and completed it with a 9.14 finish. He holds the record for the indoor mile run with a time of 4:15, and the 3000meter run which he ran approximately 8.42.7.

Skeete was the first qualifier for Westbury for the Millrose games. According to his coach, “He holds everything at Westbury. He holds every long distance record at Westbury High School, all but the 1500 meter run because we’ve never ran it.”

Coach Donald Ross has had the pleasure of working with Skeete for the past 4 years. “I had hosted an interest meeting, anyone who wanted to come to track just come inside the little theatre,” he said. “The guys came, and apparently I started going on and said, ‘What would you like to do?’ One guy in the back raised his hand and said ‘I want to be a long

E

very team has its star players or player they can rely on. This year, for Westbury’s varsity track and field team, that player is All-American Owen Skeete.

Suited up in green and gold, Owen Skeete has continuously represented Westbury’s varsity track and field confidently. His hard work and commitment have motivated even coaches to want to be better. This ultimate athlete has not onlyStory proven on the field, but alsobyasAdil an Borluca byhimself Gary Simeone | Photos academic elite in his studies. With his charisma and modesty, Skeete has become a joy for most of his teachers and a role model to his peers. As a senior, Skeete holds many of the school’s track records and plans on holding more as he continues his success as a biochemistry major attending Indiana University.

As a Caribbean native, Skeete’s parents were strict on education. Family is held in high esteem in his home and comes before all. Family values and discipline were encouraged in Owens mind as a young child. He learned a great deal from his older sisters and credits them for his versatility both academically and athletically. He watched one of his sisters break a baton record in track at the age of ten and was driven by her

distance runner.’ And that’s when I able, he’s easy to communicate with, he’s just fun, he entertains me, he met Owen.”

In the past years, Ross has recog- makes me laugh,” said his geometry nized Skeete’s positive attitude and and calculus teacher, Kathleen Gilmwork ethic. He never had to force ore, who praises Skeete’s dedication.

what everyone knows, if they know nothing else, they know that Owen is fast.” She recognizes Skeete’s exceptional ability to balance school work and track and admires that in him.

Gilmore was aware of Skeete’s potential when he was in 9th grade and is impressed by his achievements thus far. “Reading all of the articles and seeing everything that he’s accomplished, yes, it’s very impressive to see what he can do out on the track and knowing his academics in school is also impressive as well, he’s very well-rounded in that way.”

As a role model, Skeete knows it not just about him. He continues to uphold high standards for himself and others. He looks forward to challenges he may face in college and hopes to finish out the year even more successfully.

Skeete to exercise or prepare himself for meets, but worried because he wanted to go at it real fast. “I said no, it’s a process, you know, you have to take your time with it because you could get hurt, and the one thing I don’t like doing is injuring my athletes and sending them to college injured,” Ross said. Skeete had no problem adjusting to a safer training regime given

by Ross. So far, throughout his time on the Westbury track team he hasn’t been seriously injured.

Shahana Kharioola, Regents English teacher, had the privilege of having Skeete as a student in 11th grade.

Ross says, “It was like a dream, to “All I knew was that Owen had a very have someone that you have actually special personality, a certain sense of seen grow up, and then start to grab humor that some people appreciated,” this fantastic stardom, it’s just like, ‘is says Kharioola. She also recognizes his success as an athlete. this for real?’”

“As an athlete, everyone has heard With all of his accomplishments, Skeete remains level headed and re- about him over time, because he is members the importance of hard work. Owen Skeete, the guy who runs really “He’s very enthusiastic, he’s person- fast and runs like a gazelle, and that’s

As for the rest of the track team and Coach Ross, they will miss Owen a great deal. They have always stood by his side and supported him.

“I feel that any coach or university that has him on their team they’re going to have a jewel of an athlete, and I hope that he perseveres throughout his entire college career,” Ross said.

“And I hope to see him in the Olympics, I told him – if he goes to the Olympics, I want my ticket!”

By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg | Photos By Morgan Harrison

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f anybody deserves a storybook ending it would be the boys varsity lacrosse team at Smithtown West High School. The seniors have been playing together since they were in second grade. They have chemistry and a determination that no other team has, and that could take them all the way.

“This year’s team is very gifted, I say the most important thing we have this year is our chemistry,” Ryan Joseph, a senior midfielder said. “I’ve been playing with these guys since second grade. We are best friends.

Hopefully our chemistry is what sets us apart from the other teams this year.”

“This group of guys I have known since they were five years old,” varsity head coach Sean Keenan said. “They have been playing for me since second grade.”

Smithtown is known for their youth lacrosse program.

“Smithtown youth lacrosse is one of the biggest lacrosse youth organizations in the country,” Keenan said. “We have over 500 kids playing lacrosse in Smithtown every year.”

Smithtown West is proving that they are a team to keep an eye on in Conference I of Suffolk County. Their overall record this year is 12-3 and in their conference they are 11-2. Their first loss came against Garden City in the first game of the season and that woke them up and made them fight harder for what they want. This team’s two conference losses came against the number one and number two teams in the conference.

They could have easily won both of those games, as they fought to the very end and both games went down to the wire and had to be decided in overtime. They lost to Ward Melville 10-9 in overtime and lost to West Islip 8-7 in overtime without having one of their top scorers playing, Kyle Keenan, who was out with a concussion.

“We know that this year is our best shot to get the county finals, the Long Island finals and the state finals,” James Pannell junior attack man said. “We just all get along and have played well together for a while and I think that is why we are going to succeed.”

This Smithtown West team is led by their coach Sean Keenan. Keenan has coached most of these boys since they were in the second grade.

“Coach Keenan has been with the program for a while now and we have gotten used to him,” Pannell said. “He has become like a father figure for a lot of us and he is a big part of our lives.”

Before becoming the head varsity lacrosse coach at Smithtown West, he was the assistant coach at Oceanside for 18 years. He left coaching at Oceanside because he did not want to miss getting to see his son’s lacrosse games.

“It was killing me that I was not able to watch his games so I resigned from Oceanside hoping to be a parent and watch the games. The head coaching job opened up [at Smithtown West] and Pat Smith, the athletic director, called me up and said do you want to coach at Smithtown West and I said you do not mind me coaching my own kids? He said no and the rest is history,” Keenan said.

“It’s been a blessing.”

Keenan has led Smithtown West to the county semifinals three out of the past four years and has been to the county finals one time.

“Coach Keenan has been with us all along. He kind of took us under his wing when we were in second grade together,” Brendan Madarasz, a senior long stick midfielder said. “He knows us just as well as we know him and he has been a great mentor for us. It’s pretty amazing he has coached us for ten years, it’s been a nice ride for all of us.”

This Smithtown West team has an array of players that can score and get assists and that is one of the keys to the success of this team. The drive and determination they have is unlike any other team because that have played together for so long everyone on this team wants to get this team to the top.

Kyle Keenan has been on the team for four years and is a senior. Kyle is one of the sons of the head coach that is on this team. Kyle has 30 goals and 27 assists so far this season and he was also out for a couple of games due to a concussion. Kyle will be going to Duke University next year. Ryan Joseph is a senior midfielder and has been on the varsity team for three years. Joseph has 21 goals and 19 assists this season and is going to Bucknell University next year. Brendan Madarasz is a captain of this varsity team and has been on this team for the past four years. He plays the long stick midfield position and will be playing for West Point prep next year and eventually will go on to play for West Point.

Jordan Stevens is a senior who has also been on this team for four years playing defense.

Stevens plays defense and is going to Cornell University next season.

“Besides being great athletes they are excellent students … you can tell by the schools they are going to,” Sean Keenan said.“I preach they have to be good in school and be good students as well as good athletes. They

really do a good job in the classroom and that is more important than lacrosse.”

Another big presence on this team is junior attack man James Pannell. Pannell was brought up on this team as an eighth grader and has been a force ever since. So far this season he has 36 goals and 21 assists.

He is verbally committed to go to Virginia University after he graduates. Not only has this group of seniors made a big impact on Pannell’s lacrosse career, but another major role model in his life has been his big brother Robert Pannell. Robert Pannell graduated from Smithtown West in 2008 and went on to play lacrosse at Cornell University. Robert is now a junior at Cornell University and is one of the five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy. The Tewaaraton Trophy goes to the top male and female collegiate lacrosse player. It is the nation’s most outstanding collegiate lacrosse award. Robert has made his name known in college lacrosse. He is the two time Ivy League player of the year, has the second longest point scoring streak in the nation with at least one goal in each of his 50 career games and has the most career assists of any active player in division one men’s lacrosse.

“My brother Robert Pannell is a big role model in my life I have been trying to be like and play like him my whole life,” James Pannell said, “He has just worked harder than anyone I know. His success was never given to him luckily I’ve been helped out a little bit from his success and that is why I have had success.”

This Smithtown West team is determined to have their storybook ending.

“We have always had a good team, always been pushing the limit and always getting close to that county championship,” Jordan Stevens said. “We haven’t gotten the county championship yet but this year we feel good about it and we are confident and we will see how it goes at the end of the season.”

This lacrosse team is driven to come out on top for themselves and for their coach that has been with them all along. They are a strong team and are capable of anything.

“Whatever happens with this season they have put a mark on this program for four years,” Sean Keenan said. “It is going to be sad to see all these seniors go I just want this season to go on and on. I’m like an extended father to them, they are a good group of boys and it’s been fun to coach them for this long.”

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By Gene Morris | Photos By Morgan Harrison

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uffolk County League I lacrosse has known only one champion the past six years the West Islip Lions. The same team has challenged them each year at Stony Brook University for the Suffolk crown – the Ward Melville Patriots. But this year, a veteran-led Smithtown West squad is looking to put an end to this recent history.

The standings could not be any closer – Smithtown West enters the playoffs seeded third at 12-2, its two loses coming in overtime to Ward Melville and West Islip. Ward Melville is 13-1, having lost in overtime to West Islip, and West Islip is perfect at 14-0.

“We’ve been the best of the rest, we’ve been third place every year,” Smithtown head coach Sean Keenan said. “Our goal this year is to get to the next step and knock one of them off.”

The Smithtown team has been led by a trio of gifted offensive players. The coach’s son Kyle Keenan, headed to Duke next year, scored 93 points as a junior and followed it up with 32 goals and 29 assists as a senior despite missing four games with a concussion.

“He’s the quarterback of our offense,” Sean Keenan said. “He means so much to this team in terms of energy and leadership and lacrosse IQ. He’s just so smart with the ball.”

James Pannell, a junior, led the team this year with 43 goals and 21 assists. “James possesses one of the quickest first steps of any kid I’ve ever coached, he can make kids fall down,” Keenan said. “He also has one of the hardest shots in Suffolk County.”

Matt Schultz rounds out the three headed monster. He scored 41 goals and assisted on 13 others. “He’s a real good player who moves really well without the ball and he’s a very good finisher inside,” Keenan said.

Smithtown enters the playoffs on a four game winning streak since the tough overtime loss to West Islip on May 6. They showed they had heart and toughness in a 6-5 comeback victory over a tough Connetquot team on the road and showed they could take care of business by easily disposing of middle of the road teams in Northport and Smithtown East to end the season.

“I think we’re playing really well,” Coach Keenan said. “It’s a matter of getting healthy going into the playoffs. We’ll have a little needed rest and then hopefully get clicking on all cylinders before playoffs.”

The recent history isn’t lost on the players either. “We played them tough,” Kyle Keenan said of the team’s matchups with West Islip and Ward Melville. “The top three teams

have all went to overtime with each other in the regular season so anything can happen.

It’s going to be a crapshoot.”

Pannell was a little more blunt. “There’s a good possibility that we can beat them more than the other years,” he said. “This team has the players to beat them.”

“We hope to see both of them both again because then we made the finals,” Coach Keenan said. Going to overtime gives us a lot of confidence that we can play with them.”

League I in Suffolk County is arguably the best lacrosse conference in the country.

Although Smithtown West is sitting in third, they are still a top-20 team in the nation according to the Inside Lacrosse national poll.

Time will tell which two teams are left standing at Stony Brook’s LaValle Stadium on June 1, facing off with the Suffolk County championship on the line. Coach Keenan thinks there will finally be some new blood going for the title.

“This year it’s different,” Coach Keenan said. “I just feel we have a really good mix of seniors who are stepping up their games.”

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By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg | Photos By Morgan Harrison

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team is headed by coaches Allison and John Pfeffer. The husband and wife duo started coaching the Bay Shore junior varsity team in 1991 and moved up to varsity in 1992 to start the varsity girls lacrosse program. Their first “We wanted to get back to the Suf- division championship came in 1995 folk County final to defend our 2010 and they have been a strong competititle,” Allison Pfeffer, the Bay Shore tive team ever since.

This team has an array of talented varsity head coach said. “It was a challenge to get all the way back after hav- dynamic players. They work hard and ing some top notch players graduate play well together and that is the key to their success. Leading the team in in 2010.”

They weren’t able to win the Suffolk scoring is junior midfielder Caroline County championship game this year DeLyra. DeLyra had 53 goals and 27 but they have been the Suffolk County assists this season and is an All-Coundivision one championship team 14 ty selection. She has verbally commityears in a row and have also won the ted to play at the University of SouthNew York State Scholar Athlete team ern California after she graduates. he Bay Shore girls varsity lacrosse team started the season with the same goals every other team has - that is to make it to the Long Island championship game. They also had a title to defend.

as well as an All-American selection

by US Lacrosse. Next year, Schmidt will be playing lacrosse at Davidson College.

“Catherine is an incredibly tenacious person,” Pfeffer said. “She leads our team with positivity, coupled with an amazing work ethic.”

Also selected to receive All-County honors as well as named to the US Lacrosse All–American team are senior line defenders Chelsea Cook and Kaitlyn Arnold. Cook will be attending the University of Denver to play lacrosse next year, and Arnold will be playing lacrosse at Fairfield University.

“Chelsea is a natural on defense because she reads the game so “Caroline has a very good work well,” Pfeffer said. “She is an aggresaward 14 consecutive years. This year, ethic and always seeks to improve her sive but controlled defender and has a the team’s average was 93.385.

“We always have high expectations game and she encourages her team- great transition game.” for our team and our players,” Pfeffer mates to do the same,” Pfeffer said.

“Kaitlyn is a physically strong, fast This year, Bay Shore had Catherine defender,” Pfeffer said. “She has excelsaid. “The girls strive to succeed and they work hard because they want to Schmidt named as a News 12 scholar lent foot work, communicates well athlete. Schmidt is a senior mid-field- with her teammates, plays great team keep the winning tradition alive.”

The Bay Shore girls varsity lacrosse er who is also an All-County selection defense and shuts down attackers who

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attempt to roll the crease.”

division.

Senior goalie Samantha Fagone had a 57.1 save percentage this season. Fagone was the back-up goalie last year but she worked hard during the offseason and proved she was ready to be the starting goalie this season. She received the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation’s Unsung Hero award and will be playing lacrosse at Randolph College next year.

“Kyra has a rocket when she shoots and superb stick skills with her dominant and non-dominant hand,” Pfeffer said. “She is a very natural lacrosse player and moves through the transition with ease.”

A player to watch out for in the next couple of years is freshman midfielder Kyra Harney. Harney got moved up to the varsity team as an eighth grader and has proven to be an asset to the team. This season she is selected as an AllCounty player and is selected to compete in the Women’s Lacrosse National Tournament-school girls

“John and I really enjoy working with these girls and we become very close to them,” Pfeffer said.

“They are hard workers and that is why they are successful.”

Bay Shore ended their season with a record of 15 wins and four losses overall and a league record of 12 wins and two losses.

Even though their season is over “We weren’t sure what to expect these girls never really stop playfrom Sam this season because she ing lacrosse. In the summer they was the back-up goalie last season,” go to camps, they compete in fall Pfeffer said. “She attended three ball tournaments as a team, play camps last summer and continued in a P.A.L league and also play in to work hard in the offseason and a winter league. This team is all proved to us she was ready to take about hard work and that is why they are always so successful. over.”

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By Tiffany Vivo | Photos By Morgan Harrison 38 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

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brand new season begins for the Calhoun High School baseball team this year with new expectations. Nothing has stopped this exciting team from achieving their goals in the past and nothing ought to this season. With a well experienced coaching staff and three exceptional senior athletes as team captains, the group is prepared to meet any new challenge. Whether these challenges are from rival opponents or from a shift in the team roster, this group of young men is prepared and ready to win no matter what it takes.

The Calhoun Colts have been lucky enough to have had the same head coach for years. Handing out great advice and counsel to young men throughout his thirty-nine years is what Joe Corea is best at.

Surprisingly, what this coach wants most for his team is to have fun.

Having fun and enjoying their time on the team is what’s most important for these young men. Corea says about his current team, “They only go through this once so they might as well enjoy it.” While having fun is important to this coach, he always has good competitive teams that are willing to learn and eager to win. Corea enjoys the aggressiveness each new member brings to the team. “I expect my kids to do well,” says Corea. And

COLTS

Winning the Nassau County AA championships last year proves that this team has the skill and talent needed to go even further this time around. The goal is to beat the current high school defending champs, Lindenhurst High School.

While their opponent may have taken home the victory last year, the Colts are not ready to hand it

over again this season. Most of the previous team has returned this season, and with time spent practicing and ushering in new team members, the squad has only proven to be stronger.

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with his guidance, the Colts continue to ball players,” Coach Corea says about “My baseball career is not over, but I am definitely gonna miss high school do just that. the trio.

The top three players on the team “I have complete control, being on baseball,” he said. include senior pitcher Joe Christopher, who will play at St. John’s next year, catcher, Binghamton-bound Jake Thomas, and Dan Sullivan, a leadoff hitter with a future at Siena college.

These three athletes have individually spent a number of years on the team, giving them a home court advantage and the ability to lead others. Together, they have hopes of hitting this season out of the park. As friends and teammates, each depends on the other for support and advice regarding the team.

Each of them is willing to give their all, as this is their last season on the team as a dynamic force. “They are excellent

40 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

the mound,” said right hand pitcher Joe Christopher. With a deep passion for baseball, Christopher has been playing for as long as he can remember. Playing baseball with his dad and following in the foot-steps of his grandfather’s love for the sport, Christopher has become an extremely talented athlete. His talents have earned him a few All-Conference honors. Upon graduating from Calhoun, Christopher will be taking advantage of his Division I scholarship to St. John’s University.

Jake Thomas is also a well known name on the team and is sad to make this season his last. Thomas is signed up to play for Binghamton University in the fall. His intense concentration as a catcher has made him Binghamton’s number one recruit this year. With an exceptional past season, including eight home runs, he has proven to be one of Calhoun’s top offensive player.

His natural talent for the sport will continue to aid in his successful baseball career.

Dan Sullivan, a senior, positions as leadoff hitter and is excellent at what he does. As a left hand hitter he has managed to secure his place on the varsity team since his freshman year.

Throughout his stay on the team, he has respected the guidance of his coach and says, “He knows what he is talking about.” Sullivan has already accepted a scholarship to Siena College.

Bright futures are in store for these three young men, and with the encouragements of a seasoned coach the rest of the team, if applied, will find the same success.

For now, the Calhoun Colts will be watched closely. Hopefully, the squad’s magnificent trio will make it a triple play, bringing home the win for this homerun team.

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he UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge promises to be loaded with all kinds of new surprises in 2011.

The annual all-star football game, which was created in 1996 to help raise money for the Boomer Esiason Foundation and its fight against Cystic Fibrosis, has always been a dynamic event. Everything from a huge tailgate party presented by UnitedHealthcare, “Jets FanFest,” an interactive theme park that included inflatable rides, and capped off with a world-class football game featuring the best high school football players from Long Island against the best from New York City, the UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge has always been an action-packed event.

This year, the highly anticipated event will be transformed into an all day spectacular on June 21, at James M. Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University. The game and its 42 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

surrounding events will keep the same traditions but will feature an exciting new twist. For the third time in the game’s 16 year history, Ultimate Athlete Magazine will be presenting a multi-dimensional Sports Expo dedicated to showcasing all of the newest and hottest sports equipment and apparel in the sports world, as well as the ever-popular action sports arena. The UA Sports Expo, which will be free for all ticket holders, will include sports fashion shows, a live music stage, and a wide range of other activities sure to keep the whole family entertained. Fusing together all of the successes of the UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge with the many exciting new aspects of the UA Sports Expo will surely make this two-day event a point of destination for all families and football fans alike.

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SHUTTER

SPEED

>>>

Northport High School attacker Courtney Fortunato tears past William Floyd opponents as she attempts to move toward the goal.

Photo by Morgan Harrison

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SHUTTER

SPEED

>>>

Comsewogue attackman sweeps the ball from under his opponent after an intense faceoff.

Photo by Morgan Harrison

William Floyd

Story By Gene Morris Photos By Morgan Harrison

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Luke Miller

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he Floyd football program has become a juggernaut. From its 42-game win streak and three consecutive Long Island Championships from 2005-2007 to winning six of the last eight Suffolk County championships, the Colonials have been a force to be reckoned with.

One thing those teams have had in common in a great running game. From Andrew Miller to Brock Jackolski to the current duo of Stacey Beddell and Luke Miller, Floyd has used a dominating running game and solid defense to win games at an unprecedented pace.

Luke Miller, Andrew’s younger brother and the third Miller brother to play football at Floyd, teamed with Beddell to help the Colonials win their second straight Suffolk County championship in 2010. Miller is the “thunder” half of the

“thunder and lightning” combo but both backs play a key role in the offense.

“He’s a real tough runner,” Floyd coach Paul Longo said of Miller. “He was very good in short yardage. We used him a lot on the goal line because he was tough, there was no way you were going to stop him for a yard if we needed it.”

Besides his tough running style Miller also supplied a young team with veteran, senior leadership. Although Beddell – who’s lightning speed has put him atop many highlight reels and produced interest from D-I schools – is the flashier of the two, Miller is the glue that holds it together.

“We were a very young team and Luke brought legitimate senior leadership to the team,” Longo said. “He was one of the few senior starters we have and he did a great job.”

Longo recounted a story from the 2010 season that stuck out to him and showed Miller’s leadership in action. The Sachem North Arrows were the team to beat in Suffolk County in 2010 and disposed of Floyd handily on a Friday night in October in a game in which Miller was one of the few Floyd players who didn’t seem nervous.

When the two teams met again in the Suffolk County championship – with Sachem undefeated and riding a 10-game winning streak – they engaged in a classic offensive shootout. Miller and Beddell are rotated nearly every play by Longo. After Beddell did the majority of the leg work to get the ball down to the Sachem 1-yard line Longo called Miller’s number but instead Miller insisted that Beddell get the reward of reaching the end zone.

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“He was a class act and a great player,” Longo said. “He was one of the biggest reasons we won the county championship this year and last. Both years he was one of the key players.”

Like his older brother, Luke will continue his athletic career in college on the lacrosse field. Andrew got a full ride to Johns Hopkins and Luke will move on to rising Long Island contender Stony Brook. The third Miller brother Matt, who played safety at Floyd and was an all-American lacrosse player at NYIT, is now a member of the coaching staff.

“Luke is the unquestioned leader on the team,” Floyd lacrosse coach Desmond Megna said. “He’s one of the top players in Suffolk County… he leads more by example; he never comes off the field for us. He plays offense, he grabs the pole and plays man down, clears the ball for us, and he’s on the wing on face-offs. He does everything for us this year.”

Miller, who has started on varsity since eighth grade, leads \ on the lacrosse field just like he does on the football field. Megna told of how Miller, the team’s leading scorer, set an example for the team by practicing his shooting on many of the off days during spring break. “He’s a good role model for the younger kids,” Megna said. “We have a really young team this year. He’s a positive person for them to emulate.”

“It seems like I’ve had a Miller for a long time,” Longo said. “They’re a great family, great kids. They all come to play hard and really were positives during their years here.”

The Floyd football juggernaut will role on and new faces will lead the team into the future. The lacrosse team will be looking for a new leader. But there is no doubting the impact Luke and the Miller family has had on the athletics program at William Floyd.

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High School

uilding a strong and dedicated team begins with a group of willing individuals and solid leaders. This season, the Centereach varsity girls softball team demands to be known as “the team to beat.” The team, led by a third-season head coach, is prepared for any conflict that may keep them from achieving success on the field. While the team is made up of mostly juniors this year, their commitment and drive have shown that they are more than eager to take the league for themselves and for their remaining senior.

and direct them correctly. Head Coach Sal Santoro believes in his athletes and feels this current team has what it takes to go all the way. His advantage as a coach comes from knowing most of the girls since middle school. Then, when Santoro became head coach of the girls varsity team, most of the junior varsity team moved up with him.

“They have played together since they were kids,” Santoro said. Now, he has given the team a chance to win games while putting Centereach back in the minds of its opposition.

So far this season, the team has made incredible progress, and the team admires their head coach for his willingness to teach

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“Suffolk County is a tough place to play softball, very tough league,” he said. “With

By Tiffany Vivo | Photos by Morgan Harrison

S o f t b a l l

CentereaCh

HOME OF THE

Cougars

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East Islip, I mean they’re the cream of the crop, they’ve been the champions every year, year in year out. We haven’t knocked them off yet so you gotta be the best if you wanna beat the best.”

Santoro has confidence in his team and believes they will stay in the race. “We want to be known as one of the programs that compete year after year. We don’t want to be a one year wonder.” With a tighter, year round training schedule, Santoro’s expectations for the team have grown. He expects the girls to be motivated to win each and every game. By knocking off Riverhead in last year’s playoffs, Santoro hopes his team can build on that win this season. Committed players on the team have made it easier for Santoro to do his job.

Third baseman Arianna LaPuma remembers making the playoffs during her freshman year. She has since seen the team go through one of the worst losing streaks. This season she isn’t worried about

being the underdog mostly because of the present team’s drive to win. With juniors dominating the field, LaPuma, a junior herself, is depending on the team’s closeness and ability to grow together. She is looking forward to bringing home a league title.

“This year we want to go for the league title,” LaPuma said. “We’ve been trying really hard, the girls have been working hard at practices, and we really want to get that title.”

The pitcher for the team this season is Emma Agostini. Agostini is a sophomore on the team and considers the crew to be “pretty young.” This young team however, “is getting better every game,” she said.

Agostini has been improving her skills as well. Recovering from a torn ACL, she hopes the team has confidence in her as the only pitcher. With the team’s strong infield and ability to manufacture runs Agostini is certain they will gain the respect they deserve as a winning team.

CentereaCh High School 54 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

Agostini admires the skill and hard work of last year’s starting pitcher and considers her to be a role model. “Casey Martinez, she was great, she barely ever walked anyone, which is such a good quality in a pitcher. She was on the team when it wasn’t good, the coaches weren’t great and now that we have Santoro and Barrett, we’re doing so much better, and she was just a good person to look up to, she helped me see how it’s like to pitch varsity, cause it’s my first year doing it,” said Agostini.

Senior and All-Division player Jacklyn Binstock may have her eyes on Adelphi University for the fall, but for now her focus is on the field. With a future in criminology, this shortstop brings justice to the field with exceptional talent and commitment.

Binstock, who has been on the team since the 9th grade says, “Out of all the years, this season has been the best.” Binstock has become an enthusiastic leader and a team captain this year.

The team made it to the finals last year, however that achievement isn’t enough for these lady Cougars. Binstock, along with her teammates, hope to make this a memorable season and bring home the overall win. Binstock herself is excited for this season and its outcome. Her teammates are driven and inspired by her.

“We want to send her off on a good note,” Coach Santoro said. Doing this is most important to the team this season and they refuse to give up as they all put in the effort to end the season on a high note.

“Every day there’s been a different hero.”

Cougars

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TITANS

H H HOLY TRINIT H T T T 2010 CHSAA BASEBALL CHAMPS USE COMMUNITY AS MOTIVATION

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H H TY BASEBALL T T T HT Story by: Christian Heimall | Photos by: Morgan Harrison

It takes a lot to win any championship; skilled players, the right coaching, and maybe even a little bit of luck. But one intangible that often goes overlooked is the support of the surrounding community. At Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, New York, the backing of their school, plus area fans and family is what makes the 2010 Catholic High School Athletic Association baseball champions feel more than ready to defend that title in 2011.

I

“Our fan base is pretty crazy, we have all the parents come out … we have the grandparents come down, the aunts, the uncles, the cousins, the sisters, the brothers,” says junior pitcher Alex Robinson. “There are a lot of people that fill up more than just our little bench; the entire side of the field is packed and we’ve got everyone screaming, everyone’s yelling, everyone’s really excited for Holy Trinity baseball.”

Winning helps bring in that kind of support, but the four-time CHSAA champs have had a pretty well established fan base over the years.

A credit that can be given to the support of the players’ families, and the common bond they have: a love for baseball.

“I love it. I have two brothers who played the game for just as long as me,” notes junior shortstop Joe DeVito. “I just like it, my whole family has been a part of it my whole life. It’s just a fun game.”

“My family is a big baseball family so we’re at most of the Mets games, most of the Yankees games,” says Robinson.

That love for the game expands off the field, out of the stands, onto the bench and to Holy Trinity’s veteran head coach Bob Malandro.

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TITANS

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“Baseball has been in my life, basically my whole life,” says the 23-year veteran skipper.

“When you can’t play anymore you figure the next best thing is coaching.”

It will be his coaching and the talent of his players that helps the Titans fight to repeat as Catholic League champions. His players have a mutual respect for their coach and know that his leadership can help them achieve the same feeling they did a year ago.

“He’s great, everybody loves him. He’s a great coach, he does all he can for us every year,” praises shortstop DeVito. “He helps me think about [baseball] differently. He brings a few good points to the game that we’re playing.”

Although going through a tough season in which they have dropped into fifth place in the league before the playoffs began, that rough regular season hasn’t deterred the talented players

H O LY

Malandro leads into battle.

“We’re having a little bit of a tough year so far, we had a few tough games that we should have won maybe,” says DeVito. “But I think we have a good chance to make a run in the playoffs and go pretty far.”

Robinson, the ace of the Holy Trinity staff, seems to agree with his starting shortstop.

“I think we’ll be alright, we just have to come together,” he says. “It’s whoever can make a run at the end that will win it. Hopefully we can get hot.”

If they are to get hot, it will be a product of the talent from the players on the field who know how to win a championship, and the leadership of a coach who has done it four times. Mix it in the with fan base seen whenever the Titans take the field, and you have a recipe for success.

T R I N I T Y

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B A S E B A L L

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The NFL Youth Football Fund and USA Football salute the players of the 2011 Empire Challenge High School Football All-Star Game. Football teaches its players, coaches and participants valuable life lessons that can be applied both on and off the field.

Your participation today is not only a celebration of your all-star season, but also a testament to the perseverance of Empire Challenge Inc. and the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Their tireless efforts in the fight against cystic fibrosis bring those with the disease closer to a cure, and help them live healthier lives.

By Gene Morris | Photos by Morgan Harrison

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Winning championships was nothing new to the Comsewogue boys lacrosse team. From 1996 to 2002 the program racked up seven consecutive Suffolk County championships and reached the pinnacle in 1998 and 2002 when they won the New York state championship.

The team got back to winning last year as it picked up another county championship in 2010.

With 21 seniors returning to the 2011 team it seemed like defending that title would just be the beginning of a long run towards another state championship.

“You hear the stories of everyone that’s played here before you and it feels great,” senior midfielder Douglas Foley said. “You’re honored every time. All-Americans have been in our locker room, people have gone on to play D-I lacrosse and it’s just a good feeling, especially when you see pictures of past state champions.”

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Foley, who head coach Pete Mitchell described as a “tremendous leader, a tremendous athlete, and a really good human being,” is one of the team’s captains.

The team is anchored on the back end by Matt Scalera, a three year varsity starter and member of the Empire State team, Dominic Infanzon, another three year starter who was All-County as a junior, and Matt Welsch, who Mitchell said can “instill a little bit of fear in the attack men… he’s my kind of kid.”

It looked like the Warriors were well on their way towards another long run in the playoffs through most of 2011. Comsewogue sat at a perfect 15-0 heading into the county playoffs.

The Warriors handily dispatched upstart Miller Place in the quarterfinals, 10-3, behind two goals and four assists from senior attack Connor Duddy. Duddy was the team’s leading scorer with 30 61 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM

goals and 41 assists. The 41 assists were good for eighth in Suffolk.

“He’s a tremendous kid,” head coach Pete Mitchell said. “He has tremendous speed – he’s a scorer, feeder, shooter - a triple threat kind of guy.”

Comsewogue entered the semifinals knowing they were just a win away from a rematch with rival Shoreham-Wading River.

The Warriors had dealt the Wildcats –led by sophomore sensation Tim Rotanz- its first loss midway through the season in late April and knew they would be looking for revenge.

But the rematch with Shoreham-Wading River never materialized because the Warriors were upset by Huntington in the semifinals. Comsewogue trailed by three entering the fourth quarter but was able to tie the game at 11 with just 42 seconds remaining on a goal by Duddy. The momentum was

short lived as Huntington’s Dan Plant scored 15 seconds into overtime, ending the Warriors hopes of repeating as county champions.

Coming back in 2012 after the graduation of 21 seniors will be no easy task, but as Coach Mitchell noted, “We’ve got a lot of tradition here.” It is only a matter of time before Comsewogue once again reaches its ultimate goal.

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Comsewogue

WARRIORS

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After strike three was called, Kings Park star senior pitcher Lindsay Taylor headed back to the mound to face her next opponent, but that would have to wait as the dugout emptied and players and coaches rushed out on to the field to congratulate her on breaking the Suffolk County strikeout record.

Taylor broke the record against Huntington on May 16 at home in Kings Park, recording her 1,091 strikeout. She had 15 strikeouts on the day while letting up just one hit, one walk and zero runs through six innings as the Lady Knights won 12-0.

Taylor Breaks Record, While Getting a Little Help From Her Friends Story by: Jeff Haber Photos by: Morgan Harrison

“I’ve been hoping to get the Suffolk County strikeout record, it’s one of my goals that I have had every season and it is something I wanted to accomplish,” said Taylor. “I had been struggling the past couple of games, not getting as many strikeouts and I told myself that I would have to pick it up if I wanted to break the record. When it happened I was just so excited.”

This season, Taylor has pitched every game for Kings Park going 17-2 with an ERA under two. In the 17 games that she has won, her team has backed her up by averaging over seven runs per game, which is more than enough run support. Taylor also pitched three perfect games this season, increasing her total to 13 for her career. She finished her career with over 1,135 career strikeouts, setting a new record.

Taylor has been on the varsity softball team since 2007 when she was pulled up in eighth grade. Taylor has been playing competitive softball since she was in sixth grade, working with her dad, Andy Taylor, assistant coach for the Kings Park Softball team, and her pitching coach, Julia Bolduc.

“My dad has stepped in and been a good attribute to the team and has improved everyone’s skills,” while Bolduc “has taught me everything I know about pitching,” the young pitcher said.

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Her father has been with her throughout her young career. He pitched when he played baseball and now playing baseball and softball has become a “family event” according to Lindsay. There might not be anyone more proud of Lindsay than her father.

“She had a big hill to climb this year but to her credit she’s worked hard, hasn’t lost focus and she got it done,” Andy Taylor said.

Softball

KP

Taylor credits a lot of her and the team’s success to the other players. They have given her great run support and efficient fielding when she’s on the mound.

each other for four or five years, and although the team is mostly underclassmen, the younger play-ers are forming their own team chemistry that will hopefully translate into success in future years.

“Lindsay Taylor, she is a great pitcher [who] definitely holds us in every game,” said senior outfielder Jessica LoBianco. “We always have her back in the field and she knows it.”

“Now that I’m a senior, I see that we [the seniors] are able to teach the younger girls more about the game and it’s a good experience all around,” said LoBianco.

Since Taylor joined the team, Kings Park has been league champions four out of the last five years. Head Coach Kim McGinley knows that a player like Taylor doesn’t come often.

“A Lindsay Taylor probably comes only once in a lifetime,” said McGinley. “I would like to think there’s another one coming through but no guarantees. They start off as an 8th grader and watch them turn into a fine young lady and an outstanding athlete.”

Part of their team’s success isn’t just based on individual skill but on the unique team chemistry and unity. The seniors on the team have known

The team most recently beat Seaford 4-2 in the Class A Long Island Championship, to claim their first Long Island title. Taylor was the winning pitcher as she pitched a complete game and had a perfect game going through six innings for the Lady Knights.

“We have had an amazing season, definitely a team effort and we’re ready for the playoffs,” said senior second basemen Nicole Brieva. “Knowing some of the accomplishments and personal goals we’ve all made, it’s just amazing to look back on.”

Kings Park will play in the state semifinals, which will be on Saturday, June 18th in Queensbury, New York.

LINDSAY TAYLOR

KP

titans Long Island titans F

or nine years, Center Island Sports of Ronkonkoma has helped mature young players to be the best in the game. Over the years, an estimated 300 members have gone on to receive scholarships to top named colleges. This year, the talents of four high school juniors have continued to prove the program’s success.

Under the guidance of Director Tom Downey, these players have displayed great improvements in skill and in their overall game.

Tom Downey understands the need to keep Long Island talent training at home and believes the Titans program has assisted in doing so. “If you were a better ball player you would probably venture off to-

68 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

Long Island titans Written by: Tiffany Vivo wards the city a little bit because that’s where the better ball players were going. Now with the Titans, we keep a lot of Long Island talent together,” Downey explained.

Students that go on to college from this program usually end up with full scholarships, playing for high division schools. Unlike most baseball programs though, this one competes at a national level consistently. The program’s success has lent a hand in the achievements of its devoted students.

For Rob Moore, joining the program has been one of the best things he’s ever done. Moore is a junior from Longwood High school.

He has been with the program for

several years and has noticed improvements in his speed, swing and strength. While his versatility on the field has him unsure of what position he will play at the colligate level, he appreciates the exposure he gets from being a member of the Titans. “Everyone’s worked with me, helping me be who I gotta be.” said Moore.

Right hand pitcher Stephan Stafford from Plainview-Old Bethpage High School has also seen great developments in his play.

With his overpowering fast ball and improved overall status, Stafford has continuously impressed college scouts. The program has assisted him with few mechanical 69 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM

difficulties he was experiencing on the field, and has given him the confidence needed to compete on a colligate level in the future.

The Titans program has constantly supported star players, giving them the confidence needed to be outstanding athletes and competitors.

As a junior attending St. Mary’s High School, Maietta has always known that college baseball was for him. The program has helped him the progress of developing his skills, and has enabled his dreams to become a reality. His talents both academically and athletically have gained him respect from many high level division one schools. On a colligate level, Maietta will probably continue to play third base. As a defensive force to be reckoned with, he

Right hand batter Vinny Maietta has become an exceptionally talented player since his five years with the program. “Playing for the Titans and working out here all the time has definitely helped me realize what my goal is,” Maietta said.

Long island titans remains an important part of his high school team. Recently, Maietta made the list of Baseball Player Magazine’s “BK’s Players to Watch” and continues to remain at the top of his game.

titans

Third baseman and short stop Jack Parenty understands the importance of the program. “Playing with the Titans and coming to Center Island Sports is more of an individual workout. It’s for you trying to help you get better and go into college” Parenty said.

Together, these four baseball players are prepared for their experiences in college baseball. They each appreciate the help given by the Titans program and recommend the program to other aspiring young athletes.

LA LACROSSE

WANTAG

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ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

story by Kevin Freiheit Photos by Adil borlucA

GH I

I

n 2010, the Wantagh boys varsity lacrosse team came just one win shy of capturing the title in a tough match against Garden City.

Frustrated, but undeterred, Wantagh recovered from that defeat and proved that this season they would be a tough team to beat.

Wantagh finished 16-3 in 2010, and after a long offseason of practice and patience, the Warriors were ready to give it another shot.

They may have had their best chance at a title this year as they began the season with high expectations and were a force to be reckoned with.

After beginning the season with six wins in nine games, the Warriors then put together a string of eight consecutive victories, including two in the postseason.

During that span, Wantagh outscored their opponents 133-30 and improved to 14-3 overall on the year.

Despite the impressive string of wins, the run was eventually stopped by Manhasset after a tough 10-7 loss in the semifinals to end the season for Wantagh.

The Manhasset Indians were not just another team. They had lost just one game all season up to this point and proved what they were capable of in the game against the Warriors.

“We faced a very good Manhasset team,” said head coach Gary Reh. The Warriors were able to stay with Manhasset for the entire game, but the third quarter proved to be the difference as the Indians’ offense struck often.

“We had our chances,” Reh said. “The third 73 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM

quarter was huge. [Manhasset] scored five consecutive goals, which was a major turnaround and we just ran out of time.”

As time ticked away, the Warriors’ season dwindled down to an end. However, not only did the team achieve a tremendous amount of experience, but the players did as well.

Reh concluded his fifth season as head coach and said he has the same goal for next year.

“We really had our sights set on winning the title this year,” Reh said.

The Warriors will have to do without their top two goal scorers this season. Senior attackers Ryan Walsh

and John Ingrilli finished the season as the leading scorers on the team. Their contributions on offense were a big reason why Wantagh outscored its opponents 245-103 on the season.

Walsh led the team in goals (52), assists (23) and points (75). Ingrilli collected 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points on the year.

While the season ended earlier than expected for Wantagh, Manhasset went on to face Garden City for the Nassau Class B championship at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. Garden City held a 5-2 lead after three quarters of play, but the Indians attempted a comeback in the 4th.

After tying the game at five, Garden City’s Patric Berkery

WARRIORS

74 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

WANTAGH scored with just under two minutes remaining, which turned out to be the game-winning goal.

It marked the sixth consecutive year that Garden City has won the title. For Manhasset, the loss had them finish the season with a 17-2 record, both losses coming against Garden City.

A rather unexpected end to the season for Wantagh now has them wanting to win even more next year.

“It was a great season,” Reh said. “We we very disappointed, though.”

Although the Warriors fell short of their goal this season, there is good reason to believe they can perform even better next year. Wantagh will welcome back a large number of its players next season.

“It was a very positive season,” Reh said. “We have a lot of guys coming back next year, including our entire defense.”

While more than half the team is graduating, it will allow more playing time for some of the younger athletes.

“We have some good players coming up,” Reh said, as he concluded his fifth season as head coach.

The Warriors have arguably gotten better every year since Reh took over the coaching position. In his first three seasons combined, the team posted a 30-25 record. In the next two years, the team has gone 30-7.

“We had great team chemistry. We really got along and did a lot of things together as a team.”

Over the next few months, the Warriors will begin preparing for an already highly-anticipated season. Wantagh’s quest for the title starts in October, and this time, it might be their year to shine.

Psych

Sports Psychology

Breaking

the

Slump

By Dr. Tom Ferraro anD michael lucks

Exclusively for Ultimate Athlete Magazine, Spring 2011

The Dictionary defines a slump as “an extended period of poor performance in a sport.� Athletes define a slump as a long period in hell. This article will discuss the characteristics, causes and cure for the slump.

Characteristics of a slump

You know you are in a slump when you have been underperforming for a long period and you are beginning to lose hope. You know you are in a slump when your confidence is shot and you are no longer enjoying your sport. In fact, a slump is a lot like having depression. The present looks bad and the future looks worse. During the slump you perform below par and your game becomes tight and tentative. Slumps occur in every sport. Champion golfers lose the ability to break 80. Lacrosse stars start to push passes. Elite tennis players will lose their natural rhythm and lose to players who are weaker. Slumps can last for years and can prompt great athletes to quit in despair and disgust. How Confidence is the first thing to go in a slump. does all this happen?

Slumps typically have a real beginning. They may begin with a bad loss, an injury or the arrival of a new coach or new teammate. (Recall when Derek Jeter had a two month hitting slump as Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees.) Slumps can be started by burnout or even a big win. In golf it is not unusual for the winner of a major championship to fall into a slump for about a year. This is because the player develops unrealistic expectations, faces increased demands on his time and is usually tempted into lucrative but inappropriate equipment changes. The combination of these three elements usually produces a slump. And just as slumps are multi-determined, the cure comes in three phases as well.

the Causes of slumps

Sometimes burnout is the cause of a slump with players pushing themselves too hard.

78 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

h o l og y The Cure for the Slump

• The first thing we do when a slumping player, skater or gymnast comes in is to determine how the slump started in the first place. Invariably Understanding the causes, getting rest and the athlete has lost his or her way and is playing tight and with a negagetting back to simple basics is the cure. tive mind set. The slump may have been in place for many painful months and it is always a relief to them to be able to understand its cases.

• We then recommend a brief rest period to clear the mind and let the body recuperate from the months of accumulated stress. This also is a welcome relief for the athlete who finally gets to take a break and clear out all that doubt.

• In the third phase we get the athlete to familiarize themselves with the mental set and the strategies they used when winning. This mental set is usually a combination of visual mind set, relaxation and ease of movement with little or no verbal process during the swing. Sports are played with the right cortex or the visual motor part of the brain and slumps are dictated and controlled by the left cortex or the verbal part of the brain. When we reestablish the old winning mind set we get them to write it out, drill it in and even use hypnosis to reinforce it.

Slumps in baseball

Slumps are depressing and are also very common in sports. But do not despair. Slump busting works and it does not usually take too long to get back on track. A little understanding, a little rest and a gentle reminder of the way you used to play are all it really takes.

Baseball is one of America’s oldest games filled with traditions.

Baseball is America’s pastime and the players and fans alike love the numbers. Whether it is batting average, slugging percentage, or home runs, it is the statistics of particular players that ultimately fuel the industry. And statistics allow us to see when a slump occurs. Slumps are fascinating because they happen to even the best hitters in baseball. A slump is essentially when everything is going wrong for a player. No more home runs, no more hits, and especially no lucky breaks. Slumps can vary in time, they can last a couple of games or even months.

Some can last a lifetime. This is where psychology comes into play and this is when we are called. The person who is in a slump is usually depressed, and becomes extremely pessimistic.

The single most important thing is to stay positive and realize that all slumps come to an end. However, not all slumps are mental, some are undoubtedly caused by mechanical errors in ones swing. The best way to correct a slump is to believe that every time you step up to the plate that you are going to get a hit. The power of the positive. Also, extra batting practice to get Slumps happen to the best of them. ones confidence up cannot hurt. The best thing about a slump is that almost everyone gets out of them in time.

Bios: Dr. Tom Ferraro is a noted sport psychologist located in Mid-Nassau County. Michael Lucks is an undergrad at Syracuse University majoring in Psychology. He plans on becoming a sport psychologist in the future.

We can be reached at drtferraro@aol.com.

79 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM

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UA

TR

UA Tr aining

Balancing Act

Walking the fine line between stability and mobility.

Story By Mike Mejia, CSCS | Photos By Adil Borluca

Q

uick! If I asked you to name the best way to improve athletic performance and avoid injury, what would you say? Strength training? No doubt it can help, but it really depends on how you do it. The way young athletes often hoist weights around, sometimes it does more harm than good. Speed and agility work? Another good one, although if you have any existing strength and flexibility imbalances you could actually be increasing your risk of injury. Plyometrics? Ditto the previous warning, only multiply your chances of getting hurt about tenfold. One thing you probably wouldn’t even think to mention is working on improving the unique interplay that exists between stability and mobility. And that’s too bad, because while it’s important to be strong and have good range of motion, it’s striking the right balance between the two that will ultimately have the greatest impact on your athletic success.

The Body Athletic The human body is made up of a series of muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues that work together to produce movement. In order for these movements to occur, especially those of a more athletic nature, certain parts of the body need to provide stability (i.e. strength) to allow for the mobility (motion) of others. Take kicking a soccer ball for instance; it’s not just about what the leg striking the ball is doing (although you will require a certain amount of hip mobility to cock that leg back and then effectively follow through afterwards).

Your opposing leg and core also have to work extremely hard to stabilize your position. If that stability isn’t there, the result will be a weak, misdirected kick. The same can be also be said for things like swinging a golf club, throwing a ball, or making a quick change of direction. If there isn’t an ongoing give and take between mobility and stability in different areas of the body, things can go wrong in a hurry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a lack of hip mobility, or knee instability, not only prevent an athlete from making a play, but often become seriously injured. That’s why I thought it would be a great idea to highlight some of my favorite drills for building a more sound athletic foundation.

Before we dive right into the actual drills though, you need to understand that although certain areas of the body require more in the way of stability, while others need to be more mobile, this isn’t something that’s set in stone. Take the core for example, which although usually associated with 82 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

stability, also needs to allow for enough range of motion to swing a bat, or serve a tennis ball. Just as the ankles, which typically need to be more mobile, also need the muscles surrounding them to be stable enough so that you don’t injure yourself every time you try and plant your foot to make a quick change of direction. The bottom line is, by understanding the interaction between these two elements, as well as where your individual limitations lie, you’ll be able to more effectively train to correct them.

The Ankles: As I mentioned above, a lack of ankle mobility is a big problem for young athletes. So, my drill of choice here is something called Wall Ankle Mobilizations. To do these: Stand facing a wall with one foot several inches away from it and your other leg behind you.

With your front heel staying in contact with the floor at all times, begin bending your lead knee until it makes light contact with the wall. Then simply bring it back to the starting position and repeat for 8-10 repetitions.

AINING *Note: How far you position your foot from the base of the wall depends on how mobile you are. Start about six inches away and then make alterations from there, moving either closer, or further away until you feel the proper amount of stretch. Over time, your goal is to get progressively further away from the wall as your ankle mobility improves.

In terms of helping to improve stability around the feet and ankles, the Balancing Ankle Set is one of my favorites. Here you simply balance one foot, while keeping your knee slightly bent, for anywhere from 30-60 seconds at a time. Need more of a challenge. Try standing on a large couch cushion, or a balance disc to increase the difficulty level.

The Knees:

The Hips:

Since a lack of stability is usually the big issue here- especially among female athletes- a drill called Excursions offers the perfect fix.

With these, you get the added bonus of simultaneously improving stability in the hips and ankles. Begin by balancing on your right leg with your knee slightly bent. From there, sit back into your hips and squat as you reach your left leg out in front of you, as if trying to touch an object about two to three feet away. After squatting as close as possible to parallel, push back up and then squat down again as you reach your left leg out to the side another two to three feet. Finish by squatting one last time, as you reach your left leg two to three feet behind you. That entire sequence equals one repetition. Continue until you’ve completed 3 to 5 repetitions with each leg.

Here’s a great drill that will help increase both strength and range of motion. They’re called hip circuits and can be a challenge for athletes of all levels. Begin down on all fours with your shoulders positioned directly over your wrists and your hips over your knees. Keeping a nice neutral spine, begin by bringing one leg in underneath you, then out to the side and then extend it back behind you. Continue this sequence in a large, sweeping movement until you’ve completed 8 repetitions. Next, reverse the movement by extending your leg back and then brining it around wide (with your inner thigh as close to parallel to the ground as possible) and finally back underneath you. After completing another 8 reps, bring your leg directly out to the side of your hip and lift it up 8 more times. Then complete the entire sequence to the other side. Throughout the entire drill, the lower back should remain as still as possible.

For more great strength and training information from Mike Mejia, Visit his website at www.basesportsconditioning.com

83 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM

UA Training The Shoulders: For mobility we’ve got Band Scarecrows. Grab a light resistance band and secure it to a low, sturdy object. Then, grab the handles and with your elbows out away from your torso, keep your upper arms still as you rotate your forearms from being pointed down, to pointing up, as close to perpendicular to the ground as possible. Keep the upper arms still as you lower your forearms back down and repeat until you’ve done 10-12 reps. For stability, try Scaptions. Get in a pushup position and keep your arms straight as you alternate between pinching your shoulder blades together and then separating them by rounding your upper back. Do 12-15 repetitions.

The Lumbar Spine: Here’s a drill that trains both stability and mobility- it’s called a side plank with reach under. Begin by lying on your right side by stacking your feet, hips and shoulders directly on top of each other. With your core tight and your right elbow positioned directly beneath your shoulder, brace your core and prop up on your forearm, lifting your entire torso and legs off the ground. Once in the top position (a side plank), take your left arm and reach underneath and behind your body as you turn your hips and shoulders- you will be staying up in the side plank position as you do this. Then return the motion back to the starting position and repeat for 6-8 reps per side.

The Thoracic Spine:

84

The Thoracic Spine: Not much need for stability here since most young athletes tend to be at least somewhat restricted in this area. That’s why Open Books are such an effective warm-up drill. Begin by lying on your left side with your legs bent about 90 degrees out in front of you and your arms stacked at shoulder height. Keeping your knees together, begin by bringing your right arm up and over to the other side of your body in a wide arcing motion. Strive to get the entire back of your right arm and shoulder down onto the ground, without allowing your knees to separate. When you reach your furthest point, pause there for a second before returning to the start position and repeating until you’ve done 8-10 reps- trying to go a little bit further with each repetition.

ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

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PRO C Pro Corner: lI Ducks

Ray of Light Local Product Navarrete Has Been a Bright Spot for the Ducks

By Joe Pietaro

T

hroughout the history of the Long Island Ducks, there have been a number of popular players that have come through the door. Justin Davies may not be a household name around the country, but he was certainly ‘The Mayor’ of Central Islip.

Davies broke in with the team in their inaugural Atlantic League season of 2000 and stayed until announcing his retirement in May of 2006.

Ray Navarrete has taken it to the next level, though. Coming from nearby Port Washington, the 33-year-old returned to the Ducks for his sixth season on Long Island. The Seton Hall product has been named to the Atlantic League All-Star team in four consecutive years and was welcomed back with open arms.

“It’s exciting to bring back such a polished player,” said Ducks president/general manager Michael Pfaff. “Ray is a terrific player who makes us better on and off the field.”

Away from the game, Navarrete has established himself as a clothing designer with his own line called “Digmi.” The idea began while he was in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system and it has continued during the Seton Hall product’s tenure on Long Island.

That began in 2006, which just so happens to be the same year that Davies left. Coincidence?

Maybe so, but no matter how you look at it, Navarrete has been the perfect replacement for the former centerfielder.

That first summer was cut short when Navarrete was signed by the Mets and finished the year at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Norfolk. When his contract was up, the Teaneck, 86 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE

o rner New Jersey native found himself back with the Ducks. A breakout year ensued, with the infielder being named to the All-Star team and hitting .307 with 42 doubles and 18 home runs.

Navarrete made it to another All-Star Game in 2008 but really came into his own the following year.

Not only did he make it three consecutive All-Star nods, but also won the Atlantic League MVP Award by batting .309 and adding 25 home runs and 96 RBI. “We’re very happy for Ray and proud of his accomplishments,” Ducks CEO/principal owner Frank Boulton said at the time. “[He] has been our MVP for several years now and now he is the league’s. This is a well-deserved honor.”

Last summer, Navarrete dealt with injuries and played in only 86 games. But his production – while suffering somewhat – didn’t disappear. He managed to hit .275 with 13 long balls and 54 RBI and was part of his fourth mid-summer classic, Atlantic League style.

This season, Navarrete has had a slow start and was hitting only .238 through the first 37 games.

But the Ducks have possessed an explosive offense and maintained a slim lead in the North Division.

Navarete’s power numbers have been a big part of that, with his seven home runs, six two-base hits and 21 RBI. In a June 14-1 win over the Barnstormers at Lancaster, Navarrete took sole possession of first place as the Ducks’ all-time leader in runs scored with 427. In case you couldn’t guess, he surpassed none other than Davies.

87 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM

Grow Healthy.

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We all know that regular visits to the doctor are important. But growing healthy is about more than just doctor visits. An active lifestyle that includes exercise is an essential part of your overall well-being, including both your body and your mind. That’s why we provide members with the tools, resources and information they need to get active and stay motivated. At UnitedHealthcare, through our Oxford products, we’re committed to helping New York area members live well and grow healthy.

oxfordhealth.com Insurance coverage provided by or through: UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, or their affiliates. Oxford Health Plans LLC. Oxford HMO products are underwritten by Oxford Health Plans (NY), Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Inc. and Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc. Oxford insurance products are underwritten by Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. © 2011 United HealthCare Services, Inc. © 2011 Oxford Health Plans LLC. UHCNY528490-000

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