Glory Days
Four Sullivan County Boys Make The Cut At OCIAA Golf Championships; Sullivan West Girls Clinch Softball Division IV Title; SW Boys Golf Notch Ninth Consecutive Division IV Crown; Liberty Baseball Red Storm Swirls By Bulldogs
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Glory Days (clockwise) OCIAA Golf Success- Drew Billard (SW), Richie Elliott (Fallsburg) and Jimmy Bernstein (T-V) make the cut at the OCIAA Golf Championships. Sullivan West's softball team clinches their second Division IV title in the past three years. Liberty's Tino Casiano pitches a complete game as the Indians beat Sullivan West 15-3 to make it 2-0 in their series with the Bulldogs thus far. Liberty has already clinched a playoff berth.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY—Help me mama. I don’t know which way to turn. Pardon me while I lapse into a bit of adapted poetry inspired by Alfred Lloyd Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”
Golf to the left of me,
Baseball to the right of me,
Softball behind me, volleyed and thundered.
Oh what a track week it is,
Keeping up with so much sports biz,
This writing and photo wiz
Is exhausted and sundered.
Soon it will all be done,
Then in the summer sun,
I’ll swim miles til the day is done
My hours no longer plundered.
But for the coming week
Into each sport I’ll peak,
Creating the pix the folks seek,
Picturing all that they wondered.
Soon it will be June at last,
With all this maelstrom past
God I hope it gets here fast.
As I pen post six hundred.
Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, how about a quick overview of some milestones.
Billard, Elliott, Powers and Bernstein Make the Cut At OCIAA Championships
I guess I’ll never understand why the powers that be sent those golfers out in that maelstrom and not surprisingly had to postpone the rest of the tournament for a gorgeous , bright afternoon two days later.
Just how much did that weather interfere with the aspirations of local golfers like defending OCIAA champion, Fallsburg’s Richie Elliott? We’ll never really know. We do know however that it was Nick Marotta of Monroe-Woodbury who prevailed, shooting a two-over par 73 to advance to the Section Nine opening round at his home course Mason Ridge on May 21.
As for the Sullivan County entrants of which there were seven four made the cut as part of the fortunate 32 who get to advance. They included Sullivan West’s Drew Billard (39-41-80) who came in fourth overall. Elliott was one stroke behind him (41-40-81) part of a three way tie for fifth place. Eldred eighth grader David Powers (49-45-84) was part of a five-way tie for seventh place, while Tri-Valley’s Jimmy Bernstein (41-49-90) in 13th place.
Tri-Valley’s Connor Walsh , Monticello’s Angelo Niforatos and Roscoe’s Jesse Higgins missed the cut.
Here are the results:
(at Grossinger Country Club, Liberty, par 71; the top 29 and ties advanced to the Section 9 first round Monday at The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge in Monroe)
Nick Marotta (Monroe-Woodbury) 38-35-73; Scott Clark (Monroe-Woodbury) 35-41-76; Nick Hoffstatter (Kingston) 38-48-78; Brandon Waaland (Washingtonville) 41-37-78; Drew Billard (Sullivan West) 39-41-80; Eric Cohen (Monroe-Woodbury) 42-39-81; Lucas Durland (Warwick) 38-43-81; Rich Elliott (Fallsburg) 41-40-81; Ryan Rodriguez (Cornwall) 42-41-83; Zach Cantelmo (Warwick) 41-43-84; Dylan Kelly (Pine Bush) 38-46-84; David Powers (Eldred) 39-45-84; Brendan Riley (James I. O’Neill) 42-42-84; Pete Rodriguez (Minisink Valley) 42-42-84; Justin Thelig (Kingston) 41-44-85; Grant Gadomski (Warwick) 45-41-86; James Purcell (Monroe-Woodbury) 45-42-87; Sean Ginley (Warwick) 41-47-88; Nikolai Quigley (Warwick) 44-44-88; Josh Hoffner (Newburgh Free Academy) 49-40-89; Bradley Miller (Valley Central) 46-43-89; Jimmy Bernstein (Tri-Valley) 41-49-90; Conor Campbell (Port Jervis) 46-44-90; Jack Donnellan (Monroe-Woodbury) 46-44-90; Connor Cook (Newburgh Free Academy) 42-49-91; Mike Friedman (Monroe-Woodbury) 45-46-91; Jason Sherman (Middletown) 43-48-91; Taylor Stovall (Cornwall) 41-50-91; Pat Morris (Monroe-Woodbury) 44-48-92; Kyle O’Connell (Cornwall) 42-50-92; Justin Pitman (Pine Bush) 45-47-92; Jimmy Stradley (James I. O’Neill) 43-49-92.
Missed the cut: Steve Auer (Monroe-Woodbury) 48-45-93; Chris Otis (Kingston) 45-48-93; Aaron Goyzueta (Goshen) 50-44-94; Jake Porada (John S. Burke Catholic) 48-46-94; James Sullivan (Port Jervis) 44-50-94; Blake Waaland (Washingtonville) 48-46-94; Chris Love (Cornwall) 48-47-95; James Turcott (Washingtonville) 48-48-96; Matt Biagi (Goshen) 45-52-97; Nick Garafalo (Minisink Valley) 45-52-97;
Angelo Niforatos (Monticello) 48-49-97; Mike Quinn (Port Jervis) 46-51-97; Connor Walsh (Tri-Valley) 46-51-97; Steve Herschel (John S. Burke Catholic) 48-52-100; Ryan Hickey (John S. Burke Catholic) 49-52-101; Jesse Higgins (Roscoe) 53-48-101; Russ Auth (Warwick) 49-55-104; Shailen Patel (Goshen) WD; Jake McManus (John S. Burke Catholic) WD.
Sullivan West Girls Clinch Division IV Crown
With their 4-3 win over John S. Burke Catholic, the Lady Bulldogs of Sullivan West clinched their second Division IV crown in the past three years. With a 7-7 overall record, but more notably a 7-1 league mark, the Lady Westies get to see another banner go up in the Bulldogs’ gym. Their appearance in sectionals this year with mark the 27th time the Lady Bulldogs made it to the postseason under the 30 year watch of Coach Mike Ellmauer.
Helping the cause in this game was Marianne Durkin who went 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Hannah Schwatz was 2-for-3 with an double and an RBI.
Liberty Rides Casiano Complete Game Outing and Scheibe Hit Fusillade To Pummel Sullivan West
With their 9-4 win over Sullivan West two days prior, Liberty clinched a sectional berth but was still one game shy of evening its league record at 4-4. Making a visit to Lions Field in Jeffersonville, the Indians soon attained that goal with a 15-3 trouncing of their rivals.
Indeed, as I have noted before, the ardor of the rivalry between the two schools reignited this year by Sullivan West’s OT football victory that barred Liberty from the postseason and the two “Revelry and Rivalry” basketball games both won by the Indians this winter, were preludes to the much-anticipated meeting of local version of the Hatfields and McCoys in baseball.
But for these two games thus far, it’s been far from the kind of nail biting nip and tuck tussels of bygone years. The Westies will look to try and stave off the sweep on May 21 when they travel to Indian Country for the third and final game of the series. Liberty improved to 10-5 (4-4) OCIAA, keeping its second half of the season unblemished. They travel to Monticello on May 18 to face the Monties in the opening round of this year’s John Spear Tournament.
The winner will face Rondout Valley for the tourney title. The Ganders defeated Ellenville 8-7 in the other tournament opener.
In this game against Sullivan West, Liberty got a run in the top of the first as leadoff hitter Tino Casiano reached on an E-5, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch from Westie hurler Cody Franskevicz. A nifty 4-6-3 double play by the Westies extinguished the threat of further damage.
Casiano retired the side in order in the first, notching two of his eventual 10 strike outs.
Liberty plated six runs in the second inning as they sent ten batters to the dish. Anthony Mercado and Casiano knocked in two apied with back-to-back doubles. An error that resulted off the bat of Anthony Covington plated two more. When the dust settled, the Indians led 7-0.
Casiano worked around a leadoff double by Andrew Parsons to notch another zero. By day’s end in his complete game outing, he’d scatter ten hits and yield just three runs.
Liberty piled on with two more runs in the third. Nick Scheibe got the first of his three straight singles and came in on single by Mercado. A wild pitch to Joe Franke sent Scheibe home as Liberty extended its lead to 9-0.
Sullivan West woke up in the bottom of the third stanza as Patrick Pierce knocked in a run with a double to right. Parsons brought him in with a single and Zach O’Connor drove in the third run with a base hit.
That would be it for the Bulldogs’ scoring on the day. On the mound, Franskevicz the younger gave way to his brother E.J. in the fifth inning after yielding another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Scheibe. Liberty topped off its day with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh. In the sixth inning a bases loaded walk issued to Quinn Jackson brought in the first run. A run scored on a collision at home plate and the second runner followed suit across the dish.
It was at that juncture that this writer exited so how Liberty amassed its final two runs will remain a mystery to me. At 13-3 I had already seen enough and knew I had much to do so I made my departure.
On Saturday it’s back to track as I head to Warwick for the second day of the OCIAA League Championships. It’s one of my favorite track meets of the year.
SW Boys Clinch Ninth Straight Division IV Golf Title
With their 227-260 win over Fallsburg on May 11, Sullivan West (10-0 Division IV) clinched its ninth consecutive division title. Drew Billard led the way with a four-over par 39 on the front nine at the Villa Roma. Fallsburg’s Richie Elliott shot a three-over 38 but for the rest of the golfers it was far from close. Here were the scores: Drew Billard 39; Devon Muruzuk 43; Cody Kubenik 45; Jim Finn 48; Ryan Graham 52.
Fallsburg: Rich Elliott 38; Braiden DeGraw 50; Zak Steingart 53; Aaron Schmitt 59; Charles Marsden 60.
Records: Sullivan West 12-5 (10-0 OCIAA); Fallsburg 4-7-1 (4-6-1 OCIAA).
For an album of photos from the Liberty-Sullivan West game, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com. I also took some shots of Billard, Elliott, Walsh and Bernstein at the OCIAA Golf Tourney. I’ll post those soon.
Honing The Edge
Liberty Pounds Fallsburg As Indians Sharpen Up For Anticipated Sectional Play; Strong Pitching And Solid Batting Propel Indians To Within One Game Of Sectional Inclusion
Liberty 16, Fallsburg 2
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
May Marauders, that's what Liberty has become with its 4-0 record in the second half of the season. Here they make Fallsburg their latest scalping victim (clockwise) Liberty starter Cosmos Fitzpatrick went five innings and allowed just two runs on three hits. Reliever Quinn Jackson pitched two inning and allowed just one base runner. This play involves an errant run down attempt as Liberty's Ryan Henry is caught between third and home just before catcher Jimmy Bertholf sends his throw into left field allowing two runs to score. Liberty Assistant Coach Phil Fanning addresses the Tribe following the win while head Coach John Wilhelm fields questions from this photojournalist. Liberty battery mates Doug Carter and Jim Bertholf confer, Fallsburg's Cory McKeon gets and RBI. Fallsburg Doug Carter fires in.
LIBERTY, NY—Poised to strike.
That’s what the Liberty Indians are these days as they sharpen their edge in impressive fashion anticipating their imminent series with arch rival Sullivan West and even more so, their hoped for raid on the Class B wagon train which they hope to set ablaze with rapacious hitting and solid pitching.
The second half of the season has witnessed Liberty’s rising ardor with a 4-0 record of late, and it was Fallsburg which became the latest team to get scalped.
The non-league skirmish played out under a gorgeous blue sky and balmy temperatures, indeed the kind of weather one used to regard as the norm for this time of years. These days, there is no such thing.
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm sent Cosmos Fitzpatrick to the hill, a pitcher who Wilhelm notes, “has given us a pleasant surprise. He’s thrown the ball well for us.”
And that’s exactly what he did over his five innings of work as he allowed just two runs and three hits in his 85 pitches, thereby evening his record this year at 2-2. Sophomore Quinn Jackson came on to finish the job and was sharp, just as he was in his last outing against Burke.
Fallsburg Coach Jeff O’Neill countered with Doug Carter, not exactly a flame thrower, but a workmanlike hurler who has had some success this season keeping batters guessing with his quirky stuff and occasional heat.
Indeed it was a gorgeous and tranquil spring morning, just perfect for baseball but for Carter and the rest of the Comets, it might as well have been raining cats and dogs given the outcome.
Fitzpatrick made short work of Fallsburg in the first as he struck out two of the three batters he faced. For their part, the Tribe wasted no time going on the warpath. With one-out singles from Joe Franke and Ryan Henry the table was set for Anthony Covington to knock in the first of his two RBI on the day with a crisp single. Jesse Hufnagel reached on an E-3 to plate the second run and a single by Nick Scheibe made it three-zip.
Fitzpatrick went back to work and again it was one, two, three as he induced three fly balls ably tracked down by shortstop Franke, left fielder Covington and right fielder Matt McPhillips.
The Indians added three more runs in the second behind an RBI double from Franke and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Covington. A wild pitch enabled the third run to score, affording Liberty a 6-0 lead.
Fitzpatrick’s perfect start was abated by his issuance of a two-out walk to Tony McGhee in the top of th third. He promptly struck out leadoff hitter Jarrett Madison to make amends.
In the bottom of the stanza Liberty again populated the bases behind an E-6 issued to Scheibe and a single by McPhillips. A wild pitch enabled the runners to advance and a sac fly from Damien Fitzpatrick made it 7-0.
Fallsburg got two men on in with two out in the fourth as Carter singled and Ryan McKeon got on with a bunt but the Comets couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to trim Liberty’s lead.
That margin would widen by three more runs in the bottom of the fourth abetted by Fallsburg miscues. Throwing down to second base allowed Ryan Henry to score the first run. He had gotten on with a one-out single earlier in the inning and had advanced to third on a single by Hufnagel. McPhillips blasted a two-run double in what would be Carter’s last inning of work.
Heading into the top of the fifth, Liberty led 10-0 before Fallsburg finally got on the board with RBI singles from Madison and Cory McKeon.
The Indians countered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Again Fallsburg errors came into play on throwing miscues involving Henry caught in a rundown. The throw sailed over third base allowing two runs to score. The inning began ominously as Fallsburg’s Ryan McKeon started his relief outing by issuing a single to pinch hitter Kody Viele. Another pinch hitter, Atwahn Ackerly singled next and McKeon proceeded to plunk the next insert Jordan Thomas to load the bases with no outs.
Ryan Boxberger plated a run with a sac fly to center. An double plated two more runs as Liberty now led 15-2.
Jackson pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Fitzpatrick issuing only one walk and no hits. Liberty added its final run in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly.
The Indians improved to 8-5 and will face Sullivan West in a three game Division IV series beginning on May 14 in Jeffersonville. They need only one more win to clinch a sectional berth but Wilhelm notes, “We want to go into sectionals on a positive note. We don’t want to limp in.” To continue its second half momentum Liberty views its series with Sullivan West as huge. The Indians would love to improve its 2-4 league record against its rival. Liberty got one win from O’Neill and one from Burke.
“We’re hitting the ball better and running the bases better. We’re improving and that’s all we’ve been looking for all year,” he added.
Wilhelm coaches football and the bitter memory of Sullivan West’s OT win over Liberty that ousted the Indians from playoff contention remains. Then there was basketball wherein Liberty swept Sullivan West though both teams did make it to sectionals.
Now it’s baseball season with many of the usual suspects engaged. And even though the games won’t be as populated with the fervid fans present during the fall and winter, it still should be fun.
Fallsburg fell to 3-9 with the loss.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Home Field Swan Song
Liberty Defeats Fallsburg In Last Home Game Of The Season; Comets Still In Search Of First-Ever Win Will Now Travel To Eldred Looking For It There; Liberty’s Senior-Laden Squad Relishes The Game and Win Despite Disappointment Of No Postseason Bid
Liberty 33, Fallsburg 7
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the last Liberty home football game of the season (Clockwise): Fallsburg's Josh Carter calls the signals as the Comets get set to take on Liberty. Fallsburg's Sabastian Sanchez carries the ball. Liberty's Kenny Jaycox nearly scored on this carry but did so on the very next on the next carry. Liberty and Fallsburg cheerleaders perform for each other prior to the game. Liberty's Atwoun Ackerley dives across the goal plane following a 24-yard TD run.
LIBERTY, NY—The sky was steely gray and a chill was in the air as the Indians got set to play their final home game of the season, a non-league tilt against neighboring Fallsburg, a team still in search of its first-ever win as it draws near the end of its second season.
Compared to football games with playoff berths on the line where avid fans filled the stands and great drama was being played out with eyes riveted on every play, this game had a more relaxed feel to it. Fans were on hand, but there were fewer of them than were present when the Indians were still in the hunt.
The 2011 Liberty Indians
By now, two week after their one-point overtime loss to Sullivan Wes t in a league game that sealed their fate, Liberty players seemed to have accepted their lot.
That said, this was the last home game for a senior-laden Indian squad, a team coaches hoped would not just make it to the playoffs, but one which had a chance to win it all but alas that was not to be.
Fallsburg's Thomas Zuewesky scores the Comets' only TD on a 13-yard pass from Josh Carter.
This year’s seniors include Joe Franke, Javier Baez, Marshon Williams, Jesse Hufnagel, Efrain Baez, Dejon Williams, Anthony Covington, Kenneth Padilla, Tino Casiano, Ryan Zayas, Jon Santiago, Daniel Ramirez, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tiago Mastrogiovanni, Cosmos Fitzpatrick, Victor Agunbiade, Michael Herbert, Danny Hopkins and Taylor VanKeuren.
Fallsburg seniors were reckoning with their waning high school football careers in their next to last game Comet elderstatesmen include Alexandre Mathieu, Douglas Carter, Russell Corley, Benjamin Davis, Kyle Dillon, Kai Jackson and Corey McKeon.
Prior to the game the Fallsburg and Liberty cheerleaders took turns entertaining each other with their spirited displays.
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm and his staff looked to this game as an opportunity to play all of the young warriors who have worked so hard all year long. Fallsburg’s diminished numbers, now hovering around 16 would prove to be no match for powerful Liberty and it didn’t take long for that fact to manifest itself.
Liberty's Kenny Jaycox.
Liberty won the toss and elected to receive. Fallsburg’s Sabastian Sanchez kicked it off and Victor Agunbiade returned it to the 28 where he was met by Sanchez and Jackson. On the first play from scrimmage Anthony Covington rumbled to the Fallsburg 41. Kenny Jaycox and Marshon Williams took the ball in turn before Jaycox scored on a one-yard TD run to make it 6-0. Ryan Henry kicked the PAT and the Indians took a 7-0 lead in a game they would never trail in.
Fallsburg returned it to the 37 and soon had to reckon with a fierce run defense as tackles by Padilla and Covington led to a fourth and three at the 44. Sanchez marshaled a first down but on the next play Fallsburg QB Josh Carter’s pass was intercepted by Joe Franke at the Fallsburg 41.
Liberty moved the ball with efficiency as Franke, Hufnagel and Jaycox advanced it to the 19. Williams threw a 19-yard TD pass to Henry at 3:37 and Libety led 13-0 as Henry’s PAT failed.
Arron Hornbeck received the ball on the Comets’ 42 and Fallsburg went back to work but it was a short shift as they soon went three and out. Liberty took over on downs at the Comets’ 46. Williams completed a 15-yard pass to Efrain Baez and Ehat Shehi got a carry much to the delight of his teammates before junior Atwoun Ackerley took off and wove through traffic for a 24-yard TD run at 11:07 of the second quarter for the 19-0 lead. Henry’s PAT sailed through the uprights for the 20-0 lead.
Fallsburg's Shakree Gibson
Fallsburg was pinned back on its own 11 from the Henry kickoff and again it was three and out followed by a short punt that gave the Indians a short field at the Comets’ 20. Fallsburg’s defense stiffened forcing and 15 from the 26. Henry then missed on a 42-yard field goal attempt as he looked to break a school record.
Fallsburg got it back and moved it with Shakree Gibson’s running and a completed pass to Thomas Zuewsky but time ran out on the half and the teams went to their respective locker rooms with the Indians leading 20-0.
Liberty began the second half by recovering its own onsides kick at midfield. Just a few plays later Jaycox bolted 27 yards for a TD at 8:09 of the third quarter to make it 26-0. Once again the PAT failed.
Gibson was the recipient of a resounding hit on the ensuing kickoff. Fallsburg went three and out again and Covington took the ball on the first play of Liberty’s next series on a 23-yard run into the endzone to make it 32-0 with 3:30 left to play in the third quarter. Henry’s PAT went through the uprights and Liberty now led 33-0.
Subs galore were now shuffling in and out for Liberty. Fallsburg had none to send in. The few people on its sideline were mostly nursing injuries.
The third quarter ended with Fallsburg in possession of the ball at their own 27. From there they mounted an impressive drive which was extended by a fourth and seven completed pass to Zuewesky. At 3:39 Carter hit Zuewesky with a 13-yard pass and several of his teammates ran over to him and celebrated like they’d just won the Super Bowl.
That would be it for scoring as Liberty improved to 5-3, while Fallsburg fell to 0-8.
“This was our best game yet,” affirmed Fallsburg Coach Adam Ramirez. We’re down to 16 kids. Academics hurt us to as we lost four. We practiced hard all week and we just came out to have fun and play good, consistent , solid football. Liberty is a great team. They’re coached well. John gets his kids ready for every game,”
“This was good for our seniors and we got a lot of kids in the game,” observed Coach Wilhelm. It’s a great bunch of kids. We’re very proud of them. It’s unfortunate that we’re not in the playoffs. That was a goal of ours. It’s a part of life. We knew the system and we knew what we had to do but we didn’t get it done. It is what it is,” said Wilhelm. “Right now our senior class has the most numbers with numbers going down each grade. We won’t have as many kids coming back but we will have kids who were major contributors this year. They include Ryan Henry, Tony Saravia, Andy Martinez, Ryan Boxberger, Kenny Jaycox and others.
Liberty's Ryan Henry
Some kids from the junior varsity will come out and help out too. Our modified numbers are good but it will take a couple of years to get them ready,” he concluded.
Stat Line:
Liberty:
Passing : Marshon Williams 3/4/54 with one TD
Rushing: Marshon Wiliams 2/49; Anthony Covington 10/90 with a TD; Kenny Jaycox 7/69 with two TD’s.
Efrain Baez 3/10. Ehad Shehi 1/9 and Atwoun Ackerley 1/24 and a TD.
Receiving: Ryan Henry 2/27 with a TD; Joe Franke 1/18
Defense: Joe Franke an interception; Javier Baez seven tackles; Damien Fitzpatrick had a sack; Tyrell Ivory had seven tackles.
Fallsburg
Passing: Josh Carter 5/8/2 1 TD;
Receiving Tom Zuewesky 3/23 one TD
Rushing: Sabastian Sanchez 13/33; Shakree Gibson 8/33.
Sabastian Sanchez had the PAT.
Defense:Sabastian Sanchez led with six tackles.
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Backs To The Wall
Liberty Is Victorious Over Ellenville In A Quagmire To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive; Covington and Jaycox Score Two TD’s Apiece In Mud War Against Struggling Blue Devils; Win Caps Off Pride Weekend Success
Liberty 25, Ellenville 6
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
An epic win keeps playoff hopes alive: Liberty defeats Ellenville to stay in the hunt for a berth in the Class C afterlife (Clockwise) Anthony Covington makes a great gain as he is finally wrestled by his jersey by Blue Devil Robert Borriello. Liberty QB Marshon Williams and Covington lead the line as muddied Liberty players get ready for the handshake. Kenny Jaycox sets off on a 45-yard TD run. He and Covington scored two TD's apiece. Liberty cheerleaders dance in the rain and splash in the puddles. Ellenville's Tyler O'Bryant avoids a diving tackle attempt by Ryan Henry as he returns a second half kickoff to the house for the Blue Devils' only score of the game.
Editor’s note: Heading off to Monticello for the game vs. Saugerties. I will add more photos to the text below tonight.
LIBERTY, NY—Sports build character. Of that there can be little doubt.
Perseverance, teamwork, leadership and courage in the face of adversity are required to marshal the strength to pick oneself up off the mat and forge on when things don’t go your way.
Liberty did just that following its heart-rending 14-13 loss to O’Neill a week ago, a game they had in their control at the end and failed to capture.
Gathering around and anxious to take to the muddy field,, Liberty players get some tips on the sideline.
Evincing a dominating 25-6 win over Division I rival Ellenville by putting the hammer down early against the Blue Devils, was fitting as the denouement to Pride Weekend already alluring behind girls and boys soccer wins and a victorious tennis match.
The winning effort was a testament to the gritty nature of the Indians and the inspiration they derive from their coaches, fans and adoring community.
Faced with the prospect of being eliminated from playoff contention with a potential loss against the 2008 and 2009 Section Nine Class C Champions, Liberty took to the soupy field amidst a rainy maelstrom and took care of business.
With weather conditions such as they were, the Indians knew they’d have to rely on their ground attack and as Coach John Wilhelm would later note “We’d have to get the ball to our playmakers in space,” in order to maintain an advance against an Ellenville team facing the same elimination threat. As it would soon become apparent, those playmakers included quarterback Marshon Williams and running backs Kenny Jaycox and Anthony Covington.
Their heroics will soon be recounted in detail as this game story unfolds.
But truth be told, the notion of losing this game was never seriously entertained by the upbeat Indians who put last week’s debacle in the rearview mirror and played a ferocious brand of football on both sides of the ball.
As for me, clearly the only photo journalist on hand to document this crucial game, and not wanting to take the risk of damaging thousands of dollars worth of photo equipment, this already –sodden sports maven took to the booth and relied on his nearly 300mm worth of zoom lens capacity to zero in on the action.
Liberty received to start the game but stalled deep in their own end behind a lack of traction in the quagmire and Ellenville’s staunch defense. After a three and out they punted and the Blue Devils began their first series at their own 46. Indian defense swarmed in and Ellenvile QB Robert Borriello recovered his own fumble only to be smothered by LibertyTyrelll Ivory. Liberty got the ball back via a punt and Williams ripped off a 20-yard run on a keeper giving the Indians a first at the Ellenville 43 as he evaded as series of Blue Devil tackles.
Williams continued to carry the load, churning his feet in the muddy pudding as he marshaled another first down to the 16-yard line. Efrain Baez got five but a fumble put Liberty up against a fourth and five from the 11. Williams got the first down to the five.
Kenny Jaycox scored on a one-yard run with 1:34 remaining in the first quarter to give Liberty a 6-0 lead. The PAT was blocked. Liberty used a quick kick by Ryan Henry, which was Efrain Baez offering Liberty the first takeaway of the night.
Liberty set up at the Ellenville 37-yard line and soon faced a fourth down sand short as the quarter ended. Jaycox got the corner around right for a first down. On third and eight Covington broke loose for a 13-yard TD run at 9:52 of the second quarter for the 12-0 lead. The two point conversion pass was knocked down by Ellenville’s Tyler O’Bryant.
Henry sent a squib kick skittering across the mud that Ellenville’s Kyler Conner recovered at the Blue Devils’ 44. Ellenville tried to run inside to no avail. Its pitch plays also made little or no headway against the pursuing Indians who had practiced to content with such. With such poor traction, O’Bryant’s blazing speed would be severely hampered. That said, as Ellenville Coach Tony Borriello would later note, despite plans to run an inside game, more runs to the outside would have offered better prospects for advance.
Liberty took over on downs at midfield. Liberty committed a holding penalty but that didn’t prevent speedy Jaycox from uncorking a 45-yard TD run with 5:12 remaining for the 18-0 lead. A delay of game by Liberty, pass interference by Ellenville and ultimately a failed conversion try resulted in no additional points added to the already-burgeoning Liberty lead.
Henry’s kick gave Ellenville the ball at its own 20. Borriello had a nice run on a keeper but Ellenville still faced a fourth and three with 3:10 at their own 25. A completed pass to Victor Perez gave Ellenville a needed first down at their own 33. O’Bryant caught a screen pass and now faced a fourth and four but a big tackle by Danny Ramirez gave the Indians the ball back.
On the first play of the next series with 35.8 seconds remaining in the half, Covington broke away for a 41-yard TD run to make it 24-0. Henry’s PAT gave Liberty a 25-0 lead which it would take into the half. A facemask penalty against Ellenville on Covington’s run was declined.
Liberty kicked off to start the second half and in perhaps the only Indian miscue of the day, he sent it deep to O’Bryant. Having watched the Ellenville game against Sulliivan West and O’Bryant’s speedy return to start that clash won by the Westies 26-14, they already knew what the track sprint champion was capable of.
O’Bryant snared the ball at the ten and raced 90 yards for the score with 11:13 remaining in the third quarter to make the scorre25-6. The pass on the conversion try was incomplete.
Ellenville would evince a much better second half as it would hold Liberty scoreless. They tackled better and penetrated the gaps and while they certainly didn’t stop Liberty’s advance between the twenties, they kept them out of the end zone and afforded themselves far more time of possession than they had in the first half.
For its part Liberty’s defense remained stalwart following the O’Bryant TD. Muddied but grinning, they’d return to the sideline after each stand sensing the impending win and all that means for their continued presence in the Class C picture.
Ellenville got some breaks including a fumble recovery of a slippery ball that escaped from Jaycox, but Liberty responded by putting up an unassailable defense that ended with Ellenville’s intentional grounding of the ball on a third down.
Meanwhile the rain was creating a sideshow as Liberty cheerleaders stomped in the puddles to splash each other and happy-go-lucky fans rolled down the muddy hill. Given the weather, the large number of fans on hand was quite impressive.
At the game’s conclusion 2011 Liberty grad Jessica Dunnigan returned for a cameo appearance. The NYS Division II 200 meter champion was honored. The field will now convey her legacy as it will bear witness to her stellar achievement. Dunnigan is now at Northeastern University.
Ellenville Coach Tony Borriello crossed the field to congratulate Liberty Coach John Wilhelm. The mentor to his former player, Borrielllo expressed his well-wishes to his friend and props for a great game played by his team.
Turning to this writer, the affable and classy Borriello acknowledged the ups and downs of success that are part and parcel of athletics, particularly in small schools.
“We were looking for the little things and that’s what I was happy about tonight. I thought we played a much better second half. We went inside and talked about missed tackles that killed us. The kids did what they had to do in the second half, “ he noted.
“Liberty is a good team. They executed well, a lot better than expected in the mud and we didn’t. We’re young and still need to shore up in some spots. Success comes and goes. It’s their turn now and hopefully they’ll do something with it. As for John, he is definitely going places and is going to do well,” he noted.
Falling to 0-4 and 0-2 in Class C essentially means Ellenville’s season is over in terms of postseason play. But for the coach and his staff who think football all year long, even in track season, the work is already about next year.
Wilhelm put the situation succinctly. “Our backs were to the wall and the team responded after the loss last week. We knew we probably weren’t going to throw much and had to rely on our run game. Even as a spread team, we run the ball more than we throw it. In our Class you’ve got to win two of three league games and we got one tonight.
Liberty will travel to Pine Plains next week for a non-league game before taking the journey up the road to Sullivan West the week after for another do-or-die scenario. Following its crushing 20-16 loss to O’Neill with 50 seconds remaining in their game down at Highland Falls, the Westies are in the same boat. O’Neill clinched the Division and the top seed leaving the two teams it stunned late to battle it out for the right to face Division II’s top seed which is probably Burke in the first round of the playoffs.
Liberty improved to 3-1 (1-1 Class C); while Ellenville fell to 0-4 (0-2 Class C).
Liberty stat line:
Passing: Marshon Williams 1/4/4
Rushing: Williams 13/92; Anthony Covington 9/69 with two TD’s; Kenny Jaycox 10/99 with two TD’s; Efrain Baez 1/5.
Receiving: Efrain Baez 1/3
Defense: Javier Baez nine tackles; Williams four tackles and a forced fumble; Danny Ramirez seven tackles and a sack; Joe Franke two tackles and an interception; Tony Saravia seven tackles.
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The Razor’s Edge
O’Neill’s Defense Makes A Huge Late Stand And Liberty Misses The Game-Winning Field Goal In An Epic High School Classic; League Result Puts O’Neill One Win Away From A Playoff Berth and Liberty Having To Run The Table Vs Ellenville and Sullivan West
James I. O’Neill 14, Liberty 13
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from an epic clash as Liberty and O'Neill vie for a win in a closely-contested Division I clash (Clockwise) Liberty's Anthony Covington dives over the goal line for a 12-yard TD. O'Neill junior Jerry Nasi cruises into the end zone on a two-point conversion run. He scored both Raiders' TD's as well. Liberty's Ryan Henry hauls in a 20-yard TD catch from Marshon Willaims. Williams is brought down by a diving Nasi. Both teams played fine defense but O'Neill had the last word.
LIBERTY, NY—Sometimes it’s the narrowest margin that separates contrasting outcomes in life. In a sense we’re always walking that tightrope knowing full well that in some instances things will work in our favor, while at other times they just won’t go our way.
One right answer on a test can be the difference between passing and failing; one quick swerve on the road can avoid a catastrophic collision. Even more poignantly, as we saw on 9/11, precious life can hang in the balance in a fateful second as a burning skyscraper is about to collapse. In such critical instances a split second decision can be the difference between life and death
While sports mirrors life in its teetering outcomes and offers the compelling drama of games that literally hang in the balance, we must remember that they are after all, just games. Win or lose, the outcomes must remain in perspective.
O'Neill's Jerry Nasi racked up 140 yards on 20 carries and accounted for all 14 Raider points.
That said, in clashes such as the epic down-to-the-wire division encounter between host Liberty and visiting James I. O’Neill, won 14-13 by the latter on September 17, the captivating allure of a high school classic whose result would not be manifested until the game’s very final seconds, was indeed a reminder of how narrow the margin can be between exultation and heart-rending disappointment.
For Liberty which came into this fray having scored 94 points over its first two wins of the season and playing its first league game, this was to be an emotional first-step towards returning to the playoffs, a place they’ve been for the past two years. More so, the Indians have dedicated themselves towards winning it all and they most certainly still can do that.
But succumbing by one point after recovering an O’Neill fumble, having a first-and-goal at the Raiders’ nine –yard line and seeing things unfold the way they did with a dropped pass in the end zone, the inability to surmount O’Neill’s staunch run defense and then missing a game-winning 22-yard field goal by a kicker for whom this ordinarily represents a chip shot was a shocking result.
“That’s football,” said Liberty Coach John Wilhelm who knew that his team had squandered a win by dint of excessive penalties and missed opportunities. Ever the realist and always focused on the next step, Wilhelm will now guide his young Tribe towards keeping their focus and winning against Ellenville on what else, Pride Weekend, in order to stay in the hunt.
As for O”Neill, they showed immense character down the stretch and for that matter, most of the second half as they played what Coach Anthony Finochioy called “Raider football,” to withstand the most daunting threat. To be sure, O’Neill’s heroics which up to that point had centered on great second half blocking, relentless tackling led by Eric Wallace’s 15 takedowns, and the outstanding running of workhorse junior Jerry Nasi were capped off by a goal line stand of epic proportions.
O’Neill won the toss and elected to defer. As Libety junior Kenny Jaycox received the ball and ran it back to the Raiders’ 45, the home crowd had its first electrifying rush of excitement. Liberty offered up a mix of runs with junior Anthony Covington, senior quarterback Marshon Williams and Jaycox as they advanced the ball to the 17 before faltering on fourth down allowing O’Neill to take over on downs at their 16.
Sophomre Keegan West was calling the signals. A false start hampered O’Neill on its first play but an option pitch to Nasi proved to be profitable as did the next few plays on the ground until Covington registered a sack on fourth down of Keegan and the Indians got the ball back.
Liberty junior Kenny Jaycox electrifies the crowd on this hefty game-opening kickoff return. Jaycox was key on defense as well with nine tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. He ran for 34 yards on eight carries.
Liberty was unable to sustain its drive on this series and Ryan Henry’s fake punt was snuffed out giving the Raiders the ball on the Liberty 40. A pass to senior tight end Matt McCarthy was key as the first quarter ended 0-0 but with O’Neill threatening at the nine-yard line.
A steady diet of carries by Nasi soon yielded a one-yard TD at 9:48 of the second quarter. The PAT failed and O’Neill led 6-0.
Liberty’s ground advance was undercut by a chop block call that set them back with a first and 25 at midfield but the Indians overcame the challenge with a great catch by Henry that brought the Tribe to the Raiders’ seven-yard line. A TD by Jaycox was called back on a holding penalty but Williams connected with Henry again, this time for a 20-yard TD with 4:15 remaining in the period to tie the game at six-all. Henry’s PAT gave Liberty a 7-6 lead.
An onside kick was recovered by O’Neill’s Bobby Jackson and once again the Raiders had a short field at their own 46. Jaycox caused a fumble which O’Neill recovered but the Raiders were forced to punt. Neither team scored and the Indians took the 7-6 lead into the half.
O’Neill recovered Liberty’s opening onsides kick but went three and out to start the third quarter. The punt was partially blocked and Liberty took over at the Raiders 45. Impressive runs by Jaycox, Williams and Covington got the ball to the 12. Covington scored from there sailing airborne over the goal line at 6:20 for the 13-6 lead. Henry’s PAT ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar. Little could anyone imagine that that would constitute the difference in the game’s final score.
Liberty now had the momentum as Henry recovered his own onsides kick but the Indians didn’t capitalize on the advantage and went three and out. Henry’s punt pinned O’Neill at its own 16 but Nasi was about to go to work taking the ball on nearly every down. The quarter ended with the Raiders on Liberty 15.
A great call on a reverse placed the ball in the hands of junior Derrike Shrieve as Liberty bit on the play and went off in search of Nasi who no longer had the ball. Now the Raider set up with a first down at the four and Nasi took it in from there to make it 13-12 still in Liberty’s favor. He then toted in the two-point conversion with 11;24 remaining in the game for O’Neill’s first lead as they now were on top 14-13.
A great punt by junior Jordan Baskerville who had come out of the game on O’Neill’s first series with a knee injury pinned Liberty at its 15. The Raiders dug in and Eric Wallace sacked Williams. O’Neill got the ball at its own 45 as Liberty coaches barked, “We need a stop.”
They got just that as Covingston knocked the ball loose and Tiago Mastrogiovanni recovered it giving Liberty the ball at the Raiders’ 43.
A facemask penalty by O’Neill helped the Liberty cause as they now faced a first and five at the 42 with just over seven minutes to go. Williams completed a short pass to Javier Baez. After Covington racked up another first down, Liberty was again flagged this time for holding. Now it was first and 20 at the 46 with 4:30 to go.
The Williams to Henry air express worked again yielding a first down on the 22. Five yard runs by Williams and Covington brought it to the 12and with 2:30 to go Williams got a first and goal at the nine.
On the very next play he hit Jaycox in the end zone for what would have been the winning TD but the speedy Fallsburg transfer student couldn’t hold on to the ball. The Indians tried to bang it in with a dive by Covington that went to the five. O’Neill was flagged for encroachment which put the ball on the three. After Williams was stopped in his tracks and with 35.7 seconds remaining. Liberty called a time out and set up its final play, a 22-yard field goal attempt by Henry.
Ryan Henry kicks the field goal at the end of the game but it sails wide right.
“Wide right,” went Henry’s kick and with it the Indians’ hope of a cathartic comeback win. Those were the same famous words used to descirbe the Buffalo Bill demise against the Giants in Superbowl XXV in 1991 as Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard attempt with the Bills trailing by a single point with eight seconds left in the game.
By stark contrast to Liberty’s sinking emotions, O’Neill’s players and coaches erupted in joy at the last minute reprieve.
“Stick a fork in me. I’m done,” quipped Coach Finochioy. “My kids showed unbelievable heart today. They showed that they had the heart of a champion. They really stepped up. I’m so impressed. I’ve never seen a group of young men that played through adversity like this before,” he said as his voice reflected overwhelming emotion.
“Nasi is a workhorse. It doesn’t get any bigger that this he added,” agreeing that this game’s was Liberty’s for the taking and that his team took it back. “Liberty controlled us in the first half and we knew when we came out in the second half that we had to establish Raider football again and run the ball and my kids did that. The offensive line did an unbelievable job including my tight ends.
Jordan Baskerville is tough as nails. He took a knee injury early on and came back in,” he added.
Nasi was quick to deflect the praise. “It it wasn’t for the offensive line I don’t think I would have been going anywhere.”
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm had already spoken to his troops when this writer got to interview him. As the Indians exited the field Wilhelm had this to say: “We hurt ourselves today with too many penalties. But we did play well. The kids ran hard and Marshon threw some really nice passes to Henry but again too many mistakes.
This picture says it all. To the victors belong the spoils.
We did put ourselves in a position to win. Hopefully the next one goes our way. Now we’re in a must-win situation as we face Ellenville and then Sullivan West,” he added.
Ellenville’s coach Tony Borriello was Wilhelm’s coach and is truly his mentor. With the game slated to be played on Liberty’s Pride Weekend and with 0-3 Ellenville and 2-1 Liberty both having to win to assure themselves of a playoff berth, this game is going to be immense to say the least. “Ellenville is hungry and we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Liberty Stat Line:
Passing: Marshon Williams 7/12/107 with one TD.
Rushing: Williams 16/74; Anthony Covington 11/52 with one TD; Kenny Jaycox 8/34
Receiving: Ryan Henry 3/83 with one TD; Javier Baez 2/9; Covington 2/15;
Defense: Baez six tackles; Jaycox nine tackles, one sack, one forced fumble; Covington six tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles; Tiago Mastrogiovanni one fumble recovery; Tony Saravia 11 tackles and Danny Hopkins three tackles and one sack.
Liberty is now 2-1 (0-1 OCIAA), while O’Neill is 2-1 (1-0) OCIAA. The Raiders host Sullivan West on September 23. The winner will be assured of a playoff spot.
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