Ka-boom In the Gloom
Patrick Pierce’s Blast Propels Hot Dawgs As Sullivan West Overcomes Early Deficit To Down Monticello In Non-League Game; Westies Run Win Streak To Three
Sullivan West 8, Monticello 7
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the Sullivan West come-from-behind win over Monticello (clockwise) Sullivan West junior Sawyer Erlwein fires a strike in the early going. Monticello senior Connor Briggs got off to a great start but the Monties had one bad inning. Shane Jackson rounds first on his way to third as the throw goes wide of first. Jackson drove in a run with this hit and then scored as part of a five-run outburst in the second inning. Sullivan West senior Andrew Parsons arrives safely at first after a single in the Westie's explosive fourth inning. Patrick Pierce connects with a ball that nearly sails out of the park. He cleared the bases and then scored on an errant throw to third putting the Bulldogs on top 7-5. Monticello sophomore Khalil Guadalupe smacks a single.
MONTICELLO, NY—They say truth is stranger than fiction and these days that adage is becoming more and more apropos. To be sure, by the time the calendar reaches the merry month of May, Sullivan County residents expect balmy temperatures and mostly bright sunny days to be the backdrop for the cavalcade of spring sports on the docket.
But one day after postponing their non-league game due to rain (which eventually gave way to eminently more playable weather than the shivering, wet sequel on which the game went into the books), Sullivan West visited Monticello for a non-league clash.
Having just taken two of three from Goshen in league play, the Class A Monties figured to feast on their smaller Sullivan County counterparts. As for the Westies, a winless start to the season had been recently made more encouraging by a pair of wins against Chapel Field and Chester.
Sullivan West scrimmaged Monticello back on April 5 and lost 2-1. This day’s weather wasn’t nearly as nice as that early spring outing.
Junior Sawyer Erlwein took the hill for the Bulldogs, while Montie senior Connor Briggs took the ball for the Panthers. With a rain-drenched field surrounded by gooey mud, both pitchers had to grapple with a wet baseball which was often exchanged for a dry one to foster a better grip.
Briggs retired the Bulldogs in order in the first, stiking out Erlwein and E.J. Franskevicz in the process. Erlwein posted a zero in the bottom of the frame working around an E-6 which had allowed Jacob McLachlan to reach safely.
The Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second as Patrick Pierce led off with a triple and scored on a ground out off the bat of Devin Mirch. Andrew Parsons was stranded after hitting a single as Briggs escaped without further damage.
The Monties exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second as Briggs helped his cause by leading off with a double. Erlwein struck out Ben Kapito but then plunked Jack Drapkin to put runners on first and second with one out. A single by Dustin Thomas tied the game at one but the Monties weren’t done yet.
As Mirch played close to the bag at first to hold the runner on, Monticello sophomore Jonathan Harned heeded coach Gil Suarez’s instructions to hit the ball through the big gap between first and second. The ensuing double ripped right through the interstice plating two more runs.
Shane Jackson beat out a bunt to first with his blinding speed and an errant throw allowed another run to score as Jackson motored to third. He then scored on fielder’s choice off the bat of Devon Chester. Erlwein walked McLachlan and Khalil Guadalupe singled putting runners at the corners before Erlwein struck out Briggs to end the inning. The Monties now led 5-1 as Sullivan West coach Jim O’Connor counseled his team about the amount of game left to play and the need to get runners on to begin to chip away.
That would not be the case in the third inning as the Bulldogs left the bases loaded. Briggs had walked Franskevicz and Pierce but he got Devin Mirch on strikes to end the threat.
Kapito led off with a single in the bottom of the third but was erased by a nicely executed double play. Erlwein struck out Thomas to end the inning.
And then it happened…
Kitt Borowski led off the fourth with a single. Andrew Parsons got a base hit to follow before Greg Stevenson hit an at-em ball straight to Kapito in center. Zach O’Connor singled to load the bases but when Erlwein struck out, Sullivan West was in danger of leaving them loaded again. Richard Mirch was hit by a pitch to make it 5-2. Franskevicz drew a bases loaded walk and now it was 5-3.
Pierce blasted a bases-clearing triple that looked like it might leave the park but hit the bottom of the fence not far from the 322 foot sign. Sliding into third he cut up his knee but when the throw went wide of third, he scored causing some of his teammates to declare his feat as an inside the park home run. It wasn’t. No matter. The Bulldogs now led 7-5 and would hold on for the 8-7 win.
Having left after four innings I am not able to give the details of the final frames but having come to the game primarily to build my photo archives up for the teams from both schools, I had had enough of being wet and cold and headed home for the warm dinner that awaited me. The heat in the car was going full blast all the way.
Sullivan West (3-5) hosts Port Jervis on May 3 before traveling to the Red Raiders on May 4. Sullivan West lost to Port Jervis 17-4 in an April 26th encounter.
Monticello (4-6) begins a key three game league series as it host Port Jervis on May 7.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Ka-boom In the Gloom
Patrick Pierce’s Blast Propels Hot Dawgs As Sullivan West Overcomes Early Deficit To Down Monticello In Non-League Game; Westies Run Win Streak To Three
Sullivan West 8, Monticello 7
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the Sullivan West come-from-behind win over Monticello (clockwise) Sullivan West junior Sawyer Erlwein fires a strike in the early going. Monticello senior Connor Briggs got off to a great start but the Monties had one bad inning. Shane Jackson rounds first on his way to third as the throw goes wide of first. Jackson drove in a run with this hit and then scored as part of a five-run outburst in the second inning. Sullivan West senior Andrew Parsons arrives safely at first after a single in the Westie's explosive fourth inning. Patrick Pierce connects with a ball that nearly sails out of the park. He cleared the bases and then scored on an errant throw to third putting the Bulldogs on top 7-5. Monticello sophomore Khalil Guadalupe smacks a single.
MONTICELLO, NY—They say truth is stranger than fiction and these days that adage is becoming more and more apropos. To be sure, by the time the calendar reaches the merry month of May, Sullivan County residents expect balmy temperatures and mostly bright sunny days to be the backdrop for the cavalcade of spring sports on the docket.
But one day after postponing their non-league game due to rain (which eventually gave way to eminently more playable weather than the shivering, wet sequel on which the game went into the books), Sullivan West visited Monticello for a non-league clash.
Having just taken two of three from Goshen in league play, the Class A Monties figured to feast on their smaller Sullivan County counterparts. As for the Westies, a winless start to the season had been recently made more encouraging by a pair of wins against Chapel Field and Chester.
Sullivan West scrimmaged Monticello back on April 5 and lost 2-1. This day’s weather wasn’t nearly as nice as that early spring outing.
Junior Sawyer Erlwein took the hill for the Bulldogs, while Montie senior Connor Briggs took the ball for the Panthers. With a rain-drenched field surrounded by gooey mud, both pitchers had to grapple with a wet baseball which was often exchanged for a dry one to foster a better grip.
Briggs retired the Bulldogs in order in the first, stiking out Erlwein and E.J. Franskevicz in the process. Erlwein posted a zero in the bottom of the frame working around an E-6 which had allowed Jacob McLachlan to reach safely.
The Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second as Patrick Pierce led off with a triple and scored on a ground out off the bat of Devin Mirch. Andrew Parsons was stranded after hitting a single as Briggs escaped without further damage.
The Monties exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second as Briggs helped his cause by leading off with a double. Erlwein struck out Ben Kapito but then plunked Jack Drapkin to put runners on first and second with one out. A single by Dustin Thomas tied the game at one but the Monties weren’t done yet.
As Mirch played close to the bag at first to hold the runner on, Monticello sophomore Jonathan Harned heeded coach Gil Suarez’s instructions to hit the ball through the big gap between first and second. The ensuing double ripped right through the interstice plating two more runs.
Shane Jackson beat out a bunt to first with his blinding speed and an errant throw allowed another run to score as Jackson motored to third. He then scored on fielder’s choice off the bat of Devon Chester. Erlwein walked McLachlan and Khalil Guadalupe singled putting runners at the corners before Erlwein struck out Briggs to end the inning. The Monties now led 5-1 as Sullivan West coach Jim O’Connor counseled his team about the amount of game left to play and the need to get runners on to begin to chip away.
That would not be the case in the third inning as the Bulldogs left the bases loaded. Briggs had walked Franskevicz and Pierce but he got Devin Mirch on strikes to end the threat.
Kapito led off with a single in the bottom of the third but was erased by a nicely executed double play. Erlwein struck out Thomas to end the inning.
And then it happened…
Kitt Borowski led off the fourth with a single. Andrew Parsons got a base hit to follow before Greg Stevenson hit an at-em ball straight to Kapito in center. Zach O’Connor singled to load the bases but when Erlwein struck out, Sullivan West was in danger of leaving them loaded again. Richard Mirch was hit by a pitch to make it 5-2. Franskevicz drew a bases loaded walk and now it was 5-3.
Pierce blasted a bases-clearing triple that looked like it might leave the park but hit the bottom of the fence not far from the 322 foot sign. Sliding into third he cut up his knee but when the throw went wide of third, he scored causing some of his teammates to declare his feat as an inside the park home run. It wasn’t. No matter. The Bulldogs now led 7-5 and would hold on for the 8-7 win.
Having left after four innings I am not able to give the details of the final frames but having come to the game primarily to build my photo archives up for the teams from both schools, I had had enough of being wet and cold and headed home for the warm dinner that awaited me. The heat in the car was going full blast all the way.
Sullivan West (3-5) hosts Port Jervis on May 3 before traveling to the Red Raiders on May 4. Sullivan West lost to Port Jervis 17-4 in an April 26th encounter.
Monticello (4-6) begins a key three game league series as it host Port Jervis on May 7.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
By The Numbers
Liberty Scores Seven In Season-Opening Win Against An Inexperienced Monticello Squad Hampered By Diminished Roster Strength
Liberty 7, Monticello 2
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the Liberty-Monticello boys soccer game of 9/14/11 (Clockwise) Monticello's Onique (Tino Taylor) advances the ball. Liberty's Erick Cuellar and Eduardo Martinez surround the ball. Liberty junior speedster Pedro Garcia, Monticello's Onique Taylor and Liberty's Matt McPhillips look to control a free ball, Matt McPhillips returns the ball up the field. The 2011 Monticello Panthers, Liberty's Andy Hazelnis shows his dexterity and athleticism.
LIBERTY, NY—Given their prominence as the two largest schools in Sullivan County, Monticello and Liberty always garner attention whenever they play each other . Their basketball rivalry in particular is rife with emotion and history.
In most years on the soccer pitch, Class A Monticello and Class B Liberty stage a competitive clash. The scores are rarely one-sided or reflect a great disparity in the relative states of the teams. Each school can point to prior success against the other.
But this year as Liberty took to the pitch for its much-belated home opener following rain-cancellations that washed out last week’s action, Indians’ Coach Debora Simpson was anxious to see what her 2011 squad would look like at full game speed.
Having not even played in a scrimmage to assess their performance against any teams, Liberty was essentially untested to date. With a cadre of talent heading out the door in June as the senior-laden squad of 2011 graduated, Simpson would have to gather remaining players and a wealth of young talent and speed to head into this year’s campaign. Naming seniors John Koarki and Andy Hazelnis as captains Simpson looked for the kind of dedicated blue collar work ethic that could forge a team mentality. As Simpson sees it, this group is exactly that: unselfish, cohesive and potentially extremely competitive.
With talent and speed galore evinced by veteran junior Pedro Garcia, track speedster Erick Cuellar, veteran Charlie McNellis and the scoring punch of Jose Cruz, Brendan Siegel, Alejandro Mercado and others, Liberty has depth. Of course losing Will McGuire in the goal leaves big shoes to fill for sophomore Julian Spina or senior Kolarik when he occupies the net.
Liberty made sectionals last year but lost to Tuxedo. The Tornadoes have now dropped down to Class C but with the likes of Burke and O’Neill still to contend with, as well as feisty Sullivan West, the Indians have their work cut out for them.
For its part Monticello has had its struggles in forming up a squad of sufficient depth or experience. Last spring when Coach John Maranzana held a meeting about this fall’s soccer venture, kids came out in large numbers. They were given all the information they needed in terms of what they’d need to do in terms of physicals etc.
To his dismay, on the first day Marazana was looking at seven kids. More joined shortly but not enough to field a junior varsity team. Thus, players with no experience who would normally cut their teeth in junior varsity games now were thrust into the varsity realm.
The dropping numbers have been disappointing and cannot be attributed solely to the resurgence of football. Truth be told, there are only approximately 55 boys out for fall sports including football, soccer and cross-country. Numbers have been dropping for the past few years.
That said, the Monties are not without talent. Standout Ariel Pabon is widely recognized as an impact player. Onique (Tino) Taylor brings his blazing track speed and soccer experience to the pitch. With seven sophomores including first-time keeper Anthony Lombardi learning on the fly, Monticello will garner its experience and earn its stripes as the senior progresses. The team will improve vastly but wins will be hard to come by.
Lombardi injured his finger in this fray and was replaced by freshman Dustin Thomas who recorded nine saves in the game.
Monticello’s first two games played against daunting O’Neill and Cornwall resulted in lopsided scores to no one’s surprise. Maranzana hoped the fray with Liberty would be more competitive but the Indians who won last year’s tilt 3-0, showed great speed, deft passing, the ability to foster runs and break abways and to find ways to penetrate Monticello’s defense which has yet to gel.
The result was five first unanswered goals. Monticello got two goals in the second half from Mentor Gashi to answer Liberty’s pair of goals in the second half . The result was a 7-2 win for the Indians and a confidence booster as they get ready for their first league game to be played at home against Sullivan West on September 16.
Monticello’s schedule ahead continues to look daunting with upcoming games against Middletown and powerful Goshen.
Liberty goals: Sergio Diaz 3; Brendan Siegel 2; Andy Hazelnis; Zac Maniatis.
Liberty assists: Zac Wallgren 2; Adam Murphy; Richard Lander; Matt McPhillips.
Monticello goals: Mentor Gashi 2.
Monticello assists: Austin Colon; Onique Taylor.
Goalie saves: L – Julian Spena 9; M – Dustin Thomas 9.
Records: Liberty 1-0; Monticello 0-3.
For an album of photos, visit sportsinsights.smugmug.com or click on HOT SHOTS at the top or bottom of the page.
