Pick Up Sticks
Sullivan West Gets The Big Hits To Outscore Liberty In Division IV Encounter As Bulldogs Rack Up Second League Win Following Vanquishing Of O’Neill
Sullivan West 13, Liberty 10
By RICHARD A. ROSS
The Westies win (clockwise): Sullivan West's Hannah Schwatz fires a strike and then shows her power with a bases-clearing triple. Liberty's Olivia Baum also had a bases clearing hit. Liberty's Rachel Bayer hurls a strike. Sullivan West's Katie Taylor slides under a tag from Liberty catcher Justice Dingevan. Liberty's Ashley Wallgren is safe at second as Bethanii Padu tries to tag her out. Sullivan West's Victoria Haas is safe at home.
JEFFERSONVILLE, NY- Fall, winter or spring, when it comes to Sullivan West versus Liberty, the name of the game is rivalry and the urgency for each team to advance its cause at the expense of the other never diminishes.
To be sure while the heated clashes of soccer, football and basketball between teams from the neighboring schools are far more strident, the trials and tribulations on the diamond are equally important in their own right as each team knows that a sectional berth down the line may very well hinge on the outcome.
One day after Sullivan West’s 6-1 league win over O’Neill, the Lady Bulldogs looked to run their winning streak to four in a row as they got set to host Liberty. The pitching duel featured Sullivan West fireballer Hannah Schwatz vs. Liberty’s Rachel Bayer. As the day would soon evince, both teams would have good success with their bats as hits aplenty were scattered about.
In the early going it seemed as if Sullivan West’s fielding yips were going to be its undoing. In the first inning four leather miscues contributed to Liberty’s 2-0 early lead as Olivia Baum and Katie Robisch knocked in runs.
The Lady Westies got one of those back in the bottom of the first as Bethanii Padu led off with a double, stole third and scored off a fielder’s choice hit by Emma Seidl.
Neither team scored in the second and Liberty also failed to register a run in the top of the third. That quiet was soon replaced by the Lady Bulldogs’ breakout with four runs. Victoria Haas reached on single and advanced on a passed ball. Padu singled and Marianne Durkin put down a perfect bunt to load the bases with no outs. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Seidl allowed one run to score.
Schwatz walked to load them up again before Katie Taylor batted in the second run with a single. A ground out by Brittany Milk and a single by Carly Grishaber completed the inning’s outpouring as Sullivan West now led 5-2.
Liberty answered back with four runs in the top of the fourth as Genesis Suarez had an RBI single and Baum cleared the bases with a booming double up the middle as Liberty assumed a 6-5 lead.
Bayer’s pitching was no problem for Sullivan West which continued to swing the bats with authority. With bases loaded and one out, Schwatz nearly hit one out of the park as she cleared the bases with a booming double which put Sullivan West back on top 8-6.
Neither team scored in the fifth but Liberty tied it up in the top of the sixth with RBI’s from Justice Dingevan and a run-scoring double off the bat of Robisch. Coach Matt Stoddard knew his girls had to hold the line against Sullivan West in the bottom of the frame if they were going to have a chance to record their second win of the season.
But once again it was Padu that rose to the occasion with a lead off double. She stole second and soon scored to give the Lady Bulldogs the lead they would never again relinquish. RBI singles from Schwatz, Taylor, Grishaber and Katie Slater put up a five spot in the inning for the 13-8 lead. Liberty scored twice in the top of the seventh but fell short 13-10.
Sullivan West improved to 4-3 (2-O OCIAA), while Liberty fell to 1-4 (0-1 OCIAA).
“They really hit the ball well today,” said Stoddard who wasn’t surprised after scouting the O’Neill game the day before.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Home Sweet Home
Sullivan West Celebrates Homecoming With A Non-League Shutout Win Over Rondout Valley; E.J. Franskevicz And Emma Seidl Crowned As King and Queen; Football Alums From SW, J-Y and Delaware Valley Are Regaled Under Rainy Skies
Sullivan West 18, Rondout Valley 0
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Homecoming Hurrah (Clockwise) Sullivan West's Sawyer Erlwein is just shy of the goal line. Tom Mootz would carry it in from the two for the first score of the game. Homecoming King and Queen E.J. Franskevicz and Emma Seidl. Tom Mootz on an electrifying run that sets up a TD by Jared Meola. The sign speaks for itself. E.J. Franskevicz on a t0-yard TD run.. Football alums are welcomed back and honored. This sign also needs no explanation. Rondout Valley's Keith Malak makes an airborne grab. An adorable Red Dog cheerleader graces half time with her smile.
LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—Dorothy had to travel over the rainbow and beyond to learn what most of us already hold sacrosanct: There’s no place like home.
Home is where the heart is. Home is where we relish the love of our family and are ensconced in the warmth of our community. Home is where we’re from; it’s the familiar milieu where friendships are forged and where we put down our roots.
Captains courageous take the field at their home stadium for the last time this year: Sawyer Erlwein, Andrew Parson, Todd Roeder and E.J. Franskevicz.
For many of us, it’s where we went to school and began our journey to become who we are later in life. The cycle begins again when we settle down as adults in a home of our own.
All the while we never forget where we started out, and where in all likelihood, our remaining family still may reside.
As young men and women we are often anxious to leave home to go out into the world at large. But home never leaves us and once we’re away, we invariably experience the yearning to come home again.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are often times for family members , though they may be scattered far and wide, to come home and relish the abiding connection.
For indeed no matter how many miles away we are, we stay connected to the people and places we hold dear.
That’s why high school Homecoming Week is such an important milestone. It marks the return of alumni who hold fast to the memories created in their halcyon high school days. For former athletes, memories of yesteryear are closely tied to their sports careers and milestones, both individual and team related.
They say youth is wasted on the young but nothing could be further from the truth. For all of us, no matter how old we are, carry with us the memories of our formative years and there is a part of us that remains forever young in the reliving of those times. Nowadays with stunning digital photos and video that freeze moments forever in time, that task of recalling what went before is that much easier.
Rondout Valley junior Jordan Gwynn finds a big hole to run through. The Ganders moved the ball well at times but couldn't close the deal.
Even without such to remind me, I’ll never forget the glory of my Midwood High School football team in Brooklyn, a squad of kids I grew up with who lost just one game during my entire high school career.
Though I was a fan, not a player, I would have to say my love of the game of football was born back then and so here I am decades later, on the sidelines affirming and documenting the achievements of this generation’s players.
Despite the threat of yet more rain, a large crowd began to gather at this year’s Sullivan West Homecoming game featuring a non-league clash with Class B Rondout Valley.
With the Bulldogs’ dramatic 21-20 overtime win over Liberty just a week prior, the excitement of the looming Class C semifinal clash with Burke on October 28 is very much on the mind of the fans, players and the proud community.
That community which was once three distinct school districts has rallied its support for the Sullivan Wst Bulldogs, while not forgetting its own history recorded at Jeff-Youngsville, Delaware Valley and Narrowsburg. The former two were great football powers in their day and stars hailing as back as 1951 would be honored by Master of Ceremonie and Homecoming Organizer Bill Moloney at halftime.
More on this erelong…
All Hail The Royal Court ,The Newly –Crowned Monarchs, And The Bulldog Elder Statesmen
The pregame festivities began with the introduction of all of the nominees for Homecoming King and Queen who marched forward with their parents and posed for the photos you’ll find in the accompanying album. Once arrayed across the field, the long-awaiting announcement came at last hailing E.J. Franskevicz and Emma Seidl as this year’s Monarchs. They posed for pictures before Franskevicz headed off to rejoin his team for the coming clash against the Ganders.
Youthful Red Dog football players and cheerleaders were on hand to lend their verve to the night’s celebration. They lined up with a banner that read, “Don’t Gander In Our Dog House.” Moments later the Bulldogs burst through the banner and headed to the sideline clearly anxious to begin their ravenous meal of Gander stew.
Representing the Jeff-Youngsville Class of '82, John Schlott takes to the field as part of the halftime honoring of football alums. John's sons Will and Vaughn went on to play for Sullivan West.
Next up was the introduction of the Sullivan West senior gridders with their parents. This year’s seniors include Kitt Borowski, Charliie Ciccione, E.J. Franskevicz, Ben Kline, Chris Lang, Tom Mootz, Andrew Parsons and Todd Roeder.
The friendly clear skies that had adorned all of this pre-game adoration morphed first into a light drizzle and then a steady downpour as the game got underway.
A Commanding Win Is the Night’s Main Course
Sullivan West received the ball from the Class B Ganders who came in at 2-4 with sectional hopes hinging on a league win over powerful Marlboro next week. Rondout Valley sophomore Seth Deruggerio kicked off and Borowski returned it to the 36.
King EJ gained 11 yards on a keeper. The Ganders defense stiffened and sacked Franskevicz. An incomplete pass led to a punt who began their first quest at their own 27 with sophomore Thomas Reardon calling the signals.
The Ganders moved the ball well with carries from junior Jordan Gwynn. Facing a third and three at the 47, Gwynn was pounced on by Parsons, Mootz and Lang. Deguggerio punted and Sawyer Erlwein evinced a tremendous return up the left sideline to the Ganders’ 25.
The Ganders stuffed the first two plays and the Dawgs were facing a third and 14 at the 24. Franskevicz completed a screen pass to Erlwein who gave the Westies a first and goal to the two. Mootz ran it in from there at 4:30 for the 6-0 lead. Borowski’s PAT went wide right.
Rondout Valley fumbled the kickoff return and the ball was recovered by Scott Erdman to give the Bulldogs a short field at the Ganders’ 27. Facing a fourth and two at the 20, Franskevicz garnered a first down to the 15.
Erlwein fought his way to the one. The Bulldogs fumbled on the snap and Mootz recovered it. The same thing happened on the next play before Franskevicz carried it in from the two with 10.4 seconds remaining in the first quarter as Sullivan West now led 12-0. The two point conversion failed on incomplete pass to Zach O’Connor.
Deruggerio returned it to the 31 and Mootz stopped Gwynn to start the second quarter. The Ganders marshaled a first down on a slant pass to sophomore Keith Malak. Senior Ian Morse got another first down. Gwynn was stopped just short of the first down at the 37 but the Deruggerio earned the Ganders another series as the Dawgs defense yielded more turf.
Scoring in the pouring rain, Sullivan West's Jared Meola completes a 12-yard jaunt for the Dawgs' final score of the night.
Rondout lost five yards on an offsides call. An incomplete pass and an illegal substitution hampered the Ganders who now went to punt the ball from their own 43. The snap was bungled and the Dawgs took over at their own 49-yard line.
Sullivan West went three and out and Franskevicz sent a booming 52-yarde punt pinning the Ganders at the three. The Dawgs’ defense was impenetrable. Tight end Seth Woodbury caught a slant pass but was nearly blown into the ethers on a hard tackle by Mootz. You could hear the sound of it crackling through the gloomy downpour.
The Ganders appeared to be on track for a score as Malak caught a pass and made serious headway out to the 43. A nice run by Morse advanced the cause to the 34. Another pass to Malak and a run up the middle by Morse gave the Ganders a first and goal at the eight with under a minute remaining.
Brad Hemmer broke up a pass intended for Morse in the end zone. The Ganders burned their last time out but failed to score as Jared Meola broke up a third down pass attempt. Facing a fourth and goal at the 13 the Ganders came up short on a pass to Malak.
The half ended with the Bulldogs leading 12-0.
Glory Days
Football alumni from classes ending in 1 and 2 dating back as far as 1951 were called to midfield for a halftime honorarium after the Red Dog cheerleaders performed in the rain. Orchestrated by Bill Moloney, the former players from Delaware Valley, Jeff-Youngsville and the Sullivan West Class of 2002 were called forth to gather for the tribute beside a banner that read, “Welcome Back Alumni.”
They were as follows: Sullivan West Class of 2002: Kevin Mullally; Jeff-Youngsville Class of ’92: Jeremy Ernst, Ed Mall, Joe Herbert, Eric Kubenik; D-V Class of ’92: Kurt Buddenhagen, Michael Larsen, Christian Renaudo; J-Y Class of ’82: Pete Erlwein, John Schlott, David Dufalt and Mike Puerschner; D-V Class of ’82: Scott Haberli; J-Y Class of ’81: Mike Geiger; D-V Class of ’72: Eugene Flynn, John Meyers; D-V Class of ’62: Garry Mitinas, Edward Sykes, Craig Stewart and Emil Lienuu; D-V Class of ’52: Bill Moran and David Buddenhagen and D-V Class of ’51: Mickey Roche.
A Fitting Home Finale At Bulldog Stadium
Getting the win was important to the Bulldogs, especially its proud seniors who fired up the defense to enforce the shut out. “This is our homecoming game,” barked Mootz at one point as the Ganders threatened to get on the board. Though the coming playoff game in two weeks loomed large on the horizon, the Dawgs knew they had to stay focused in the present challenge.
The Ganders were stymied on their first possession of the second half. Sullivan West voltage soon went off the meter again as Mootz had a huge run to the Ganders’ 18. Borowksi got it to the 12 on a sweep. Jared Meola took it in from there at 9:00 minutes for the 18-0 lead.
Borowski’s PAT was blocked.
Just the kind of thing Bulldogs fan are hoping for against Burke in the playoffs: Erlwein head s around end as Andrew Parsons seals it with a block.
The next highlight moment came after another Rondout failed series when Sawyer Erlwein hauled in a 42-yard pass to Sawyer Erlwein at 1:30 of the third quarter was called back on a holding penalty. I missed the photo as I had my camera turned off to preserve a waning battery. All of those pregame and halftime photos had taken their toll but I cursed myself for missing that great grab.
Mootz recovered a fumble. A reverse to Erlwein was called back for a holding penalty. Franskevicz sent a booming punt to the Ganders 23 to end the quarter.
Again the Ganders moved the ball well on the ground and in the air as Gwynn and Malak were effective in advancing the pigskin against the Westies’ defense . The Ganders penetrated as far as the six but facing a fourth and six from the 11 as Mootz barked the aforementioned admonition. Gwynn marshaled a first down at the six but three plays later he failed to get the yardage as the Bulldogs held on and took over on downs.
The Bulldogs punted after a three and out and Morse returned it to the SW 40.
On the first play from scrimmage Blaine Reddish knocked the ball loose and Erlwein recovered it on the SW 40.
Sullivan West converted a fourth and four at the 47 as Franskevicz carried it on a keeper. The wet ball came loose and Rondout Valley had it on the SW 47 with 2:16 to go.
Erdman and Meola knocked Gwynn out of bounds at the 41. Erlwein just missed an interception. Rondout recovered a fumble. Kline knocked down a pass intended for a diving Malak.
Time soon expired and the Bulldogs improved to 5-2 with the 18-0 win.
Rondout Valley Coach George Iacobaccio summed things up thusly: “We’re improving every week from bringing the program back two years ago. We had a 96-yard drive in two and a half minutes and just didn’t finish it at the end. We were in the red zone a few times. Our special teams killed us tonight. They took a punt back 40 yards and they scored on two short fields to begin with. Right away that put us in a whole.
Add in the fumbled kickoff and they needed only seven plays from there to get in. We’re getting there but three plays every game are preventing us from getting the W.”
Rondout Valley can make the sectionals if they can beat Red Hook next week. That will the 2-5 Ganders a 3-3 league record and a berth in the Class B dance.
“We’re still a young team and we’re still learning how to play better football” he noted.
Sullivan West Coach Ron Bauer was glad that his team had made the Homecoming a happy one. Asked about next week’s non-league prelim of the following week playoff clash with Burke, Bauer said simply,’ We’re going to play football.” Clearly neither team will show much to the other in that one though once again, Burke was filming this encounter.
Sullivan West stat line:
Rushing: Franskevicz 6/28 with one TD of ten yards; Mootz 11/83 with one TD of two yards; Borowski 1/5; Meola 5/15 with one TD of 12 yards; Erlwein 2/19;
Passing/Receiving: Franskevicz 3/6/33 with Erlwein on all receptions.
Defense: Mootz 19 tackles; Erlwein 16 tackles and an interception; Erdman 12 tackles and one fumble recovery; Parsons ten tackles; Lang eight tackles and Meola nine tackles.
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Cats And Dawgs Redux
Monticello Clicks On All Cylinders In Dominant Win Over Injury-Plagued Sullivan West Youngsters; Monties’ Victory The Latest Chapter In An Ongoing Back-And-Forth Non-League Rivalrry
Monticello 3, Sullivan West 0
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the Monticello vs. Sullivan West soccer match won by the Lady Monties 3-0 (Clockwise): Monticello's Annie Purcell turns the ball upfield. Purcell would score the first goal of the game. Team photos showing the Monticello Lady Panthers and the Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs, Annie Purcell drives it home, Monticello's Jordan Fredell wins a ball and is pursued by Sullivan West's Dana Borowski. Sullivan West's Kristina Sumfleth reaches out to handle a ball. Monticello's Brianna Bennett races up the field towards the Sullivan West end of the field.
MONTICELLO, NY—Darkening gray skies suggested an end to the brief respite of gorgeous weather in a soccer season already all too familiar with rain. And to be sure, by day’s end there would be a change of weather as far as Monticello was concerned as they were about to uncork what Coach Bill Stento would later refer to as his team’s “Best performance” since he assumed the coaching reins two years ago.”
They say “Into every life a little rain must fall,” but figuratively speaking as far as the lady soccer teams from Monticello (2-4) and Sullivan West (3-5), are concerned, the response to that bit of wisdom would have be, “Enough already!”
I’m referring here not merely to torrential rains and soggy fields, but more poignantly to the dampening effects of adversity brought on by tough opponents, injuries and the scarcity of wins.
As the teams got set to play on this late September afternoon, the memories of their October 2, 2009 night clash came to mind and while this year’s young Sullivan West squad currently fields only one veteran from that fray in Hannah Feinman, you can be sure that the Monticello elder stateswomen remember it all too well.
Back in October of 2009, the last time these two teams played, Jordan Fredell received a bloody nose from the intense action. No doubt, she and other Montie veterans remember it well making this day's win that much sweeter.
The photo of Jordan Fredell with blood emanating from her nose says it all about that over-the-top physical game appropriately named “Cats and Dawgs.”
That fray was won by the Lady Bulldogs who nearly saw a 3-0 lead turn into a stultifying defeat at the hands of the fiery Lady Monties who tied it up with just six minutes left to play. Perhaps the soccer gods saw fit to give the two teams a year off from each other before aligning the stars for this rematch.
For Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer, the prospect of fielding a young team populated by one freshman and nine sophomores to go alone with three juniors and eight seniors was already going to be a challenge.
That was before a spate of injuries began to take their toll. Senior Stephanie Hauschild is out for the season with what may be a torn ACL. Amanda Rosenberger missed time from a knock in the head. Keeper Jordan Parsons has been to the school of hard knocks and on it goes.
Parsons left her cleats in her locker and couldn’t man the cage this day, leaving the task up to junior Cassidy Sauer, more agitata for Ellmauer who still hoped his team could muster the moxie to sunder the struggling Lady Monties who had only one win to date coming into this game.
Hope is one thing; reality is often another. Monticello quickly took advantage of Sullivan West’s inexperience which manifested itself most assuredly in its recurring inability to kick the ball out of its own end, make effective throw ins and goal kicks and pass the ball to people in space.
The result was that nearly the entire game was played in the Sullivan West end.
Sullivan West kicked off but the Monties had it almost immediately as Jordan Fredell, Annie Purcell and Kerissa Bennett all got touches on the first Lady Panthers’ push up. Sauer was called upon to make a save right away, a preview of coming attractions as the view of charging white jerseys was going to become a familiar sight erelong.
Monticello's Stef Viera heads the ball between Sullivan West's Amanda Rosenberger and Giselle Vega.
When Sullivan West failed to clear a goal kick, Purcell, Monticello’s talented year-round soccer maven drove it home just 3:09 into the first period for the 1-0 lead on an assist from Mara Resnick.
Sullivan West freshman Carly Grishaber fired one on goal but SW couldn’t hold the ball in the Monticello end. Monticello won the majority of the 50-50 balls, but Sullivan West tried to use its speed up front with Feinman and Rosenberger to make something happen.
Feinman got a breakaway and nearly scored as Monticello freshman keeper Katrina Zicot held on for the save.
Purcell was getting her fair share of shots, looking for her second goal but she failed to hit the mark. Montie sophomore Katelyn Radlein fired one on goal and missed. A subsequent push by Feinman saw the ball quickly swerving back towards Sauer as the Monties took the ball back. Becky Mitchell to Mara Resnick resulted in a missed shot but the Monties kept up the pressure.
Rosenberger sent it up to Giselle Vega on the right corner but Monticello’s back line defense was proving to be effective in kicking the ball out.
Purcell fired a shot as Sauer was out. That led to a corner kick which hit Kerissa Bennett on the top of the head. A biz dizzy but grinning, the feisty forward played on. Monticello passed the ball effectively but continued to struggle to finish as shots were often poked or sent wide.
Sullivan West backline defenders Kassie Thelman and Katie Taylor were doing a good job of keeping things out of harm’s way.
That is until Mara Resnick scored at 27:18 in on an assist from Kerissa Bennett to make it 2-0. Resnick sent it in to the left side of the net as Sauer lost the ball, leaving Resnick free to poke it in.
Rosenberger had a nice shot from Rosenberger that crossed in front of the goal but Sullivan West had no one at the opposite post to drive in a goal in what was a vast empty space.
Cats and Dawgs war veteran: Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman was a freshman the last time these teams went at it. The speedy junior had her breakaways but couldn't connect this time out. She'll try to reverse that outcome on October 11 when the venue switches to Lake Huntington under the lights.
Monticello nearly scored off a corner kick. Purcell’s subsequent corner kick went behind the goal affording the Lady Bulldogs another charge up the field. Feinman’s shot, like Rosenberger’s prior one just needed someone at the opposite post to send it in. Again, no one was in position..just another manifestation of the steep learning curve this team will have to surmount.
Monticello took the 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
Monticello picked up where it left off with an attack led by Brianna Miller. A third goal eluded the Lady Panthers as they didn’t follow shots that sat in front of the goal at times or dangled in front of the opposite post.
In a scary moment, Grishaber had to be helped off the field after injuring her knee. Needless to say her absence was yet another blow to the already depleted SW troops. The nature or extent of her injury was not known at the time of this writing but she was unable to play the rest of the game. She insisted on standing for the handshake.
She is the last of the Grishabers and follows in the footsteps of her brother Logan and sister Shelby. The trio share a tough, gritty work ethic even in the face of injury and adversity. Here’s hoping Carly is okay and back at it soon.
Monticello would score its third goal as Heather Miller drove it up the field and fired an unassisted goal in at 15:13. That would be the end of the scoring for the match.
Zicot recorded three saves for Monticello; Sauer had 15 for Sullivan West.
Monticello Coach Bill Stento was clearly pleased with his team’s play. “We got off to a rough start down at Port. We had gone to a five-man midfield with two forwards and it really wasn’t working. So we went back to three and today it really clicked.”
Stento added, “The experience shows. I had these girls when they were freshmen and sophomores and now they’re juniors and seniors. They’ve been playing together at this level for two years. I’ve told the girls the wins we get won’t necessarily be pretty, they’re more apt to be scrappy”. Monticello faces Burke on October 3.
Kaboom! Kerissa Bennett bangs in goal to the right side of the net to make it 2-0, the Monticello lead at the half. Heather Miller punctuated the win with a goal in the second period..
Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer sized things up this way: “We get to play them again and hopefully we can pull something out in the second half of the season.” Ellmauer alluded to his team’s inexperience and nagging injuries as “The things that are killing us.”
Ineffective throw-ins, goal kicks and a failure to clear the ball are major issues as they keep the team back in an ongoing defensive posture leaving people out of position for an attack when the opportunity presents itself.
Sullivan West (3-5) is also 0-2 in the division. “We’re trying to make the best of it,” Ellmauer said.
For the hard-working Lady Bulldogs, the hope is that with the experienced gained over the upcoming games that they can trigger a change in the weather to emerge from this early gloom into the brighter light of late season success.
They’ll host Monticello under the lights on October 11. I guess we’ll call that one “Cats And Dawgs III.”
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
