Three Dawg Day
Jeffersonville Whirlwind Tour Provides Early Glimpses Of Bulldogs Track, Softball and Baseball
Softball: Hancock 8, Sullivan West 2
Baseball: John S. Burke Catholic 16, Sullivan West 4
Girls Track and Field: Non-league: Sullivan West 104, Livingston Manor 29; Sullivan West 113, Chester 10; Livingston Manor 52, Chester 10
Boys Track and Field Non-league: Sullivan West 110, Livingston Manor 30; Sullivan West 100, Chester 39; Livingston Manor 66, Chester 56
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from Sullivan West track, softball and baseball (clockwise): Sullivan West's Mitch Paciga wins the 110 hurdles. Sullivan West shortstop Carly Grishaber tags out a Hancock's Kayla Berringer via a fine throw from third baseman Victoria Haas. Burke's Tom Sullivan went 3-for-4 in the Eagles' win over Sullivan West in the opener of their Division IV series. Sullivan West's Hannah Feinman wins the 100 hurdles. She also captured the long and triple jump.Livingston Manor's Neal Mock comes around the final turn of the 800. Sullivan West's E.J. Franskevicz swings away at a pitch from Burke's Ryan St. John. Chester's S. Ryan wins the 800 and Amanda Rosenberger sets off at a speedy pace in the uncontested 400 relay. Rosenberger won the the 100 and 200.
JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—It’s not often that a school has three home sports events going on simultaneously in the same town. Sensing a chance to zoom in with my camera to capture track, softball and baseball photos all in one whirlwind afternoon, I headed out to land all three for the price of one.
Literally speaking, with gas prices as high as they are, I find myself looking to be much more efficient with my sports sojourns knowing I’ve got five schools I have to cover completely and that means a slew of photos for baseball, softball, track and field, boys and girls golf and tennis. It’s a lot of ground to cover so I do look for opportunities wherein I’ll find a mix of what I’m searching for in the same place.
The easiest sport to accomplish this is track and field. Not only are there dual meets to visit, but there are also the invitationals, the league and county meet as well as the sectionals. Track meets do present a different challenge and that is that events are taking place simultaneously on the track, in the jumping pits and at the throwing circle. Sometimes you’ve got to choose to shadow one event knowing you’re missing another so by season’s end, it is necessary to see to it that you’ve gotten photos of all of the events and the athletes that participate in them.
After a decade of covering track meets I have this down to a science but naturally, since I was only spending a limited amount of time at this small track meet that featured Chester and Livingston Manor against their larger hosting non-league counterpart, it was going to be just a glancing overview of some of the events including long jump, 110 hurdles, 3200/3000, 100 and the pole vault.
The bright sun and blue sky gave the kind of gorgeous background I look for at track meets. No doubt when it comes to the iconic Tri-Valley Invitational slated for April 21, the weather will revert to its usual fare for that meet with rain and cool temperatures. If we’re lucky, that’s all we’ll see. In bygone years it’s been far worse.
Sullivan West had little competition at this meet except in a few events. Even with its diminished numbers, the girls team readily outpointed both schools. Sullivan West’s boys team fared well too. Listed below are the first place finishers. It will be interesting to see how the Westies hold up against stiffer competition. Tri-Valley will offer the most significant challenge in Division IV as the Bears far outnumber their rivals and in track, depth is vital to racking up points towards team victories.
100 meters: Amanda Rosenberger (SW) 13.4; 200: Rosenberger (SW) 28.0; 400: Rosa Martinez (SW) 73.0; 800: S. Ryan (Chester) 2:29; 1,500: Ryan (Chester) 5:47; 3,000: Corrine VanWagner (SW) 13:22; 100 hurdles: Hannah Feinman (SW) 19.8; 400 hurdles: Kristina Sumfleth (SW) 74.3; 400 relay: Sullivan West (Rosenberger; Sumfleth; Martinez; Feinman) 55.4; 1600 relay: Sullivan West (Rosenberger; Deppa; Martinez; Myers) 5:43.6; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West (Myers; Deppa; Rhodes; VanWagner) 13:35; high jump: Arthi Calo (LM) 4-8; long jump: Feinman (SW) 14-4.75; triple jump: Feinman (SW) 30-6; shot put: Kelly Ellis (LM) 27-10.5; discus: Autumn Thiel (SW) 69-11; pole vault: Sumfleth (SW) 7-6.
100 meters: Hunter Cassisi (C) 12.9; 200: 1. Matt Cardona (SW) 25.1; 400: Shaughn Goggin (SW) 57.6; 800: Reed Scott (SW) 2:33; 1,600: Scott (SW) 5:06; 3,200: Scott (SW) 11:34; 110 hurdles: Mitch Paciga (SW) 17.8; 400 hurdles: John Masten (SW) 65.6; 400 relay: Chester (Cassisi; Matt Perry; Lawrence Young; Billy Bukowski) 50.3; 1,600 relay: Sullivan West (Sam Smith; Goggin; Ben Kline; Masten) 4:16; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West (Scott; Goggin; Jonah Bauer; Eric Hableri) 9:36; high jump: Cardona (SW) 5-10; long jump: Nick Zeimis (LM) 16-7; triple jump Mastens (SW) 34-7.25; shot put: Jesse Jurgen (LM) 36-2.5; discus: Anthony Rydell (SW) 107-3; pole vault: Ben Kline (SW) 10-6.
From the track I ambled across the road to the softball diamond where Sullivan West was trailing 3-1 to Section IV’s Hancock in a non-league tilt. Fresh off their commanding win over Family School and the forfeit they benefited by in the second game as part of the Benny Chesnick tournament, the Westies hoped to build on their 2-2 record but alas it was not to be.
Staying only for an inning or two I could not provide any details of the loss except to say that the Lady Bulldogs weren’t able to parlay baserunners into runs in the time I was on hand. The following brief details come from the Times Herald-Record.
Hannah Schwatz had an RBI triple for Sullivan West in a non-league loss in Jeffersonville.
Sullivan West is 2-3. Lindsay McGraw struck out 15 and went 2-for-3 with a triple for Hancock (3-1).
Into my car I jumped thankful for the blast of air conditioning in the 85 degree swelter. The brief ride to capture some baseball at Lion’s Field got me there in time to see Sullivan West holding a 3-1 lead behind a pair of RBI from Greg Stevenson and one run batted in from Patrick Pierce.
Pierce was on the mound and the lefty was already up to 62 pitches as I watched Burke tie the game and go ahead 4-3 as it used timely hitting and heads up base running to make up the deficit and take the lead. By game’s end Sullivan West would score only one more run while the Eagles piled it on. Strong pitching by Ryan St. John was key in holding the Bulldogs at bay in their season opener. The series continues down at Burke on April 17 and resumes in Jeffersonville on April 19.
Once again, these details are from the Times-Herald Record.
Ryan St. John struck out seven and scattered seven hits over 52⁄3 innings of work and Tom Sullivan was 4-for-5 in the OCIAA Division IV victory for Burke Catholic (3-3, 1-0 OCIAA).Sawyer Erlwein and Greg Stephenson each had two hits for Sullivan West (0-1, 0-1 OCIAA).
For an album of photos from all three Sullivan West encounters, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Late Drama
Burke Roars Back In Seventh To Overtake Monticello In Opening Day Non-League Nail Biter
John S. Burke Catholic 8, Monticello 6
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at: www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Scenes from the season opener between host Monticello and visiting Burke (clockwise) Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini heads to the mound as Monticello Superintendent Daniel Teplesky heads for home plate as the duo get set for the ceremonial first pitch of the season. Burke veteran righty Ryan St. John fires a strike. St. John threw close to a hundred pitches in 4 2/3 innings of work. Monticello junior Shane Jackson ropes an RBI single in the second inning. Jackson was also key in the Monties taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth before Burke stormed back with Jackson on the mound in the seventh to capture the win. Monticello's Devon Chester slides safely into second base after knocking in a run with a single in the second. Burke Coach Mike Paravati gives some advice Tom Sullivan who hit a two run double to tie the score at three-all in the top of the third. Monticello starter Connor Birggs hurls a strike. Briggs struck out the side in the first and got two more K's in the second before running into trouble in the third. He threw 42 pitches in this outing. Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini throws the ceremonial first pitch to Monticello Superintendent Daniel Teplesky.
MONTICELLO, NY—There’s always something special about the start of the baseball season and it never gets old. The sounds and sights are invigorating and there is always a palpable excitement in the air. Indeed, it is the symbolic renewal; the end of the barren winter and the start of the vibrant spring.
For the host Monticello players arrayed in their crisp white pants soon to be christened by hues of brown and green from the base paths and the grass, and their new light blue jerseys bearing the word Monti across their chests, the prospect of getting things started on a positive note was enticing to say the least.
As Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini got set to throw the ceremonial first pitch to Monticello Superintendent Dan Teplesky, fans had already begun to fill the bleacher seats behind home plate. A bright sun cast its light on the manicured field. A few puffy clouds drifted across the bright blue sky.
It was a picture perfect setting indeed.
Monticello sophomore Ben Kapito takes a lead at third in the second inning. Kapito got a three-run rally started with his leadoff single in the stanza.
The Burke Eagles arrayed in their dark blue jerseys and gray pants had already warmed up and were anxiously awaiting the first pitch from Monticello senior captain Connor Briggs. After Cellini’s brief outing on the mound, the game got underway.
Briggs looked dominant in the first inning as he struck out the side deploying a mere 13 pitches. Burke Coach Mike Paravati sent veteran righty Ryan St. John to the hill to deploy his curve and fast ball. St. John worked his way out of a pair of walks to hold the Monties at bay in the first.
In the second Briggs fanned two more after allowing a leadoff single to Tom Sullivan.
The Monties got things rolling in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single up the middle by Ben Kapito. Jonathan Harred set down a perfect sac bunt to advance him to second. St. John got Andrew Krotje on strikes before Jack Drapkin beat out an infield single. With Shane Jackson at the plate, the Monties scored on a throwing error on a steal. Jackson then roped a single to score the second run of the frame. Devon Chester hit a single to plate the third run. Sean Reuss grounded out to second to end the inning but the upbeat Monties were on top 3-0.
Burke tied it up in the top of the third as Briggs hit a snag with his control. Things began innocently enough as Justin Fenical grounded out on a comebacker to the mound. But Briggs plunked Julian Placencia and a subsequent passed ball moved him up to second. Leadoff hitter Efrain Rodrigo flied out to right but another passed ball moved Placencia to third. Briggs walked St. John to put runners on the corners and a single by Paul Rapoli plated the Eagles’ first run of the day.
Tom Sullivan followed with a two run double and just like that the score was tied. Monticello Coach Mike Marra had seen enough. Briggs exited having thrown 42 pitches in his 2 2/3 innings of work. Kapito came on in relief and stuck out Drew Lallathin to end the threat.
St. John allowed a single to Briggs in the third but struck out two and fielded a comebacker from Jonathan Harned to keep the deadlock in force.
Burke scored twice in the top of the fourth inning as Kapito issued a leadoff walk to Paul Degan. After striking out Brad Howerter, Kapito allowed a single to Fenical. Striking out Placencia it looked as if he might escape without allowing any runs but a walk to Rodrigo loaded the bases.
Sensing the crucial nature of this juncture of the game and realizing that Burke’s big hitters were waiting in the wings, Marra lifted Kapito after his 29 pitches and inserted Andrew Krotje, a pitched he felt he could rely on to throw strikes.
Burke slugger Paul Rapoli ropes an RBI single in the third inning as part of a rally to tie the score at that juncture. Rapoli led off the seventh with a double that helped spark the game--winning rally.
A hard hit ball to deep short by Paul Rapoli scored a run but another came in on a throwing error from Shane Jackson. Krotje got Sullivan to ground out by the Eagles now led 5-3.
The Monties got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Drapkin reached on an E-5 and Jackson singled and then scored on a single by Sean Reuss. A walk to Khalil Guadalupe loaded the bases but Rapoli came on in relief of St. John and stranded all three runners with his pop up to short.
In the top of the fifth a pair of walks issued by Kropje ended his time on the mound. Jackson took over to record a strike out and induce an inning ending double play. The Monties went quietly in the bottom of the fifth inning as this writer headed home to meet family obligations thereby missing all of the ensuing drama as Burke led 6-5 at that juncture
Here’s how it shook out according to Marra:
“We took the lead in the bottom of the 6th trailing 6-5 starting the inning. Shane Jackson led off with a sharp single to left center and then stole second and third. Devon Chester walked. Sean Reuss doubled driving in Jackson to tie at 6-6 and Chester went to third. Chester scored on a wild pitch. Monticello led 6-5 at the end of the sixth inning,” he noted.
Marra went on to detail the tumultuous seventh inning.
Paul Rapoli led off with double off of Shane Jackson. An intentional base on balls was issued to Tom Sullivan that put runners at 1st and 2nd with 0 Outs.
Drew Lallathin blooped a single to left loading the bases with 0 outs.
Paul Degan grounded back to Jackson who got the force out a home before Brad Howerter struck out looking. So, with two outs and the bases loaded and 1 out away from winning a dramatic comeback game, pinch hitter Joe Grasso hit the first pitch off of Jackson into the right centerfield gap scoring all three runs… The triple put Burke up 8-6 and that was the final.
Now I know how the Texas Rangers felt last year in the World Series when they were one out away from winning the championship and David Freese hit the triple to keep the Cards alive.
We need to be more on point in effort and execution with our ball club as we don’t have the talent to win on talent alone. Today we had the effort but weren’t able to execute when we needed to,” said Marra. The Monties (0-1)will head south on their annual spring jaunt. They return to action on April 14 when they will host Saugerties.
Burke plays host to Port Jervis in a non-league game on April 4.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Birds Of Prey
Burke Capitalizes On Sullivan West’s Miscues To Marshal Class C Semifinal Win; Eagles Move On To Face O’Neill For Title; Joyner’s 85-Yard Punt Return In Second Half Proves To Be The Dagger; Noble Bulldog Season Comes To An Untimely Close
Section Nine Class C Semifinals
John S. Burke Catholic 24, Sullivan West 7
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes From Burke's 24-7 Class C Semifinal Win Over Sullivan West; (Clockwise): Burke's Jake Morganstein dives in from the three for Burke's first score, a product of a Sullivan West fumble, one of five Bulldog turnovers on the day. Offensive MVP Matt Press had 12 carries for 103 yards that included a 67-yard TD run as he broke Bulldog tackles. Sullivan West's E.J. Franskevicz scores on a one-yard run that capped off a ten play 72-yard drive to cut Burke's lead to 14-7 by the half. Burke's Tom Sullivan congratulates SW's Tom Mootz on a hard-fought effort. One of the Bulldog signs adorning the fence, a visual treat and one that hoped to spark the Dawgs' ferociousness. Defensive MVP Mike Cappadora had ten tackles and a fumble recovery that set up the first Burke TD. Tom Mootz nearly scores but was ruled to have stepped out at the two. Three plays later Franskevicz carried it in. Matt Press races across the end zone after his 67 yard TD Run.
MIDDLETOWN, NY—It’s a thrill to make it to the playoffs and that accomplishment brings with it a great sense of euphoria. The memories of the smiles, hugs and tears of joy following Sullivan West’s one-point OT playoff berth-clinching win over Liberty represent just such a case in point.
But once you’re in, it’s time to prepare for the greater test of playoff football and to vie for that rare opportunity, a chance to play for a Sectional championship.
With a look of seriousness and determination, Sullivan West's Todd Roeder and E.J. Franskevicz lead the Bulldogs out of the locker room and onto the field.
When push comes to shove, getting to the playoff is only half the fun . When teams exit that locker room to enter the big stage of playoff football, it’s all about trying to win and advance.
By day’s end on a lovely October 28, on the eve of an October blizzard bearing down on the region with unseasonal severity, it would be either Sullivan West or Burke that was going to be in a state of ecstasy by dint of having earned the right to advance to the Class C title game on November 4.
In stark contrast, the other team would be left to confront the end of its season, and for its seniors, the untimely end to their high school gridiron careers.
For kids whose lives are inextricably intertwined with playing sports in school, such an end is bound to bring on a case of the blues.
Into every life some rain must fall. And as it would turn out, a downpour would fall on the Sullivan West Bulldogs whose combination of miscues and inability to muster much sustained offense against Burke would lead to their demise, a somber exit from Faller Field and the terminus of their noble 2011 football campaign they had worked so assiduously to preserve.
Speaking of blues, though not those of melancholia, Navy blue clad John S. Burke and Caroline blue (and white)Sullivan West were about to stage a rematch of last week’s non-league game won late by Burke 14-7.
Come this winter expect Burke junior Patrick Joyner to add his skills to the hardwood, but it's fall now and this 85-yard punt return for Burke's third score of the day was a killer.
The rivalry between the two schools is keen and ripples throughout all three sports seasons.
From the Sullivan West perspective, any encounter with the school that has made a practice of one-upping them more often than not is always an occasion for banter about the school they love to loathe.
What better payback for past wounds would there be than beating them on the gridiron?
The prospect of such had revived Bulldog swagger. As the sign read on the fence, “Swag Never Sleeps.”.
Arriving in a bus that had a banner saying,” Burke, your season ends today,” and issuing forth from the locker room under gorgeous artistic signs that bespoke Bulldog adoration, Sullivan West looked to build on its highly competitive game with Burke the week before.
Feeling confident that they could stop Burke on the ground and having worked on their pass defense during the week while blending in some new offensive wrinkles, coaches and players looked upon the coming game with an optimistic eye.
But Burke wasn’t idling away this past week.
Zeroing in on stopping Tom Mootz, E.J. Franskevicz and Sawyer Erlwein represented priority one on defense. Fly to the ball, tackle hard and disrupt the Westies’ flow was their mantra. And in addition, use the stalwart leg of kicker Andrew Nutt to force the Bulldogs to reckon with a long field.
Sullivan West junior Sawyer Erlwein will be back next season with his grit and his great open field running.
Those were some of the precepts the Eagles had in mind. Offensively, they looked to maintain blocks and pound away at Sullivan West’s D-line.
And when the time was right, they looked to unleash the speed of junior Patrick Joyner as an adjuct to the hard-running prowess of Jake Morganstein, Mat Cino, Tom Sullivan and Matt Press.
That Burke junior quarterback Robert Pezzullo was now on crutches from an ankle injury suffered during the week, meant that the Eagles were going to need Sullivan to call the signals despite his having taken precious few reps during this past week to prepare for such.
Sullivan’s switch from receiver to quarterback meant one less agile and quick flying Eagle to cover on passing routes. Burke did a lot of its damage in the air in the first match up.
This figured to be a battle royale and it certainly started out that way as neither team was able to marshal a first down as defenses proved pre-eminent early on.
Burke won the toss and elected to receive and Kitt Borowski got ready to boot it away for the Bulldogs. Joyner received the kickoff and returned it to the 33. Burke began with a delay of game penalty which helped to doom their first series as Sullivan West’s defense looked up to the task forcing a three and out.
Andrew Nutt impacted the game mightily with his kicking by pinning Sullivan West deep. He hit all three PAT's and also kicked a field goal.
Nutt’s punt reached E.J. Franskevicz one second before Joyner arrived to forestall a return. The Dawgs began on the 27. Burke’s defense was aggressive and quick and the Westies soon punted it back.
Franskevicz kicked it out of bounds and the Eagles got good position at the Westies’ 46. Press had a nine yard gain but illegal procedure and an incomplete pass intended for Cino.
Burke tried a fake punt, a novelty they’d worked on all week but Sullivan nixed it giving them the Westies the ball at their own 45.
That advantage was immediately squandered as an option pass thrown by Jared Meola was picked off by Cino as the Eagles took over on their own 40.
With seven minutes gone by, the first down drought continued as Westies Andrew Parsons, E.J. Franskevicz and Mootz tackled with ferocity and Burke was forced to punt.
Nutt’s punt pinned the Westies on the eight-yard line. After a handoff to Erlwein that went just one yard, a Franksevicz pitch resulted in a fumble recovered by Mike Cappadora.
Morganstein carried it in from the three at 2:55 for the 6-0 lead and Nutt added the PAT to make it 7-0.
Burke seemed suddenly energized after capitalizing on its second takeaway after having squandered the first chance that had resulted from the interception.. Sullivan West needed to regain its swagger and put the miscues in the rearview mirror.
Erlwein returned it to the Westies’s 23. The Westies came up one yard shy of converting a first down and punted. The Eagles got it at their 24. Cino gained seven. The quarter ended with Burke facing a third and one at their own 33.
On the first play of the second quarter Sullivan West allowed Press to break tackles that had stopped his progress . He bolted outside picking up blockers and ran 67 yards for the score to make it 13-0 at 11:42. Nutt added the PAT and the Eagles were soaring.
Sullivan West had seen enough. They summoned their will and went on a ten play 72-yard drive capped off by a fourth down one-yard Franskevicz run to make it 14-6 . Borowski’s PAT made it 14-7. The drive had awakened the Bulldog fans who cheered for great runs by Mootz, Franksevicz and the meandering Erlwein.
Sullivan West's Kitt Borowski and Chris Lang prevent Jake Morganstein from scoring with a great defensive stop.
The score came at 6:20.
Burke looked to answer back. They converted a first down with a pass to Joyner. The drive continued into Westie territory but stalled at the 48 when they punted.
Nutt pinned SW back on the 11 with another gem of a punt and Burke’s defense looked to keep them right there. The Dawgs went three and out and punted from their own 17. Morganstein returned it to the Westies’ 45. Burke hurried to score before the half but that intention was quashed by a Franskevicz interception with 13.8 seconds remaining in the half. .
The Dawgs took a knee, satisfied to go into the half down by a TD and set to receive the ball to start the second half.
Nutt’s kickoff was returned by Jared Meola out to the Sullivan West 46 to give the Dawgs good position A 15-yard penalty moved the Dawgs back to the 31. That ruined the drive and set up a punt. Burke had no success on its first series as Press was drilled by Erlwein on a failed attempt to convert on a screen pass.
Erlwein received the punt and had nor return as Joyner met him at the SW 30. A Sullivan West fumble by Mootz was recovered by Burke’s Spiro Nanakos for Eagles’ third takeaway of the day.
The Eagles now had the ball on the SW 21.But the Eagles weren’t able to capitalize on the gift. A motion penalty, good Sullivan West tackling and another Burke motion penalty led to a third and 16 on their own 27. A third penalty in the series meant another five yards. Facing a fourth and 11 at the 22, Nutt’s field goal was no good and the Dawgs got it back again having dodged a bullet.
E.J. Franskevicz has a fine run about to be stopped by Steve Tomaszewski and Mike Cappadora.
Beginning from their own 20 and looked to be on the quick march . The Dawgs converted a third down but the advance stopped short of midfield and the Dawgs punted. Joyner hauled it in on the 15 and broke at least two tackles to ferret it 85 yards to the end zone at 1:01 of the third quarter or the 21-7 lead after Nutt’s PAT.
Psychologically, was a damaging blow for the Bulldogs as they faced a third and seven on as the quarter ended. Mootz carried for a first down out to the Westies’ 46 and then another into Burke territory. A third and nine pass intended for Borowski was tipped and the Dawgs were facing a fourth down.
Then the Bulldogs fumbled it again, their fourth giveaway of the day. This one was recovered by Trevor Reynolds with just 7:50 remaining in the game on the Burke 46. “We need first downs, barked Burke Coach Ed Van Curen, Jr. “Chew it up. Chew it up,” he called.
The Westies would get another crack at it as Nutt punted. The Dawgs got it back with a little more than five minutes left as they were once again back inside their own 20. Two incomplete passes led to a punt that he barely got off behind a fumbled snap.
The short punt positioned Burke in good field position. Nutt would add a field goal from the 25- yard line at 3:19 to make it 24-7. A final interception by Steve Tomaszewski would ice the game with Burke’s fifth and final takeaway. The clock soon ran out on the game and on Sullivan West’s season.
Burke senior linebacker Mike Cappadora was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player with his ten tackles and fumble recovery that set up the Eagles’ first TD.
Matt Press was honored as the Most Valuable Offensive Player for his 12 carries for 103 yards and a TD.
Van Curen said, “We talked about winning all three sides of the football game. That’s been our mantra every year. We had a quarterback change this week and we wanted to make sure we picked up some slack on the defensive side and on special teams too.”
Burke's Mat Cino brings down Sawyer Erlwein. Burke's great defense stymied Sullivan West's attempts to sustain any consistent offense.
“They’re a great team. They’re well coached and hardnosed. Their tough kids to play and there’s no quit in them ,” he said in praise of Sullivan West.
Referencing Joyner’s speedy runback, he noted, “He’s got some speed in him. This is his first year of playing football and learning our system.”
Mootz was visibly upset by the loss but kept his head up nonetheless. “At half time I kind of thought we had it in the bag and we came to this game with a new offense that we hadn’t shown anybody else but we just got shut down with it. We went back to our old offense and they shut us down. They’re a great team,” he offered.
“We all tried our hardest…we tried our best,” he concluded.
It would be hard to put into words the praise which Mootz deserves for his tireless efforts and he is by no means alone. The team had its share of exemplary play this year from many individuals and collectively speaking.
.Congratulations to the seniors that include E.J. Franskevicz, Kitt Borowski, Ben Kline, Thomas Mootz, Chris Lange, Andrew Parsons, Todd Roeder and Zach O’Connor.
Coach Ron Bauer put it succinctly. “Turnovers and they controlled the line of scrimmage,” he noted. “We fumbled the ball. We had a couple of drives but their line was tough. I thought we played pretty good defense,” he noted.
Stat line: Sullivan West:
Rushing: Franskevicz 14/53 with one TD; Borowski 3/6; Mootz 17/61; Erlwein 4/31.
Passing: Franskevicz 2/9/36.
Receiving: Mootz 1/18; Erlwein 1/18
Defense: Erlwein 11 tackles; Mootz 8 tackles; Parsons 7 tackles; Franskevicz 2 tackles and an interception.
Burke, the state’s seventh –ranked Class C team improved to 9-0. They will face O’Neill (7-2) in the title game at Dietz Stadium on November 4 at 3:00pm. Sullivan West ended its season at 5-4.
Final Statistics for 2011:
Rushing: Franskevicz 99/504; Borowski 32/114; Mootz 126/827 (avg 6.56 yards per carry) with 12 TD’s; Erlwein 16/80 (5.o yards per carry); Jared Meola 32/162.
Passing: Franskevicz 31/89/458/ Six TD’s and seven interceptions;
Defense: Mootz 125 Tackles; Erlwein 103 Tackles; Scott Erdman 81 Tackles and three sacks; Todd Roeder 37 tackles and two sacks; Andrew Parsons 76 tackles and one sack.
Sullivan West total rushing: 319/1716 averaging 5.18 yards per carry.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Between The Lines
Burke Clinches Division Title With Win Over Gritty Tri-Valley; Bears’ Heroic Defensive Effort Cannot Overcome Offensive Miscues And Missed Opportunities
John S. Burke Catholic 21, Tri-Valley 7
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
There's more here than meets the eye: Scenes from the gritty division showdown between Burke and host Tri-Valley (clockwise) Burke's Tom Sullivan catches a 46-yard pass on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage from quarterback Robert Pezzullo as T-V junior Shatik Smith does his best to break it up. Smith slipped, Sullivan raced on and the Eagles led 7-0. In the fourth quarter Smith scores on a halfback option pass tossed by Conor Walsh. Smith is pursued by Burke's Mat Cino. Burke Coach Ed Van Curen Jr. tries to fire up his team's lackluster first half effort during a time out. Mat Cino heads up field as he is pursued by T-V's Jesus Lozada. T-V cheerleaders add spirit, allure and vibrancy to the overcast day as they cheer on their beloved Bears. T-V players raise their helmets in anticipation of the coming fray. Burke's Steve Tomaszewski scores on a 12-yard run. The scoring came as Burke capitalized on an interception by Tom Sullivan. Patrick Joyner returns the second half opening kickoff 85 yards for a score to give Burke a 14-0 lead.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—Face it. We live in a fast-paced world where events are often reported to us in sound bites, ten-second highlight reels, headlines and briefs. Rarely do we get the complete story, nor does it seem that most people want to take the time to uncover it.
But in racing to just grab the skinny on what takes place, whether it’s about a complex news issue or a game that contains much more than can be gleaned from a final score, we lose far more than we gain.
A fine run by Tri-Valley's Greg Swarthout comes to an airborne conclusion as he is upended by Burke defenders in the early going.
I suppose that’s why when I was contemplating a name for my nascent photojournalistic enterprise three years ago, I decided to call it Sports Insights. From my perspective, the larger meaning of high school sports requires a thoughtful, in-depth analysis, not just a laundry list of game details, but more importantly , an assessment of the lingering lessons such engagements impart to its participants.
As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” To that end, it is my hope that in the reading of this piece about the Burke-Tri-Valley football game readers will come away with a distinct picture of the day’s proceedings and the possible ramifications thereof.
Burke’s 21-7 Class C Division II win over Tri-Valley gave the 5-0 (3-0 Class C) Eagles the Division II title and punched their ticket back to the playoffs. The Eagles’ persistence, particularly in the second half was emblematic of a fine and battle- tested football team, a squad ably coached by Ed Van Curen Jr.
Tri-Valley, a team hampered by injuries, beset by inexperience and a lack of size, was nonetheless about to unveil what amounted to a herculean defensive effort that would slow the mighty Burke machine down to a crawl in the first half limiting them to a sole score, a 46-yard TD catch by senior Tom Sullivan, abetted in part by the slippage on the wet turf from T-V safety Shatik Smith. For the rest of the half, Burke moved the ball a mere 26 yards against the undaunted Bears.
Truth to be told, when Burke junior quarterback Robert Pezzullo tossed that initial strike to Sullivan on the Eagles’ first play, that quick score raised the specter of a potential rout. To their credit, neither team perceived things as such and took things in stride.
After blockers dispelled the last of T-V's would-be tacklers, Patrick Joyner continues his run to the end zone behind his 85-yard kickoff return to start the second half. Gone he is, along with the Bears' amped up spirit to start the half down only 7-0.
For the Eagles whose roster contains an uncanny 20 seniors in the fold, experience has been a dear teacher. Losing last year’s championship game 20-19 to Millbrook stung favored Burke and led to an off-season avowal to make amends in 2011.
Burke is the odds-on favorite to do just that, but winning a Section Nine title means overcoming adversity, evincing incredible persistence and will and fighting with all you’ve got on every down and in every game.
Having played Tri-Valley twice a year ago, Burke knew it was up against a gritty adversary; a team that would carry a strong belief in itself despite its disadvantages in a relentless search for an upset victory.
Tri-Valley Coach John Rusin is an impassioned leader who inspires his players to summon every fiber of their reserves to battle opponents, no matter what that team’s assets, reputation or record.
On this cloudy October 1, that gritty relentlessness was best personified in the play of junior safety/wide receiver Shatik Smith. Were Smith to step on the scale with rocks in his pockets, he might get the needle to tip at 125 pounds. “That’s generous,” quipped injured T-V quarterback Joe Mickelson.
What Smith lacks in height and weight, he more than makes up for in heart and in that sense, he embodies what Tri-Valley football is all about. It wouldn’t be long before Burke would glean the fact that on this overcast day on a sodden field, they were about to be engaged in a fight far more daunting than they probably anticipated. More than once they’d look up and see that little guy in the number 2 jersey making a big play on both sides of the ball.
The Bears won the toss and elected to receive. With Mickelson still sidelined with a hairline fracture to his tibia, Greg Swarthout would be calling signals again. The snap on the first play sailed over Swarthout’s head. He recovered it but that doomed the first series and the Bears punted. As it would turn out, that initial miscue would prove to be a harbinger of struggles for the Bears on the offensive side of the ball.
Pezzullo uncorked the aforementioned strike to Sullivan as Smith played him perfectly but slipped. Smith was giving up about ten inches in height to Sullivan who then raced for the score at 10:23 Andrew Nutt kicked the PAT and Burke led 7-0.
Swarthout had a nice run on a keeper but an ensuing fumble by Brendan Tierney was recovered by Burke. Turnovers have plaqued the Bears this season and this one would not be the last in this fray.
Tri-Valley junior Aric Boyes makes great headway as he bursts through the first tier of Burke's defense before being impeded in the secondary. The problem was T-V could not sustain any offensive momentum.
Burke set up at the T-V 42 but the Bears were about to make the first of many stands on the day as they forced the Eagles into a three and out. The Eagles faked a punt on fourth down but Pezzullo’s pass to Patrick Joyner was incomplete .
Offensively the Bears continued to sputter with a big loss on first down that would soon lead to a futile series and another punt. Burke was getting good field position but not making much use of it as Jake Morganstein returned Conor Walsh’s punt to the Bears’ 39-yard line. Troy Rossi hit Mat Cino for a loss after the Bears yielded five yards on an encroachment penalty. Good defense by Tierney and Fred Dumond forced another Burke punt.
Nutt’s punt pinned the Bears at the 12. Not only were the Bears unable to move the pigskin, Walsh couldn’t get the punt off and was tackled by Trevor Reynolds at the one-yard line. Another Burke score seemed inevitable.
Raffy Ramirez sacked Pezzullo for a loss and Christian Ward was brought down by Jesus Lozada as the Bears refused to accede any ground. A tackle by Tierney made it fourth and goal at the six as the quarter ended.
“You’re doing an outstanding job,” Coach John Rusin barked to his troops. Nutt’s field goal went wide and the Bears took over on the five after a momentous stand.
Burke’s interior defense was tough to penetrate but Cody Exner found room to turn the corner for a first down and a personal foul by Burke moved it ahead to the Bears’ 44. The Bears failed to convert on a third and five as Burke got the ball back on an interception by Steve Tomaszewski. Pezzullo threw a fourth down pass to Sullivan for a first down to the 30 with 6:05.
Another first down, this one a pass to Cino at the 16 had the Eagles threatening again but the Bears held fast again as they stopped a run for a loss and withstood a trio of incomplete passes for another big defensive stand.
The Bears had the ball at their own 22 but their offense was just not firing. A complete pass to John Monforte gave the Bears the ball at their own 44 but the half ended with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Burke led 7-0 at the break.
Joyner received Anthony Beale’s kickoff at the 15 and raced 85 yards behind a wall of blockers for the score at 11:45. Nutt’s PAT made it 14-zip.
Shatik Smith is wide open on this halfback option catch as Burke bit on the pitch to Conor Walsh who then threw the strike to Smith for the Bears' lone score of the game.
Aric Boyes had an electrifying run on the second play of the Bears’ first series. A holding call on a Burke defensive back gave the Bears a first down. The ball was first spotted at the three but then was moved back as officials placed it at the 25 as they marked off yardage from the line of scrimmage. But Burke would take over on downs as Swarthout’s fourth down pass to Exner was incomplete.
Burke continued to accrue penalties. A big run by Cino ended as the ball sailed out of his arms only to be recovered by Smith at the Tri-Valley 35. Once again, the Bears failed to capitalize on a Burke miscue and had to punt.
The Eagles offense wasn’t doing much better but a booming punt by Nutt pinned the Bears inside the ten yard line. Then Sullivan picked off an errant Swarthout pass on the Bears’ first play of the series. After a few losses on run attempts, Steve Tomaszewski carried it in from the 12 to make it 20-0 with 1:03 to go. Nutt’s PAT made it 21-0.
The score would remain as such until late in the fourth quarter when the Bears got on the board as Walsh took a pitch from Swarthout and heaved it to a racing Smith for a 42-yard TD. Smith, who earlier in the second half had leaped skyward to knock a ball away from Sullivan, would prove himself to be the hero in the Bears’ losing cause. Beale’s PAT made it 21-7, which would prove to be the final score.
Rusin would extol Smith in his post game comments. “His whole body must be heart. He has incredible legs and toughness on every single play offensively and defensively. I’d be comfortable putting him any place on the field. Even on that TD catch he was in outstanding coverage. He’s an excellent football players, the kind of kid you love to have on your team.”
Rusin had begun his postgame reflection by talking about his team as a whole. “I was pleased with the defense. They kept us in the game,” noting that the offensive guys were essentially the same players. “Offensively we have to do a better job. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot, especially on early downs and we are not the kind of team that overcome that,” he averred.
I commend my team’s efforts and I know they left it all out there on the field today but we have to be a more crisp team if we’re going to have any chance at the playoffs. We cannot turn the ball over , especially against a quality team like Burke.
Eyes on the prize. Burke senior Captain Spiro Nanakos waits to shake hands with the Bears. Now it's on to bigger things for the Eagles who lost last year's title game to Millbrook by one point. For the senior-laden squad there is no such thing as next year's quest.
We have to do a better job of protecting the football and answering scores. Over the years we’ve proven ourselves to be a pretty formidable team offensively. We’ve got to work together-linemen, receivers and backs to get on the same page to put together some drives. Defense will keep us in games but we need our offense to win.
I love this team with all of my heart,” said Rusin.
Burke Coach Ed Van Curen Jr knew his team had been up against a tough opponent. “They played very well today,” he began.
“This was a tale of two halves. We’ve been coming out and playing effective offense this year. Tri-Valley is a great team and they’re well-coached. They now us well. We saw them twice last year and we may well see them twice again. Class C is turning into really fine football.
In the first half we kind of sleep-walked so in the second half we knew we had to come out and get our offense working. They played great defense against us. They were forcing us into three and outs . Our special teams did a great job though of pinning them deep.”
Asked about the sodden field and its impact on his team’s effectiveness, Van Curen noted, “We’re two running tams. We throw the ball out of necessity but this field certainly slowed us down. As for Tri-Valley, they’re a Wing-T team which relies on its ability to make cuts to get upfield.”
Runners like T-V’s Cody Exner were certainly hampered by the field as well as Burke’s excellent lateral pursuit.
Burke plays Fallsburg for its last league game of the season, while Tri-Valley (1-4, 1-1 Class C) must defeat Fallsburg and Millbrook in order to make it to the postseason.
Tri-Valley Statistics.
Rushing: Cody Exner 10/29; Greg Swarthout 11/37; Brendan Tierney 7/21; Aric Boyes 9/49; John Monforte 2/-1. Total 39/133
Passing: Swarthout 1/14/36 with two interceptions; Conor Walsh 1/36 TD. Total passing 4/15/72
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
