The Sullivan County BOCES LPN class included Cheryl Bello, Tiffany Dominguez, Dahlia Fassetta, Amanda Froelich, Michael Gates, Rachel Hadley, Sierra Konikowski, Brionna Lovgren, Tricia Ranaudo, Sierra Rawls, Dennis Rundle, and Kristina Thalman.

The class is scheduled to graduate from the program in the spring of 2013.

For more information about getting into the LPN Program or to schedule an entrance exam time and request an application call 295-4940.

For more information on the programs available through Sullivan BOCES browse our website at www.scboces.org or call 295-4000. For program updates, like Sullivan County BOCES on facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The Career & Technical Education Program at Sullivan BOCES provides “Skills, knowledge and work ethic for the 21st century”

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

rross@sportsinsightsny.com

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 13^th 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 27^th 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.

County Fare: Donna Deppa Meet Of Champions Evinces Sole Spring Meeting Of All Sullivan County Schools, Though Some With Partial Attendance; Individually Scored Meet Features Many Local Standouts; Lightning Nixes Relays And Pole Vault Conclusion

By RICHARD A. ROSS

rross@sportsinsightnsy.com

Photos at: www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com

County Fare: Scenes from the Donna Deppa Meet of Champions (clockwise) Monticello's Camryn and Sydney Johnson are one-two in the 1500 and 3000, Sullivan West's Reed Scott wins the 1600 and 3200, Liberty's Rebeccah Harman wins the 100 hurdles. She also won the 400 H, Monticello's Mistah Alli claims the long jump. He also won the 100 and the triple jump, Sullivan West boy seniors Shaughn Goggin, John Masten, Ben Kline, Charlie Ciccione, Chris Lang and Sam Smith, Sullivan West girl seniors Amanda Rosenberger, Rachel Deppa and Kristina Sumfleth, In the water after the meet Rosa Martinez, Courtney Meyerer and Corrine VanWagner, Liberty's Kane Sauchuk wins the 110 hurdles before winning the 400H, Sullivan West's Dani Myers comes from behind to win the 2000 steeplechase, Liberty's Peter Koval wins the javelin and Fallsburg's Candhace Forrest inches out SW's Amanda Rosenberger to win the 100. Rosenberger came back to win the 200.

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—In this life there are givers and takers.

Donna Deppa was a giver.

Like many parents I’ve met over the years, she was always there for her kids.  Whenever her daughters Rebecca and Rachel were involved in sports, season after season through all kinds of weather she not only supported her kids, but gave of herself unselfishly to the entire team enterprise at Sullivan West

Donna passed away a year ago last winter after a valiant battle with cancer. Sick as she was she was there  right up until the end,  present at Gillis Field House at West Point cheering on Rachel and her teammates. So it was fitting last spring that the Sullivan West invitational meet, formerly dubbed the Sullivan County Meet of Champions was renamed in Donna’s memory.

For me, she timelessly represents the legions of parents who ensure that their kids get the last full measure of their love and support. Believe me, they all need it. Track and field athletes work incredibly hard. A fair number of them are year-round warriors. Some play other sports during fall or winter but come spring this is where they end up. Of course there are those track aficionados who come on board in the winter and devilishly prepare themselves for the rigors of spring.

You can tell who they are.

They are light years ahead of the ones who took the winter off figuring they’d get it together in the spring only to find themselves way behind the curve chasing the kids who put in the time and work on the indoor circuit.

Finally there are the distance runners who began this year’s quest running cross-country back in the fall. Most moved on to build their stamina and increase their speed in the winter and now in the glorious spring, they shine on brightly as they stride gracefully and with vigor across the miles. Stamina they’ve got. In some meets they’ll run multiple distance events oftentimes with not much time in between.

I make no bones about how much I love these kids which is why I spend what some consider a disproportionate amount of time documenting their exploits in words and images.

For me, the Donna Deppa Meet of Champions is a photographer’s dream. For it is the one time in the spring when you can see every country school with a track team represented. Given its proximity to the OCIAA championships which always takes place two or three days after it, a number of coaches hold kids out of this extravaganza. I get it.

This meet is not scored on a team basis, so kids are really on their own in their events without the added pressure of trying to marshal points for the entire squad. With the array of colors featuring the Liberty red and white, the Monticello royal blue and white, the Fallsburg black and gold, the Sullivan West black and white, the Livingston Manor maroon and gray, the Eldred green, and the Tri-Valley red, white and a smattering of blue, the meet affords a blur of rainbow hues as runners, jumpers and throwers take to the verdant venue to give it all they’ve got.

Last year Mother Nature sent a downpour, nixing the steeplechase and the relays. This year’s meet, delayed a day by another monsoon began under bright, sunny skies but with the threat of an impending dose of lightning, thunder and hail predicted to descend before it was all over.

The lightning did come and the relays went with it as did the finish of the pole vault. But for the most part, though it did rain towards the end, Mother Nature spared us her trail of tears as well as her roiling fury.

Here are the first place finishers. I am also posting the scoresheet to show the full results. For many of the kids who competed in this meet, this was a chance to show their stuff as some of the headliners were missing in action.

Girls Highlights

A dicey 100 final with Fallsburg’s Candhace Forest inching out SW’s Amanda Rosenberger. The duo are 1-1 now against each other and will look to sectionals to evince their best against the best of Class C. Rosenberger came back to win the 200. Eldred’s Breanna Brucher maintained her hold on the county’s pole vault supremacy, while Monticello’s Tania Walker showed her strength in the 400.

Liberty’s Rebeccah Harman remains the county’s top hurdler winning the 100 and 400 hurdles with her inimitable graceful lengthy strides. Monticello’s Camryn Johnson claimed the 1500 and 3000 with twin Sydney just behind her. The duo represent the next wave of great distance runners ready to take charge as some of the area’s seniors evince their swan songs en route to a new life in college. SullivanWest’s Dani Myers surged from behind to overtake Monticello’s Erica Concors in the 2000 steeplechase and Livingston Manor’s Ami Calo marshaled a sweep of the long and high jumps showing that tiny school entrants can trump those from much bigger schools.

Girls results: 100 meters: Candhace Forest (Fallsburg) 12.7; 200: Amanda Rosenberger (SW) 27.5; 400: Tanya Walker (Monticello) 63.8; 800: Julie Kane (Monticello) 2:37; 1,500: Cameron Johnson (Monticello) 5:22; 3,000: Camryn Johnson (Monticello) 11:32; 100 hurdles: Rebeccah Harman (Liberty) 17.4; 400 hurdles: Harmon (Liberty) 70.4; 2,000 steeplechase: Dani Myers (SW) 8:43; high jump: Ami Calo (Livingston Manor) 4-8; long jump: Julia Doherty (Monticello) 14-8.25; triple jump: Ami Calo (Livingston Manor) 31-8; shot put: M. Harris (Fallsburg) 29-5; discus: Sarah Coney (Tri-Valley) 81-5; pole vault: Breanna Brucher (Eldred) 9-0.

Boys highlights

Monticello’s Mistah Alli had himself a day to say the least as he won the 100, the long and triple jumps. But when it comes to hurdles the name of Liberty’s Kane Sauchuk is always part of the conversation. He swept the 110 and 400 hurdles (again). Sullivan West’s Reed Scott took the 1600 and the 3200 while Monticello’s Joe Klein prevailed in the 3000 steeplechase. SW’s Matt Cardona ruled the high jump as teammate Anthony Rydell captured the discus. Fallsburg’s Michael Robinson claimed the shot put. Monticello’s Terry Duncan ruled the 200, while Manor’s Neal Mock won the 800.

100 meters: Mistah Alli (Monticello) 11.3; 200: Terry Duncan (Monticello) 23.1; 400: Raiquawn Malloy (Liberty) 55.3; 800: Neil Mock (Livingston Manor) 2:10; 1,500: 1. Reed Scott (Sullivan West) 5:04; 3,000: Reed Scott (Sullivan West) 10:40; 110 hurdles: Kane Sauchuk (Liberty) 16.0; 400 hurdles: Kane Sauchuk (Liberty) 59.2; 3,000 steeplechase: Joe Klein (Monticello) 11:31; high jump: Matt Cardon (Sullivan West) 5-10; long jump: Mistah Alli (Monticello) 20-3; triple jump: Mistah Alli (Monticello) 41-1; shot put: Michael Robinson (Fallsburg) 41-11; discus: Anthony Rydell (Sullivan West) 119-10; javelin: Pete Koval (Liberty) 135-0.

For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com

On May 15, 2012, State Police in Liberty received a report of a one-car accident on Riverside Drive in Roscoe. Responding Troopers were quickly redirected to a nearby residence for a report of a male subject who had just broken into an occupied home. Upon arrival, Troopers located DAVID TEIPELKE, 41 of Roscoe, NY, on the roof of the residence. TEIPELKE was unable to keep his balance and subsequently fell from the roof. He was taken into custody and was transported to Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris where he was treated for lacerations incurred while breaking windows at the residence.

TIEPELKE was released to State Police custody and was charged with Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. Investigation revealed that TEIPELKE had driven his 1987 Honda off the roadway and become stuck prior to breaking into the home on Riverside Drive. He was arraigned in Town of Rockland Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail with no bail set.

Liberty PD: Liberty Man Arrested for home invasion burglary.

On 5/11/12 Village of Liberty Police detectives arrested Robert Serrano, 32 of Liberty, after an investigation into a home invasion burglary. Village Police were called on 05/10/12 after a Liberty resident reported that a man was climbing through their bedroom window. The man fled after being discovered by the homeowner and was arrested the next morning after being located by Village of Liberty police.

After his arrest Serrano was linked back to two prior burglaries at the same residence over a period of several months. Each time Serrano had taken change from the residence totaling over $400.00.

Serrano was charged with three counts of Burglary in the 2nd degree, felonies, two counts of petit larceny and one count of attempted petit larceny, misdemeanors. Serrano was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court and was remanded to Sullivan County Jail to re-appear in Town of Liberty Court on 05/15/12.

Boys Try-outs are June 5 and 11th

Relayed by RICHARD A. ROSS

rross@sportsinsightsny.com

REGION–The Basketball Coaches Association of New York is again stepping up with a Statewide Summer Basketball Festival to take the place of the Empire State Games. The 2^nd Annual BCANY Summer Hoops Festival will be held in Johnson City (near Binghamton) from August 3-5.

There will be nine regions representing New York State (up from the ESG’s traditional six) by both Boys and Girls Teams. The regions include: New York City, Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, Central, Hudson Valley, Capital District, Mid-Hudson and Southern Tier.

The Mid-Hudson Team will be made up of Section IX Boys All-Stars. Our Section IX Boys try-outs will be: Tuesday (June 5) and Monday (June 11) from 7 to 9 pm at SS Seward High School in Florida, New York.

Contact information for the Boys try-out is: rgravelle@floridaufsd.org

The Boys coaching staff will include Rob Gravelle and Sal Mineo from SS Seward HS, Mike Salvia from Liberty HS and Brendan LoBrutto from Pine Plains HS.

In order to participate, you must fill out the Hoops Festival application form and waiver form. You cannot try out unless you have both forms filled out. Players are expected to make both try-out dates. You can see your own Varsity coach for try-outs paperwork or contact Coach Rob Gravelle via e-mail.

BCANY created this event to give kids that lost the chance with the elimination of the Empire Games the opportunity to showcase their skills in a format that would allow College coaches to come see them play in one setting.

BCANY also carefully selected these dates to avoid potential conflicts with national AAU tournaments. Therefore, this statewide tournament will attract the higher level basketball players that have traditionally been unavailable for the Empire Games. Last year, many College coaches from

Division I, 2 and 3 were in attendance watching the best players from around New York State competing against each other.

Print this page and fill out the following application.

BCANY Section IX Summer Hoops Festival  Player Application
Name ________________________________ High School __________________________

Address_______________________________ Ht. _________ Wt. _________
______________________________________ Grade as of 9/12 __________________

Cell Phone # __________________________ Coach’s Name ______________________

E-mail _________________________________ Coach’s Phone # ______________

I give permission for my son __________________________ to participate in the

try-outs for the BCANY Summer Hoops Festival. Trying out for this team does not

guarantee my son a spot on the Section IX all-star team. I understand that I am

responsible for transporting my son to and from each try-out.

______________________________________ _______________

Parent’s Signature Date

Please mail this form by May 31st
to:

Rob Gravelle
SS Seward High School
53 North Main Street
Florida, New York 10921

Staffing:
2.9 Teaching Positions (1.5-thru Attrition (Guidance & .5 Driver’s Ed)), .4 Phys Ed., .4 Reading,
.4 Science & .2 French.
3 Teacher assistants
3 Teacher Aides
1 Clerk/Typist
1 Technical Data Specialist thru attrition
1 Custodian thru attrition

We made additional cuts totaling $239,641 in the following areas:
- Reduction of summer school from 6 weeks to 4 and elimination of Pre-k Summer
program.
- Summer music lessons.
- Field Trips
- Newsletters reduced by 1
- Public information officer .2 FTE reduction
- Varsity Girl’s Tennis
- Basketball Chaperones reduced by 1 for girl’s games & 2 for boy’s games
- Cheerleading at away games for football
- Travel for wrestling matches – all will be held at home district
- 4:00 bus runs reduced from 3 days to 2
- Supplies have been cut 10%

Voters also voted in a fresh new face to the board – Shelia Parks.

Below is the ‘everything is going to be alright’ press release from the School District regarding the budget vote outcome:

Liberty voters approved the proposed 2012-13 Liberty Central School District budget on Tuesday night, with the final count of 303 yes votes to 133 no votes. The total proposed budget amount, $40,205,667 calls for a 0.5% increase in spending over last year and will increase the tax levy by 2%, which is less than the maximum allowable by New York State for this district.

Three Board of Education seats were also filled by the three eligible candidates: incumbents Daniel Parkhurst (251 votes) and Cindy Prince (239 votes) as well as newcomer Sheila Parks (245 votes). Board members serve three year terms.

“This budget represents some very difficult decisions that had to be made,” explains Superintendent Vanyo. “However, I am confident moving forward that the cost saving measures will not have a negative impact on student programs.”

The current budget proposal involved closing a $2 million gap created by the end of a $541,000 federal Education Jobs Fund grant and the increasing costs for state-mandated pension contributions and contractual salaries and benefits. The district has seen a $1.3 million loss in combined state and federal aid in the last three years. Additional state aid received this year was used to reduce taxes.

“The Board of Education works very hard to ensure that they are making the best decisions for our students,” explained Vanyo. “I am grateful that the voters took the time to come out today and that they trust in our planning and commitment to the district.”

Tri-Valley’s  Rafael Ramirez Wins OCIAA Hammer Championship And Takes Second In Throwers Pentathlon; T-V’s Tierney 3^rd In Hammer, 4^th in Thrower’s Pentathlon; Zach Roberts 5th In Hammer; Liberty’s Hinton 5^th in Throwers Pentathlon; T-V’s Dominique Darby Takes First In Both Throwing Championships; Heidi Furman And Mareena DiMilia Are 2^nd and 3^rd For The T-V Sweep Of Top Three In Both Championships

By RICHARD A. ROSS

rross@sportsinsightsny.com

OCIAA Throwers Pentathlon and Hammer Throw Championship standouts

MONROE, NY—One has to wonder how it can be that a small school like Tri-Valley can turn out superior throwers year after year.

The answer? Tradition, great coaching and hard work.

For most small schools, talent comes and goes in any sport. But for the Bears it seems to be omnipresent and you can credit that to the coaching staff including head coaches Joe and Missy Iatauro and in particular the expertise of throwing coach Scott Grey.

Tri-Valley graduated the likes of national standouts like Ryan Loughney and Garrett Grey and along came the likes of Rafael Ramirez, Brendan Tierney, Dominique Darby, Heidi Furman and Mareena DiMilia.

This year’s Thrower’s Pentathlon and Hammer Throw Championships were dominated by Tri-Valley with Ramirez capturing the hammer throw title (158-2) and taking second in the Thrower’s Pentathlon (2,786 points). Teammate Brendan Tierney took third in the hammer (131-2) and fourth overall in the Throwers Pentathlon (2,633), while T-V’s Zach Roberts was 5th in the hammer (108-5).Liberty’s Mike Hinton was fifth in the Throwers Pentathlon with 2,383 points.

Kudos to all of the above for their tireless efforts.

Tri-Valley’s superiority was even more in evidence in the girls championships as Dominique Darby captured the hammer throw title (128-8) as well as the Throwers Pentathlon Championship with 2,662 points).

Completing the Lady Bears’ sweep of the top three slots in both championships, Heidi Furman and Mareena DiMilia took second and third respectively. Furman registered a hammer throw of 115-6 and scored 2,461 points in the Throwers Pentathlon, while DiMilia heaved the hammer 99 feet and racked up 2,420 points in the Throwers Pentathlon.

We haven’t heard the last from these mighty heavers. Not by a long shot. Expect more milestones at the OCIAA league meet and the coming Section Nine championships.

Can’t wait. Complete results shown on chart below. Top five are written at bottom of the post.

Thrower's pentathlon results

OCIAA (Boys) throwers pentathlon championships

(at Monroe-Woodbury High School)

Boys: 1. Tim Wilson (Washingtonville) 2,894; 2. Rafael Ramirez (T-V) 2,876; 3. Dave Carlson (King.) 2,690; 4. Brendan Tierney (T-V) 2,633; 5. Mike Hinton (Liberty) 2,383; 6. Randy Hinds (King.) 2,251.

OCIAA (Boys) hammer throw championships

(at Monroe-Woodbury High School)

Boys: 1. Rafael Ramirez (T-V) 156-8; 2. Tim Wilson (Wash.) 148-9; 3. Brendan Tierney (T-V) 131-2; 4. Dan Shambo (King.) 125-9; 5. Zack Roberts (T-V) 108-5; 6. Dave Carlson (King.) 108-4.

OCIAA  (Girls) throwers pentathlon championships

(at Monroe-Woodbury High School)

Girls: 1. Dominique Darby (Tri-Valley) 2,662; 2. Heidi Furman (T-V) 2,461; 3. Mareena Dimilia (T-V) 2,420; 4. Valarie Hinds (Kingston) 2,000; 5. Heather Rysinger (Minisink Valley) 1,793; 6. Rebecca Rich (King.) 1,663.

OCIAA Girls hammer throw championships

(at Monroe-Woodbury High School)

1. Dominique Darby (T-V) 128-8; 2. Heidi Furman (T-V) 115-6; 3. Mareena Dimilia (T-V) 99-0; 4. Rebecca Rich (King.) 97-9; 5. Madison Suardy (King.) 80-4; 6. Shannon Miller (Minisink Valley) 72-2.

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

rross@sportsinsightsny.com

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

Fallsburg Gets Its First League Win Of The Season And The First Under The Watch Of Coach Carlye Hyde As They Erupt For An 18-Run Inning En Route To a Five-Inning Shortened Route Of Tri-Valley

Fallsburg 27, Tri-Valley 10

By RICHARD A. ROSS

rross@sportsinsightsny.com

Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com

Fallsburg wins! (clockwise) Southpaw Kirsten Jacobsen fires a strike. Kierra Miller blasts a three-run homer as part of her five RBI day. Tri-Valley's Emily DiToro follows up a complete game outing against Ellenville with a relief performance as the day's third pitcher for the Lady Bears. Fallsburg's Sami Wiles steals home.

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—Given the law of averages, one of these days it was bound to happen: Fallsburg would record a league win and in the process pay back one of the Division V teams that has had their way with them for what seems like forever.

One of those teams that has battered them from pillar to post is Tri-Valley. Consider their first meeting this year, a 19-3 affair that afforded the Lady Bears one of its two league wins to date and one of its overall three wins up to this juncture.

As for Fallsburg which had lost all four prior league outings and had only two wins against Family School against five losses overall, the time seemed right to reverse the curse so to speak and turn the tables on their hosts at long last.

With left handed hurler Kirsten Jacobsen on the hill, the same pitcher Tri-Valley had faced in the first outing with the Lady Comets, it seemed as if the Lady Bears would have little trouble stringing together hits for the usual outcome.

But lo and behold, this was not the same Lady Comets team by any stretch.

This time they really came to play.

Coach Mary Feusner sent righty Jessica Kinney to the mound. Kinney would last just two innings as Feusner had to lift her in the third inning, a frame in which Fallsburg would send 20 batters to the plate. The first five were Kinney’s responsibility. Following that it was Amanda TerBush who got the call with precious little time to warm up.

That inning would yield 18 runs as walks and errors abetted the already lively bats of the blazing Comets who seemed as if they’d be up until the end of days.

Actually though, the game started out rather sedately. Fallsburg got a run in the top of the first on an RBI single by Sami Wiles.  Kinney struck out big bat Nyasia Blakney to end the threat of further damage.

Jacobsen worked around an E-3 to put Tri-Valley away in the first.

The Lady Comets added two runs in the second behind an RBI double from Jordan Reichenbaugh and an E-6 throw which allowed her to score.

The Lady Bears failed to score in the second and now trailed 3-0.

Then it happened.

Wiles led off with a single and and E-4 put runners on the corners. A walk to Christina Beatty loaded the bases (it wouldn’t be the last time by a long shot that the bases were filled). Another run scored on an E-1 before Kinney loaded them up with another bases on balls.

Feusner had seen enough and  she summoned TerBush to take the ball. She walked in a run as Celia Garcia showed patience at the plate. A single and a couple of errors allowed Jewelisa Trujillo’s at bat to plate three runs and on and on it went.  TerBush faced nine batters before Emily DiToro took the ball. Four walks in the inning were yielded by the trio of pitchers and two batters were hit by pitches to add to the miasma.

When the dust cleared, Fallsburg led 21-0.

Tri-Valley finally got on the board in the bottom of the third as Rachel Adriaans led off with a walk and scored on a passed ball and errant throw. Erin Smith hit a double and scored on a sac fly from Ashley Exner but that was it.

To avoid a five-run shortened game, Tri-Valley would have to shave Fallsburg’s lead down below 15 runs. But the Lady Comets had other ideas as they added to their lead with two runs in the fourth to make it 23-6.

Tri-Valley came back with four runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit to 23-6. Kinney walked to start the inning and a single by Nicole Bradley gave the Lady Bears runners at the corners. With DiToro at the plate, Kinney scored on a passed ball and the other run came in on a dropped third strike throw to first. TerBush doubled in a Smith sent in another on with a sac fly.

Kiera Miller followed an RBI single from Jacobsen in the top of the fifth with a three-run  homer that just sailed by the glove of Nicole Bradley as it rocketed down the line. Those four runs would provide the insurance needed  to stop the game after Tri-Valley scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, just two runs short of prolonging the game.

Fallsburg improved to 3-5 (1-4 OCIAA), while Tri-Valley fell to 3-8 (2-5 OCIAA).

Miller was two-for-three with 5 RBI. Wiles had two hits and two RBI for Fallsburg. TerBush and Smith were both two-for-four with one RBI.

Hyde was delighted with her team’s showing. “This was a lot of fun and two years in the making,” she noted.  Hyde felt this was a great payback for the earlier 19-3 loss. “I really thought we could have won that game and that we could have played way more competitively and we proved that here tonight.”

Aside from Miller’s blast, Fallsburg kept the line going with base hits. “A single is a single and if gets the job done that’s all we need,” said Hyde.  This was special. I’m really proud of these girls. Hyde gave props to her entire team but cited senior Celia Garcia who has been playing with her since she started her coaching tenure.

Coach Feusner laughed when this writer quipped, “Mama said there’d be days like this.” It seemed as if everything went awry for the Lady Bears including the issuance of walks, yanked throws etc.

“We tip our hats to them. They were  a different team today. They played with a lot of confidence and when we were issuing up those walks and hit batters and we didn’t have our act together, they continued to function.”

Feusner credited her team with trying to extend the game in the bottom of the fifth. “We weren’t going to give up the ship,” she said.  Tri-Valley seniors include Erin Smith, Rachel Adriaans and Liz Bracken. Aside from those veterans, the Lady Bears are young and up-and-coming.

It’s a learning curve for both of these squads, that’s for sure. But for the Lady Comets, this game will no doubt reside in their collective memory for awhile to come.

For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com