Bulletin Board
Subscribe to our NewsletterFormer Stinger Pictures
Please click on Photo Albums and 2015 to see former players that continue to play. Luke Leonardi is at Post. Nicky Liegi is at Binghampton. Chris Gaffney is at UNC Wilmington. I will add as pics come in!!
Brendan Jones Makes It to the D1 Finals
Brendan Jones, goaltender for the Stony Brook Seawolves, helped take the team to the finals of D1. Despite losing the final game, Jones gave up only 5 goals in three playoff games Great Job Jonesy!! (See photo albums on left for action shots of Jones)
Tentative Playoff Schedule
Game 1
Stingers vs. Indians at BBH 9:30 pm Friday
Game 2
Win Game 1: Sunday at 12:00 pm at Tanner Park in Copiague
Lose Game 1: Sunday at 7:00 pm at Tanner Park in Copiague
Note: I will be holding a BP and Fielding practice on Friday, before the Game. Place TBD!!
Gaffney Catches vs. FSU
While visiting Matt Kersich at FSU, we attended a baseball game and came across Chris Gaffney, a catcher for UNC Wilmington, who played with the Stingers in our first spring travel league. Great to see him playing Div. I ball!! Click on Pictures to see him!!
College News
College Seniors
1. Peter Kersich: Attending Marist University in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. has interned with the New York Cosmos, CBS Sports, the Poughkeepsie Journal and with a Marist professor. Major: Sports Communication; Minor: Psychology Has done Marist radio all four years. Just worked the NBA All-Star game. GPA is 3.4 Plans to graduate May 23, 2015.
2. Dean Papakonstantis: Attends S.U.N.Y. @ Cortland. Playing club baseball team this year. Major: Economics. Minor: History. Plans to get his Masters in Teaching Adolecent Social Studies at CUNY @Hunter. G.P.A.: 3.7
3. James Iorio: Attending Marist University in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. James is majoring in Sports/ Public Relations Communications.
4. C. J. Hafner: Attending S.U.N.Y. @ Cortland. C. J. is majoring in Physics and Math. C.J. is playing club baseball. Still planning to teach and has a G.P.A.: 3.3
5. Chris Linkletter: Attending S.U.N.Y. @ Oneonta. Chris is graduating with a BS in Geology this spring. He is interested in doing research with his advisor on Lava Flow in Northeast, US. He may attend grad school next year.. Chris is captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team.
6. Tom Trifaro: Attending the University of Tampa in Florida.
7. Bryan Vaccaro: Attending St. Joseph's College. Graduating in May. Hired to coach a 12 y.o. travel team called the B45 Patriots. He does lessons at All-Pro in Setauket. G.P.A.: 3.7 Major: History education. Writing his thesis. Bryan is doing his student teaching right now at Sequoya MS, and then will do seven weeks at Sachem East. He passed Part 1 of his teaching exams. Bryan is also the assistant JV baseball coach at East.
8. Shane Paparelli: Attending S.U.N.Y. at Oneonta. Shane is graduating this spring with a degree in Business Economics. He plays all intramural sports and recently won the wiffleball championship.
9. Matt Esposito: Attending University of Villanova.
10. Vinny Bona: Working construction. Now playing travel softball with the "old guys". Heading to Florida next week for a World Tournament.
11. Brendan Jones: Attends Stony Brook. Plans on graduating in May. G.P.A.: 3.7. Plays for Stony Brook Hockey as their starting goalie. Won the Conference Championship Game on Sunday, February 22. The team lost in the D1 National Championship!! Great effort...As always!!. Major: Broadcast Journalism. Interned with News 12 Sports.
12. Mike Kalab: Attends Fordham University.
Juniors
1. Matt Kersich: Attends The Florida State University. Matt is an Italian major / business minor. He spent three semesters in Florence, Italy for his Freshman year. Visited 35 cities and 8 countries. Loves his futbol and his soccer scarves. Matt is playing intramural soccer and softball. Matt is currently planning to graduate in Dec. 2015. He also plans to get his Italian Citizenship this summer along with Coach Pete and Pete, Jr., by spending nearly three weeks in southern Italy.
2. John Flynn: Attending S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo as a finance/ international business major. Plays intramural sports. Season ticket holder of the Buffalo Bills. Belongs to some Business Clubs. Plans to intern this summer in finance. G.P.A.: 3.5
3. Mike Flynn: Attending S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, where he is majoring in finance and international business. Mike plays intamural football and volleyball. Is a season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills. Plans to Graduate in the Spring of 2016. Would like to intern this summer in the banking industry. Hopes to make the cut for the 2015 PGA Championship!! G.P.A.: 3.6
4. Brian Castles: Attends the University of Miami. Currently the bullpen catcher the the Division I Miami Hurricanes!!
5. Joey Andrechuk: 1.5 YEARS CANCER FREE!!!!!! Taking classes at Suffolk and working with a mechanic. Major: Radiation Biology. G.P.A.: 3.7 Plans to graduate SCCC in the fall and hopes to go to S.U.N.Y at Stony Brook!!
6. Rich Donnelly: Attends S.U.N.Y. at Binghamton. Plays Club ball for the school.
7. Kevin Gebhart: Currently at S.U.N.Y. at Old Westbury
8. Joe Ryan: Attending Alfred University and playing football. Starting Fullback. Involved with something on the 50 yard line two weeks ago....
9. Tom Ryan: Attending S.U.N.Y. at Albany and having the time of his life!!
10. Nicky Cioffi: Attending Coastal Carolina. Major: Accounting
11. Colin Chaloupecky: Attends The Florida State University. Major: Biology. Plans to attend Medical School one year from now. Colin is graduating in May, 2015!! His softball team is the defending intramural champs. G.P.A.: 3.7
12. George Stenby: Recently hired by Southside Hospital. Holtsville EMT and fireman.
13. Brian McIntyre: Commutes to Baruch College in N.Y.C.
14. Mark Ortiz: Attends S.U.N.Y. Albany. Major: Economics. Belongs to Able-Albany Business Leaders. G.P.A.: 3.1 Hopes to get a summer internship.
15. Ed Johntry: Attending Suffolk Community College. Major: Liberal Arts. Transferring to Miami Dade next year. G.P.A.: 3.1
16. Louis Ferrari: Attending Suffolk CC. Major: Business Management. Taking a break from baseball.
College Sophomores
1. Anthony Telesca: Bates College in Maine. Rehab for Tommy John surgery. Hopes to DH in the Spring. Major: Economics. G.P.A.: 3.1
2. Nicky Liegi: SUNY @ Binghampton. Playing Division 1 baseball at S.U.N.Y. at Binghamton!! Will be the first man out of the pen for the team. Team recently went 1-1 vs. Auburn.
3. Dan Hetzel: Playing ball in Arizona.
4. Joe Messina: St. Joseph's of Patchogue
5. Tyler Piccolo: Transferred to Dowling. Looking for more playing time
6. Cody McPartland: Dowling University in Oakdale on a baseball scholarship.
7. Tommy Williams: Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.
8. Michael Castles:
9. Nick Neri: Suffolk Community College
10. Rich Motta: Suffolk Community College. Starting pitcher on the baseball team.
11. Joe Deland: Transferred to Suffolk Community College.
12. Jake Andrechuk: Currently an Apprentice to work as a steam-fitter.
13. Chris Gaffney: Back-up catcher for DI UNC Wilmington.
14. Luke Leonardi: Coming off Tommy John surgery. Hopes to get back to playing ball at C.W. Post. Formerly at S.U.N.Y Binghamton!!
As the boys update me, I will pass it along….
Stats are Up-To-Date
Check your stats. Click on Links to left and Click on Stan Musial.
Note: To qualify for playoffs, you must have at least 20 AB's, 6 appearances as a pitcher or 17 IP's pitched.
Stinger Re-Launch for 2014!!
Stingers Launch Re-Boot …. Win 5 - 2
It was deemed Joey Andrechuk Night. Joey was considered cancer free in October, 2013, ten months after being diagnosed with Germinoma, a type of brain cancer. He had tumors in his brain successfully removed following chemo and radiation. Storms surrounded Birchwood Field with torrential rain throughout Long Island. Yet, merely a mist fell at the field and the Stingers opened 2014, having last played in August 2012. After going down in order in the first, Joey headed out to the mound. With the Stingers lining the third base line, the Corn kids lining the first base line, and a crowd of nearly 100 standing and applauding, Joey was our hero and what he endured for ten months was now being admired by all at the field. Joey went two-plus innings, striking out four, walking two, giving up just one hit and allowing no runs. Kevin Gebhart relieved Joey and pitched three solid innings giving up two hits two walks and two runs while striking out six. Brian Vaccaro pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, striking out four and allowing just one hit. Entering the seventh, the Stingers trailed 2 - 1; the one run coming on a double by Dean Papakonstantis knocking in Mike Flynn. In the seventh, Brian McIntyre opened up with a double. Yes, the Brian that had not swung a bat in nearly ten years. It allowed the Stingers to play Stinger baseball. When the inning ended, the Stingers led 5 - 2. Interestingly, all four runs were scored without a single hit. The Stingers finished off the Corn kids in the bottom of the seventh and won the game 5 - 2. Joey Andrechuk was back!!
OUR 2014 SCHEDULE
Our Schedule:
LI STINGERS
7/23 VS THUNDER @ BIRCHWOOD 8:30
7/24 VS CFD @ BASEBALL HEAVEN #2… 9:30 PM
7/27 VS SHARKS DH @ MERILLON FIELD 2:00
Total: 26 games
Liegi Makes Headlines
Liegi walks on, impresses out of baseball’s bullpen
Nick Liegi wasn’t recruited to play for Binghamton’s baseball team — he wasn’t even on its radar.
“I didn’t know much about Nick entering into the fall tryout … only what his high school coach told one of my assistant coaches,” BU head coach Tim Sinicki said.
But Liegi knew he wanted to continue playing the game after high school, so he gave Sinicki a call over the summer.
“He responded and gave me times for a meet up, and practices in the fall,” Liegi said. “And so I started showing up to those throughout the fall.”
“What Nick did during the fall season was very impressive, and I felt he needed and deserved to be part of our program,” Sinicki said.
Flash-forward a few months: Liegi owns a 1.72 ERA in 15.2 innings and pitched three shutout innings to earn the win in the Bearcats’ 4-3 victory over Hartford last weekend.
Liegi’s success is rare for a walk-on, in that BU typically doesn’t carry many non-scholarship players. Traditionally, the Bearcats don’t even have a yearly walk-on tryout.
“This past year was an exception,” Sinicki said. “A couple of our returning pitchers were coming off injuries and one of our incoming freshmen was coming in with an injury so we were looking to add a walk-on pitcher if we felt there was a good candidate … That is when we found Nick.”
Sinicki didn’t hunt Liegi like a prized recruit — he stumbled upon him like a diamond in the rough. For a BU bullpen that’s been shaky the past couple of seasons, Liegi has shined especially bright.
“His numbers and effectiveness are impressive for both a walk-on or recruited player,” Sinicki said.
Liegi’s fastball tops out at 81 mph. While he doesn’t necessarily have a go-to pitch, Liegi mixes three pitches into his repertoire and throws whatever is working for him during any given outing. As for his approach on the mound, Liegi likes to keep things simple.
“I always just try and stay focused,” Liegi said. “Always being ready to go in. Work well with the catcher, be in sync with him. Make the most of every opportunity and practice hard every day.”
Liegi, who went to Sachem East High School in Suffolk County on Long Island, first picked up a glove when he was 10 years old, and played throughout middle and high school. He wasn’t promised a spot on a college team, but the itch to toe the rubber didn’t end for him when high school did.
“I really wanted to continue playing, and playing D-1 baseball has been a dream,” Liegi said.
As for his goals down the road, Liegi just wants “to get as much playing time as possible.” He has flashed sparks of dominance in a small sample size this season, and Sinicki foresees Liegi continuing to be the reliable arm he’s been looking for in his bullpen.
“All I know is, as long as Nick continues to buy into what we do here within our baseball program there is no reason he cannot continue to be successful,” Sinicki said.
As good as Liegi has been in the opportunities he’s had as a freshman, and for as good as he may be in the future, he’ll still carry the label of “walk-on” around with him for as long as he’s wearing the green and white. That alone, according to Liegi, is enough to continue to drive him to be the best pitcher he can be.
“I was not recruited by anyone else,” Liegi said. “I guess you could say I slipped through the cracks. I don’t have anyone specific to prove wrong but I always play with a chip on my shoulder because I wasn’t recruited by anyone.”
The Bearcats will return to action at Varsity Field this weekend with a three-game series against UMass Lowell. First pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is set for noon. The series will conclude at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Stinger Re-Launch Gets National Attention
The re-launch of the L.I. Stingers and the recovery of Joey Andrechuk is turning heads and has reached the national level. Please read the email Coach Pete just received:
Good Evening,
It's Amanda from Fios1 News, we "spoke" on Twitter earlier today about a story
idea. I would love to hear more about your player who overcame brain cancer and
now is going to be starting on the mound in May. When do you guys start
practice? I would love to get some video of him practicing--talk to him, you,
his family and maybe some of his friends who are on the team. Let me know what
will work well with the schedule of the team and I can work around it--since the
story can run anytime between April and May I don't need to film everything on
the same day.
Thanks,
--
Amanda VanAllen
Reporter
FiOS1 News (NJ/LI)
Hopefully, this will lead to more coverage of twenty GREAT boys!!
Stan Musial Meeting Re-cap
The Long Island Stan Musial Baseball League held its Registration and Information Meeting on March 5, 2014. The following is a recap of what was discussed and important information for all teams interested in playing in 2014.
AMERICAN DIVISION - GEORGE RHEIN
PASSWORDS / USERNAMES - passwords for use on the league website will be issued when a team completes a league registration form.
Long Island Stingers Re-Launch!!!
Players Committed:
1. Peter Kersich: Paid
2. Matthew Kersich: Paid
3. John Flynn: Paid
4. Mike Flynn: Paid
5. Joey Andrechuk: Paid
6. Bryan Vaccaro: Paid
7. Tommy Williams: Paid
8. Mike Kalab: Paid
9. Colin Chaloupecky: Paid
10. Rich Donnelly: Paid
11. Brian McIntyre: Paid
12. Jake Andrechuk: Paid
13. Dean Papakonstantis: Paid
14. George Stenby: Partial Payment
15. Shane Paparelli: Partial Payment
16. Kevin Gebhart: Partial Payment
17. Joe Deland: Partial Payment
18. Tommy Ryan: Partial Payment
19. Joe Ryan: Partial payment
20. Rich Motta Partial Payment
21. ??????
Note: Full Payment = You Are In!!!
21. Anthony Telesca??
22. Nicky Liegi??
23. Nicky Cioffi??
24. Billy Alvino??
25. Mike Castles??
26. Brian Castles??
27. Sal Giannino
I Need At Least 20 Paid!! Let's Go!!!!!
Coach Pete is excited to announce:
Long Island Stingers
Re - Launch
League: Stan Musial AA
Start: Third Week of May.
Games: One Weekday and Double every weekend for total of 25 games.
Fee: $300 Per Player ( based on 20 players)
League Cost: $1800
Umpire Cost: $2000
Uniforms for 20 players: $2000
Team Insurance: $200
Baseballs: $400.
Note: We will be using new uniforms.
I cannot put a team together with less than 20 players. Also, I cannot move
forward without money.
If I can get some sponsors, I will refund money.
So, checks for $300 per player need to be made out to:
Long Island Stingers
and
mailed to or dropped off to:
Long Island Stingers
61 Thunder Rd.
Holbrook, NY 11741
Questions?? Call me @ 631-965-3502!!
Speak to your parents.
Again, I cannot move forward without a commitment (meaning $300 payment) by
February 28, 2014.
Tommy Williams Joins the Stingers
The Long Island Stingers are thrilled to announce the signing of Tommy Williams for the remainder of the Fall season and hopefully, the Winter workouts. Tommy is an original Stinger and we are excited to see him back wearing the black and yellow!!
