Long Island Stingers

Stingers Sweep Defending Champs

In a rare break from the norm, the L.I. Stingers were actually wide awake for a morning double today and swept the games from the defending champs Suffolk Yankees. Both games were loaded with dramatics.

In Game 1, the Stingers were down 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Matty Kersich singled, Mike Flynn doubled, and Brendan Jones singled to make the score 5-3. Brendan then attempted a steal of second and despite a perfect throw, Brendan was safe as the ball was dropped. With two strikes on Rich Motta, he ripped a singled through the right side of the infield and the score was tied. John Flynn retired the side in the 8^th and in the bottom with one out, Mike Kalab doubled, Brian Castles singled, then stole second. In addition, Bryan Vaccaro roped a single to right to win in dramatic fashion… Shades of Islip so many years ago. Will they ever learn whom not to pitch too? The Stingers pounded out 17 hits and a walk and got super pitching from the Flynn twins. Mike pitched three scoreless, while John pitched four scoreless. Vaccaro and Castles each had three hits, Jones, Kalab, and Motta had two each; Pete Kersich, Matt, Joey Andrechuk, Mike Flynn, and Rich Donnelly each had one.

In Game 2, the Stingers started early and led 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth. The Yanks showed why they won it a year ago and actually had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but failed to score. Final: Stingers 8 - Yanks 6. The Stingers are now in 2^nd place, which allowed Coach Pete to be asked to manage the All Star game at Duck Stadium on July 12 and allowed five Stingers to be voted by their peers to attend and play. The game featured five strong innings of pitching by Dean Papakonstantis; eight hits: Two by Matt and Dean; a double by Tommy Williams and Rich Motta; and singles by Bryan and Rich Donnelly. Defense was solid. Stingers are now 8 - 3. Next game is at Baseball Heaven on Thursday at 9:30 pm.