Long Island Stingers

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!!