Nassau Yankees: News

Second-year Nassau Yankee Kevin Connors was named to the firs-team all-conference team in the East Coast Conference. Connors, who just finished his sophomore year at St. Thomas Aquinas College, had a terrific year for the STAC Spartans. The infielder hit .296 in 40 games played with one homerun and 20 RBIs. Connors, along with fellow Yankee Brian LaMarr, helped lead the Spartans to one of their best seasons ever, finishing with a 28-24 record and winning the regular season title in the ECC. In 2007, Connors' first year with the Yanks, he hit .366 with 33 runs scored in 31 games played.

 STAC Baseball Website

ECC All-Conference Team 

Boxscore - April 25, 2008 Game One

Boxscore - April 25, 2008 Game Two

Boxscore - April 26, 2008 

    The Nassau Yankees entered Saturday having lost three straight games and facing the prospect of the first four-game losing streak in franchise history.  The  Yanks met the Queens Red Soxin a NYCMBL doubleheader for the first time. The team responded to the losing streak by sweeping the Red Sox, including a dramatic comeback win in game two.  They followed up the Saturday sweep with a convincing MABL victory on Sunday versus the New York Panthers.

    The Yanks sent out rookie righty Mike Levy in game one on Saturday. Levy, looking to bounce back from his first loss a week earlier, gave his team a terrific outing. He tossed six strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. He earned the victory to improve to 2-1 on the season, while striking out nine batters. The nine strikeouts give him a team-high 27 in 17 innings of work.  While the team had a rough game offensively, getting just 5 hits, James Conklin had a great game at the plate, going 2 for 2 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and a run scored.  Mike Flynn came on to strike out the side in the seventh to earn his first save of the season.

    In game two, the Yanks again struggled to put up but runs but lefty Jose Martinez, in his first start on the mound this year, did plenty to keep the Sox in check.  Martinez tossed five innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, while striking out seven. The Yanks jumped out to a 3-0 lead, on RBIs by Nick Testani in the first and third inning. However, the Red Sox chipped away, scoring a run in the third and fifth to cut the lead to 3-2.  The Sox would take their first lead of the day with 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth. With their backs against the wall, the Yanks responded in their final at-bat.  After a one-out walk by Bryan Boehler and a strikeout by John Sarkis, Charlie Sanjurjo kept the Yanks hopes alive by reaching on an error.  Boehler would go on to score the game-tying run on a wild pitch. The Yanks then loaded the bases on back-to-back two-out walks by Alex Sharpe and Henry Fontalvo., bringing captain Paul LaMarr to the plate.  The Yanks took the lead when LaMarr got hit on a 1-2 pitch, his team-high fourth hit-by-pitch of the season.  The Yanks held onto the one-run lead with a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, highlighted by a leaping grab by Testani to end the game.  Flynn picked up the victory to go along with his save earlier in the day, tossing two innings and striking out three.  The two wins improved the Yanks record to 4-2 in NYCMBL play and 6-4 overall.

     Sunday saw the Yankees bats finally bust out.  They pounded out 11 hits and a season-high 16 runs en route to a 16-4 run rule victory over the Panthers.  Nine different Yankees recorded hits, while nine also scored at least one run.  Anthony Denara had a bases loaded triple to bust open the game, part of a eight run fifth inning. For the day, Denara went 1 for 2 with the triple, 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored.  Shorstop Ray Montanez went 2 for 4 and a season-high 4 RBIs.  Sanjurjo and Jon Franco each two hits, as well.  Jason Guichard picked up his second win on the year, working six innings, allowing three earned runs.

    The Yanks resume play on Saturday with a 2pm NYCMBL doubleheader versus the College Point Clippers at Old Boys High School.

GAME 1 BOXSCORE

GAME 2 BOXSCORE

    For the second consecutive Sunday, the Nassau Yankees had a tough tripleheader. Again, the Yanks looked to avenge a 2007 MABL loss, this time facing off against the Hicksville Sox. And again faced a new NYCMBL foe, this time in fellow league newcomer the New York's Finest. The task at hand was made a little easier this time around with all three games played at the Yankees' new home field, Roslyn High School.

The day began well for the club with a 6-4 tough win against the Sox. The win improved the team's record to 2-1 in the MABL and 4-1 overall. The Yanks opened up the scoring in the opening frame when Tom Foley's two-out triple scored Paul LaMarr. After the Yanks added a run in the third on a Nick Testani RBI double, the Sox responded by scoring three runs in the fourth off Yankee starter and manager Ed LaMarr. In his first outing of the year, LaMarr went five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. The Yanks immediately answered back, tying the game in the bottom half on a Alex Sharpe double. An inning later, they took the lead on a solo homerun from Testani, his first of the year and the team's first on the season. The Sox would re-tie the game two innings later on a double steal. In the bottom of the seventh, the Yanks would take the lead for good on an RBI single from Testani and a RBI fielder's choice by James Conklin. For the game, Testani went 3/4 with 3 RBIs and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle. In his first appearance of the year, righty Kevin Salguero picked up the win in relief. He tossed four strong innings, allowing a lone run on 3 hits and struck out five. The victory gave Ed LaMarr and the Nassau Yankees their 100th career victory.

The opening victory would prove to be the lone highlight of the day as the Yanks got swept in their doubleheader against the Finest. In game one, the Yanks jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a RBI single from Testani in the first and and a RBI single from Paul LaMarr in the third. The Finest answered convincingly by putting six runs on the board in the third , thanks in large part to three Yankee errors. They would put the game away scoring two more in the fourth and four in the fifth to earn the run-rule victory. For the game, the Yanks' committed six errors that led to five unearned runs. In game two, the Yanks again jumped out to an early lead on a Foley RBI single in the first. However, once again the Yanks' defense let down their pitching. After scoring three in the third, the Finest broke open the game with six runs in the fourth. In the inning, the Yanks' committed three more errors. The Yanks would fight back, making it a 9-5 game in the fifth but would fall short, leaving 2 runners on base in each of the final three innings. The two losses dropped the Yanks record in the NYCMBL to 2-2 and 4-3 overall.

NOTES: The top of the Yanks' order had a big day, with their 1-3 hitters combining to go 18 for 27 on the day. Leadoff hitter Anthony Denara went 5 for 10, scoring three times and stealing three bases. Yanks captain Paul LaMarr went 6 for 8, scoring three times and driving in three runs. Three hitter Nick Testani had a huge day going 7 for 9, 3 doubles, a home run and 5 RBIs. The trio scored 8 out of the team's 13 runs and drove in 8 runs, as well.

 BOXSCORE

    The Yanks lost their first game of the year today in a 5-3 contest against MABL rival Midville Dodgers.  The Yankees spotted their opponent a 5-0 lead, allowing 2 two-out runs in the third and 3 two-out runs in the fifth.  The Yanks cut the lead to 5-2, plating two runs in the seventh on RBI doubles by Paul LaMarr and Tom Foley.  Jason Rodriguez drove in a run on a single in the eigth to shrink the deficit to two, but the Yanks rally ended when LaMarr grounded out and Nick Testani struck out to leave the tying runs on base.  They would mount another charge in the ninth, putting the tying runs on base due to two-out singles by Alex Sharpe and John Sarkis before Henry Fontalvo popped out to first to end the game.  On the day, the Yanks stranded eight men on base, seven in scoring position, including 2 in each of the final three innings.  Rookie righthander Mike Levy took the tough loss, evening his record at 1-1.  He tossed seven innings, allowing just 3 hits, 4 earned runs, while striking out twelve. He battled control problems throughout the day, walking seven. Reliever Mike Flynn was solid in his debut on the hill, tossing a scoreless eighth inning.

    The Yankees will look to get back on the winning track tomorrow, playing a tripleheader at Roslyn HS.  They face off against MABL foe Hicksville Sox in a 11am contest. The Yanks are looking to avenge their early season loss last year to the Sox.  After, the Yanks will play the New York's Finest in a NYCMBL doubleheader at 2:30PM.  Like the Yanks, the Finest are new to the NYCMBL and are expected to be one of the league's tougher teams. 

Game 3 Boxscore

The Nassau Yankees opened up their 2008 season on Sunday with the tough task of playing three games in two leagues. The Yanks opened up the day, making their NYCMBL debut, with a doubleheader against 2007 NYCMBL runner-up the NY/LI Rough Riders. The team made an early statement by sweeping the doubleheader with a 5-1 game one victory, followed by a 2-0 game two win. They finished the day with a convincing 9-1 triumph over the New York Hurricanes in their MABL opener.

The day began with rookie Mike Levy taking the hill in his Yankee debut. The righty from Clark University had an impressive first game, allowing a lone run in 4 innings to earn his first victory. He struck out six and walked just one. After falling behind 1-0, the Yanks took the lead in the third on an RBI single from newcomer Ray Montanez and an RBI double by Bryan Boehler. After adding a run in the fourth, the Yanks put the game out of reach with two more runs in the fifth, thanks to a RBI double by Nick Testani and RBI single by Tom Foley. Lefty Jose Martinez picked up his first career save, tossing shutout innings, striking out two batters.

In game two, Nassau sent out newly acquired ace Wayne Seder. Seder made a great early impression by tossing a complete game shutout. The righty from New York Tech struck out ten and allowed just four hits. The game remained scoreless through the first five innings before the Yanks broke through in the six. The club scored two in the sixth, due in large part to two pitchers. Game one winner Levy and rookie reliever Mike Flynn, both in the lineup because the Yanks were forced to split their squad due to the MABL night game, came through to rally the club. After a one-out single by Levy, Flynn opened the scoring with an RBI double. He scored two batters later on a two-out RBI single by Jason Rodriguez. Seder took care of the rest, finishing strong by recording five of the last six outs by strikeouts.

After two low-scoring games, the Yanks bats came alive in the nightcap. Venging a sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes last year, the Yanks pounded out 16 hits, leading to a 9-1 win. They jumped out of the gate quickly, scoring 3 runs in the top of the first. Rookies Montanez and Testani each had three hits on the day, while Anthony Denara and Paul LaMarr each scored two runs. 2007 Pitcher of the Year winner Jason Guichard was outstanding in his season debut. The righty went the distance, allowing just three hits and one unearned run, while striking out four.

The Yankees will look to build off their succesful opening day when they face off with the Midville Dodgers on Saturday at 4PM in a MABL contest. The team will face another tripleheader next Sunday, playing fellow NYCMBL newcomer New York's Finest and the Hicksville Sox in a MABL matchup.

NOTES: Montanez went 5 for 8 on the day with 3 RBIs, Testani went 4 for 8 and Denara went 3 for 9 and 3 runs scored....In game one, Paul LaMarr played in his 100th career game as a Nassau Yankee, the first player in team history to reach the milestone...Guichard's complete game was his 8th in his Yankee career...Boehlers 3 hits on the day put him in a tie with Brian LaMarr for 2nd all-time with 88 hits...The Yanks now have 99 all-time victories

2008 Schedule

The Nassau Yankees and manager Ed LaMarr have officially released their 2008 schedule. The 48 game schedule consists of 32 NYCMBL games and 16 MABL games, with several more yet to be scheduled. The 2008 campaign looks to be the toughest in the club's four year history. The team opens its season, and their inaugural season in the NYCMBL, April 13th in a 3pm doubleheader versus the Long Island Rough Riders, last year's NYCMBL runner-up. The club will open its MABL season the following day under the lights, playing the New York Hurricanes in a 8:15 contest at Baldwin Park. The Yanks will be seeking redemption after being swept in two games against the Hurricanes last year.

The Yanks are set to begin a tough 2008 campaign.

Other tough tests loom in the early part of the season, with the Yanks matching up against the much-heralded New York's Finest on April 20th and the NYCMBL 2007 Queens/Bronx division champs College Point Clippers on May 3rd. Also on April 20th, the club will open up its home field for the 2008 season. The club will be playing several dates at newly renovated Roslyn HS, beginning with their April 20th contest versus the Hicksville Sox.

After playing a team-record 60 games in 2007, this year's slab has the potential to eclipse that mark. With such a challenging schedule, it should be beneficial that this year's club is the deepest and youngest in team history. This year the club sports a 27-man roster with most, if not all, playing in both the NYCMBL and the MABL. The abundance of depth should certainly be an advantage to the club as it battles through two difficult leagues. This years balance between returning veterans and fresh new talent should also be a winning combination. Some returning veterans including captain Paul LaMarr, former QMBL All-Stars Bryan Boehler and Tom Foley, reigning Pitcher of the Year Jason Guichard and reigning Rookie of the Year Jose Asmad.

This years team casts a group of rookies that is unmatched. Headlining the group is former New York tech standout and QMBL Cy Young winner Wayne Seder. The hard-throwing righty is coming off a 13-2 season, including a 2-0 record with the Yankees in tournament play. In 113 innings of work, he struck out an eye-popping 156 batters. Seder joins returning aces Brian LaMarr and Guichard to give the club a trio of arms that should be among the best in either league can shut down even the most feared lineups. In 2007, the trio combined to go 30-11, with all three posting sub 2.30 ERAs. In 322.1 combined innings, they struck out a total of 316 batters while allowing just 267 hits. The pitching staff has also added former college pitchers Mike Flynn and Mike Levy to form questionably the deepest staff in the league.

The club also bolstered its offense, adding five former college players to already deep lineup. Former Molloy College standout and QMBL MVP Luis Rodriguez will split his time between every infield position, while his bat should do plenty of damage in the middle of the Yankee lineup. Shortstop Ray Montanez, a former University of Vermont starter, should also prove to be a big bat in the middle of their lineup, as well as former Adelphi University starter and former All-Conference selection Nick Testani. Former Adelphi backstop James Conklin provides much needed depth and defense behind the plate and has the ability to contribute in several ways.

While this year's Nassau Yankees team may have as many marquee players and potential stars as the New York Yankees, the team faces many of the same challenges as its namesake. Chemistry, which proved to be the downfall of the 2007 Yanks, will be critical to this years success, as well as commitment. If this team has the desire to match its talents, then the sky is the limit for the '08 Yanks.

The Nassau Yankees will enter the 2008 season looking to build off their very succcessful '07 campaign. After a disappointing loss in the QMBL championship, the Yanks have their eyes focused on stepping up to the next level. With the goal of a league championship in mind, manager Ed LaMarr has put together the most formidable roster in the club's history.

Manager Ed LaMarr

2008 Additions

INF Luis Rodriguez, RHP Wayne Seder, SS Ray Montanez, OF Anthony Denara, UTIL Nick Testani, C/3B James Conklin, RHP Michael Flynn

As staggering as this returning group is, the new crop of Nassau Yankees is equally imposing. All seven newcomers come to the club with substantial resumes, each having played college baseball. Reigning QMBL MVP Luis Rodriguez, a former Molloy College and New York Tech player, and former Univ. of Vermont standout Raymond Montanez are expected to provide tremendous punch to an already powerful lineup. Former Adelphi University standouts Nick Testani and James Conklin will provide much needed depth throughout the long season. Testani, an All-Conference player while at Adelphi and recent NABF World Series MVP, posseses the versatility to play several positions while Conklin will provide valuable defense behind the plate. Speedster Anthony Denara will look to build off his Yankee debut in '07. Playing in three games at the Doubleday tournament, Denara went 6 for 8, scoring 7 runs and driving in 4. The Yanks bolstered their staff this offseason in a major way. Reigning QMBL Cy Young winner and former New York Tech hurler Wayne Seder joins the Yanks on a full-time basis after participating in two tournaments as a Yankee last season. The righthander gives the team a top 3 rotation that will be difficult to beat. Seder, who went 11-2 with a 2.16 ERA with the LI Dragons last year, joins lefty Brian LaMarr (9-3, 2.23), the 2006 QMBL Cy Young Winner and righty Jason Guichard (8-6, 2.24). With lefties Jose Martinez, Ed LaMarr and Paul LaMarr following the "Big 3", the Yanks may have the deepest and most talented rotation in the league. The bullpen, which is expected to be handed plenty of leads this year, will be headed by newcomer Michael Flynn. Flynn, a former STAC player, will be called on to shut the door late in games with his plus-fastball and sharp slider.

The Yankees still have more than a month before opening day and may make a couple of additions to this seasons roster. Regardless, this club looks to have both the talent and the depth to be very competitive in the MABL and the NYCMBL. It is expeced that both leagues will be stronger competition than the Yanks have ever seen previously. LaMarr and his team are looking forward to facing this challenge, beginning in April.

The Yankees are proud to announce the addition of three new players for the 2008 season. The Yanks, looking to build off their successful 40-win season in 2007, have added RHP Wayne Seder, IF Luis Rodriguez and OF Anthony Denara. After reaching the championship in the QMBL in 2007, the Yanks will be competiting in the NABA-affiliated NYCMBL for the first time and will be returning to the MABL for their thir season.

RHP Wayne Seder bolsters an already strong pitching staff.

Seder comes to the Yankees from the Long Island Dragons. He had a dominating seaon in 2007 while with the dragons. In 100 2/3 innings of work, Wayne went 11-2, posting a 2.16 ERA and striking out 140 batters. He also hit .412 in 34 at-bats. Along with being named a 2007 QMBL All-Star, he was also later named the league Cy Young Winner. He joins current Yankee Brian LaMarr as a fellow former QMBL Cy Young winner. Seder was a four-year varsity baseball player at New York Tech.

Along with Seder, Luis Rodriguez joins the Yankees from the Dragons. Rodriguez, another former college player, had a sensational season, winning the QMBL All-Star Game MVP and regular season MVP. In 99 at-bats, he hit .394 with 24 RBIs and 30 runs scored. A hard-nosed player, capable of playing all four infield positions, Luis played collegiately at Molloy College.

Rodriguez adds a big bat to the lineup.

Both Seder and Rodriguez participated in tournaments with the Yankees in 2007. Each player had successful stints in the Doubleday Tournament in Landisburg, PA and the NABA World Series in Jupiter, FL. In addition, both Rodriguez and Seder are former Long Island Tigers, making them the seventh and eighth current Nassau Yankees to have played with the Tigers during their high school days. Seder and Yankee captain Paul LaMarr were teammates on the 2000 Long Island Tigers who finished 3rd in the NABF World Series. Additionally, Yankees' manager Ed LaMarr, Brian LaMarr, Kevin Connors, Dan Blackman and Sean Kammerer played amateur ball for the Tigers.

Denara, a speedy outfielder, is hoping to replace some of the energy lost by the departure of outfielder and leadoff hitter Lloyd Thompson. Denara made his debut with the Yanks in the 2007 Doubleday Tournament, torching the opposition. In 3 games, he went 6 for 8 with 4 RBIs and 7 runs scored. The Yanks hope Denara will continue the trend of excellent centerfielders and leadoff hitters they have had the last couple years. Aside from Thompson, the Yanks also had Jaard Jaaronarm who also played center and hit leadoff, winning the 2006 team batting title. Denara is a former player at Kellenberg Memorial High School. He is the third player to join the Yanks from the well-respected high school, joining current Yankee Sean Kammerer and former Yankee Mike Ferriggi.

The Yanks are entering their third week of indoor Spring Training. They will continue to train indoor until the season begins. If you are interested in joining the Yankees and would like more information, you can contact manager Ed LaMarr at lamarr20@att.blackberry.net

Nassau Yankees have announced that they will be playing in the New York City Metropolitan Baseball League for 2008 The N.Y.C.M.B.L. is entering their 3rd season, and is affiliated with the National Adult Baseball Association. The Yankees are very familiar with the N.A.B.A. from their participation in several N.A.B.A. tournaments. The new league will be divided into A and AA divisions. The AA division includes teams with 3 or more former college players, creating a stronger schedule against some of the top teams in the city. “We look forward to becoming more involved in the N.A.B.A. and playing in this new league. It’s a perfect match for us” said Ed LaMarr, Yankees Manager. Joel Marcano, league president comment that the Yanks decision “is great news. We’re excited that the Yankees will be part of our league” The season begins in April.  

    New York City Metropolitan Baseball League