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GIANTS FINISH GREAT SEASON AS T OF C RUNNER-UP
6/29/09: The Giants ended their 2009 season with a well-played, determined effort against the Stony Point Cardinals, the odds-on favorite in the tournament. That they lost the game, 4-1, doesn't begin to tell the story of this team.
Falling behind early, 3-0, to probably the best pitcher in the tournament, SP's Brian Rotella, the Giants did not lose their edge, or permit the Cardinals to blow them out, as the Cards had done to every other team they faced. The Giants' starter, Perry Quaranti, bore down and allowed no further scoring. Reliever Kevin Scrima took the ball for the second half of the game and virtually shut SP down, and, in the only inning the Cards threatened to blow it open, received outstanding defense from his fielders to stop a big rally. Everyone knew the Giants would make a move, and it came in the fifth inning, with runners on second and third, when Kevin stroked a double to the centerfield wall which would have scored two PR runs, except for an unbelievable defensive play, a perfect relay throw to the plate which cut short the Giant rally. The SP fielders deserve credit for a fine play.
The Giants team has every right to be as proud of itself as are its coaches, families and fans. In addition, although it now loses some fine 12 year-olds, it has a solid core returning next year, which is bad news for the rest of the Majors division in PRLL.
SEE "ALBUMS" TAB ON LEFT FOR PHOTOS
CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE JOURNAL-NEWS STORY (scroll down)
ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AAA ORIOLES, A SEMI-FINALIST IN THE AAA "MICHAEL McROBBIE T OF C" AT NANUET.
NOTE: The Orioles Manager Steve Kinnally had a post-season comment that applies to both his team and the Giants, and hopefully to all the teams and players in PRLL: "I just wanted to say how proud I am of all the kids , we had a great season and a great Tournament that all of Pearl River can be proud of. The kids played with great heart and determination, accepted their roles and hopefully made lifelong friends in the process. Which is what Little League baseball is all about!!".
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PRLL GIANTS IN TOURNAMENT of CHAMPIONS TITLE GAME:
6/28/09: Mooney Bocket would be proud.
The co-founder of Pearl River Little League, who passed away less than two months ago, managed the Giants from 1954 to 1986, winning 16 championships and finally winning the elusive Rockland County Tournament of Champions in 1982, one of only 3 PRLL teams to ever win that title. Now, the latest version of the Giants have become the first PRLL team since 1992 to reach the finals of the Tournament of Champions, defeating the Nyack-Valley Cottage Athletics, 12-8, in the semi-final on Sunday.
The Giants rode a gutty pitching performance by their crafty lefty Michael Mahoney, who went 5 2/3 innings. Mahoney received solid defensive support from his fielders, especially CF Liam Hodges and 2B Matt Patrone. Perry Quaranti came in to close the door, recording the final 2 outs of the game pitching.
The Giants took a 6-0 lead after the second inning, but the Athletics came storming back to tie the game in the 3rd 6-6. The very next inning, Mahoney began a rally by calmly stroking a single, leading to a 5 run inning for the Giants which put them up 11-6 after 4 innings. Chance Cosgrove led the Giants attack today with 2 hits, a double and 3 RBI's. John Scrima, Sean White, and Patrone also chipped in 2 RBI's apiece.
The Giants, a decided underdog in this year's Majors division, have made their season an unqualified success by determined play by every player, and a refusal to quit. On Monday evening at 7pm, at the Haverstraw LL field, they will play a very strong Stony Point team, the clear tournament favorite, and so the Giants will once again be the underdog. Just the way they like it.
And, win or lose, Mooney will be smiling.
PHOTOS OF THIS GAME ARE AVAILABLE - CLICK ON THE ALBUMS TAB ON THE LEFT COLUMN.
THE GIANTS ARE: Chance Cosgrove, Liam Hodges, Anthony Kapiti, Brendan Kenny, Tommy Kinnally, Michael Mahoney, Liam McCormack, Matthew Patrone, Perry Quaranti, Kevin Scrima, John Scrima, Sean White, manager Chris Woolgar and coaches Dan Kinsley, Perry Quaranti and Jon Velto.
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