Dream Killers Fashion a League of Their Own

The Dream Killers—an amateur Glen Cove softball team— swing away under the hot summer sun every Sunday at City Stadium Park.

"It all began in our freshman year of college," said left fielder Matthew Meli. "We were kind of sitting around, Skype-ing with each other, not really doing homework like we should be, and we said, 'Let's put together a team. We'll probably get our butts kicked, but it will be fun.'"

Meli, along with Glen Cove residents Patrick Cook and Joey Fiorino, gathered their closest friends and formed a softball team – an activity to enjoy as a group before they return to school in the fall.

"My cousin actually played a couple years back and then told us about it," said Cook. After he proposed the idea for a team to the City of Glen Cove, they in turn gave him the information he needed to join a league.

The place where they "kill dreams," also known as John Maccarone Memorial Stadium, is located between Morris Avenue and Shore Road. Every week the bleachers are filled, as the team has accumulated a nicely-sized fan base of family members and friends.

"I've enjoyed watching how they've developed into actually being able to play ball," said Cook's Aunt Mary. "Their first game they didn't know what they were doing. Now, they actually play pretty well."

The Dream Killers' initial shot at softball was the most talked about event by team members, as well as fans. Just as they had anticipated, the team had lost 43-3.

"We faced men who had played this game for years, and this is our first time playing softball or playing anything altogether," said catcher and second baseman Tom DeBuona.

"That was so funny," recalled Kathy Cook. "I never saw anything like it. We could've won money on that."

The loss did not discourage the team for long, if at all. Each week, the team made more hilarious memories, from being yelled at by the umpire for cursing (which is not allowed on the field), to a player's shorts accidentally sliding off mid-game.

"My favorite part is being able to laugh when we make stupid mistakes," said Cook.

Although the playoffs may not be in the Dream Killers' near future, they will look back fondly on the summer they played softball.

"My favorite moment would be the week before the 4th of July," said Meli. "I made a running and diving catch. It's already up for a nomination for best play of the season."