The Island Trees 12-under little league baseball team recently closed out their season, a successful one that was described by coaches as "unforgettable."
The boys recently took a week-long trip to Cooperstown All Star Village, where they beat teams from California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. They then returned to Long Island and were crowned Champions of the Ed Rall Tournament in Sachem, NY the weekend of Aug. 18 - 19.
The boys then took second place at the Danielle Rosano Tournament, as well as second place in both Bethpage Spring Tournament and Independence Day Open, playing a very competitive schedule.
"We started out as 12 boys from a small Cal Ripken town team with no expectations of winning. We came, we had fun, the boys bonded, we battled and won three games, we won one playoff game and we competed in the next round, but lost! Not a tear was shed, nor a frown on the boys’ faces," Manager Kevin Cunningham read at closing ceremonies at Cooperstown.
"But one incident says it all. Monday morning I tell a boy 'you are our starting pitcher' to which he responds 'YES! my dream came true. Last night, I wished upon a star-it really works'," Cunningham said. "The experience was unforgettable and memories that will last forever."
The boys then came home and went undefeated in the Ed Rall Tournament.
Congratulations goes out to Nicky Carita, Kevin Cunningham, Shea Elster, CJ Kiley, Steven Kraeker, Andrew Muscarello, Vincent Palazzo, Anthony Pellegrino, Peter Potamousis, Alex Rich, Dave Roldan, John Rottkamp, Zach Volino, Jack Zaffiro, (Manager) Kevin Cunningham and (Coach) Mike Pellegrino.
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