True Sportsmanship: Team Visits Injured Friend Before Big Game

GREENPORT, NY — In a show of true sportsmanship, a group of huge-hearted Greenport soccer players made sure to stop by their teammate's hospital bed before the big game.

On Thursday, the Greenport Boys Varsity Soccer team headed upstate with Coach Sean Charters to the New York State Southeast Regional Championship game against S.S. Seward.

But before they left, due to the work of a team of school staffers who worked together to make the visit possible, the boys made a pit stop so moving it brought tears to many eyes. They visited Jason Cruz, a team captain who was injured Tuesday, breaking his leg during a game.

While the Porters were playing a semi-finals game at Diamond in the Pines in Coram Tuesday against opponent Solomon Schechter from Westchester, Cruz suffered a dramatic injury.

"Halfway into the second half, Jason and the Solomon Schechter goalie both jumped in the air for the ball," said Joan Dinizio, who works in the athletic department at Greenport High School. "Not sure if their feet got tangled or if Jason just landed wrong, but Jason fell to the ground in pain. He was holding his head; the crowd thought that he'd hit his head, but it was just from the pain."

Jason ended up with a compound fracture, she said.

The Porters took home the game, with a final score 5 to 1; three of the goals were scored after Jason got hurt, Dinizio said. "Their coach, Sean Charters, told them that Jason would be angry with them if they lost the game. It propelled them to victory," she said.

But more important than the score, the core values of sportsmanship and caring for a teammate were clearly instilled in young hearts, evidenced by their happiness at visiting their captain before heading off Thursday.

"This is why I love our kids. They truly care about one another. These guys are more than teammates; they are brothers," Dinizio said.

Greenport Superintendent of School David Gamberg wished Coach Charters and the team good luck before they set off.

Jason was all smiles as he greeted the team. "He's already got his jersey on his bed and there's no doubt in his mind that we're winning this game today," Dinizio said.

And, she added, with true Porter pride, there's not a doubt the boys, who have been worried about him, were reassured after seeing Jason. "I think they'll feel better and win the game in his honor," Dinizio said. "Jason is such a great kid — and he's got a passion for the game and for his team."

If Greenport wins, they'll head upstate next weekend to play in the State Championship game, with the Final Four on Saturday and the State Championship game on Sunday.

Patch photo courtesy Chris Golden.