Last spring was a dream campaign for the Lakeland baseball, Lakeland/Panas boys and Lakeland/Panas girls lacrosse teams.
The girls made it to the state championship game before losing to Farmingdale 6-5. On their way to the state title game, the girls were able to garner their fourth straight Section 1 Class A title.
The boys got as far as the state semifinals, where they lost to West Islip, considered the No. 1 lacrosse team in the country.
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The Rebels were right with West Islip for two and a half quarters, trailing the Long-Island squad 9-7 before the Lions pulled away to win 20-10.
On the way to the state semis, the Rebels swept arch-rival Yorktown for the first time in their history.
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The first of those wins came in an 10-7 triumph in the annual Murphy Cup game, before beating the Huskers 8-7 in overtime in the Section 1 Class A championship game on a goal by Will Fallo.
If the Rebels make it back to the championship game this year, and they are an odds on favorite to do so, they won't be facing Yorktown, since the Huskers moved to Class B. Chances are they will play Mahopac, who the Rebels swept last year, for the title.
Lakeland/Panas will still play Yorktown in the annual Murphy Cup game on May 7 at Yorktown High School.
Lakeland’s baseball squad also made it to the state semifinals, the first time a baseball team from LHS made it that far in its rich history. The Hornets got to the state semis by winning two regional games at Pace University, to garner their first-ever regional crown.
Considering how well each of those three teams did a year ago, the question this season is, can they reach those same heights this season? With the talent that each of them possess for their upcoming campaigns, the answer is yes.
Coach Sharon Sarsen’s girls are eager to make a trip back to the state championship game and come home with a victory this time. With this in mind, the Rebels were determined to start their season off with a win when they traveled to Bronxville in their opener on March 31.
The Rebels did just that, prevailing 19-9, led by three goals and seven assists from senior middie Anna Jeszeck, an all-elite player last spring who will be playing next year at the University of Richmond. As Jeszeck leads the offense, pacing the defense will be returning all-elite honorable mention player, senior Melissa Hanson.
The boys' squad, coached by Jim Lindsay, will have two key players returning in seniors Conor Prunty and Robert Caffrey, who will be playing lacrosse next year at Siena College and Providence College respectively.
The combination of Prunty and Caffrey is arguably the most lethal combination in Section 1. Prunty, a midfielder, comes off a junior campaign where he was named All-American, and Caffrey, an attackman, is a prolific scorer who led the Rebels last year in goals with 66 and contributed 31 assists.
Their talents will be on display when the Rebels host Hendrick Hudson in their opener at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, at Walter Panas High School.
Lakeland’s baseball team returns three big players in pitchers Jonathan de Marte, a pre-season All-American, and Joey Arena, and first baseman David Judisky. During the fall, all three signed to play baseball at the next level; they will attend Richmond, CW Post and Manhattan College respectively.
Before they do that, though, they will be looking to win the first state championship in Lakeland baseball history. With a trio like that leading the way, surrounded by the usual top-notch talent that comes out of the Shrub Oak-based school, not to mention the tutelage from veteran coaches, Dennis and Mike Robinson, the Hornets are a good bet to do just that.
Weather permitting, the Hornets will start their season when they host Yorktown at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 4.
Soccer
The Shrub Oak Athletic Club’s spring soccer season will begin on April 9 at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, weather permitting.
Girls and boys ages 8-9 and girls 6-7 will play from 8:30-10 a.m.; girls and boys ages 4-5 and boys ages 6-7 will play from 10:30 a.m. to noon; girls 10-13 play from 12:15-2 p.m.; and boys 10-13 play from 2-4 p.m.
Basketball
The Yorktown Athletic Club’s basketball program will be hosting its Senior Division Dinner on April 13 at Ceola Manor. Its dinner for the Junior Division will also be held at Ceola Manor the day before, on April 12. For more details, visit the club’s site at www.yacbasketball.com.
