Nestled next to 11 acres of preserve land, this well maintained four bedroom, three bath house rests on 1.9 acres of landscaped property. With a covered front porch, sunny back deck and countless indoor amenities, this Shelter Island home is a steal, priced at less than $1 million.
View the listing on northforker.com
Southold Police arrested two men Sunday for driving drunk in separate incidents, according to police reports.
Sergio Garcia Belmonte, 31, of Brooklyn was stopped on Route 48 in Greenport just after midnight Sunday for having a tail light out, police said.
Upon interviewing the driver, he appeared to be intoxicated and failed field sobriety tests, according to the report.
Mr. Belmonte was then placed under arrest and transported to headquarters where he was processed and held for arraignment, police said.
A 48-year-old Mattituck man was also arrested for drunken driving Sunday in Mattituck, a report stated.
William Montefusco was heading eastbound on Route 25 near Pacific Street around 7:40 p.m. when he was stopped for not having a front plate on his vehicle, according to police.
Mr. Montefusco was found to be intoxicated and was arrested, according to the report.
He was transported to police headquarters, processed and lodged until his arraignment in the morning.
A calendar of events for this week at each of the local schools, as listed on school calendars.
MATTITUCK-CUTCHOGUE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday, May 5
• 7 p.m. — Cutchogue East PTA meeting, elementary school library
Wednesday, May 7
• 7 p.m. — SEPTA meeting, elementary school library
Friday, May 9
• 7 p.m. — Mattituck Idol, high school auditorium
May 5-10
• Summer drivers education registration
May 5-7
• State math assessment make-up exams
May 7
• 7:30 p.m. — School board budget meeting, high school auditorium
Friday, May 9
• Registration deadline for June ACT
• Middle School Dance
Monday, May 5
• 8 a.m. — AP Environmental Science exam
Tuesday, May 6
• Teacher Appreciation Day
May 7-10
• PTA plant sale
Wednesday, May 7
• 6 p.m. — PTA meeting
Thursday, May 8
• 8th Grade Class Trip
Friday, May 9
• 8 a.m. — AP Language exams
• Registration deadline for June SAT and ACT tests
Tuesday, May 6
• Nurse’s Day
• 7:30 p.m. — School board budget hearing and regular meeting
No events listed online.
BISHOP MCGANN-MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
Monday, May 5
• 8 a.m. — AP Chemistry exam
Tuesday, May 6
• Ride for Life
Wednesday, May 7
• 8 a.m. — AP Calculus AB exam
Thursday, May 8
• 8 a.m. — AP English Literature and Composition
Friday, May 9
• 7th grade exploration French/Spanish field trip
• Latin Enrichment Day
Monday, May 5
• 9:30 a.m. — Spanish
Thursday, May 8
• 1:30 p.m. — Music
Friday, May 9
• 9 a.m. — Community Coffee
OUR LADY OF MERCY REGIONAL SCHOOL
Friday, May 9
• Pick-up day for plant sale
• Pizza lunch
Our Lady of Mercy Regional School in Cutchogue. (Credit: Courtesy, file)
Elisa Lieblein Ruroede of Orient died at home May 3 after a yearlong, courageous battle with uterine cancer. She was 64.
The family will receive visitors Tuesday, May 6, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, May 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport.
Memorial donations may be made to Foundation for Women’s Cancer, 230 West Monroe Suite 2528, Chicago, IL, 60606-4902 or John’s Place (a shelter for the homeless), c/o St. Agnes R.C. Church, 523 Front St., Greenport, NY 11944.
A complete obituary will follow.
Southold Town officials held a recognition ceremony last week to honor the more than 130 people who volunteer on various town government committees and departments.The town handed out plaques at the Human Resource Center in Mattituck for those who’ve donated their time to benefit the community.
“Southold benefits enormously from it residents who generously give their time and talents to make the Town an extraordinary place to live,” said Supervisor Scott Russell.
Volunteers are the driving force behind some of Southold Town’s greatest attributes, such as its fire departments, libraries and government committees, Mr. Russell said.
The event last Tuesday marked the town’s first-ever volunteer recognition ceremony, and was planned for during April, which is now National Volunteer Month.
A group of U.S. Coast Guard members in Mattituck Inlet Monday morning with the body of the missing boater. (Credit: Joseph Pinciaro). (Credit: Joseph Pinciaro)
The U.S. Coast Guard recovered the body of a missing boater east of Mattituck Inlet Monday morning, one day after he was reported missing in the Long Island Sound, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Ciro Stellges, 59, of Selden was found at 8:10 a.m. after a search that covered more than 400 square miles.
The married father of four called police just after noon Sunday, saying his boat was taking on water three miles off the shore, police said. The 911 call was then used to estimate his position in the waters off Northville, but his body wasn’t discovered for another 19 hours.
A Coast Guard spokesperson said Mr. Stelleges was wearing a lifejacket.
Members of the Stellges family requested privacy from the media at their Selden home Monday afternoon. A family member said the family has set up an online fundraising page to help offset the funeral costs.
“Sadly, we are asking for a little help in the raising of funds for the funeral arrangements of Ciro Stellges,” they wrote. “A man whose priority in life was his family, he will always remain in the hearts of the many lives he touched.”
Ciro Stellges with his four children and a son-in-law. (Credit: Stellges family)
As of 8:30 p.m. Monday, the fundraiser has already raised more than $5,000.
Mr. Stellges had launched from Mattituck and was en route to Port Washington Sunday, operating a 26-foot fiberglass sailboat named “MAC,” police said.
The Riverhead Police Dive Rescue Team and Suffolk County Police Department Aviation and Marine units initially searched for the sailboat in an area near Iron Pier Beach, Riverhead police Lt. David Lessard said.
“It was difficult sea conditions,” Lt. Lessard said. “Three- to four-foot seas, whitecaps all over.”
More than two hours into the local search, the Coast Guard took over operations, he said.
A missing persons report was filed Sunday, and a Coast Guard spokesperson said two 45-foot boats and a helicopter were used to search for the missing sailboat. The search continued overnight as the Jamesport and Wading River fire departments were on standby, officials said,
After discovering the body, members of the U.S. Coast Guard boated into Mattituck Inlet shortly before 10 a.m. Monday, meeting members of the Southold and Riverhead police departments at a DEC boat launch ramp in the inlet.
Police officers taped off the area and blocked off public access.
Police were also on scene at Breakwater Beach and Mattituck Inlet Marina on Monday morning.
A police boat returns to the shore after officers were unable to locate a sailboat that had issued a distress call Sunday afternoon. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing the search. (Credit: Grant Parpan)
Marina owner Jim Pape said Sunday’s conditions made sailing on the Sound — particularly the south side of the Sound — very difficult.
“Yesterday was not a nice day,” he said. Mr. Pape added that on days with a north wind, sailing near the Connecticut coast is preferable, whereas when a southern wind is blowing, sailing across the Long Island coast is easier.
Sunday’s winds were blowing from the northwest.
The National Weather Service issued a small craft advisory from Sunday through 11 a.m. Monday to alert boaters of the conditions. Mr. Pape said winds over 10 knots make sailing difficult on the Sound; gusts of up to 30 to 35 knots blew on Sunday, he said.
“Our thoughts are with [Mr. Stellges' family and friends] in their time of grief,” said Commanding Officer of sector Long Island Sound, Capt. Edward Cubanski. “We appreciate the support of local port partners in our aggressive search and rescue efforts. Response crews worked tirelessly and covered an enormous search area to locate Mr. Stellges.”
RIVERHEAD RACEWAY
The 2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series got underway Saturday evening at Riverhead Raceway as 2012 NASCAR Modified champion Shawn Solomito of Islip swept both ends of the Twin 30 feature events. Over the past four opening nights, either Shawn or his younger brother Timmy has won a feature at the quarter-mile track.
The first of Shawn Solomito’s two wins on the night came over Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead and his brother Timmy Solomito of Islip, who was third.
In the second 30-lap main event, Shawn Solomito beat out runner-up Howie Brode of East Islip for first place. Dave Sapienza of Riverhead finished third after an intense battle with the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct.
“This is a nice way to start the season,” Shawn Solomito remarked after Jerry Cook of NASCAR presented him with his hardware in victory lane. Asked about racing his brother, the soft-spoken driver said, “It is not easy but yet again it’s not hard; we go after one another pretty hard.”
In other races:
Before Chris LaSpisa of Shirley could lay claim to his sixth career Late Model win over 25 laps, he had to dodge several bullets that included more than one attempt to get the race going, numerous restarts and no less than five different drivers who ran second and challenged for the lead win before the halfway mark.
LaSpisa had to ward off the likes of Scott Kulesa, Kevin Metzger, Mike Bologna, Ken Alfano and Shawn Patrick before claiming the victory. The defending Late Model champion, Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead, placed third.
John Vullo of Farmingville jolted the Figure Eight 15-lap feature, leading from flag to flag to capture the victory. Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was second, and Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead came in third.
Chris Turbush of Riverhead notched the 36th career Charger win of his illustrious career, and it might have been one of the hardest fought. At the finish he crossed the line first before Eric Zeh of Selden. The early race leader, Cory Midgett of East Hampton, was third.
Jack Handley Jr. was able to survive a green, white and checker finish to score a win in the Blunderbust 20-lap main event. Tom Pickerell of Huntington was second. John Cricchio of Ridge had a career-best, third-place tally.
Roger Turbush of Riverhead collected his 18th career Super Pro Truck feature event triumph, winning a 20-lap contest. Lou Maestri of Deer Park took second place. Dave Koenig of Freeport came back from an early-race tangle for third.
Veteran driver Kevin Nowak of Medford took opening night honors for the 20-lap Legend Race Car feature. Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches was second. Brad Van Houten of Wading River raced his way from eighth to place third.
CHARRIER BEGINS TITLE DEFENSE James Charrier of Shirley started his Grand Enduro title defense off in fine style Sunday afternoon as did 4/6-Cylinder Truck champion Greg Harris of Riverhead. Both drivers not only won their respective 50-lap feature events but did so in domination fashion. Rob McCormick of Calverton swept the two 8-Cylinder Enduro races while Peter Verwys Jr. of East Rockaway was declared the winner of the 4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro.
Southold Town Board members will be discussing the next chapter of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan at a public work session Tuesday morning in Town Hall.
The latest chapter of the draft plan addresses land use, establishing goals and policies for appropriate use of residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Nine of the 13 chapters have already been drafted and have sketched out goals for housing, agriculture, natural hazards and land preservation in the town.
Planning director Heather Lanza is expected to give an update on the land use chapter of the draft comprehensive plan at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall meeting room.
Scroll down to read the full agenda.
Looking for work?
Or looking for employees? Look no further.
Riverhead Chamber of Commerce and the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency are hosting its annual East End Employment Expo next Tuesday in downtown Riverhead, bringing together those looking for employment, and employers searching for qualified help.
Organizers said that this year’s crop of employers attending the expo are more centered in the high-skill labor pool, as well as trade and craftsman fields. IDA executive director Tracey Stark-James pointed to growing needs in architecture, marketing reps, water-proofers, metal fabricators, glazers and more.
As with past job fairs, the expo will also see many employers in the hospitality, retail and insurance fields.
“We want to continue to build the reputation of the event as a unique opportunity where professional level jobs are offered as well as part time and seasonal, each year attracting higher-paying positions,” said Mary Hughes, executive director of the chamber. Ms. Hughes said the organization has attracted as many as 300 job applicants in the past, and hopes to have turnout as high or higher this year.
The employment expo will take place next Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sea Star Ballroom, at the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center.
Job seekers are not required to pre-register, however those seeking employees are encouraged to contact the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce at 727-7600.
Alex Poliwoda threw a five-hitter with nine strikeouts for Southold’s first win in 33 days, snapping a nine-game losing streak. (Credit: Garret Meade)
FIRST SETTLERS 2, PORTERS 1
The Southold High School baseball coach, Mike Carver, remembers feeling pretty good about what he saw from his team way back on April 2 when it posted an 8-2 defeat of Stony Brook. He couldn’t have imagined at the time that it would be 33 days before the First Settlers enjoyed another win.
Nine straight losing games, the longest such drought during Carver’s 13 years in charge of the team, reached a merciful end on Monday when the First Settlers held on for a 2-1 decision over visiting Greenport in the opener of their three-game series. Rob Mahony’s bunt single scored what proved to be the winning run and Alex Poliwoda tossed a five-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks.
The game between the two bottom teams in Suffolk County League IX moved quickly, requiring only 1 hour 32 minutes to complete.
Patrick McFarland led off Southold’s half of the fifth inning by earning a walk. He stole second base and took third on a wild pitch before Mahony laid done a well-executed bunt — his second hit of the game — to squeeze in the run for a 2-0 lead.
If Carver has learned anything over the course of this trying season, it’s that nothing comes easily. This win was no exception.
The Porters pulled to within a run in the sixth. Austin Hooks bounced an infield single for his second hit of the game, before a fielding error allowed Matt Drinkwater to reach base. John Drinkwater, Matt’s twin brother, then stroked a hit to bring the run in.
Dylan Clausen was responsible for Southold’s first run of the game. He smacked a one-out single that skipped under the center fielder’s glove in the fourth. A wild pitch and another outfield error enabled Clausen to cross home plate.
Greenport’s starter, John Drinkwater, pitching on three days of rest, was relieved by Timmy Stevens, who allowed only one hit (by Anthony Fedele) over the final two innings.
The Porters mounted one last threat in the seventh. Eddie Rogers led off with a shallow popup that the third baseman, McFarland, dove for and appeared to grab. Rogers was ruled safe on the play. The umpires, after conferring at Carver’s urging, allowed the call to stand. Following a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Weingart, Poliwoda retired the final two batters on a groundout and a strikeout.
Finally, the First Settlers (2-11, 2-8) had an addition to their win column.
The loss may have killed Greenport’s slim playoff hopes. Porters coach Chris Golden said his team needed to sweep the series to have a chance of seeing the postseason. The Porters (3-8, 2-7) were coming off a three-game sweep of Stony Brook.
For those looking to get in shape this spring, the ninth annual May Mile offers exercise as well as a chance to give back to the community. This fun-filled event will take place on Saturday, May 10, at Peconic Landing in Greenport and will benefit the Greenport Fire Department. This intergenerational event has become the East End’s premier Older Americans Month celebration and Peconic Landing welcome runners of all ages and abilities.
The special 5K race began in 2005 and has since raised more than $160,000 for the fire department. In fact, the 2013 May Mile event raised $24,250 alone. With more than 500 participants each year, volunteers and raffle sponsors, these benefits and funds have helped the Greenport Fire Department purchase, refurbish and maintain vital safety equipment.
Registration and stretching begin at Brecknock Hall at 8 a.m. and the race start will take place shortly after that at 10 a.m. Following the race will also be an award ceremony at 11:15 a.m. where Father Thomas Murray, pastor of Greenport’s St. Agnes Church, will be presented with the Old American Champion Award. This award annually honors a Long Island or local individual for their service and dedication to older Americans. Following the award ceremony will be a celebratory barbeque lunch.
Racers and others attending the event will also be given the chance to take part in a special raffle. Raffle items include a membership to Eastern Long Island Hospital’s Fitness & Wellness, a Galaxy Gear Watch and Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, a Dooney & Bourke bag and much more. Raffle proceeds will also benefit the Greenport Fire Department.
For those we cannot attend but still want to contribute, donations are also being accepted. Among the sponsors of the May Mile are The Suffolk Times and Greenport and Southold IGA, butnsponsors and raffle prizes are still being sought.
Peconic Landing invites you to come join them and many others at this special spring event. Not only will you be improving your own well being, but you will also be helping to improve the local community by benefiting the fire department. There is no better way to welcome spring than to compete in a fun-filled race around Greenport.
KATHARINE SCHROEDER PHOTO | Jack May of Main winning the May Mile 5K Saturday morning with a time of 18:50.
Emergency responders at Iron Pier Beach in Northville on Sunday. (Credit: Grant Parpan)
The day after the body of a Selden man was found in the Long Island Sound, a Coast Guard spokesman said that the sailboat he was on has been considered sunk.
“The vessel is listed as being sunken,” said petty officer Frank Iannazzo-Simmons, of Coast Guard sector New York out of Battery Park. “There have been no reports of debris or pollution in the area as well.”
Ciro Stellges, 59, was found shortly after 8 a.m. Monday after he called for help early Sunday afternoon, saying at the time that his boat was taking on water. Shipping off from Mattituck in his 26-foot fiberglass sailboat, “MAC,” Mr. Stellges was at first believed to have been close to Wading River Beach, though authorities later shifted their search area to the Jamesport-Mattituck area.
After a 19-hour search, Mr. Stellges’ body was found just east of Mattituck Inlet. He was wearing a life jacket when he was found, officials said. A cause of death will not be released to the public through the county’s Medical Examiner’s Office, according to a spokeswoman.
Mr. Iannazo-Simmons said on Tuesday morning that there is no longer an active search for the MAC, as it has been considered sunken. However, if anyone notices anything that may prove helpful to authorities, he suggested that they call the Long Island Sound Coast Guard office at: 203-468-4401.
Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce (left) talks with local skater Justin “Bo” Pollack about ways to fix the Moores Lane skate park. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)
Hoping for a new beginning for Greenport Village’s long-neglected skate park, the village is taking over the annual Skate Park Festival, which up until now was run by private organizers.
Until this year, part-time Greenport residents Michelle and Michael Bendik organized the annual Skate Park Festival fundraiser in an effort to help rehab the park. The event was traditionally held on a Saturday in August, but this time around, trustees are aiming to hold the festival on a Sunday.
Previously, the annual festival motivated village officials to do a more thorough cleanup of the park the day before the event, but now the village said they would invest months worth of work leading up to the first-ever village run skate festival.
“We are serious about seeing this place fixed up,”said Village Trustee George Hubbard said.
He and Trustees Mary-Bess Phillips on Friday joined Mayor David Nyce and five local skaters at the Moores Lane facility to discuss possible solutions to the problems facing the skate park.
Built in 1998, the park has since suffered from neglect and vandalism. Just last summer obscene graffiti, including an anti- Semitic symbol was found at the park, as were holes the size of volleyballs in ramps, with trash gathered on the ground underneath the holes.
At the time, now former village administrator David Abatelli said the biggest reason the park had fallen into disrepair is that no maintenance plan was in place when the park opened.
“The kids are lucky it’s still there,” he said.
Although no date has been set for this year’s festival, to get the plans rolling, the village has enlisted the help of longtime Greenport skate park skater Justin “Bo” Pollack, who along with his friend and fellow Greenport skater Andrew Semon have in the past tried to maintain the park on their own dime by painting and installing benches — only to have them removed and damaged.
Mr. Pollack witnessed the deterioration of the park first hand, saying local kids were largely responsible for the destruction over the years.
“Every day I come here to skate it is full of garbage and it really bothers me,” he said. “I just don’t know who has the time to ripped out all the things we did.”
Mr. Pollack and Mr. Semon both agreed to volunteer their time to help organize this year’s festival by finding donors and musicians, and creating posters for the event.
Each offered several suggestions during Friday afternoon’s informal meeting to help improve the park leading up to the festival — including having an employee at the park and ideas for patchwork.
“If we’re going to spend some money it seems we should put things in that can’t be destroyed,” Mr. Nyce said.
The village is now trying to set aside money in its budget to resurface the ramps and remove and update failing equipment. The mayor said he hopes to lump the project into the village’s other planned resurfacing of the basketball courts on Third and Fifth streets.
Gregory Conrad King of Greenport died May 2 at his home. He was 59.
Funeral arrangements, which were incomplete at this time, are in the care of DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.
A complete obituary will follow.
Seeking more public input to develop the next chapter of its 2020 comprehensive plan, Southold Town is hosting seven mobile meetings to discuss land use in each hamlet.
The community meetings are meant to encourage local participation in the town’s comprehensive plan process as well as to educate the public about the importance of establishing zoning district and land use guidelines prior to the chapter being drafted.
During Tuesday’s Town Board work session, planning director Heather Lanza said she hoped to have the draft chapter completed by the fall along with new interactive maps that would be available on the town’s website to outline different types of zoning in each hamlet.
Once the draft is complete the town is expected to hold another series of meetings on the language of the chapter, Ms. Lanza said.
The first meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 10 in the Floyd Memorial Library, located at 539 First Street in Greenport. That meeting will specifically address zoning in Greenport West, outside the village.
Thomas Shedrick of Greenport died May 5. He was 59.
The family will receive visitors Friday, May 9, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral service will take place Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold.
A complete obituary will follow.
The board voted to allow Mighty North Fork Triathlon’s organizers to use Southold roads for the event this summer. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk, file)
The Mighty North Fork Triathlon is back on this summer.
Event Power, a for-profit company that has hosted the popular event for the past 15 years, was initially denied a request to hold the event at Cedar Beach Park and more than a dozen surrounding roads in Southold by the Town month last month.
Members said the event was in violation of a recently passed policy that bans all for-profit outdoor events and limits the number of participants in non-profit bike rides to 600 at the request of the police department.
The board reconsidered the application for the triathlon after Event Power named the Greenport non-profit Community Action Southold Town a sponsor.
SEE ALSO: Photos from last year’s triathlon
Organizers said that nearly $10,000 would be donated if the event could go on.
During Tuesday’s work session, Supervisor Scott Russell expressed hesitancy with overturning the board’s decision, stating that the town already approved 10 similar events within the past month.
“I have a hard time turning down popular events, but we didn’t adopt this policy to solicited donations,” he said.
Other board members saw it differently, saying the event was beloved by the community and that CAST’s sponsorship put the triathlon in compliance with the policy.
“The neighbors love having it,” Councilwoman Jill Doherty said.
They voted 4-1 in favor of event with Supervisor Scott Russell casting the only ‘no’ vote and Councilman Bill Ruland recusing himself.
The 16th annual Mighty North Fork Triathlon is scheduled for July 13.
Mattituck’s Will Gildersleeve fielding a ground ball at third base during his team’s 10-2 win over Port Jefferson. (Credit: Garret Meade)
TUCKERS 10, ROYALS 2
As far as championship celebrations go, it was rather sedate. After the Mattituck High School baseball team clinched the Suffolk County League VIII title outright on Tuesday, there were some handshakes, some slaps on the back and a hug or two before the players dug into some fudge that was passed around.
That was it. Nothing crazy.
The Tuckers’ businesslike manner could be attributed to an expectation of even better things to come down the road. They hope it was the first of a succession of five celebrations. The remaining celebrations, as outlined by coach Steve DeCaro, would be for county, Long Island, Southeast Region and New York State championships.
For now, though, the Tuckers can take some time to enjoy their first league crown since 2007. Having earlier assured themselves of at least a share of the title, the Tuckers made certain that they will not have to share it with anyone thanks to their 10-2 defeat of Port Jefferson/Knox in the first game of a regular-season-ending, three-game series.
“We just had the same mind-set that we had the whole season: just win,” said first baseman James Nish.
And they did. Cameron Burt pitched a two-hitter in the game at Mattituck High School and he enjoyed plenty of offensive support from his friends. The Tuckers (16-2, 15-1) have been an offensive dynamo this season, averaging over eight runs per game while allowing a little over three.
“We’re strong one through nine and through the bench,” DeCaro said. “There’s not a guy on this team who can’t hit.”
It’s a lineup with no apparent weaknesses.
“We don’t have any holes,” Burt said. “Every single position is filled by an absolute stud.”
Mattituck’s No. 9 batter, for example, is the more than capable Will Gildersleeve. “He could be a three batter on another team,” said Burt.
The Tuckers produced 12 hits Tuesday, including three by Marcos Perivolaris. Nish delivered his third home run of the season, scoring two runs. Chris Dwyer also brought in a pair of runs from a triple and a double. Seven of Mattituck’s nine starters had at least one hit.
In other words, it was a typical performance by the hard-swinging Tuckers.
“Our offense is just amazing,” Nish said. “You can’t deny it.”
Meanwhile, Burt (6-1), the senior right-hander who is headed to play for Queens College after graduation, had his pitches moving like a whiffle ball at times. Burt struck out eight, issued six walks and hit a batter. He threw 120 pitches.
Both of Port Jefferson/Knox’s hits were doubles off the bat of Andy Vasquez, who broke the ice when he led off the fourth inning with a well-struck shot.
Vasquez’s second double came in the fifth and scored a run on an interesting play. The Royals (7-9, 7-9) had two runners on base, Mike Laffy and Ben Kluender. When Vasquez made contact, they both charged around the bases, with Kluender running on Laffy’s tail. When the throw came home, catcher Brian Pelan made a sweeping attempt at tagging both of them in a bang-bang play. Laffy was ruled safe, and Kluender was called out.
The Tuckers, who are good for a breakout inning or two or three, snapped a 1-1 tie in the third. They struck for five runs that inning.
For additional security, the Tuckers tacked on four more runs in the sixth, the last two of them coming on Nish’s homer over the right-field fence. Nish said he hit the ball on the end of his bat and had expected it to be merely a popup.
“We kind of knew going into it that this was going to be a good day,” said Dwyer.
League titles do not come easily, or often. This is Mattituck’s fourth league championship in 17 years. The Tuckers shared a league title with Southold/Greenport in 2005, after finishing in first place in 1997.
DeCaro said this latest achievement was satisfying because his players deserved it. Asked what he likes best about the team, the coach replied: “Honestly, the best thing is that they’re just really good kids. They work hard in school. They’re nice kids. … It’s fun to be around them.”
Then, to state the obvious, he added, “They’re pretty good baseball players, too.”
That’s a point the rest of League VIII would readily acknowledge.
Bishop McGann-Mercy’s Monica Healy defends against Mattituck/Greenport/Southold’s Riley Hoeg, who prepares to take a shot. (Credit: Daniel De Mato)
TUCKERS 19, MONARCHS 6
With Mattituck/Greenport/Southold leading by a healthy eight-goal margin late in the opening half Tuesday afternoon, Audrey Hoeg came in, bearing down on an empty Bishop McGann-Mercy goal.
Instead of shooting, Hoeg went around the cage and waited for goalie Alyssa DeVito to return to the net as the sophomore midfielder set up a play.
Hoeg and her Tuckers teammates have been there before. They have been on the short end of a score many a time and Hoeg felt it was the sportsmanlike thing to do, not to shoot into an open net in what turned into a 19-6 victory in a Suffolk County Division II girls lacrosse game at Cutchogue West Elementary School.
“It’s just a matter of being fair at some point,” Hoeg said. “Something about scoring on an open net kind of sounds like a cheap shot to me. It’s not exactly fair. And we were up by a lot so I didn’t want to run up the score too much, especially without anyone having a chance to stop me.”
Hoeg, who wound up with plenty of goals, scoring a team-high five and assisting on two others, knows the feeling.
“We were in the spot not long ago,” she said. “Mattituck was once a team that was new and wasn’t doing well at all and getting crushed by teams. So it’s important for us to remember that we were once in that spot. And it’s important for us to remember how you feel when you’re in that spot. We don’t want to do that to any other teams.”
The win pushed the Tuckers (8-5, 7-5) closer to clinching their very first playoff spot since the program began five years ago. They will host Eastport/South Manor on Thursday and conclude the regular season at Elwood/John Glenn on Tuesday.
“This year has been so wonderful,” said senior Lauren Waters, one of several players honored on Senior Day. “We’re so close to going to the playoffs. Being a senior and getting to go to the playoffs the first year is such a great way to leave the program with such high hopes for the future. We’ve been very close in the past, but we really have a shot this year.”
First-year Tuckers coach Meghan Cereola has liked what she has seen.
“I came in here with a goal,” she said. “I sat down the girls the first indoor practice back in January. ‘Listen, I am here to work you. I’m here to teach you as many things as I can. Let’s make it a goal to get to the playoffs.’ A lot of people said it was an extreme goal, but you’ve got to think big, dream big. That’s what we did.”
The Monarchs (1-10, 1-10) might be in that position someday. They are a young program and are taking their lumps, much like the Tuckers did in previous seasons.
“A brand new program,” McGann-Mercy coach Mike Katz said. “Lots to learn. We’re trying to improve, moving forward. We’re learning on the move.”
Katz, who is also a goalie coach, displayed some sportsmanship of his own in defeat, relaying some instruction to Tuckers reserve goalie Claudia Hoeg, a seventh-grader, when she replaced Nikki L’Hommedieu in the second half.
“She idolizes my daughter,” Katz said of Lluna, a top goalie who will attend St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington in the fall. “I don’t care who I coach as long as I am coaching and the kids get something out of it. I like to do things like that.”
The Tuckers put this one away quickly, scoring seven times in the opening 10 minutes 8 seconds. By then, cousins Audrey and Katie Hoeg (four goals, two assists) had recorded hat tricks. McGann-Mercy sophomore Savanah Connors had a hat trick of her own.
After Claudia Hoeg entered the game, L’Hommedieu became a field player and scored a goal.
“She’s very fast and has great stick skills,” Cereola said. “She’s really our only goalie. When they started five years ago, she was the only girl who stepped up and wanted to play goalie. This year, she said, ‘I haven’t gotten the chance to play field. I’ve always played goalie.’ So it’s kind of a judgment call going into the second half whether we let her go onto the field. When she does, she produces.”
Kristin Sabat of Mattituck says, “We used cedar boards and 4x4s to frame it. There’s a brick floor that’s pitched to a drain in the middle that goes to a drywell. My husband and I use it every day from spring ’till fall unless it’s
pouring rain.
What’s not to love? You’ve just come back sandy from the beach or dirty from tilling the soil or sweaty from hiking the local trails (actually, no excuse needed) and you’re grubby, so you jump in the shower — make that your outdoor shower.
You’re outdoors, with a view of the sky, the sun is shining (or the moon is gleaming) and warm water is running over you. What better way to clean off and just enjoy the moment? No muss, no fuss.
Last summer Times/Review Newsgroup’s three papers asked readers to submit photos of their outdoor showers — and the response was tremendous.
Read more on northforker.com.
