The Merillon Sharks 13u travel team won the 2013 NJBL Summer Divisional Championship played Aug. 10, at Merillon Park Field.
After finishing the spring season in second place, the Sharks were determined to finish first in the summer season and did with an impressive 18-4-1 record. Manager Greg DeNara was proud of his team, which held first place the entire season. The Sharks won all three of their playoff games to capture the title.
The first game of the playoffs featured the Sharks hosting a single elimination game against the scrappy Herricks Redmen. After trailing early in the game, 3-0, the Sharks roared back with eight unanswered runs to win 8-3. Josh Borsykowsky started the comeback with a lead-off walk and Sean O’Leary followed with a perfect bunt single. Bryan Wu then walked setting up a single by Eric Del Valle and a double by Brian Diaz, which capped a four-run inning. The Sharks added key hits by James Castaldi, Joey Jacobs and Patrick Devine for three more runs just an inning later. John DeNara finished off the scoring by delivering an RBI single in the last inning. James Castaldi, Bryan Wu and Eric Del Valle combined to pitch a one-hitter.
Next up for the Sharks were the tough Massapequa Chiefs in the best 2-of-3 championship series, played at a packed Merillon Park Field on a picture perfect day for baseball.
The Sharks came out slugging, scoring eight runs by the third inning. Greg Andreopoulos, Dominic Piccirillo and Joey Jacobs had key hits in the second inning. In the third inning, brothers John and Jimmy DeNara each delivered solid hits to build the lead. The game seemed out of reach, but the Chiefs fought back to tie the game at 8-8. The Sharks responded with two more runs on a hit from John DeNara, but again, the Chiefs rallied to tie the score.
James Castaldi and Eric Del Valle pitched their hearts out, throwing 90 pitches each to keep the score knotted at 10-10 before Dominic Piccirillo came in to shut down the Chiefs.
In the last inning, lead-off man Lou Mangia led off with a walk, followed by a single by Bryan Wu. This set the stage for the Sharks leading hitter, Brian,”Big D” Diaz (.608 avg.), and he came through with a walk-off smash to drive in Mangia to win the game 11-10. Mangia now has a team-leading 32 runs scored.
The next game could not top the excitement of game one, but saw the Sharks play almost a near-perfect game.
The Sharks scored six times in the first inning. Merillon needed only 6 hits in the game, Greg Andreopoulos (2), Eric Del Valle (2), John DeNara (1) and Josh Borsykowsky (1). Michael Marcy and Patrick Devine patrolled the outfield, while Bryan Wu shut down the Chiefs with a five-inning, no-hit mercy rule, winning 12-0. A total team effort with strong pitching and errorless defense led the Sharks to the championship.
Coaches Kevin O’Leary and Jack Castaldi did a tremendous job this year getting the team prepared and focused game after game. Coach O’Leary commented on how loose this team plays and is never out of any game.
“This team jelled and played hard when they needed to and they love to have fun,” O’Leary said.
“21-4-1, a great year, the players worked hard and they deserved the championship,” DeNara added.
The coaches would like to congratulate all the other Merillon Sharks Travel Teams who did very well in all age groups. We also want to thank all players and parents for their dedication and commitment throughout the year and as always, we would like to thank all our Merillon volunteers, who put in an awful lot of time and effort to make all this happen season after season. We appreciate all that you do.
Any serious and skilled players ages 8 through 16 interested in the Merillon Sharks Travel Program should contact Greg DeNara at (516) 225-6374 or by email at sox045@aol.com.
