The St. Aidans’s Stallions finished their spring season at 3 wins and 3 losses, seeding them sixth in the Catholic League Middle School playoff bracket. On Monday, May 20, the Stallions faced off against third-ranked St. Christopher’s of Baldwin at Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford. The Stallions were eager to avenge a regular season loss and came superbly focused and ready.
In a thrilling upset, the Stallions of St Aidan’s beat St. Christopher’s team by a score of 6-4. Mike D’Angelo recorded the complete game victory, striking out eight and allowing five hits. Every Stallion contributed by getting on base or making a good defensive play. Jake Grimm stole home for the lead run and a great game was played by Christian Murphy, Sean Lanigan, Joe and Jon Anthony Panero, Lucas Abrusci, CJ Galanga, Matt Forte, Bailan Fagan, Jack Willoughby, Nikita Mullen and Justin Meskill.
On Friday, May 24, the Stallions faced the No. 1-ranked Firebirds of Kellenberg at Tully Field in New Hyde Park. The Stallions played a fierce and competitive game but ultimately dropped the semi-final game by a score of 10-4. The big hit was a bases-loaded double by Sean Lanigan that plated three runs. The other run was driven in by Mike D’Angelo. The Firebirds of Kellenberg were kept in check by the Stallions defense, highlighted by a throwing a player out at the plate when Nikita Mullen, playing leftfield, threw a cut-off throw to shortstop Mike D’Angelo. D’Angelo fired the ball to home where catcher James Rosselon made the tag throwing out the Firebird runner. Other excellent defensive plays were made by Joe Panero and Sean Lanigan. Justin Meskill, Sean Lanigan, James Rosselon and Tom Nutley all had hits for the Stallions. Kellenberg Firebirds Manager James O’Brien was impressed by the never say die Stallions.
“In both games we played this season, St Aidan’s never quit and I had to throw my best pitchers,” he said. “Even against my best, St Aidan’s kept playing hard and stayed right in the game.”
Commenting on the season, Field manager Kenny Solosky summed it one word, “Fun.” “Of course, we wanted to win it all, but as coaches we have a lot of goals and objectives — namely having fun, helping to improve our players and letting them learn about the great game of baseball — Mission Accomplished” he observed.
The members of the 2019 St Aidan’s Middle School Baseball Team: Christian Murphy, Sean Lanigan, Mike D’Angelo, Joe Panero, Jon Anthony Panero, James Rosselon, Jake Grimm, Tom Nutley, Lucas Abrusci, Matt Forte, CJ Galanga, Justin Meskill, Nikita Mullen, Eddie Olsen, Bailan Fagan, Jack Willoughby and Andrew Marotta. The team coaches were Ken Solosky, Kenny Solosky and Patrick Solosky.
The St. Aidan’s Middle School baseball team known as “The Stallions” plays in the Catholic Spirit League. The league is school-based, and only utilizes wood bats in order to prepare the players for the Catholic High School League.
