The 2012 Little League Fall Baseball Season "Fall Ball" culminated on Sunday Night at Strawtown Field in New City when the Nyack-Valley Cottage Giants met the Nyack-Valley Cottage Dodgers in the 2012 Fall Ball Division A Championship. 12 teams from New City, West Nyack, Congers and Nyack-Valley Cottage Little Leagues competed in the A Division (11-12 Year Old) single elimination tournament to see who would be declared Champion. After a two week delay due to the storm, the championship battle began on an unusually warm November evening.
Giants Manager Michael Lagana sent Parker Stemkowski to the mound in the top of the 1st inning to lead his team in the fall classic. Stemkowski faced four batters and ended the inning with strong defensive plays behind him.
In the bottom of the 1st, Dodgers Manager Steve Mounkhall gave the ball to ace hurler Tony Poveda. The Giants lead off hitter Joss Hindin singled to right, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Dylan Olsen. With Hindin on third, Billy Sullivan stepped up to the plate and singled, earning an RBI. After a single by Christian Schwarz, Gavin O'Grady singled, driving home Sullivan and Schwarz. The 1st inning ended with the Giants leading 3-0.
The pitching duel was on as Stemkowski and Poveda held their opponents scoreless through the 4th inning. Perfect defensive play by both teams kept the crowd of over 100 people on edge watching an errorless game.
Lagana sent Stemkowski back to the mound in the top of the 5th and Stemkowski finished the 5th inning preserving his no hitter and striking out a total of 8 batters. Stemkowski certainly brought his A game on Sunday.
After a lead-off walk by Derek Wishner in the bottom of the 5th inning, Poveda then recorded two outs. Giants 1st Baseman Dylan Olsen grabbed his trusty bat and ignited the Giants offense with a single to left field. Then Billy Sullivan, Christian Schwarz, Satchel Peterson, Gavin O'Grady, Jake Lagana and Jack Wishner provided a barrage of doubles and singles scoring 7 runs, ending the game at 10-0.
It was a great night of baseball and a notable one for Nyack-Valley Cottage. Before the storm hit, Nyack-Valley Cottage Manager Michael Leifer lead his B Division (9-10 Year Old) team to a championship. This is the second year in a row that Nyack-Valley Cottage has taken home championships in both the A and B Divisions!!!
