Daily Sports Digest: Rain or Rivalry for Pearl River Baseball

Last season, the Pearl River baseball team split two regular-season meetings with Tappan Zee, then the Pirates defeated the Dutchmen in the Billy Kayser-Chris Bello Memorial Game.

The Pirates took home the league championship, but it was Tappan Zee that played its best in the playoffs, winning the Section 1 Class A championship. 

The two teams were scheduled to meet for the first time this season 4 p.m. at Pearl River, but the game was cancelled due rain. No make-up date has been set yet. Pearl River is scheduled to play at Tappan Zee 4 p.m. Tuesday. 

"Absolutely. I can't wait," Mendelson said. "We beat them two out of three last year, but they won the section. Got to give them that. Hopefully, we get the best of them this year."

Tappan Zee is 3-1 this season and once again looking like a contender in Class A. Pearl River (4-2) comes in off a sweep of Albertus Magnus, including Saturday's 11-4 victory.

Monday Events Cancelled Due to Rain

In addition to the Pearl River baseball game at home against Tappan Zee, the Pearl River's boys tennis match set for Monday at Albertus Magnus was also cancelled due to inclement weather. 

As of 11 a.m., the Pearl River track and field meet at home against Tappan Zee and the boys lacrosse game at Clarkstown South were still on. Any further changes would likely be announced after 2:30 p.m.

Only Hit Boosts Pearl River Softball

Tappan Zee's Paulina Gutkin matched Pearl River sophomore pitcher Mandy McCarthy no-hit inning for no-hit inning into the seventh Saturday at Pearl River.

McCarthy completed her no-hitter in the top of the seventh, finishing the game with 11 strikeouts and only one walk to improve her record to 5-0 this season. Then she bunted teammate Kristyn Neroda, who had walked and stolen second, over to third base.

One out later, senior third baseman Amanda Hartigan grounded the game's only hit through the left side of the infield to give Pearl River the 1-0 victory, keeping the Pirates unbeaten at 8-0. 

Pearl River is currently ranked No. 2 in the state in Class A by the New York State Sportswriter's Association behind South Glens Falls of Section 2. Tappan Zee had been No. 11 before suffering it's first loss of the season at Pearl River Saturday.

Hayes Breaks Own Record

Pearl River sophomore Kelly Hayes won the 3200-Meter Run at the Red Raider Relays in a time of 10:55.98, breaking her own school record by nearly 20 seconds.

Her time was the fourth-fastest ever by a Rockland County runner in the event. 

More Weekend Results

Sport: Boys Tennis

Event: Pearl River Boys Tennis Tournament

Highlights: Tappan Zee narrowly beat out Nyack, 165-164, for the team championship in the Pearl River Boys Tennis Tournament Friday and Saturday at Pearl River High School and Cherry Brook Park.

The Pearl River boys finished fourth.

Sport: Boys Lacrosse

Game: Pearl River vs. Blind Brook

Result: Pearl River won, 10-4

Highlights: Chris McGarry and Matt Bosco each scored three goals and Lowell Hunt made 19 saves for Pearl River (2-7). 

Today's Schedule

(All events could be threatened by rain Sunday night and Monday.)

In baseball, Tappan Zee will play at Pearl River at 4 p.m. (Postponed due to rain)

In boys lacrosse, Pearl River plays at Clarkstown South at 5:15 p.m.

In boys tennis, Pearl River will play Albertus Magnus at 4 p.m. (Postponed due to rain. 

In boys and girls track and field, Tappan Zee will compete at Pearl River at 4:30 p.m.

Share Results in the Daily Sports Digest

Coaches, Parents and Boosters, Please send scores and information to HVDailySportsDigest@gmail.com following every game.

Big Bopper Baseball Tournament

The friends of Aaron Rossman are hosting the second  on June 9 at Pelham Memorial High School in memory of his passing from Cystic Fibrosis in November 2010 after a 22 year battle with CF.

Big Bat Bopper Baseball is a favorite Physical Education sport of many recent graduates and students alike. Players use a Cricket bat to hit a bouncing rubber ball and circle four bases positioned in the corners of the gymnasium twice before touching the pitcher’s mound to score a run. Teams consist of 12-16 players and games last 12-15 minutes.

The event is open to the public, and includes residents of all ages in the community. For those who wish to spectate, there will be various activities including auctions and raffles throughout the day.

All teams must pre-register with the Big Bat Bopper Baseball Committee by E-mailing MichaelRecca@gmail.com with a team name and roster. Admission for athletes and the general public is $15.

If you would like to show your support by making a donation: monetary, raffle or auction, contact Michael Recca. Checks should be made payable to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), or go towww.cff.org/Great_Strides/MichaelRecca. All donations are 100% tax deductible, and official receipts from The CFF can be provided upon request.

Last year, the fundraising effort gathered $51,000 to help fight CF.

Weekly Sports Poll

The Knicks regular season wraps up Thursday at Charlotte and then New York will head to either Miami or Chicago. Either opponent will be a heavy favorite against the Knicks, but if Carmelo Anthony continues his great play, New York will have a punchers chance against anyone.

The Bulls are clearly the deeper team and the Heat have one of the best one-two punches in NBA history. So this week’s question is simply, how far will this year’s Knicks team go in the playoffs?