Pearl River Sports: Playoff Pairings, Rockland County Coaches Meeting

The Pearl River girls soccer team enters the Section 1 Class A playoffs as the No. 2 seed. They found out Friday where they will play.

No. 18 Gorton will play at No. 15 Harrison today, with the winner coming to Pearl River Saturday. Pearl River's primary filed will be occupied with the football team's cross-scheduled game against Ossining at 2:30 p.m., so the soccer game will be played on the upper field at 3 p.m. The athletic office looked into starting the game earlier, but there is a conflict ACT testing in the morning.

The Pearl River boys soccer, field hockey and volleyball teams will all open the Section 1 playoffs on the road this weekend. The girls swimming team competing in the Section 1 Division 4 championships 2 p.m. Saturday at Felix Festa Middle School, the closest thing the Pirates have to a home pool during the season. For more on Section 1 swimming, go here. 

The updated schedule is as follows:

Friday's schedule

• In Section 1 Class A playoff boys soccer, No. 9 Pearl River will play at No. 8 Pelham at 3 p.m.
• In Section 1 girls volleyball playoffs, Pearl River will play at Eastchester at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday's schedule

• Pearl River girls swimming in Section 1 Division 4 Championships at Felix Festa Middle School, 2 p.m.
• In Section 1 Class B field hockey playoffs, No. 11 Pearl River will play at No. 6 Pelham at 2:30 p.m.
• In cross-schedule football, Ossining will play at Pearl River at 2:30 p.m.
• In Sectoin 1 Class A girls soccer playoffs, Pearl River will play at home on the upper field against the Gorton/Harrison winner at 3 p.m.

Pirates Take Second in Boys Cross Country, Third in Girls

Brian Cook finished first overall, but Pearl River finished second to Tappan Zee in the boys team competition in Thursday's Rockland County Cross Country Championships at Bear Mountain.

Nanuet won the girls team title, with Suffern second and Pearl River third. Junior Kelly Hayes was the top finisher for Pearl River, taking second overall behind Nanuet senior Megan Young. 

Tappan Zee's Letizia Closing on 4,000 yards

Tappan Zee senior running back enters the Dutchmen's 7:15 p.m. home game against Port Chester Friday with a shot to go over 4,000 yards rushing for his career. 

Letizia's 231-yard effort in a 27-6 victory at Horace Greeley last week gave him 3,973, making him very likely to become the first 4,000-yard rusher in Rockland County history. He already claimed the county rushing record that Nyack's Jermaine Harris had held since 1991.

"It's great for Joe," Tappan Zee Head Coach Andy DiDomenico said. "He's been the heart of our team for four years. We've had some good players, but Joe is the guy we've built around. It's exciting, having seen him grow from a seventh grader into what he has become. He deserves the accolades. He's a pretty special kid."

Letizia could also pass the county records for career touchdowns and points. He has 52 touchdowns heading into tonight's game. 

Letizia started since his freshman year and has been the primary rusher in Tappan Zee's single-wing offense, but DiDomenico said that his standout senior is an even better defensive player. Letizia, also a key part of two section championship basketball teams at Tappan Zee, will likely play college football somewhere despite a relative lack of size at 5-foot-8.

"Whoever gets him won't be disappointed," DiDomenico said.

Nanuet Faces Playoff Battle at Pleasantville

Many of Rockland County's football teams will be in action this weekend, but only Nanuet and North Rockland made the Section 1 playoffs.

Nanuet (5-2) will play at Pleasantville (5-2) in a Class B first-round game 7 p.m. Friday. Pleasantville won, 7-6, when the teams met during the regular season.

Rockland County Coaches Association Meets Monday

The Rockland County Coaches Association will hold its fall meeting 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 at the Pearl River Elks Club in Nanuet. The event is open to current and past scholastic coaches from the varsity level to modified.

Bridget Cahill of Seton Hall University will speak about NCAA recruiting rules and academic requirements.

The following assistant coaches will be recognized:

• Matt McGuinness, Albertus Magnus
• John Billings, Clarkstown South
• Bob Syracuse, Nanuet
• Adam Beirlein, Nyack
• Lenny Renaldi, Ramapo
• Joe Lofberg, Suffern
• Chris Robisnon, Clarkstown North
• Christine Dunnesy, Felix Festa
• Dave Ziglar, North Rockland
• Shanon Misiaszek, Pearl River
• Barry Tesseymen, Spring Valley
• Chris LoRusso, Tappan Zee

Cost to attend is $25 and $20 for 2012-13 dues will be collected. For more information, contact Kim Cleary at kcleary@ramapocentral.org or (845) 357-3800 ext. 337.

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