LoHud A The Journal News Sunday, August 12, 2007 3C SOFTBALL Haverstraw takes detour on way to Kirkland Weather sends team to Motor City before Washington state Tony Pinciaro The Journal News The Haverstraw team was up early Friday morning, ready to board a 6:45 a.m. plane that would take it from Syracuse to Newark, N.J., in order to catch a connecting flight to Kirkland, and the Junior Softball World Series. The girls were groggy but still excited, knowing they would be making history as the first Haverstraw junior team to reach the World Series. However, Haverstraw would have to wait a day to make its trip. The team's flight to Newark was cancelled due to torrential rains in New York on Friday.
Instead, Haverstraw flew to Detroit yesterday morning, and caught a connecting flight to Washington. Even the delay could not put a damper on Haverstraw winning the East Regional championship. "I know most of the girls said they missed their bed and wanted to know if we could go home for a day," said 15-year-old Krystn Benson, a North Rockland High School sophom*ore. "I wanted to get on the plane and go to Washington. I didn't want to wait another day." Haverstraw will open play today in the 10-team World Series at 5:30 p.m.
against WestchesterDel Rey (Calif.) Little League, the West Region champion, at Everest Park. Haverstraw and Westchester Del-Rey are in Pool along with Boardman (Ohio) Little League, Amsterdam Little League and Bacolod Negros Pacific) Little League. "It is going to be exciting," Benson said. "We went to the World Series Web site to see the teams we would be playing. To see the East representative and see your Little League name next to it is a good feeling." Haverstraw earned its berth in the World Series with a 4-0 semifinal win over Colly (Pa.) and a 4- 2 triumph over West Cumberland (NJ.) in the final.
Olivia Rivera played a key role in the title-game win. The 15-yearold North Rockland sophom*ore allowed two runs in four innings and got the win. "It meant a lot to me to come in and help the team so we could save Krystn for the last two innings and she could do her thing," Kathy Journal News Stony Point's Brandon Shields is competing in the 5K Race for the Hudson on Sept. 9. The race benefits the Friends of Claire Foundation, which supports research for ALS disease.
This will mark the fourth time Shields has swam across the Hudson. Stony Point's Shields testing the waters WNBA ROUNDUP Late surge powers Detroit over Indiana said Rivera, who played junior varsity softball last spring along with Benson. When Haverstraw recorded the final out and won the East regional title, it initiated a noisy celebration. "I don't think we ever screamed as much as we did," Benson said. "We had a cooler full of ice and water and tried to get Coach (Joe) Corretjer, who kind of ran away, so we got my dad instead." Corretjer soaked up the titlewinning moment, which he said exceeded his expectations.
"The goal I had set in my mind was to get to the state championship and win that," Corretjer said. "I did show them the regionals and World Series and how it was broken down. I never really targeted the Worlds Series, but I wanted the girls to know that it was a possibility." Practicing for two hours every day for the past couple of months has made that possibility a reality. "We're all excited and this should be an experience to remember," Rivera said. "We're looking forward to trying our best and hoping for the Reach Tony Pinciaro at or 914-696-8234.
BASEBALL Mamaroneck wins WBA title From staff reports Scott Hagan had four RBI and was the winning pitcher in relief as Mamaroneck defeated the New York Angels 12-5 yesterday in the WBA 14-and-under championship game at Mamaroneck High School. Mamaroneck trailed 5-4 after four innings, but a double by Nick Risner started an eight fifth inning that clinched the title. Lacrosse fundraiser to benefit Cassiere CASSIERE, from 1C "He's coming along," Diane said. "Every day there's 1 more progress, but he has a long way to go." The game is a collaborative effort between the Clarkstown Crease Club, the parents' booster club; the administration, which donated the football field; and friends of the family. Any former Ram who has not been notified of the game can just show up tomorrow night and play.
Cassiere picked up the sport five years ago, and spent two years on the junior varsity before moving up to varsity as a 5-foot-9, 184-pound midfielder. This past season, he dominated faceoffs and scored three goals in North's 19-11 win over Albertus Magnus, which broke a 12-year-old team record for most goals scored in a game. "As a lacrosse player, he was a very aggressive, determined player," said Michael Shea, the president of the Clarkstown Crease Club who had the original idea. "He was one of the toughest kids on the team, if not the toughest. He stood up for the rest of his teammates all the time." Money will be collected at the field tomorrow night and will go toward Cassiere's ongoing medical care.
Donations can also be mailed to Ralph Cassiere, Box 1000, 75A Lake Road, Congers, NY 10920. "I'm really honored by generosity," Diane said. "It's wonderful what they're doing and it's going to be very helpful. I'm sure Ralph will be so moved by Reach Harold Gutmann at or 845-578-2465. Swimmer trying to gauge standing, help out charity Erin Bruehl The Journal News As an 8-year-old, Brandon Shields was interested in competing in new sporting events and, with the help of his parents, started searching for some online.
Among the events he found intriguing was an open-water swim fundraiser now called the Hudson River Swim for Life. He told his parents that he wanted to try open-water swimming for the first time. The swim at the time raised money for a charity helping to fight multiple sclerosis, a disease that afflicted several people the Shields family knew personally. And the idea of helping others only made Shields, a Stony Point resi- With win, Shock seals home-court playoff advantage The Associated Press Deanna Nolan scored 26 points 18 in the second half and the Detroit Shock beat the visiting Indiana Fever 74- 69 yesterday to clinch homecourt advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs. Detroit (24-6) secured the league's best record by holding off a fourth-quarter comeback by Indiana.
Nolan made: a pair of free throws with 29.9 seconds remaining to give Detroit a 72-69 lead and Indiana did not get a good look at the basket on its ensuing possession. "We gave them too big a lead and even though we had a fast and furious last five minutes and had a chance, sometimes the margin is too big to overcome," Fever coach Brian Winters said. "Against a good team like that, you can't let that happen." Detroit's Katie Smith added 15 points, six rebounds and dent, want to do it even more. After discussing safety with founder and swim director Dennis Chillemi, Shields' mother, Jeannee, felt comfortable letting her 8-year-old participate. Now 12 years old and with his swimming career taking off, Brandon will compete in an open-water swim event known as the 5K Race for the Hudson on Sept.
9. This will mark the fourth time Shields has swam across the Hudson. Three times he has participated in the noncompetitive Swim for Life that benefits the Valley Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The event, now in its 16th year, will also be held Sept. 9.
Shields is swimming the 5K for the first time, and Chillemi believes that he is the youngest competitor in the race. Over 200 participants are expected for both events. five assists for the defending WNBA champions. Tan White led Indiana (19- 12) with 15 points. Tammy Sutton-Brown chipped in 13 points.
The Shock struggled in the first half, shooting just 35 percent from the field while committing nine turnovers that the Fever turned into 17 points. Detroit trailed 41-31 at halftime, but outscored the Fever 28-9 in the third quarter to take a 59-50 lead into the fourth. Nolan led the third-quarter charge with 14 points. Her three-point play with 5:32 to go in the third gave the Shock their first lead since 5:54 remained in the first quarter. "She is unstoppable when she gets in her zone," Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said of Nolan.
"When she is on like that we just want to give her the ball as much as possible." Detroit pushed the lead to 15 early in the fourth quarter before the Fever put together a 19-5 run sparked by three consecutive three-pointers by White to cut the lead to 70-69. Laimbeer said he plans to On the Web For video of Brandon Shields as he is prepares for his fourth fundraisLoHud.com ing swim across the Hudson, go to LoHud.com/video. For a photo gallery of Shields, go to LoHud.com The 5K race benefits the Friends of Claire Foundation, which supports research for ALS disease. It is an official U.S. Masters Swim-sanctioned event.
There will be overall race awards as well as age group and gender divisions in the race, which begins in Nyack and ends in Sleepy Hollow. "I've done it for three years; I think it is time to do something different," Shields said of trying the competition this year. "(It's) seeing where I rest his starters for the final four games, and forward Swin Cash will not travel with the team to tomorrow's game against the Liberty. Sun 88, Sky 66: At Chicago, Margo Dydek had a seasonhigh 18 points as the Connecticut Sun cruised moved closer to clinching a playoff spot for the fifth straight year. Asjha Jones scored 14 points, Jamie Carey had 13 and Nykesha Sales added 12 for the Sun (17- 13), who have won 11 of 13 and pulled games behind Indiana for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Connecticut can secure a spot in the postseason with another win or a loss by the Liberty. Lindsay Whalen had nine points, seven assists and four steals, and the 7-foot-2 Dydek added three blocks to help the Sun improve to 6-1 all-time against the Sky. Candice Dupree scored 18 points and Stacey Dales added 11 for Chicago (12-19), which has lost five straight and 11 of 15. Brooke Wyckoff had 10 points for the Sky, who began the night games behind Washington for stand compared to people who have done it longer than me. "It felt wonderful the first time (to finish the swim) and it's felt good every time.
It gives me a good feeling that I'm helping somebody (raising money for charity) while I'm swimming." Each participant in the 5K is required to raise at least $400 in pledges for Friends of Claire. It has been an excellent summer competition-wise for Shields, who competes for Team Rockland and will be a seventh-grader at Willow Grove I Middle School this fall. He set a county record in the Rockland County Summer Swim League in the boys 11- 12 age group in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 1.38 seconds. He also won the boys 11-12 400 freestyle in 4:52.55 at the Junior Olympics at Lehman College in July. Heading into the three-mile the fourth and final playoff spot in the East.
Chicago fell to 5-11 at home and 5-13 in the conference. Connecticut shot 54 percent (32-for-59) while holding the Sky to 38 percent (26-for-69). Carey hit a 3-pointer that gave the Sun a 76-55 with 4:38 left in the fourth quarter. Connecticut went on a 17-6 run midway through the third that gave the Sun a 58-41 lead with 4 minutes left in the period. The Sun led 25-16 going into the second quarter after shooting 61 percent (11- for-18) in the first.
Connecticut used a 9-2 run to extend its lead to 37-24 with 6 minutes to go in the second quarter. However, Chicago went on a 9-0 run of its own to pull within four 3 minutes later. Dydek had consecutive layups to give the Sun a 41-33 halftime lead. Silver Stars 63, Comets 60: At San Antonio, Becky Hammon scored 18 points, including three free throws in the final 11 seconds, to lead San Antonio Silver Stars over Houston. Shanna Crossley had 16 points and Sophia Young added 14 as San Antonio (19- 11) finished 3-3 on its six-game race, Shields is feeling better than ever with freestyle his top stroke.
"Right now I feel I am in phenomenal shape swimwise," Shields said. "Open-water swims are much different than pool swims; you have currents and Chillemi has had other children in the swims, including other 8-year-olds and his daughter when she was 9. Eight still remains the youngest age of any participant in either swim. Safety precautions are taken as the Coast Guard, kayakers, divers and fire department rescue boats all help guide the swimmers. "I think it would be great to see Brandon win at 12," Chillemi said.
"He's a great kid, it's a great family and I'm pulling for Reach Erin Bruehl at or 914-696-8567. homestand. The Silver Stars split the four-game season series with Houston after sweeping the Comets last season. Michelle Snow scored 11 points and Tamecka Dixon added 10 to lead Houston (11- 20), which was eliminated from playoff contention for the second time in the league's 11- year history. Sancho Lyttle had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Vickie Johnson scored two points in her return after missing three games with a strained Achilles'. She had one assist to become the first WNBA player to have 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in a career. Hammon, who finished 5-for-5 from the line, broke the 14th and final tie of the game with two free throws to give the Silver Stars a 57-55 lead with 2:43 left in the fourth. San Antonio extended its lead to five, its largest of the game, on Young's three-point play with 2:11 to go. After Hammon hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to push the Silver Stars' lead to 62-58, Tamecka Dixon's tip-in 9 seconds later cut the Comets' deficit in half.
Scoreboard Friday's result Baseball American Legion Senior Division state tournament Shrub Oak 15, Saratoga Stampede 2 Yesterday's results Baseball WBA 14-and-under championship Mamaroneck 12, New York Angels 5 Today's event Softball Little League Junior Division (ages 13-14) World Series in Kirkland, Wash. Haverstraw vs. Westchester Del-Ray (Calif.) at Everest Park, 8:30 p.m. EDT Tomorrow's events Field hockey Hudson Valley Summer League at Putnam Valley Playoffs: Somers vs. Hen Hud, 6 p.m.
Mahopac vs. Pawling, 6 p.m. John Jay vs. Ossining, 7 p.m. Carmel vs.
Sleepy Panthers, 7 p.m. Panas vs. Brewster, 8 p.m. John Jay-East Fishkill vs. Pleasantville, 8 p.m.
Lakeland vs. Putnam Valley, 9 p.m. Mamaroneck vs. Rye, 9 p.m. Softball Little League Junior Division (ages 13-14) World Series In Kirkland, Wash.
Haverstraw vs. Boardman Community (Ohio) at Everest Park, 8 p.m. EDT Baseball WBA 14-and-under championship Mamaroneck 12, New York Angels 5 New York 000 0 562 Mamaroneck ........202 080 12 11 2 RBI Scott Hagan 4, Jacob London, Joe Muratore, Rob Gross, Sam Christensen, Justin Franks, Dean Chiapparelli, Chris Cotter. NY: Ken Walsh 2, Luis Gonzalez, Mike Sanders. 2B Mk: Chiapparelli, Cotter, Nick Risner, Christensen, WP Scott Hagan (6-1).
LP Dennis 0'Rourke (4-3). Records Mamaroneck 27-1; New York 14-10. 1 30 Jerry S. Associated Press Katie Smith had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Shock beat the Fever 74-69 last night..
