The New York Baseball Network -

GLORY DAYS
FOR SJP
SAINTS JOHN AND PAUL TAKES JV AND VARSITY WCBA TITLES

by: "The General"

LARCHMONT-Saints John and Paul (SJP) Junior Varsity and Varsity baseball teams both emerged victorious as Westchester Catholic Baseball Association (WCBA) Champions in two nail-biting championship games. They are the first baseball teams in SJP history to bring home the titles. Both teams played Annunciation, a perennial baseball powerhouse.

The Junior Varsity team, which consists of 5th and 6th grade boys from the SJP parish, bested Annunciation 6 in a thrilling 3 game series held at Schultze Field in Crestwood. The teams had split the first two games by a single run, with the losing team in each case having the tying run on third base at the last out.

It was only fitting that the championship game was decided by one run as well, with a final score of 5-4. Coach Ralph Berardi was delighted with the strong defense his team displayed against a hard hitting Annunciation team.

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Bottom Row (l to r) John Scheurger, Robert Flood, Michael Goodwin, Peter Matt, Bill Gallagher, Luis Guerrero,
RJ Berardi Second Row (l to r) William Bodkin, Matt Waldron, Andrew Zaback, Luke Charla, Chris Pace,
Ramon Pineda, Back row: Coaches Luis Guerrero and Ralph Berardi

The Varsity team consisting of 7th and 8th grade boys, had another stellar season. The team has
consistently been a strong group over the past few years, placing second to Annunciation in the 2008 season. Not this year. Unlike their JV counterparts, the Varsity team had only one chance to best Annunciation 8. And as with the JV team, the game, held at Salesian High School, was decided by one run in the bottom of the 7th inning.

“This was a great group of boys,” said coach Jerry Pilla. “The team exemplified leadership in athleticism and character.”

Assistant Commissioner of the WCBA, Mary Van Zandt extended her congratulations to SJP
and Annunciation, commending both on their spectacular seasons, caliber of play, drive, determination and talent.

$C:\Users\Eric\Pictures\2010\cbw cyo championship\036.JPG$
Bottom Row ( l-r) Greg Pilla, Hunter Boyle, Luke Torpie, Jake Sevean, Thomas Pipolo Back row (l-r) Coach Bill McDermott, Richard Mannix,
Nick Valentino, Billy McDermott, Ryan Aquino, Richie Barrella, Chris Cascione, Chris Waldron and Coach Jerry Pilla).
Missing from photo, JC Ruggiero, Coaches Eric Waldron, John Ruggiero and Rich Barrella.

Athletic Director for SJP, John Hannaway, can’t wait until October when not one, but two banners will be raised in the Saints John and Paul gym on Weaver Street to recognize this great achievement. For those 8th grade boys who played their last WCBA season, the raising of the banners will be bittersweet indeed.