Sunday

SENIOR AMERICANS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Bayside Yankees Senior Americans defeated TNL Sports (GA) 8-0, in the championship game of the 2008 NABF Senior (Wood Bat) World Series at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson, MS tonight. It was the Senior Americans fourth straight National Title and the organizations 18th National Championship in their 28 year history.

Anthony Gionesi (Bellmore, NY) scattered four hits on route to the complete game, 97 pitch victory. Yankee shortstop Alex McClure (Clarksville, TN), who went 8-18 (7 RBI's), including two game winning hits in the seventh inning of two separate World Series games was named the 2008 NABF World Series MVP. McClure's stellar defense at shortstop was as much the reason for the award as his clutch performance at the plate, according to Yankees skipper Marc Cuseta.

The Yankees jumped out with two runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone for the game. Taiki Kasuga (New York, NY) started it off with a booming double to the gap in right center field. Sonny Gray (Smyrna, TN) drove in the first run of the game with a double to left center field and then promptly scored on an RBI single off the bat of Tim Panetta (Mount Kisco, NY).

The key defensive moment of the game came in the bottom of the first inning. TNL Sports loaded the bases with one out, in part due to a throwing error by Yankees starting pitcher Anthony Gionesi. But Gionesi quickly regained his composure and rolled a 6-4-3 double play to end what was really TNL's only legitimate scoring threat of the game. Gray and Kasuga led the Yankees offensive attack with 3 hits a piece.

The Yankees put the game away with a four run 5th inning, highlighted by an RBI triple by centerfielder Sonny Gray. Gionesi struck out the final batter of the game and the Senior Americans fourth straight National Championship celebration was on.

"This might be the sweetest one yet", said Yankees mentor and Head Coach, Marc Cuseta. "After losing all nine players, who were drafted professionally on 6/9/08, I have to admit that my expectations for a fourth straight National Title were not real high. But the young kids we brought up from our younger programs stepped it up here in Jackson and the pitching performances in the last three games, allowing just one unearned run in 21 innings, was as good as it gets".

World Series MVP Alex McClure commented, "I played against Bayside as a 16 year old and ever since then I wanted to be a part of National Championship program like theirs. This is a great way to end the summer and playing well in this setting gives me that much more confidence as I go to an SEC school (Vanderbilt University) later this month".

The Senior Americans concluded the 2008 season with an overall record of 33-14.