The DLL Juniors Division Rockies defeated the DLL Tigers 8-7 in the inter-league Division Championship this past week at Pier 40 in an exciting and close final game.
To reach the final, the Rockies, putting together a no-hitter, defeated the GVLL Dodgers 10-0 in the semifinal National League Division Championship. Similarly, the Tigers defeated the Athletics 10-8 in their semifinal game. The Rockies are led by a crack pitching staff composed of Gabe Kleiman, Michael Klusendorf, Adam Kester and Michael Porter with fearsome hitting from Dexter Zimet and Nick Dyja. Infielders Andrew Bakst, Aren Gallagher and Weston Loving keep grounders at bay while outfielders Axel Epps, Aurel Lambert, Ethan Opheim and Dean Scotti manage to snag their share of fly balls. Similarly, the Tigers greatly outscored their league opponents behind pitching by Roy Vlcek, Lucas Ortega and Jake Bader, superb catching by Kyel Maer, Jake Kiehl and Tyler Paige, smart infielders like Nicky Bader, Chris Baumann, Jack Finio, Isaac Simmons and Cambell Weaver and the superb outfield play of Henry Costello, Chris Riddick and Daniel Komanoff.
A combined Rockies/Tigers team will represent DLL in the District 23 Little League Tournament, with the first game scheduled for Thursday, July 9 at 5;30 pm against Inwood Little league on our own Murray Bergtraum/Verizon Field.
The DLL Juniors (13 and 14 years old) play on full-sized 90 foot diamonds in a division composed of boys and girls from Downtown LL, Greenwich Village LL and Peter Stuyvesant LL on fields at Pier 40, Central Park and Verizon Field. Ten teams competed this spring and our Downtown teams, the Rockies and Tigers, finished first in their divisions, with overall records of 11-2 and 8-3, respectively. In an exciting development spearheaded by DLL, the Rockies, led by Coach Joel Kopel, and the Tigers, led by Coach Steve Curasco and Scott Diehl, were looking forward to competing against each other on Sunday June 21 in the final Championship game, to be held this year for the first time at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, Staten Island, home to the minor league affiliate SI Yankees. Unfortunately, rain caused the game to be cancelled but a friendly scrimmage is to be rescheduled In September. Admission will be free and all Downtown families and friends are encouraged to come and support our players, coaches, parents and the efforts of all DLL officials and friends.
