Tigers Are NY State AA Baseball Champs - An MHS First

Parade in Larchmont Village on Saturday, June 21, 6:00 pm

The Mamaroneck Tigers displayed their NY State Championship plaque as they celebrated on the field in Binghamton after the final game against Massapequa on June 15. Photo by David Miller.

by Judy Silberstein

(June 18, 2008) The Mamaroneck High School varsity baseball team defeated Massapequa (Long Island) 6-3 to take the New York State AA championship in Binghamton on Saturday, June 14. The Tigers are the first MHS boys team to go all the way to the top since the state contest began in 1980. (The girls field hockey team won the first MHS state championship in 2004.)

The team will be honored by the tri-municipal community at the Mamaroneck Town Board meeting on Wednesday, June 18 and again on Saturday, June 21, in a parade down Larchmont Avenue beginning at 6 pm. (See: Community Calendar for details.)

Celebratory parade, photos by David Fishman

Tough Road to the Top

To get to the final game of the state championship, the Tigers had to first overcome LaSalle (Albany), the undefeated, number one-rated team. “Actually, we were losing in the first game, down 2-0 through two innings,” reported Bari Suman, Mamaroneck’s athletic director, who was at the game along with over 100 MHS fans. “Then there was a 65-minute weather delay, and we came back on the field refocused” to win 7-5. Sean Hagan pitched the entire game.

In the final game against Massapequa, the first three innings were scoreless. “Then Mamaroneck went up 1-0 before breaking it open in the 5-run fifth inning,” said Ms. Suman. Both Sam Gruppo and Sean Hagan earned two RBIs.

“We were up 6-1 going into the seventh and last inning when Massapequa scored 2 runs with runners on first and third and only 1 out,” reported Ms. Suman. That’s when shortstop Christian Glazer fielded a ground ball and tossed it through to second basement Taylor Mondshein. “Then Taylor threw it to Sean Hagan to complete the 6-4-3 double play and field the state championship,” said Ms. Suman. “All the parents and fans ran onto the field.”

Fans Celebrate as MHS Tigers Win the NY State Championship

Fans run on to the field to congratulate the team. Video shot on June 15 by Seth Weitzman, edited by Jason Weitzman

More parade photos, by Sharon Keck

Andrew Benkwitt, a junior, pitched the complete second game to finish the season 10-0. “We’re only losing one senior starter,” said Ms. Suman. Chris Dearwester will “walk on” at Boston College next year; others graduating from the team are Matt Seid, Michael Miller and Michael Regan.

Getting to the Championship - Not Easy

Coach Mike Chiapparelli addressed MHS fans who met the team bus at the high school after the final game. Photo by David Fishman.

“What we did was not an easy task,” said Coach Mike Chiapparelli. “First, our sectional was tough: against Carmel, Arlington, R.C. Ketchum - and Suffern in the finals,” he said. (For more on the Tiger's season, see: MHS Baseball Wins Region, Goes to State Final-4.)

“Because we were a really good team, the other teams saved their number one pitcher for us.” Mamaroneck used their number 1, 2 and 3 pitchers in the first three games, while their opponents used their top pitchers. “We were so good because we have the depth in pitching and in other positions too,” said the coach. “We had the best hitting team in the section – and probably in the state by far. We hit .427 as a team – which is the highest I’ve ever seen.”

Sports fans, fire engines and police cars met the team bus at the Mamaroneck Avenue exit of I-95 and escorted it to the high school for a celebration after the June 15 win. Photo by David Fishman.

“We only made 20 errors all year. So we have good pitching, good defense and good hitting.“ Luck counted as well, said the coach.

To top off the accomplishment, the Tigers were designated as a scholar athlete team with 15 of 22 players from the season having a 90 or above academic grade point average.

And as an extra bit of icing for Mike Chiapparelli, he got the 400th baseball win in his 24-years as MHS head baseball coach when the team bested Minisink Valley on Tuesday, June 10.

Reflecting on the championship, the coach said, “I think it was a great accomplishment by a great group of kids who played together as a team and accomplished their goal.”

“It was incredible,” said Ms. Suman.

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