Baseball Equipment and More

BY ADAM RONIS | adam.ronis@newsday.com
July 13, 2008

Most New York baseball teams seem to come up empty when they play in the Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournament for youth baseball teams. No New York team had won a championship in the 12-year-old division in the 14-year history of the tournament.

In the first three weeks of the tournament this summer, Florida was represented by four teams in finals and won two championships.

The New York Outlaws of Commack competed in the tournament the week of June 28 and coach Phil Sparacino’s goal was to get to the final day, which meant a top 16 finish.

The Outlaws (51-4 on the season) went 12-0 and outscored opponents 159-15 to become the first New York team to win a championship in the 12-year-old group. The only other New York team to win a division in the Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournament was the North Shore Royals in 1997 in the 10-year-old division.

For 12 weeks, top youth teams from around the country compete and a new champion is crowned each week, alternating between 10- and 12-year-old divisions. At total of 98 teams participated from 27 states.

“We were underestimated a lot,” pitcher Justin Dunn said. “Once teams saw how good we were, they dropped their judgment about us being from New York.”

After the teams play seven games, they are seeded based on wins and runs allowed. The Outlaws went 7-0 and allowed one run per game to get the top seed. That enabled them to get three byes in the single-elimination portion of the tournament.

“It’s a very competitive tournament and very difficult for Northeast teams to compete with warm weather states that get to play all year round,” Sparacino said. “Most New York teams get knocked off early. I’m still shocked myself. I still have goose bumps going down my spine. I still can’t believe it. This is probably the most prestigious baseball tournament in the country for youth baseball.”

The Outlaws defeated No. 2 East Cobb (Georgia), 3-0, in the championship game. It was scoreless in the fourth when Matt Vogel singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Vogel was stealing third as Jonathan Tenaglia put down a sacrifice bunt and Vogel scored on the throw to first to give the Outlaws a 1-0 lead. Pat Madigan hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Dunn pitched the first 3 2/3 innings and Matt Vogel pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out six to get the win.

“As long as we got one or two runs, we were fine,” Madigan said. “Matt was almost unhittable in the tournament. Our team was really good.”

Vogel hit .774 with 32 RBIs, Madigan hit .677 with 19 RBIs and Joe Sparacino hit .607 with 13 RBIs.

The Outlaws, who are ranked No. 21 in the country by travelballselect.com, have won nine tournaments in two seasons, including the Baseball Heaven World Series Qualifier, Triple Crown Memorial Blast (North Branford, Conn.) and Cal Ripken Father’s Day Classic (Aberdeen, Md.) this year.