West Islip Black Diamonds Win Annual 9/11 Memorial Tournament

The boys of the U10 Black Diamonds (Bobby DiCapua, Bradley Battaglini, TJ Mulroy, Kevin Palm, Bobby Marsh, Nick Sandoval, Ryan Rafferty, Joey Donarumia, Sean DeLuca, and Johnny Catuosco) participated in the 2013 Farmingdale 9/11 Baseball Tournament.  Managed by Kevin DiCapua and coached by Kevin Battaglini and John Mulroy, the boys played 4 games over a 2 week period going 4 and 0.  On Thursday, the Black Diamonds played a semi-final game against the Long Beach Tidal Wave.  They were victorious, with a 12-0 win.  News12 and Fios covered the great cause. See the segment here [Subscription required].

The WI Black Diamonds faced the Seaford Vikings for the 10U-A Division Championship.  The Black Diamonds came out with 2 in the first to take a 2 - 0 lead.  In the top of the 4th inning, the Farmingdale Vikings scored 2 runs to tie the game at 2 - 2 and put the pressure on the Black Diamonds.  In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Black Diamonds got exactly what they needed; a string of three straight hits that started a rally brought the game to 5-2.  In the 6th, with great pitching and some nice plays in the field, the Black Diamonds prevailed and won the game, 5-2.  The Black Diamonds have WON three straight tournaments.  After the game, the WI Black Diamonds donated an additional $250 to the Franco family, whose son played in the tournament.  Currently, the Franco family’s mom is battling brain cancer.  

On August 24th, the Black Diamonds are hosting a Fund Raiser at Lilly Flannigan’s in Babylon.  The cost is $50 (half of the money goes towards the team) per person from 7pm to 10pm.  This will include a fun time with food and drinks with a raffle and a small Chinese auction.  Anyone wishing to donate to the Black Diamonds that can’t make the fund raisers please send to West Islip Black Diamonds - PO BOX 262 West Islip, NY 11795. The money raised during this event is going towards the next Black Diamonds tournament.  

On Labor Day weekend, the Black Diamonds will be traveling to The Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Maryland to play in the 11u Labor Day Classic 2013. This tournament guarantees four games with a possibility of playing six.  There are ten teams already registered, four from New Jersey, three from Pennsylvania, one from Delaware, one from Virginia and the Black Diamonds.

 Let’s wish them luck.