Andrew J. Lanza for New York State Senate

Fundraiser's clean as a wiffle

Tuesday, October 10, 2006
By MICHAEL ANDERSON

ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

The Staten Island Wiffle Ball Yankees appeared headed to the semifinals in this year's fifth annual Vermont Wiffle Ball Tournament before a stiff wind blew what would have been a winning, two-run homer back in for an out at Little Fenway Park.

Vermont's own Atwood's All-Stars, who used to be known as Atwood's Red Sox, recorded the final out to prevent the Yankees from reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2003.

This year we never made it to the semis and we lost in the last qualifying game, lamented Joe Tirone, whose potential homer was corralled by a 12-year-old outfielder. The Red Sox and us were both 2-0 going into the game. It was Yankees vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park and the Red Sox won.

I had hit a home run earlier in the game and I would have hit a walk-off homer. I got up and I hit the ball much harder and higher than when I hit my homer, said Tirone. I was trotting around the bases and the wind blew it back in. It was gone and the 12-year-old kid on their team caught it over the wall.

Despite the loss, Tirone wasn't too upset since the tournament, played each year in Jericho, Vt., raises money for the Travis Roy Foundation.

Roy was a hockey player at national powerhouse Boston University. Eleven seconds into the first shift of his freshman season opener, Roy was checked against the boards and sustained a spinal-cord injury that left him paralyzed.

He returned to BU, received his degree in public relations and was the subject of a book, 11 Seconds, that served as the springboard for the foundation that benefits spinal cord injury victims.

This year, the Staten Island club -- which comprised Tirone, Dave Vurture, Steve Vurture, Rich Colbourne, Tommy Long, Tim Long, Eric Long, Matt Long, Brian Harding, Bob Huth, Ken Smith and Joey Rigatti -- raised $2,000.

The 16-team event, held from Aug. 11-13, raised more than $70,000, including $12,990 from the Comets Express. The tournament, which is the top fund-raiser for the Travis Roy Foundation, has now collected more than $150,000 for spinal cord injury survivors and research.

I was not upset we lost at all. It was such an exciting game against the Red Sox. The tournament changes every year. It gets more and more exciting and intense, said Tirone. Everyone has this feeling that we're all a part of a great thing.

Massachusetts' Boston Beef, which finished just $150 behind the Comets Express fund-raising total, defeated the Blue Bulls for the championship.

The event also featured appearances by former Red Sox and Montreal Expos pitcher Bill The Spaceman Lee, Montreal Lake Monsters (of the New York-Penn League) and Ottawa Lynx (of the International League) owner Ray Pecor, the Lake Monsters mascot Champ, and, of course, Roy.

Next year's event promises to be even bigger and better as the tournament expands to 24 teams and will feature a new field -- Little Wrigley.

Everyone realizes now how legitimate of a fund-raising event this is. I think next year the funds will be doubled, said Tirone.

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING PUTS

WATER PARK AFLOAT

For the Children all but solidified the opening of the only handicap accessible water park on Staten Island with its fourth annual golf outing, held in association with the CYO on Sept. 11, at Metuchen CC in N.J.

We felt a little weird about holding it on Sept. 11, but the country club couldn't change the date for us, said Tony Napolitano, an administrative consultant at the CYO. We decided it would be a good opportunity to honor Stephen Siller.

Napolitano cleared the honor with the hero firefighter's brothers Frank and George and proceeded to set up a scholarship in Stephen Siller's name that would bring five kids each year to the Father Drumgoole Day Camp on the grounds of the CYO-MIV Center at Mount Loretto. For the Children also will present the CYO with a plaque commemorating the outing.

What I think is unique about this event, is it's a group of people form N.J. getting together to do something for Staten Island, Napolitano said of he and his country club buddies including; Jerry Valarius, Flori Petti, Brian O'Sullivan, Pat Wildridge, George Kelty and Frank Harris.

Mount Loretto is also the site of the handicap accessible water park, which Napolitano expects to open next summer. The 360-square-foot park features a giant shower and a dozen apparatus, such as water cannons, car wash buckets and other products specifically designed for handicapped individuals. The park also carries 25 water-resistant wheelchairs on the grounds.

In four years of For the Children golf outings, Napolitano has raised over half a million dollars with big help from Richmond County Savings Bank, S.I. Bank & Trust and Councilman Andrew Lanza of the New York city.

Napolitano's Staten Island advisory board committee consists of Chris Ferrari, Lenny Rampulla, Pat McDermott, Dr. John Riley, Joe Panipento and Andy Gonchar.

MORE WHIFFING, ANYONE?

McKee/Staten Island Tech wrestling coach Brendan Hayes was looking for a different kind of fundraiser for his team.

The long-time coach -- don't let the experience fool you, though, he's still a young guy -- isn't the type to sit behind a table at a bake sale, or sell some bagels in the cafeteria. So Hayes dreamed up the MSIT Wrestling Team Parents' Club Wiffle Ball Tournament.

The tournament is scheduled for Saturday at the MSIT tennis courts with opening ceremonies at 9:45.

I was looking to do something different and this is an event that would be fun for people of all ages, said Hayes.

The MSIT wrestlers have two teams of their own ready to take some cuts and they'll take on all comers with a round-robin leading to a playoff round.

I went to a similar tournament the other weekend at a high school in North Milltown and saw it run very smoothly, said Hayes, who said he just needs to lay some tape on the tennis courts to set up the field.

Hayes' brother Matthew will bring his culinary expertise to the grill.

For more info on the tournament and to register a team of three or more players go to www.msitwrestling.com and click on the Wiffle Ball tournament link. (Jason Bock contributed to this report.)

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