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John Moriello's NYSSWA blog
Wednesday, April 30, 2008: No. 2 Ward Melville edges No. 1 West Islip in Class A lacrosse showdown
   Leading off today: There will be a new team at the top of the NYSSWA boys lacrosse rankings next week as well as the STX/Inside Lacrosse national rankings.

   Zach Pall's unassisted goal, his fourth score of the game, with just under four minutes remaining carried No. 2 Ward Melville over No. 1 West Islip, 10-9, in a Suffolk Division I matchup. West Islip built a pair of three-goal cushions to lead at halftime, 7-4, behind sophomore Nick Galasso's early hat trick, but Cody Ferraro scored two consecutive goals to close the margin to 8-7 through three quarters.

   Pall's final goal gave Ward Melville a 10-8 lead. Andrew Hodgson scored with 3:04 to go to cut it to 10-9, but West Islip wasn't able to come up with a tying goal and Ward Melville left the field with just its second victory in eight years in the series.

   Strikeout queen: Sixth-year Bolivar-Richburg starter is the state's new career leader in softball strikeouts, having fanned 12 Livonia batters during a 4-0 victory. The K's pushed her career total to 1,431, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

   Also notable on Tuesday: Auburn broke a 33-year, 49-game losing streak to West Genesee in boys lacrosse by registering a 5-4 victory. Connor Entenmann's second goal of the game gave the Maroons a 5-1 lead with 5:33 to play in their road upset.

   Victor senior Erin Nargi pitched a no-hitter with 20 strikeouts in a 14-0 victory over Geneva. It was her third consecutive Finger Lakes League no-hitter; she also had 20 strikeouts on April 22 against Midlakes and 14 against Canandaigua on April 23.

   Wilson baseball update: Wilson Central High officials are holding a meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the school to give concerned parents and residents the chance to ask questions and get some answers.

   It comes it the aftermath of an alleged assault April 17 on a school bus returning from games in Niagara Falls that resulted in five arrests, including three baseball players and two coaches.

  
Three varsity players were charged with endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree aggravated sexual abuse, The Niagara Gazette reported. Coaches Thomas J. Baia Jr., 40, and William Atlas, 35, were charged yesterday with endangering the welfare of a child, the paper said.

   State Police Major Christopher Cummings said the alleged incident began with hazing activities in the back of the school bus and progressed to the level of abuse. The arrests prompted school district officials to cancel the remainder of the varsity baseball season. Baia and Atlas were both suspended with pay from teaching and coaching, the paper said.

   Wilson Superintendent Michael Wendt said the school has offered counseling for students. Wendt said at least two junior varsity players were abused, The Buffalo News reported and Cummings said during a Monday news conference that the victims were "subjected to physical abuse involving slapping, punching and kicking," but then things "progressed to a level that rose to criminal activity."

   The coaches could face up to a year in jail if convicted, though most endangerment cases result in lesser sentences. Police said Baia and Atlas failed to supervise the team on the bus, which warranted the endangerment charges.

   The three teens charged are due to appear May 22 in Wilson Town Court. Baia and Atlas are scheduled to be arraigned May 8.

   Extra points: There are only three or four sets of awards for excellence in online content that matter, and Middletown's Times Herald-Record is in the running to snag honors in one of them. Editor & Publisher's EPpy Awards have named Varsity845.com one of four finalists in the cateory of best sports web site with fewer than 1 million unique visitors. Winners of the 13th annual awards will be announced May 15 at the E&P/Mediaweek Interactive Media Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas. . . . Pat Whalen, 56, in his 28th season coaching Ilion softball, is closing in on win No. 300. He's at 298 with three games scheduled this week.


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