2025 Long Island Yankees Win 19th Championship in 21 Years in Long Island MSBL
Long Island MSBL, 55+ Division
Yankees 12, Tides 1 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)
Submitted by Joe D’Andria, Yankees manager
The Long Island Yankees, which I am proud to have led for over 20 years, won their 19th Championship in 21 years, losing the other two in the finals. The Yankee dominance spanned across three age brackets: 35+, 45+, and 55+.
The 2025 season started rough, losing long-time first baseman Jaime Schwartz, as he moved to Florida. I was fortunate to pick up my longtime friend and teammate from the past, Dave Fantry, to fill Jaime’s spot.
The team took a second hit on a much more serious issue after the first two games of the season. We lost the use of longtime cleanup hitter Ed Dewalters to Prostate Cancer. Ed is thankfully doing well and continued to come down and keep the book for the team this year. On a side note, in the two games Ed was able to play, he hit .417 with 9 RBI!
The playoffs started with the Yankees finishing second in the division, losing only two games. First up in the playoffs were the Glen Cove Yankees, coached by Pete Munda.
I tapped John Manfredo for game one. The Yankees are normally known for defense, but we committed five errors on this day! However, Manfredo surrendered only two earned runs while striking out 10, paving the way for a potential Yankee comeback.
In the bottom of the fourth with the Yankees losing 3–0, the Yanks exploded with six consecutive singles by Chuck Korn, Drew Seccafico, Manfredo, Jerry Diliberti, Bob Rizzo, and Ed Sparrow, plating four runs and taking the lead.
With the Yankees down 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, again, the middle of the order came through. Singles by Diliberti, Rizzo, and Fantry, along with a triple by E. Sparrow, put the Yankees on top 6 to 5 for the final score.
In Game Two, we called on Nelson ‘Big Game’ Lewis. However, two batters into the game, he pulled a hamstring and couldn’t continue. Rich Gorecki was called in to pick us up, and boy, did he ever pick us up! Gorecki threw 8 2/3 of shutout ball, giving up only one unearned run.
The Yankees offense was led by Paul Simorella, Mike Bass’ three knocks, and Joe Henry with two clutch hits. The final score was 9- 2. Now we were off to the finals against the Tides for the second year in a row. Jim Forde’s Tides won the division with only one loss.
I again sent Manfredo to the bump for game one, where he struck out 10 and gave up one run. Our defensive stars of the game were Seccafico in left and Gorecki at short. Our hitting stars were Manfredo, Gorecki, Diliberti, and E. Sparrow. The final score in game one was 8–1.
In Game Two, I felt confident that ‘Big Game’ Lewis could handle things, and he did not let us down. Lewis went seven strong, didn’t give up a run, induced nine ground outs, three double plays, and struck out a pair of Tides. Our stopper, Ed Sparrow, finished off the last two innings.
Our Game Two offensive stars were Simorella, Seccafico, Fantry, and Gary D’Ambrisi.
Our defense was stellar and didn’t commit a single error. Our infield of Manfredo at short, D’Ambrisi at second, and Fantry at first played flawless ‘D’ to finish off what was a great season.
Jim Sparrow, who is our normal #5 hitter, moved to Florida and was not available for the team. J. Sparrow hit .469 for the year and led the team in extra-base hits. You were missed, Jimbo!
I need to add a personal note of gratitude, as I am moving and need to step back from the Yankees leader role.
I want to first thank Steve and Brian Sigler, for without them starting this league for us all, none of this would have been possible.
Thank you, Gary D’Ambrisi, for all of the MSBL tournaments that you hold in Florida to keep players coming back for more.
It has truly been an honor leading and playing for this team. You are all my brothers forever in baseball and life.
I especially want to thank Nelson Lewis, Mike Bass, and Bob Rizzo for always being there in my ear and for filling in when I could not be there. All three of these men are great managers in their own right.
The league has given me many friends from many other teams that I otherwise would never have had the opportunity to meet.
So, for now, I will set my last managerial duties on trying to win one more Fall Classic in November in Florida!