Two Sachem senior baseball players were honored with the annual Tim Crowley Memorial scholarship Thursday night prior to the varsity showdown between Sachem East and Sachem North at the Medford Athletic Complex.
Sachem East’s Anthony Telesca and Sachem North’s Steve Alfano were awarded the scholarships based on their strong academic standing and roles as senior athletes on their respective baseball teams.
Sachem East beat Sachem North, 6-5, during the game. It marked the fourth time the teams have played this season since they both compete in Suffolk County’s League II.
Tim Crowley played with Sachem High School North baseball coach Tom Gambino at Oglethorpe University and played high school ball with Scott June, co-owner of All-Pro Sports Academy in Bellport. June helps with fundraising for the tournament and is very involved with Sachem baseball.
Crowley, who graduated from Sachem in 1993 and was a team captain, passed away in a car accident in the 1990s while in college. He was a strong baseball player, a leader and dedicated athlete.
The tournament originally started in 2006 as a four-team varsity get-together, but three years ago June suggested the format be changed to include all Sachem teams. The junior high teams will play first, followed by the JV and the event will conclude with a night game between the Sachem North and Sachem East varsity clubs.
Each year the Crowley family, his parents and sisters Tara and Kristen, both Sachem graduates, come to the tournament and hand out a $1,000 scholarship to a senior at East and North, who are quality baseball players and students. Sachem Athletic Directors Pete Blieberg and Gary Beutel threw out the honorary first pitches.
-Words/photos by Chris R. Vaccaro