Bellmore Little League hosts Bruce Gary tourney

The Bellmore Little League recently hosted its second annual Bruce Gary Memorial Columbus Day Tournament. Gary was a Bellmore Little League president and New York City firefighter who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Sixteen teams in the U10, U12 and U14 divisions from throughout Long Island attended the competition, which was played at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore.

The Bellmore BlueFire White U10 team beat the LAC Levittown Firecrackers in what the umpire said was “one of the best U10 games I have ever umpired.” Both teams had excellent pitchers and kept the game close the entire night under the lights. Pitcher Kaitlin Maniscalco was in a dual with Levittown through the first three innings. Peyton Fishman finished the last three innings and sealed the victory for the team. The game ended with Sydney Inger throwing out a Levittown player trying to steal second base. This was the same Levittown team that went to the championship game during the East Meadow Summer Sizzle tournament.

The Bellmore BlueFire elite U12 team elected to play up into the grueling U14 division. The Bellmore BlueFire team beat the Long Island Bandits in the semi-final game to make it to the championship against a fierce East Meadow team. This being the third game for the girls in one day, the Bellmore squad battled until the end, but lost to East Meadow 6-2.

The Bellmore BlueFire White U10 team comprised Kaitlin Maniscalco, Jeannette Kropp, Natalie Murray, Lillianne Gering, Jackie Clifford, Sydney Inger, Taylor Niola, Peyton Fishman, Kaitlyn Judd, Danielle Polirer, Jasmine Hyman, Jillian Chirico, Casey Feigles and Gabriella Boccia.

The Bellmore BlueFire U14 team comprised Ashley Boscarino, Alexa Boscarino, Mairead Ryan, Brianna Maniscalco, Nicole Moccio, Nicole Aliberti, Amanda Steinberg, Emily Madden, Kristina Barry, Victoria Bova, Katie Grodski, Sara Coluccio, Jamie Kanner and Tori Rinck.