Thursday, October 1, 2026
Photos by Dan Neri and Christina Daly/Herald
On July 10, at Greis Park, Lynbrook Little League’s 11U team lost 8-2 to Rockville Centre for the District 30 Championship.
Lynbrook had a stalwart run to the finals. After a June 24 bye, Lynbrook defeated Rockville Centre two days later at John Street Complex n East Rockaway — in a thunderstorm — a delayed 8-4 victory behind the stellar starting pitching of Andrew Abrams, who was razor sharp after the rain delay. Lynbrook broke a 4-4 tie in the 6th, getting 4 runs, playing little ball with bunt singles by Kyle Schneider and Nick Focarazzo, who was 3-3. Abrams (2-4) capped the rally with a 2-run single. Rylan Blondo closed the game, getting a double play line out to end it in dramatic fashion.
On June 28, at Greis, Lynbrook defeated Oceanside American (comprised of last year’s 10U District Champs) 6-3 behind a solid starting performance by Blondo, who also doubled and scored. James Gillespie singled twice. Danny Dalrymple set up Andrew Donnelly who notched the save. With the potential tying run at the plate, his off- speed pitch caught the OALL batter looking and set the Lynbrook crowd into frenzy as they were propelled to the District Finals.
Rockville Centre had a tough road to the finals. After a game one victory vs. Long Beach and their los to Lynbrook, they needed to defeat Island Park, Oceanside National and Oceanside American to win the Loser’s bracket. They did so setting the stage for a classic rematch vs. Lynbrook for the Championship.
With their backs against the proverbial wall on July 8, a day in which Lynbrook could have won the championship and Rockville Centre needed to win to stay alive, they decisively beat Lynbrook at Greis Park 17-9. This game was riddled with Lynbrook errors and RVC hits throughout their lineup. The two teams were destined to play a ‘winner takes District 30 Championship’ game on July 10 — a game that was, for the most part, an epic battle. Blondo looked overpowering at times for Lynbrook going 4-plus innings, striking out 10, giving up only 3 hits, walking 2 and hitting 2 batters. Down 1-0 in the fourth, Lynbrook tied it with singles by Andrew Donnelly, Josh Paley and Caleb Alvarez. Tension grew as the game was tied at 1 going into the final 6th inning. It was in this that Rockville Centre bats exploded for 7 runs, en route to their District Championship, 8-2. RVC would then go on to the Sectionals where they defeated Ozone-Howard (D27) but then lost to Bayside(D26) and eliminated by Mid Island (D24).
“I’d like to thank the Lynbrook Little League, their parents, coaches,” said Lynbrook Manager Mike Paley, “as well as Dan Gillespie, Steve Schneider and Greg Straub and Assistant Coaches James Blondo, Rob Dalrymple and Nick Focarazzo, for their support of the club.”
