A jam-packed week of HS sports action featured impressive individual performances and team victories across the Staten Island sports landscape.
Check out the results from last week’s action, which includes: basketball, baseball, flag football, softball, and lacrosse updates.
PSAL basketball
CSI/McCown 60, New Dorp 54 (OT)
The PSAL Basketball season opened conference play on Tuesday and the CSIM Dragons used a huge fourth quarter comeback to force overtime at New Dorp before emerging victorious. The Dragons were down 7 with 1:55 to play in regulation, but received a pair of clutch treys from John O’Connor and Justin Soto to cut into the New Dorp lead. With 3.1 seconds left and New Dorp leading 47-46, Omar Amir (19 points) drove to the basket and was fouled. He converted 1 of 2 free throws to send the game to overtime. The Dragons outscored the Centrals 13-7 in OT, after starting the period on a 6-0 run, to secure the victory. Aldin Radoncic matched Amir to co-lead the team in points with 19, while Johnny Nisbet led New Dorp with 17 in defeat.
Susan Wagner 67, Port Richmond 40
Justin Mason of Susan Wagner, left, averaged 15.4 points per game as a junior during the 2019-20 season. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)
The Falcons earned their third road victory of season with Thursday’s triumph. Justin Nazon led the way with 16 points, including nine in the fourth quarter — in which Susan Wagner outscored the Raiders 23-7. Senior Justin Mason came off the bench to score 10 of his 12 points in the second quarter and Adam Jasaraj had a monster game on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
Iguehita Izevbuwa led the Raiders with 14 points.
PSAL baseball
The Tottenville baseball team on Senior Day.
Tottenville 5, New Dorp 0
The Pirates’ seniors took the field for the last time on Wednesday and wrapped up an 8-1 campaign.
James Mercante picked up the win, firing 6.2 innings of one-hit ball and striking out 13. Nicholas Salmonese belted a two-run double and Jake Weinstein added an RBI knock.
At the conclusion of the game the team’s seniors recognized their families for all their support through their high school careers with the presentation of roses.
“After losing their junior year, this group stuck together and competed hard in 2021,” said coach Mike Grippo. “The Pirate family would like to wish them all good luck, as they head off to college in the fall.”
The Tottenville pitching staff was led by seniors Mercante, Nicholas Fay, and Patrick Sagevick, with great help from their senior battery mates, catchers Dominic Daniele and Salmonese. Fellow seniors Ronald Patterson, Christian Biuso, Anthony Daleo, Frank Pennisi, and Jaden Mintz paced the offense throughout the spring.
CHSAA baseball
Oakwood resident and Xavier ace pitcher Andrew Dalessio was recognized as the CHSAA Player of the Year prior to Sunday’s Archdiocesan championship game. Dalessio opened the season with a 2-0 record and a 0.00 earned run average to go along with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings of work. In the postseason, his performance on the mound ousted St. Peter’s from the playoffs.
Monsignor Farrell center fielder Matt Wessels was invited to the Metro Pro Scout Day showcase in New Rochelle. The senior outfielder showed a number of tools for the Lions this season and will get a chance to compete against some of the areas top college recruits in front of the scouts.
“I am extremely grateful to even be asked to attend. I look forward to this amazing opportunity to showcase my skills and to compete against fellow top athletes,” said Wessels.
Farrell center fielder Matt Wessels was a spark plug on both sides of the ball.
PSAL girls’ flag football
Susan Wagner 38, Port Richmond 0
Falcons signal-caller Alyssa Badalamenti lit up the field for five touchdowns — completing 18 of 24 passes 185 yards as part of the aerial raid. She also added a pair of extra points.
Amina Muratovic (7 catches for 70 yards, TD), Adelia Vavilchenkova (5 catches for 30 yards, 2 TDs) and Olivia Rijo (2 catches for 36 yards, 2 TDs) were on the receiving end. Jaice Dorsey added a 40-yard TD run.
Kaitlyn Matishek, Juliana Laquinta, Amina Muratovic, and Carly O’Brien teamed to pull 25 flags en route to securing the shutout, while Dorsey tallied two sacks.
New Dorp 8, CSI/McCown 6
Freshman defensive back Jenna Gurewitz opened the scoring with a 10-yard interception return for six points and the Cougars defense later recorded a safety for two more.
Esther Oladusu led the defense, pulling five flags and notching two sacks, while senior defensive backs Taylor Alexander and Tatiana Beltran held down the back end and shut down the passing game.
Jayla Cuomo rushed for 45 yards and four first downs in the win.
PSAL softball
Susan Wagner 13, New Dorp 0
Corinne DeMartini chucked a five-inning no-hitter in the mercy triumph.
Gabriella DeBates and Julianna Anderson each recorded three-hit games, while Mikayla Dansky, Allison Malamud, and Julianna Raimonda laced two hits apiece. They teamed for nine RBI.
PSAL girls’ lacrosse
Susan Wagner 14, New Dorp 1
The Falcons improved to 5-0 as senior captain Riley Kuefner led the way with four goals.
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
