News by Tom Barton
News by Tom Barton on South Shore Press
Ducks Sign a Former Snake
The Long Island Ducks have signed former major league right-handed pitcher Harrison Francis. This will be his first season with the Ducks and his eighth in professional baseball.
Smithtown's Fitzgerald Returns to the Fighting Tomcats
American Soccer Club New York has announced the re-signing of midfielder Sean Fitzgerald to a one-year contract for the 2026 National Premier Soccer League season.
The Jets Bring on a Familiar Face
The New York Jets offense was stagnant for much of last season, so a change was widely expected. The change the Jets made is one of the more highly regarded offensive minds in the league, and expectations are high for the unit’s new leader. The Jets have hired Long Island native Frank Reich to take over as offensive coordinator.
The Super Bowl Look Ahead
The dust has settled on the NFL season, or perhaps better said, the confetti has settled, and now it should be time to sit back and relax. That is not the case for sharp sports bettors, however, as they are already crunching numbers and looking ahead to next season to identify the next potential underdog to reach the Big Game.
Youth Leads Playoff Bound Floyd
The William Floyd girls’ varsity basketball team, led by head coach Rich Sinclair, finished the regular season with an impressive 16-4 overall record and a 13-3 mark in League I play.
Champions Once Again
The William Floyd boys’ varsity basketball team is back in the playoffs. While that may not come as a major surprise given the program’s sustained success, it is still an impressive accomplishment once again.
Real Life Impact, but a Fantasy Dud
Sometimes in fantasy baseball circles you’ll hear the phrase “he’s a better real-life player than fantasy player,” and there aren’t many who fit that description better than recently traded Brendan Donovan.
Sachem Star Has a Historic Day
It is one thing to win a single championship, but securing three titles in one day is nothing short of historic. That is exactly what Sachem East junior Bella Galeas accomplished this past weekend with a remarkable performance at the Suffolk Large School Indoor Track and Field Championships, held at Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena on the campus of Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood.
Harbaugh Tags Nagy as His New O.C.
The New York Giants are headed in a brand-new direction with their new head coach, and that process has continued as he begins to assemble his staff. This past week, Jim Harbaugh made his first major hire, selecting former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy to run the Giants’ offense.
William Floyd Awarded Special Sports Grant
William Floyd Middle School received a $12,500 grant from the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matter Program to support its physical education department and athletic teams.
Meyer's Keeps Adding to New School Record
When you set a record at a school like William Floyd, it carries extra weight, and that is exactly what senior Jack Meyer accomplished this week when he became the winningest wrestler in school history. Meyer set the new standard with his 146th career victory, establishing a benchmark at a program known for its rich wrestling tradition.
That's Three in a Row for Mangiamele
Shoreham-Wading River senior Leyton Mangiamele broke his own record this weekend, soaring 22 feet, 8¾ inches to surpass the indoor school mark of 22-4 that he set just last season.
The Ducks Resign Santos
The Long Island Ducks will be getting a familiar arm back on the mound this season as the team announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Ramon Santos. The veteran arm begins his third season with the Ducks and 13th in professional baseball.
The Panthers are State Champions
Miller Place wrestling are the New York State champions after a memorable performance this weekend. The Panthers earned that distinction with a dominant 45–24 victory over Shoreham-Wading River in the Division II high school championship, capping off an outstanding season with the program’s ultimate goal achieved.
Top of the Heap
The combined girls wrestling team in Suffolk County captured the Suffolk County Dual Meet Championship this week, completing a remarkable run through the season.
Is There a New Ace in Town?
The New York Mets have a new ace, and fantasy owners have been accustomed to viewing Freddy Peralta as a near-ace for some time. The move to a more pitcher-friendly park should help, but do not overreach, because the reality is that the lineup around him is roughly the same and the bullpen is likely worse at protecting his leads. Peralta has been a standout for years, and slotting him in as a high-value fantasy arm is easy. The question is just how high he should go.
Super Bowl Props - Sometimes Boring Pays
My early thinking on the Big Game centers around the belief that I have that both of these defenses will steal the show. The Seahawks have allowed just 68 points in their last seven games that were not against the Stafford–McVay Rams, while the Patriots’ run defense has allowed 87, 79, and 48 rushing yards in their last three games.
Have We Seen This Before? Super Bowl Preview
The Big Game is all set, and despite new coaches, new quarterbacks, and new players, it feels like we are watching history repeat itself. The Patriots are once again led by a defensive-minded coach, yet their best player is a young, up-and-coming signal caller who is expected to finish near the top of the MVP voting.
Long Island Ducks Sold to Texas Company
The Long Island Ducks have been a staple on the Island for decades, but a major change was announced this week. The Ducks will no longer be a Long Island–owned business after longtime owner Frank Boulton sold the team to a Texas-based company. REV Entertainment, the official sports and entertainment company of the Texas Rangers, has purchased the Long Island Ducks. In its press release, REV stated, “The acquisition of the winningest franchise in Atlantic League history — and a four-time league champion (2004, 2012, 2013, 2019) — marks a significant expansion of REV’s growing team ownership portfolio.”
Coach Longo is Back on the Sidelines
The winningest coach in Suffolk County football history has chosen a new school. Paul Longo will take over the football program at Shoreham-Wading River following his legendary career at William Floyd. Longo is expected to be officially named the Wildcats’ new head football coach pending approval by the Shoreham-Wading River Board of Education later this week.
Daily Feed
Trump Using a Scalpel, Not Chainsaw, for GOP "Facelift"
The Republican Party is not having a civil war. It’s having a facelift, and President Donald Trump is holding the scalpel.