News by Tom Barton
News by Tom Barton on South Shore Press
Mangano Three Peats
Star wrestler Gavin Mangano led the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats at the state championships this past week, capturing his third New York State title and cementing his place among the elite wrestlers in program history.
CC to Join Monument Park
CC Sabathia was a team leader through and through, delivering New York a championship to go along with a stellar and decorated career. Already selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Sabathia will now receive another prestigious honor from the team he will represent in Cooperstown. The New York Yankees announced that Sabathia will join the franchise’s all-time greats with a permanent place in Monument Park.
USA Hockey Starts Impacting Young Fans
The success of the USA Olympic teams has captivated the nation, and with championship performances from both the men’s and women’s squads, expectations are high that their impact will reach future generations.
The Best of L.I. Awards are Quack-tastic!
The winners of the annual “Best of Long Island” awards, presented by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, have been announced, and the Long Island Ducks were once again front and center. Ducks mascot QuackerJack was named Best Team Mascot, earning his record-setting 16th consecutive Best of Long Island award overall.
Sachem North Wresting Sets New Records
This past weekend marked a pair of historic firsts for Sachem North High School in the wrestling program, highlighted by milestone performances on both the boys’ and girls’ sides at the New York State Championships.
MLB Star Visits Pat-Med
Eagle Elementary School in the Patchogue-Medford School District recently welcomed local children’s author Angela O’Hoppe for a special visit that combined storytelling, inspiration, and an unforgettable surprise. Joining her was her son, Logan O’Hoppe, catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, making the event especially memorable for students and staff.
Floyd Wrestlers Eye a State Title
William Floyd High School senior varsity wrestlers Josiah Lors, David Gonzalez, and Veronica-Sky Williams have all qualified for the New York State Championship Tournament, which will be held at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York. Veronica-Sky will compete in the girls’ state tournament, while Josiah and David will represent William Floyd in the boys’ division.
The Colonials are Headed to the Suffolk Championship
The William Floyd Colonials boys’ varsity basketball team is headed back to the Suffolk County Championship game. The Colonials earned their return to the county final with a 73–66 victory over Walt Whitman in a semifinal playoff matchup this weekend.
Early Defense Sets the Tone for Floyd
The William Floyd Colonials girls’ varsity basketball team is headed to the Suffolk County Championship game. The Colonials punched their ticket this weekend with a 56–45 victory over Ward Melville in the semifinals.
A New Ice Rink Coming to Brookhaven
This week, Dan Panico announced that during the planning board portion of the Town Board meeting in March, there will be a site plan hearing for a proposed new hockey rink at the former Brookhaven campus of Dowling College.
Betting the World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic begins Thursday, bringing together many of the top players in the sport for an international showdown to determine the world’s best baseball nation.
Tomcats Sign Smithtown Goalkeeper
American Soccer Club–New York has announced the signing of former Smithtown High School East goalkeeper Diego Flores to a one-year deal for the 2026 National Premier Soccer League season. Flores is currently a redshirt freshman at Southern Connecticut State University and will join ASC New York for the upcoming summer campaign.
Don't Buy the Pinstripe Hype ... Yet
Often in fantasy baseball, what we know and value in real baseball must be adjusted for the fantasy game. A great prospect built primarily on defense, for example, will not be nearly as valuable. Strong all-around players are often overhyped for fantasy purposes, even though they mean far more to an actual team. One of the biggest examples of this disconnect happens every spring training.
Phillips Headlines Impressive County Champions
Chase Phillips is officially the 2026 Section XI All-County Champion, and the title came with even more significance as he also secured a berth in the New York State Championships. Competing in the 118-pound weight class, Chase Phillips delivered a clutch overtime victory against Alex Hernandez to claim the crown.
Hernandez Sisters Lead Rocky Point
The Hernandez sisters have long been a model of excellence in Suffolk County and across Long Island, and this season they added another historic achievement to an already impressive legacy. For the first time, all four Hernandez siblings qualified for the Suffolk County wrestling finals in the same year, setting a benchmark that had never been reached before.
Mount Sinai Coach Passes Away
Former Mount Sinai coach Tom Walker passed away this week following a battle with cancer. Walker, 70, dedicated nearly four decades to education and coaching and left a lasting impact on generations of students and athletes within the Mount Sinai School District.
Scott Signed as the Newest Duck
The Long Island Ducks added a new played this past week when they announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Kristian Scott, adding an experienced arm to their bullpen ahead of the upcoming season. Scott begins his first season with the Ducks and his sixth in professional baseball, bringing a track record of consistency and reliability to the Atlantic League club.
American Pride is Back and It's Missing a Tooth
American pride surged back into the spotlight this weekend in a way many people feel has not been experienced since the 1980s. For those who remember that era, the Cold War years were marked by a powerful sense of national identity and unity, a feeling that being American meant something unmistakable and shared. Over time, that spirit has felt muted. This weekend, however, it returned in dramatic fashion.
The Big Upset
The Commack varsity boys basketball team pulled off a major upset to advance in the playoffs this weekend. Commack handed second-seeded North Babylon a tight and hard-fought 54-52 loss.
Farrow's Clutch Three Advances Floyd
The William Floyd girls’ varsity basketball team earned the right to continue its championship pursuit Friday night with a thrilling playoff victory over Huntington. The Colonials captured a hard fought 55-51 win in a quarterfinal matchup that remained tight from start to finish, matching the intensity expected at this stage of the postseason.
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Trump Tries to Save College Sports
In a move that could reshape the future of college athletics, Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for what the White House described as “urgent national action to save college sports.”