Two storied baseball programs in Suffolk reached milestones this week.
Connetquot Baseball reached 950 program wins, while Miller Place Baseball won their 600th game for the school.
Connetquot won its 950th game and are led by Manager Rob Burger. Burger watched as Dylan Wilkinson held Lindenhurst scoreless in his 5 innings, while striking out seven in a brilliant performance for the victory.
As a program they have won six county and captured the State Championship in 1989 and 1995. Many of the 950 wins came under Manager Bob Ambrosini. He began coaching at Connetquot in 1982 and won more than 600 games. He was the winningest coach in Suffolk County baseball history when he retired. He was named league coach of the year 17 times and Suffolk County Coach of the Year three times.
Miller Place also had a bulk of their wins because of a legendary Coach. Last year Miller Place High School recognized their former Manager by renaming the Varsity Baseball Field in his honor. Don Pranzo launched the district’s first athletic program in 1969 and was the first coach of the varsity baseball team for 20 years. He coached the team starting in the early 1970s through 1989 and again from 2003 through 2006. With Pranzo at the helm the team won seven league titles, two county championships, one Long Island championship, and finished second in the state in 1985. He was also named coach of the year 7 times.
This year's head coach Joe Mancini watched his team secure win #600 by beating their rival Mount Sinai 8-4. Shane Kiernan got the win, and Nick Frusco went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored in the historic win.