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82 The QUEE NS Courier • JULY 23, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com sports BIG APPLE GAMES RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Big Apple Games is hosting a free recreational activities program at I.S. 291, located at 231 Palmetto St. in Bushwick for students in grades three through nine. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Breakfast and lunch served daily. The program runs until July 30. Kids learn basketball fundamentals at Maspeth High School summer camp BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Maspeth High School wrapped up its second summer basketball camp, where local middle school students came together to learn the fundamentals of basketball, play some games and, most importantly, have fun. The one-week camp session, which ended on July 17, was led by Maspeth High School’s boys varsity basketball team head coach Anastasia Bitis, who helped lead the Argonauts to an undefeated record last year and a city championship. Thirty area middle school students attended this year’s camp at Maspeth High School. Boys and girls of all levels got the chance to hone their skills, learn new ones and play plenty of basketball games. “The kids love it,” Bitis said. “We had an extensive waiting list this year. We teach the kids the fundamentals and how to work together with team work.” “The main thing we want the kids to learn is to work hard and to work with each other,” she continued. “It’s important for the more skilled players to help make the others better. The goal is for the kids to have fun overall, to grow their love of the game and to stay fit.” Bitis explained that during the oneweek camp the students are trained in The kids and coaches at Maspeth High School’s one-week summer basketball camp. several drills and exercises including conditioning skills, half-court and fullcourt drills, jump shooting, layups and dribbling skills. “The kids get to learn a little bit of everything,” Bitis said. “And then they get to incorporate what they’ve learned into the game situations.” After skills training, the kids are broken up into teams where they play games against each other in one-onone, three-on-three and five-on-five style games. Bitis invited players from the Argonauts to join as counselors, where they help teach the kids and act as coaches for the teams. “When coach Bitis asked me to come back and be a counselor this year, I said I would love to do it,” said Damian Piszczatowki, former player on the Argonauts who graduated this year and will be attending John Jay College next year. “I really enjoy it. I came back this year because I love working with the kids, teaching them and helping them grow. It’s fun to interact with them and you get the opportunity to play like a kid again.” “It’s been a great experience,” said Christian Ramirez, who is entering his senior year at Maspeth High School. “As someone who started playing basketball at an older age, it’s nice to see them playing the game at a young age.” The kids were excited to get the chance to learn new skills and play some basketball. “I think the camp is really good,” said Jesse Morales, 13, who is entering RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice eighth grade at St. Adalbert School in September. “It’s really fun and we are learning a lot. We get to learn exercises, run around, practice dribbling, the basics and how to perfect them.” “I like the councilors. They’re fun,” said Ashley Petrasovic, 12, who is going into the eighth grade at P.S. 128. “The people here make you learn a lot of new stuff. I like the three-onthree and five-on-five games we play.” As the camp came to a close, certificates and special awards were handed out to the players. “We have the MVP award, the most improved player award, the best defensive player award and the coach’s award,” Bitis said. “We also have a skills competition and the winner gets a free T-shirt.” Team Duce completes undefeated season with championship win BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport After finishing the regular season undefeated, Bayside Little League’s Team Duce made it to the championship game and were victorious over Texas West Division rival, W7, by a score of 4-3, completing their season with a perfect 16-0 record. At the start of the game things did not look promising for undefeated Team Duce. W7 was able to open up an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Team Duce’s starting pitcher, Charlie Blair, quickly settled down after W7’s three-run first by pitching shutout ball for the next three innings. Aris Catehis and Tino Famiglietti both got on base once, while John Archbold hit the ball hard. David Castracane helped keep Team Duce in the game by making stellar defensive plays in the outfield to prevent W7 from scoring more runs. With Team Duce down 3-0, W7 decided to intentionally walk the top three hitters in the lineup: Costa Bournias, Charlie Blair and Tanner Fried. With the bases now loaded and two outs, the cleanup hitter and first baseman, George Diamantopoulos, came to the plate with a chance to tie the game or even put Team Duce ahead. Diamantopoulos did his job and blasted a triple into right field, scoring all three runners, tying the game at 3-3. As Diamantopoulos represented the go-ahead run on third, Derek McCreesh and Bobby Fretwell both worked two-out walks to load the bases. This brought up Rafael Rufrano. After fouling off eight pitches, Rufrano earned a walk forcing in the go-ahead run and giving Team Duce a 4-3 lead. Team Duce’s closer Tanner Fried, known to teammates as “The Sandman,” came in to try and preserve the win. After pitching a perfect fifth inning, Fried struck out the top of the lineup for W7, which included their power hitters, securing the championship for Team Duce. Photo courtesy Team Duce Team Duce completed their quest for a perfect campaign by defeating rival W7 in the championship game of the Bayside Little League season, 4-3.


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