FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com AUGUST 20, 2015 • TIMES 51 sports spo Howard Beach softball team X-Bays crowned 2015 champs him,” Galetto said of Lopez. “He’s been an absolute phenom.” Most of the players have families and sacrifi ce their Sundays to practice and play. Galetto, who along with Baker lives closest to Frank M. Charles Park where most games are played, drives to the park after work at 3 p.m. on Saturdays to maintain it. After several complaints from community members about the condition of the softball fi eld, the Parks Department, Gateway National Recreation Area and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder worked together to level the infi elds, repair the outfi elds and provide players with equipment to make minor game day repairs. Galetto said he is happy to see that the improved fi eld is now also being used by little league softball teams. Though the extra use has made it somewhat ORTHODONTICS WWW.GLENRIDGEORTHODONTIST.COM Est. 1976 FREE* Consultation and Exam Medicaid Approved Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics 65-34 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385 Most Insurance Accepted As Partial or Full Payment 1-718-381-2965 1-718-386-8728 ©Times Newsweekly 2015-GLENRIDGE WWW.GLENRIDGEORTHODONTIST.COM Vincent J. Bilello, D.D.S., ABO Diplomate, Specialists in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected] @AngelaMatua The X-Bays, a softball team started as a fun activity for friends living in the Howard Beach area, celebrated their third championship in fi ve years on Aug. 16 and several moves up the Queens Metro ASA Softball League division ladder. The team, made up of men in their early 20s to mid 40s, was formed in 2009 but did not play a full season until 2010. According to co-manager Anthony Galetto, the X-Bays were “really bad” the fi rst year but steadily continued to improve. After starting out in division C3, the X-Bays moved up to division C1 for the 2013 championships, where they were nearly undefeated. “It’s amazing,” Galetto said. “We’ve been here before so we knew what it would take to get here. It’s an odd year. It seems like in the past three years we’ve been winning in odd years so we kinda knew it was our time.” Galetto attributed the win to the team’s selfless style of play and the older players’ willingness to step down and let the “younger, maybe more experienced players get in there and do their thing.” Two of the key players were starting pitcher Joel Lopez, who has been playing for two years, and Jose Torrez, who Galetto described as a championship MVP. “Nobody can touch MAURICE PARK SUNDAY SOFTBALL WINTER LEAGUE • All games at Maurice Park, that’s right 1 park. • League fee only $440 with softballs included • The league allows the fee to be broken up into 2 payments • The league keeps a website, games start Sept. 13th • All teams make playoffs (Best out of 3) • Champion and runner-up gets a prize • The League gives out cash, and trophies • The Umpire fee is only $20 per game • The league provides softball bases • We also have a summer league WWW.LEAGUELINEUP.COM/ISL is our website If interested contact “Mo” at (347) 351-2905 diffi cult to maintain, the Parks Department is only a phone call away. “The Gateway guys have been great,” Galetto said. “Whenever I need something, I just pick up the phone and call somebody.” The X-Bays defeated the Nobodies in division B1 and are waiting to hear back from the league about their ranking. The team’s 20-5-1 record was the best in the entire league this season and Galetto is confi - dent and excited to play against teams in division A. His celebration was short lived because after winning, Galetto had to drive to work. “I celebrated by getting a bottle of champagne dumped on me, soaked in alcohol, with a tear in my eye and getting in my car and driving to work,” Galetto said. “But I took a shower fi rst worrying about being pulled over and being late for work.” Photo courtesy of the X-Bays The X-Bays softball team won their third championship in five years on Aug. 16.
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