Nothing rings in the baseball season better than the annual “Baseball Bash” at Good Shepherd Church, Marine Park.
This year was no different as pastor emeritus Father Jim Devlin hosted the spirited discussion in the church basement on March 30. Among the 30 passionate baseball gurus was diehard New York Mets fan Father Ed Kachurka, pastor of Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann, Flushing.
For nearly three hours, these baseball aficionados shared their thoughts on the upcoming season. This was Father Devlin’s 21st year hosting the event, which he thinks has been going on for upwards of 25 years.
“People who are baseball fans love to hear people talk about baseball or love talking about it themselves,” Father Devlin said.
The main topics of discussion centered on the rivalries brewing in the Eastern divisions of both the American League and National League. The N.L. East figures to be a four-team battle between the Mets, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies and reigning division champion Atlanta Braves. In fact, the division crown might come down to whichever team winds up with the best head-to-head record against the Miami Marlins, who aren’t expected to be competitive this season.
In the A.L. East, the New York Yankees have already caught the injury bug, which will make things difficult against the reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox. And don’t count out the Tampa Bay Rays, who seem to always field a competitive team despite a limited payroll.
All in all, baseball is back, and the “Baseball Bash” once again ramped up the excitement for the 2019 campaign.
The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Brooklyn and Queens hosted its fourth annual cheerleading showcase March 23 at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows.
Named after longtime St. Stan’s, Maspeth, cheerleading director Lorraine Calandrillo, this year’s showcase featured more than 150 cheerleaders represented from the following parish cheer squads:
St. Gregory the Great, Bellerose; St. Luke, Whitestone; Monastery, Jamaica; St. Stan’s, Maspeth; Our Lady of the Snows, North Floral Park; Queen of Peace, Flushing; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside; and Sacred Heart, Glendale.
Each squad performed and showcased their special cheers and dance routines. As always, there was great spirit from the spectators as they cheered along with the cheerleaders.
The Catholic Youth Organization crowned its girls’ swimming diocesan champions March 30 at the Eisenhower Park Aquatic Center, East Meadow, L.I. The following teams won their respective diocesan titles:
‘A’ Division
1st Place: St. Sebastian, Woodside, 323 pts.
2nd Place: Tri-M (Our Lady of Mercy, Forest Hills), 291 pts.
3rd Place: OLAN (Our Lady of Perpetual Help/St. Andrew the Apostle, Sunset Park/Bay Ridge), 277 pts.
‘B’ Division
1st Place: LIAM (Our Lady of Lourdes, Queens Village/Incarnation, Queens Village/American Martyrs, Bayside/Our Lady of the Snows, North Floral Park), 274 pts.
2nd Place: VICAM (St. Virgilius/St. Camillus, Rockaway Park), 262 pts.
2nd Place: St. Gregory the Great, Bellerose
‘C’ Division
1st Place: FLUKES (Holy Family, Flushing/St. Luke, Whitestone), 312 pts.
2nd Place: ANSOLA (St. Anselm/Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge), 277 pts.
2nd Place: Divine Ladies (Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside/St. Anastasia, Douglaston), 277 pts.
