TheBabylon 2009 8-year-old team recently captured the gold medal in the District 34 Little League Tournament. As the end of their 2009 spring season drew near, many of the young men were unaware of the journey that they were about to embark on—and the history about to unfold. Afterthe close of the regular season, TheBabylon Little League Board reviewed a list of names put together by the spring coaches for the Summer Tournament Team. TheBoard presented the list, and the 2009 8-year-old team was born. They were: Eric Carlson, Mitchell Carmody, Richard Cernilli, Zachary Diaz, Nicholas Edmonds, Gregory Forstner, Tyler Gamba, Timothy Hartigan, Ian Morgan, Ryan Pavlik, John Pesce, Peter Szuchy, Antonio Tufano, and Justin Vega. Theboys were notified by Manager Colin Coffeyto start their rigorous training and on the first day of practice, the team met Coaches Mike Carmody, Craig Pavlik, Rob Gamba and Rob Cernilli who outlined the dedication and devotion that was needed. "They all agreed to give up days at the beach in order to practice almost everyday for the love of baseball," said Carmody. "But they were unaware that their sacrifices would result in the team's making baseball history in Babylon. “ The New York State District 34 2009 Summer Tournament started with the first round of seating the teams. Babylon had a tough start, facing strong competition, but came out scoring 18 runs, placing them in the AA Pool. Babylon entered the second round of medal bracketing, and had an impressive streak of playing great baseball. Facing tough competition in the AA Pool, Babylon played and held their own against Commack South Gold, West Babylon, Northport, West Islip Gold, Commack North Gold, North Babylon, Commack North Black, and Larkfield. Babylon came in with an unbelievable second round, recording 251 at bats, a total of 73 hits and 92 runs for, and allowed only 26 against. With 20 teams now finished, manager Coffeywas notified by District 34 that the team had made the elite Gold Division and ranked 3rd out of 8 teams. "The team was excited and couldn’t wait to start the single game eliminations in an attempt for the Gold Medal." said Carmody. Babylon prepared for its first game, practicing several hours each day and awaiting the official schedule. On July 30th, all 8 teams played their first round of single game elimination. West Islip, the number 1 seated team, defeated Larkfield, Commack North Gold defeated Northport, Deer Park defeated Half Hollow Hills National and Babylon defeated Commack South Gold. In the first inning against Commack South Gold, Babylon loaded the bases but were unable to capitalize on their hits. Commack South came out hitting hard, but were defensively shut down by 3 great Babylon defensive plays: Babylon short stop Peter Szuchy made a great play in the hole with a long throw to 1st baseman Mitchell Carmody with the stretch and a short hop scoop for a great out. Justin Vega then put two away from second base with a hard hit ground ball and also made a nice catch in short right field. Commack South struck first in the 2nd inning scoring 2 runs with a nice double up the middle. Babylon in the 3rd inning on a 2-out rally, with Antonio Tufano and Timothy Hartigan on base by walks were driven home when Mitchell Carmody, hit a triple to the left field wall tying the game. Peter Szuchy and Justin Vega were walked to load the bases. John Pesce then drove a line drive single up the middle scoring 2 more putting Babylon ahead by 2. Babylon still on a roll came out offensively in the 4th with back, to back singles by Ian Morgan and Eric Carlson and then loaded the bases with a walk by Ryan Pavlik. Zachary Diaz and Antonio Tufano each drove in a run putting Babylon up by 4 runs. Not giving up, Commack South answered back in the 4th, scoring 2 runs and picking up 1 more in the 5th on a hard hit double. In the 5th, the home team was unable to obtain any insurance runs and Commack South coming, into the 6th inning were down by a run.

With the first game of eliminations on the line, the nail biting game came down to closing pitcher Tyler Gamba of Babylon taking the mound. Commack South came in at the top of their order and led the inning off with a hard base hit, and then Gamba settled in striking out 3 getting the save for Babylon. Babylon excited on their win and quickly joined, the other Gold teams to see the day’s results and who was going to the semi-finals. Babylon was to face Deer Park, and West Islip. Commack North Gold. With one day’s rest, the teams hit Half Hollow Hills Sports Complex. Babylon players took to the field for the 9 a.m. start. Babylon starting pitcher Justin Vega shut Deer Park down for two innings facing 6 batters and striking out 3 and gave up no hits. Babylon hit Deer Park hard in the 1st putting 4 runs on the board. Peter Szuchy and Ian Morgan both drove in a run with singles and John Pesce drove in two runs with a hard hit single. Babylon also struck in the 2nd with a stand up double blast by Gregory Forstner, scoring Zachary Diaz from 1st base. Deer Park in the 3rd went down hard again as Timothy Hartigan struck out two and Mitchell Carmody, backhanding a ground ball at 1st base, took the 3rd out. Deer Park in the 4th faced pitcher Johnny Pesce, who struck out one and also had a fly ball put out. Babylon in the 4th put another run into the books as Nicholas Edmonds drove in Ryan Pavlik who started the inning with a single.

Deer Park came into the 5th with the heart of their order. Babylon with their long list of pitchers, sent out Peter Szuchy. Deer Park led the inning off with two singles and then Szuchy zoned in striking out three. Babylon picked up the bats once again in the 5th as Mitchell Carmody started the rally off with a single down the 3rd base line. Justin Vega, John Pesce and Ian Morgan each drove in a run with solid base hits to the outfield.Deer Park picked up the bats going into the 6th tyring to put some runs on the board. Babylon’s Tyler Gamba closed the game striking out the side. Babylon shut out Deer Park in the semi-finals 9 to 0. That left Babylon facing West Islip, which had defeated Commack North Gold. With no days rest, the teams faced one another Sun. August 2nd, Half Hollow Hills Sports Complex. The two teams entered the Half Hollow Hills Sports Complex with clouds rolling in and rain on the way. Aftera salute to the American Flag and singing of the National Anthem Babylon boys circled together with hands in and yelled Babylon, Hits, Hits, Hits. Antonio Tufano, lead off batter, stepped into the box and worked a full count for a walk. Timothy Hartigan drove a single up the middle. With runners at first and third, Mitchell Camody stepped in and with an, 0 and 2 count bombed a 3-run homerun to left center. The Babylon team bench cleared and met Carmody as he crossed Home Plate. Peter Szuchy continued with a hard hit single and Tyler Gamba put the 4th run on the board with a single driving in Szuchy. Babylon’s Peter Szuchy took the field and dug into the mound, and in three innings he faced nine batters striking out 6, two put outs, and a flyout to Ian Morgan. In the 3rd, Babylon puts another run on the board with Timothy Hartigan on first after a hard hit single; Mitchell Carmody drove the ball down the left field line to the wall for a stand up double scoring Hartigan. Thebats continued for Babylon into the 4th when John Pesce starts it off with a line drive single. Tyler Gamba and Ian Morgan load the bases working the pitch count for walks. Eric Carlson stepped in and hit the ball hard to right center driving in two runs. To make the Championship game more interesting Mother Nature begins to rain down on the field. With rain falling, relief pitcher Antonio Tufano saw West Islip put runners at first and third. Babylon Catcher Ryan Pavlik took a trip to the mound drying off the ball and Tufanno then struck out the next batter; Szuchy catches a high flyball and Carlson makes a great play at second. West Islip puts in its closing pitcher in the 5th and shuts Babylon down in the pouring rain. As Babylon took to the field. it began to thunder and with lightning in the area the Championship game goes on a rain delay. With heavy rains beginning to slow, the teams retook the field. West Islip in the 5th put its first run on the board with a walk and two singles up the middle. Babylon in the 6th inning went down hitting the ball hard, but unable to find any gaps in the West Islip defense. With rain beginning to fall hard again, West Islip took to the bats with last licks and down 7 to 1. With a water-soaked ball in hand John Pesce, closing pitcher for Babylon, found himself also fighting the driving rain. West Islip began a rally in the heart of their order with a single, two back-to-back doubles, a single and then the umpire called time to dry some baseballs. West Islip on a rally now scored two runs and with runners at first and third a hard hit double to the fence scores another. Thenext batter is walked for bases loaded. Babylon coaches dry off another ball. With a dry ball, bases are loaded, and the winning run is at the plate with one out. Pesce from the stretch takes a deep breath and rears back, striking out the next two batters for the game save victory. Babylon rushes the mound with gloves and hats thrown high in the air and piles on top of each other. Babylon wins the Gold Medal Championship! The boys and coaches from both teams lined up and shook hands. Theteams then gathered in the infield as members of N.Y.S. District 34 presented West Islip with its trophies. Babylon Manager Coffey, accepted the Gold Medals for the young Champions and as he called each players name, placed a Gold Medal around each one’s neck. Coaches Pavlik and Gamba handed the boys their First Place Gold Medal Trophy as Coach Carmody, also the Babylon Little League Farms Director, accepted the Team’s District 34 Invitational Gold Medal Trophy for the Babylon Little League. The boys Championship became even greater when Babylon Little League President Kevin Going, confirmedthat the 2009 8-year-old Babylon Gold Champions were the first in Babylon Little League History to win the Gold Medal. With the news of making Babylon History, the boys received a letter from Babylon Village Mayor and the Village Board congratulated the team.