Get ready for playoffs Bulldog fans; The Lindenhurst varsity baseball team is back for another outstanding season, and they won’t stop at anything to reach their goals. For the last seven months, the boys have been training hard under the leadership of Coach Canobbio and Coach Rogers. With their guidance, the players have improved dramatically and are already ranked number one in their league with a record of 8-1. Last year, the Dogs made it to the third round of playoffs. “This year Lindy is looking to make it as far as possible in a very competitive league” notes Coach Canobbio. With captains John McGibbon (’10) and Kenny Gentile (’10) this goal seems within grasp. Other returning seniors include Jimmy Briggs, Tom Bamman, Dan Diblasi, Joe Lovizio, Zach Durbin, Ryan Gillespie, and Vinny Tripani. Coach Canobbio also noted other up and coming juniors such as Steven Skon, Mike Roehrig, Rich Vrana, Ryan Manning, Alex Genao, and Nick Bianco. With an all-star line up such as this, it’s no wonder the team has three wins more (and counting) than the second place team in their league.
    The team played their first league game on April 5th, when Walt Whitman came to Lindenhurst. The Bulldogs showed the Vikings who the real conquerors were with a score of 7-1. Pitcher Tom Bamman earned ten strikeouts and only let up five hits. Skon started the team off with a two-RBI double in the first inning, and a solo homerun in the second. Right before Skon’s homerun, McGibbon blasted a three run homerun. The next day, the Bulldogs followed the embarrassed Vikings back to Whitman. On April 6th, the Dogs absolutely destroyed with a score of 12-1. The destruction continued on April 8th by a score of 19-6, Lindenhurst swept the series with Walt Whitman and was ready to move on to their next victim.
    On April 12th the Dogs challenged the T-Birds in Connetquot and came out victorious with a score of 6-2. Connetquot didn’t stand a chance and didn’t fair any better the next day, on April 13th, when the T-Birds and the Bulldogs played in Lindenhurst. Joe Lovizio pitched an outstanding game of three strikeouts and no walks. On the offensive end, Mike Roehrig hit a two-run double in the first inning and helped earn the 3-0 shutout for the Dogs. Unfortunately, the winning streak came to an end on April 15th. The Bulldogs took pity on the T-Birds and gave them a win at their home field, with a score of 6-5.
On April 19th, the Dogs were back in action and had apparently forgotten what the word ‘mercy’ meant. At the game, the Bulldogs slathered the dignity of the Central Islip Musketeers on their home field. The score of 15-2 paled compared to what happened to the Musketeers the next day. On the 20th, Lindy struck a devastating blow to the confidence of the Musketeers with a score of 19-1. In the final game of the series, it was like déjà vu with a score of 15-3. Another shutout for Lindy planted Dogs in the top of their league.
    The Bulldogs are currently in a series with North Sachem and a very competitive series is anticipated with Bay Shore the following week. With 11 games left in the regular series it doesn’t appear as if the Dogs are losing momentum.