Bombers pitching found tropical summer heat grueling. The Garden City Bombers completed this summer with a successful tournament in the Dominican Republic, shocking everyone winning two games out of four. The Bombers played four games in the Santo Domingo, in an 18 and under tournament team, which included players from Andrew Rocco, Joe Mohen, Kevin and Peter O'Hanlon, Chris Buhse of Garden City High School, Steve Spagnulo of Chaminade, John Chilelli of Adelphi University, as well as the Delby Vinas of St. Dominicks and Roosevelt High School MVP Eduin Delossantos. The Bombers are managed by former college coach Lou Santos.

During all the games, the Bombers had a cheering section of approximately 40 young Dominican children, who were attending the summer day care program of a local charity, Fundation HHS, which helped organize the trip. In every game in every ball park, the Garden City team had these passionate young fans would scream and sing, first in Spanish, then by the end of the week in English. The Garden City Players got used to their names being heralded in Spanish language chants.

Estadio Quisqueya - the Venue of Big Game After two days of practice in the tropical heat, the Bombers played their first game against Liga Deportiva La Javilla, managed by local baseball legend Juan Jose Carmona. In opening ceremonies, the Dominican team sang their national anthem while lined up on the first base line, and looked to the Bombers to sing the Star Spangled Banner. The field had a concrete backstop so any passed balls would fire back like projectiles. Andrew Rocco started the game in scorching heat against a very touch team. In spite of base hits by first baseman Joe Mohen Peter O'Hanlon and doubles by Kevin O'Hanlon and Andrew Rocco, Garden City trailed in the bottom of the seventh inning, but came back to win. Steven Spagnulo closed out the Bomber win.

"We just did not make any errors," commented first baseman Joe Mohen.

In the second game, the Bombers dropped five runs in the first two innings against Liga Robinson De La Cruz. The game looked bleak, but coach Lou Santos skillfully moved his players around, and the Bombers sprang back scoring six runs in the fifth inning and defeated a shocked De La Cruz team 6-5, which had expected an easy victory against the New Yorkers.

Catcher Kevin O'Hanlon leads troops of field after victory number 1 Then in game three, there was an extraordinary change. As fate would have it, Major League Baseball executives were staying the same hotel, and one of them recognized Bombers Coach Lou Santos. The MLB executives than arranged for the Bombers to play a national youth team of the Dominican Republic, in the countries famed professional baseball stadium, Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo. This stadium, which was built in 1955, has been the playing field for dozens of great Dominican players such as Rico Carty, Rico Petrocelli, the Alou brothers, and many more.

When the Bombers arrived at the professional stadium, the Dominican national team was already warming up. The Bombers played extremely well, with the score tied after the first inning. However the Dominican national team was extremely good. The Dominican team used a new pitcher each inning, most of them power pitchers. Their second baseman has more range than many major league second baseball, three times catching up to line drives up the middle that would easily have been base hits in any high school game. Their shortstop got the ball out his glove faster than any high school player the coaches had ever before seen. Lefty hitters Rocco, O'Hanlon, and Mohen all hit line drives, but in the end, the national Dominican team came out on top 8-3. Nonetheless, the Garden City players represented their home town and their country well, and the teams combined

The Dominican team prepares for Garden City In the final game, Garden City played Liga Patria Melia, in a stadium with green concrete walls. A sharp contrast from playing in a professional stadium the day before, this was a shaved skin field. The opposing Patria Melia team was so proud to be playing an American team that they used perhaps four dozen players the surrounding neighborhood, secretly switching uniforms in the outfield to sneak extra players into the game. Andrew Rocco got his second Santo Domingo start, but yielded to Steve Spagnulo as the Dominican team extended the game from seven to nine innings. Incoming Adelphi freshman John Chelelli hit two home runs, as the local crowd shouted "Chelelli, Chelelli". Buhse, Rocco, O'Hanlon, and Mohen had two hits apiece. The Bombers were winning after the regulation seven, but in the end, Patria Melia came back and won the game in the ninth.

School children from the foundation who came to all Garden City Games in Santo Dominingo to sing and cheer for the team. Closing out the trip with two wins and two losses, given the level of competition, the team exceeded all expectations, returning home with their heads high, and with a life changing experience under their belt.

The Garden City Bombers Santo Domingo trip was organized by Fundacion H.H.S. (www.hhsfoundation.homestead.com) of New York and Santo Domingo, and by donations from the staff of internet music company SpiralFrog (www.SpiralFrog.com).

The Bombers will be working out through the fall and winter preparing for their 2007 summer Connie Mack baseball season and travel tournaments. High School players of high ability who wish to try out for the Bombers team may contact GCBombers@aol.com.

Garden City players John Chilelli, Joe Mohen, and Andrew Rocco, and Peter O'Hanlon pose with Dominican All Stars. Also in the picture are assistant coach Joe Rocco, and in the front can be seen Garden City superfans Joey Rocco, Thomas Rocco, and Matthew Mohen, seen holding his bat.

Pregame ceremonies Included Singing National Anthems Posing with fans in Santo Domingo