Two GC Athletes Named To Baseball Roster

Rob Finneran and Matt Colantonio have been named to the Nassau County roster for the third annual HIP Grand Slam Challenge high school baseball all-star game. The game will be held at Citibank Park on Saturday, June 9, at 7:00 p.m. ,

Rob Finneran is a pitcher/short stop for Garden City High School. A varsity player, Rob Finneran has played with the Midville Dodgers. He is All-County and Conference MVP for 2007. He resides in Garden City.

Matt Colantonio is a catcher for Chaminade High School. A junior varsity and two-year varsity player, Matt Colantonio has played with the LI Titans. He is a 2X All-League player and an Honors Student. He resides in Garden City.

The two teams comprise some 40 players chosen by the sports staff of Newsday. Players are all seniors in good academic standing and were outstanding contributors to their high school programs. The Suffolk County team will be coached by Bob Salomone of Eastport/South Manor High School. From 1986-1994, his teams won nine consecutive Suffolk titles and ESM has claimed 12 league championships and 12 county class championships with Salomone at the helm. In 1986, he led his squad to the Class B state championship.

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School's Bob Malandro will serve as skipper for Nassau County. Malandro has been head coach at Trinity since 1987 and has led the Titans to Catholic High School Athletic Association championships in 1997, 1998 and 2003. He was named CHSAA Coach of the Year in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

The Grand Slam Challenge is sponsored by HIP Health Plan of New York, with proceeds benefiting the QuackerJack Foundation, the charitable arm of the Ducks.

Tickets to the event are $5 and can be purchased by visiting the Citibank Park box office or by phone at 631 940-TIXX. For further information, visit www.liducks.com.