GCAA Invitational Baseball Tournament A Success

On Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20, the Garden City Grays and Garden City NightHawks, U12 travel baseball teams, jointly hosted the Second Annual GCAA Invitational Baseball Tournament at Community Park. Last year's tournament champion, Hicksville, was among the other teams in the field, which also included squads from Syosset and East Meadow.

As the first day of play concluded in the round-robin tournament, the field was tightly bunched. Reigning champion Hicksville led all participants with a 2-0 record. The Grays and NightHawks finished the first day of competition tied with Syosset, all sporting 1-1 records. East Meadow was last among the five participants with an 0-2 record, having dropped both decisions by one run.

With play moving into its final stages on Sunday, it became clear that the '07 championship game would include repeat performers from last year's final. As in '06, Hicksville would again be pitted against a team from Garden City. However, this year would see the Grays earn the right to oppose the Hicksville team for top honors. In the end, it was superior pitching, strong defense, and timely hitting that won the day for the Grays. They defeated Hicksville 11-7 in the final game of the tournament to finish with a 3-1 record. The Grays held their opponents to 18 runs while scoring 29 runs (+11) in their four games. The team from Hicksville also finished with a 3-1 record, but was defeated by the Grays in head-to-head competition. Hicksville permitted their opponents to score 21 runs, while scoring 24 (+3). Based on their head-to-head victory and superior run differential, the Grays were crowned champions.

The tournament outcome was made all the better as the NightHawks earned third place honors in the tournament. They defeated Syosset 6-2 and finished with a 2-2 tourney record.

The '08 edition of the 'Invitational' will see an expansion of the tournament field to include other (younger) GC travel baseball teams. We hope you will come out to see some great local baseball talent next August!!!