.Front Row (L-R): Tom Ilardi, Owen Fisher, Ryan Smith, Tom Lane, Chris Larkin, Jack Fenty Middle Row (L-R): Jack Cashwell, Brogan Mahon, Andrew Wykowski, Matt Vani, Chris Halka, Ross Sutton, Troy Sorensen, Kyle Ascher Back Row: (L-R): Coach Paul Wykowski, Manager John Sorensen, Coach Steve Ascher This summer, the Garden City U10 Little League baseball team put on quite a show in their run for the District 29 title. These boys of summer faced four elimination games on their way to the title match-up, and eliminated four other district teams in the process.

A tough opening round game against Garden City South saw the first of four come from behind victories for Garden City. The pitching combination of Ryan Smith and Tommy Ilardi provided to be a winning formula throughout the three week tournament, as they combined for seven strikeouts in the win. Matt Vani and Kyle Ascher also contributed to the offense with timely hitting, a trademark of the team throughout their run. The next game, a loss to the hard hitting Franklin Square team, placed the team on the brink in this double elimination tournament.

Game three saw the GC crew face a scrappy Mineola team, and the contributions from a variety of players continued. Jack Cashwell found the prescription for success with a single and long double. Hits by Andrew Wykowski and Chris Halka help turn a 3-0 deficit into a thrilling 6-3 victory, eliminating Mineola and allowing GC to play on in the tournament to meet their next opponent, Valley Stream. The next game served as a breather for the team, as Owen Fisher notched an impressive, six strikeout shutout victory on the way to a 17-0 elimination of Valley Stream.

The next round saw the most dramatic of the come from behind wins for Garden City. A Malverne team which had allowed just one run in their previous three games was up next, and they took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of sixth. With one out and one run in, Brogan Mahon (the winning pitcher) and Jack Fenty notched clutch singles and moved up to second and third on a wild pitch. The next batter was Troy Sorensen, and he drove the first pitch deep to the wall in left center, as Brogan and Jack raced home in an exciting 6-5 walk off victory.

The big win against Malverne carried over into the next game against a New Hyde Park team which had previously shutout two other teams. The winner of this game would face undefeated Franklin Square in the championship round. A close 5-3 game after three innings was turned into a great display of hit and run baseball as Ross Sutton, Chris Larkin and Tommy Lane pounded out timely hits in route to a 13-3 elimination of New Hyde Park. The journey ended in the championship round against the pre-tournament favorites, Franklin Square, a big hitting team that deserved the title.

The five tournament wins tied for the most victories by any baseball or softball team at any age level in the Districts, a great accomplishment for the boys. They worked hard at practice very day, and came together as a team that never quit, representing true Garden City spirit.

Manager John Sorensen would like to thank coaches Steve Ascher and Paul Wykowski, tournament coordinator Chris Halka and all of the parents and families who supported our kids.