Front row: Jared D'sa, Evan Nagel, Josh Bergsohn, Nick D'Angelo, Ryan Smith, Brett Alvarez Middle row: John Malandro, Joey Guglielmo, Jared Rothstein, Matt Vani, Sam Tanenbaum, Owen Fisher Back row: Coaches Rob Rothstein, Joe Vani and Jim Fisher On Friday, September 12th, the Long Island Lightning U10 baseball team, comprised of a dozen talented and dedicated players from Garden City and East Williston, went to Aberdeen, Maryland to participate in the Patriot's Day Tournament, which is part of the 2008 Ripken Baseball Tournament Series. Since making the spring playoffs in the U10 division of the highly competitive Nassau County Youth Athletic Association Baseball League as a new team, the Long Island Lightning traveled to the Ripken baseball complex in Aberdeen to experience tournament baseball and to prepare for the fall season. After starting the tournament with a victory over the Virginia Thunder, the eventual tournament winner, the Lightning lost the remaining two games, but proved to their coaches and themselves that they could hold their own against quality teams. For several players and their families, the journey home was made somewhat sweeter by a side trip to fan-friendly Camden Yards to watch the Orioles take on the Twins.

Lightning Players enjoy an Orioles game at Camden Yards

The D'sa Family Lightning Players and families celebrate Josh and Nick's birthdays