By Adam Berman, Manager

The Tournament of Champions Baseball Majors trophy has a home in New City for the next 12 months.  It’s been nearly a decade since the trophy called New City home.  Due to the success of the Pirates Majors Baseball Team, the trophy will now reside in our community.

It’s amazing that once the trophy came home, there were requests to see the almost 3 foot trophy that dates back to the 1960s.  The trophy of 60+ years, albeit may have had some constructive surgery to overcome some aging, houses the names of the past winning teams from Rockland County.  It’s an award that crosses generations, the 1990 tournament winner, Andrew Guinan was proud that both he and his son, William (2023) will now be inscribed on this Rockland heirloom. Joe Algozzino (1985) noted that both he and his father’s teams (1961) are recognized as champions.

Earning your team’s name on the trophy takes a lot of dedication from the players, coaches, and the team parents.  It was a cold day on February 1st, the first day that New City teams were allowed in the gym, when all 12 Pirates players showed up for their first team practice.  The coaches knew they had a good team, but getting these talented players to work together and become “great teammates” was the challenge.  Each player came prepared for the practice and stated their view on the season’s goals, both personal and for the team.  For the coaches, the one constant that was pressed upon required that each player would need to become a leader at some point in the season.  Leadership would be self-defined but the coaches indicated, “can you as a player make your teammates better?”.

The Pirates started the season 3-0. As the season got going, the opposition decided to regularly start their own talented pitching Ace against this Pirates team, quickly curbing the winning streak and bringing the Pirates back to .500 baseball with a record of 3 wins and 3 losses.  The Pirates team was at a crossroads.  Leaders needed to lead, and that is exactly what these players chose to do.  From that point forward, the Pirates went undefeated in 14 straight games, ending the season at 16-3-1, including winning both the New City Little League Championship as well as the coveted Tournament of Champions.

As we look forward to the next few decades of Rockland baseball, the Pirates players and coaches will be able to look at the Tournament of Champions trophy and recognize their personal accomplishment and leadership that they brought to this Pirates team.  The Pirates players have memories for a lifetime as they hope to have their own children someday scribed on that same Tournament trophy. 

Congratulations to the following Pirates Players:

Gavin Black
Ari Berman
Nicholas Garcia
Spencer Paul
Daniel Kissik
Noah Bricker
William Guinan
Aaron Kingsley
Sean Bagley
Dylan Sperring
Jeremy Seiff
Lucas Kirsteins

Coaches & Team Administrators:

Adam Berman

Jake Black

Ray Bricker

Jose Garcia

Mickey Bagley

Andrew Guinan

Justin Kirsteins