Syosset Baseball Association's 11-year-old summer travel team that played in the National Junior League won the championship on Sunday, Aug. 13, defeating first-place Hauppauge Eagles for the Championship in a best two of three playoffs.

Manager Joe Miecuna's team, with assistant coaches Dennis Kehne, Frank Laine and Chris Burrei led the team through the summer schedule, posting an 11-win, 4-loss record, finishing in second place behind first-place Hauppauge.

The first-round playoff game versus the Sayville Cardinals was won by Syosset in a single-game elimination, with Danny Miecuna hitting a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth to seal the Braves' victory, setting up the playoff finale versus Hauppauge, who defeated EMS Sharks in their single-game elimination.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, Syosset ventured to Hauppauge's complex for this exciting championship series. Game one finished up with a 15-3 defeat, highlighted by Aaron Schuster's three-run blast over the centerfield fence, accounting for Syosset's only runs. Game two took off where game one had left, with Hauppauge leading off with two runs in the top of the first inning. Syosset answered right back with another three-run homer from Aaron Schuster to put Syosset back in the lead, 3-2. The game continued on with Hauppauge building a lead going into the sixth inning with a 12-3 lead as Syosset took to the bats at the bottom of the sixth. Thomas Burrei led off the bottom of the sixth rally with a lead off double, followed by Troy Scocca's double. Successive singles by Jason Steinberg, Shane Mandel, Joe Morris, Kevin Kehne's double and Parker Laine's single, brought up Aaron Schuster, who was intentionally walked. Jake Laine nailed a three-run homer over the left centerfield wall to tie the game at 12. Thomas Burrei continued with a double, capping a nine-run inning comeback to tie the score at 12 to 12. The Hauppauge seventh went scoreless. After Joe Morris led off the Braves seventh, flying out to center, Kevin Kehne signaled and stole second. Parker Laine drilled a double up the middle, scoring Kehne with the winning run, finishing the unbelievable comeback 13 to 12. That set the stage for Sunday's championship game.

On Sunday, Aug 13, Syosset picked up where game two left off, continuing the hitting barrage, leading to an 11-7 victory. Hauppauge took an early 2 to 0 lead in the top of the first, with the Braves answering back with five in the bottom of the first. Hauppauge came back with one in the second, Braves answering with two in the second. The nip-and-tuck battle went on with Hauppauge scoring two in the third, responded by Syosset with there two in the bottom of the third. Jason Steinberg pitched four innings, leaving the game with a pulled hamstring, for relief from Shane Mandel. Mandel closed out the game for the Braves, sealing the 11-7 Championship victory, capping off a great summer season for Syosset Baseball's 11-year-old travel team. Congratulations to the team and coaching staff on a great season as they embark on the fall travel season and moving to the 75-foot baseball league.

This and other events and calendar dates can be found on Syosset Baseball Association's website http://www.syossetbaseball.org.