The Pine Bush Senior Division Little League baseball team began playing together more than five years ago and has created quite a bond during that time.
The connection has translated onto the baseball field, and the group, now in the Senior division (ages 15-16), is enjoying a run to remember this summer.
Pine Bush is playing for the state championship at 1 p.m. on Thursday in Dix Hills on Long Island against an opponent to be determined. The team has already won District 19 and sectional titles and is 8-1 during the run.
“The key is that they just play for each other and are a small town group of boys who love to play baseball,” Pine Bush coach Keith Vanoyan said. “They all hang out together and are a very easy, upbeat team to coach. The parents are amazing, and the town has been incredibly supportive.”
Pine Bush earned a berth in the state championship game with wins over West Islip (11-1) on Monday and Throgs Neck (6-2) on Tuesday. The team has depth with a variety of players contributing.
Center fielder Payton Malm: .423 batting average (BA)
Shortstop Finn Gandolfini: .409 BA
First baseman/Pitcher Dylan Riker: .385 BA
First baseman/Pitcher Cody Hanson: .381 BA
Second baseman Cody Vanoyan: .375 BA
Catcher Brayden Tuttle .357 BA
Hanson has a 0.94 ERA on the mound, and Logan Miller has pitched to a 1.78 ERA.
If Pine Bush loses on Thursday, it would get another shot at the championship in the double-elimination state tournament on Friday. The winner of the event advances to the regional tournament on July 16th in Maine.