Update 11-14-06

Hi,

Sports news, something we don't get often enough in these letters.

First, the alert, from Irwin Kotcher:  Last night, November 9th, the boys' varsity soccer team beat Jericho 3-2, in an overtime thriller, to win the Nassau County Championship!  The boys play the Suffolk champs, Islip, this Sunday at 11:00.  The winner moves onto the States.
   
    Then the follow-up notice from Steve Cahn, who sent the link to the following Newsday article:
   
    Valley Stream South Pulls Off Another Upset
    By Adam Ronis, Staff Writer
    November 10, 2006
        The painful memories of last season are etched in the mind of Mike Schaffhauser.  The Valley Stream South senior endured a 1-7-7 season and was forced to watch half of it from the sideline due to an ankle injury.  This year is a stark contrast, and Schaffhauser helped complete a Hollywood ending to a dream season.
        Schaffhauser scored the winning goal with 3:54 left in sudden-death overtime, lifting No. 6 Valley Stream South to a 3-2 win over No. 4 Jericho last night in the Nassau Class A boys soccer final at Manhasset.  Valley Stream South (16-1-1), which lost in the final to Jericho two years ago, plays Islip for the Long Island championship at 11 a.m. Sunday at Comsewogue.  "I can't forget last season," Schaffhauser said. "It hurt so much. It just didn't click."
        All has gone right this year, and the winning goal is emblematic of that.  Jericho goalie Brian Kahn (12 saves) came far out of the net, but the ball went off his outstretched hands and toward the net.  Schaffhauser got to the ball and scored.  "I saw it in the air and was close enough to get a foot on it," he said.
        Said Jericho coach Bill Wuest: "We rely on [Kahn] a lot, and he's a big reason we made it this far.  He's very aggressive, and it seemed like that was the first time all season he couldn't hold it."
        Valley Stream South played together in a winter and summer league.  When coach Richard Boyd saw their commitment, he knew better days were ahead.  "This team is a great example of giving your soul into something and achieving success," Boyd said. "I knew we would be more competitive, but you don't know about winning it all.  This is cool."
        South forced overtime when it tied the score at 2 on an indirect kick as David Pinto passed to Jon Velasquez, who scored with 16:27 left in regulation.  Jericho (8-6-3) took a 2-1 lead when Matt Checklas scored on an indirect kick with 24 minutes left.  "It's been magical," Pinto said.  "It was devastating last season.  We know how bad that feeling is."
   
    Then the follow-up to the follow-up, also from Newsday, the link again sent by Steve Cahn:
   
    Islip Boys Win Class A Soccer
    By Jeff Gold, Staff Writer
    November 13, 2006
        Islip went through a stretch midway through this season where they were a "bad greedy." Through a six-game span in which Islip was 0-2-4, coach Michael Argenziano harped on his team to start sharing the ball better and to work as a cohesive unit.  The players listened and the Buccaneers haven't lost since. Now the team is in a "good greedy" stage.
        Islip (11-3-7) outplayed Valley Stream South yesterday, posting a 2-1 win in the boys soccer Class A Long Island final at Comsewogue.  It was the program's first Long Island title.
        "I told the team, 'It's time to get greedy.  Win the Long Island Championship and make school history.  Don't be satisfied with what we've done,' " Argenziano said.  "Now we want to keep on being greedy upstate."
        Indeed, Islip is headed upstate to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, where it will meet Section V's Rochester Aquinas (15-5-2) at 10:30 AM.  Saturday in a state semifinal.
        Both of Islip's goals came on headers from senior midfielder Mike Burke, a somewhat unlikely source for goals.  He hadn't scored in Islip's last six games.  In the 24th minute, Burke headed in Jefferson Echerverria's corner just inside the post to make it 1-0.  After Valley Stream South (16-2-1) tied the score at 1 when Tyler Delatorre knocked in a loose ball from five yards out with 54 seconds left in the half, Islip regained the lead 48 seconds into the second half when Burke headed in Joe Martino's cross.
        "My mind's racing. This is amazing," Burke said.  "I was in a drought a little bit with scoring, but this was the way to finish it off."
        As good as Burke and the rest of Islip's offense was, its defense was equally impressive. Sweeper Tom Federico was steady in the back, knocking the ball across midfield whenever Valley Stream South threatened. Islip's midfield controlled Valley Stream South's most dangerous players, Jon Velasquez and David Pinto, a pair that was virtually unstoppable through the Nassau playoffs but was held scoreless yesterday.
        The loss ended a remarkable season for South.  A year after winning one game, the team won the Conference ABC-II title and went on a surprising run through the county as the sixth seed.  "Today wasn't one of our better efforts," South coach Richard Boyd said.  "Islip definitely outplayed us."
     
    Next, non-sports news, but fitting for Veteran's Day, from Karin and Mike Sofarelli:  This past weekend, our son Michael and his wife Leigh not only presented their son Dylan into the rite of Baptism at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Farmingdale, but also honored his parents Mike and Karin in the dedication of a book which celebrates the "letters on the
    wall" at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.
        Becoming grandparents for the second time in one year was gift enough.  But it is interesting that Michael, in his most special way, carried his gifts to another level.  Parents do the best they can.  We always said that we thought we did that.  Some of you will remember Michael's earlier years as a teen.  Words like "independent," "surly," and "sensitive" come to mind.  Causing his mother to cry was no challenge. 
        So Saturday evening at the Hofstra Library, Michael Sofarelli (II) presented his book, Letters on the Wall to his parents, family, and friends.  We were numb, proud, surprised, proud, tearful, and proud.  It's an amazing thing -- you really don't know how much, or what for that matter, your children internalize.  Michael has grown into a man of whom any mom and dad would be proud.  His respect and love for his father, and the understanding of what his dad sacrificed, are testaments to the incredible man I married.
        You can see what this beautiful and touching book is about at its website.  The address is:  http://www.lettersonthewall.com/  The book is also being sold by Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.
   
    A quick note from Tom McPartland:  Every week you publish so much information.  I look forward to reading the e-mails.
   
    Another from Janet Hernandez:  I just moved again in the Richmond, Virginia area to a condo and am very happy about it.  But I lived in the Tampa Bay area for twenty years, and I do miss it.  If there is a mini-reunion there next year, I maybe able to make it as I usually take my vacations in the summer months.  I'd also like one here in the Richmond area if anyone else from South lives in this area.
   
    An assurance from Judy Hartstone that all the recent rain in Seattle hasn't washed her off her island:  The Sound never rises -- it's tidal water from the ocean, so the tides come in and go out a couple of times a day.

    No official report on last weekend's class of '66 reunion, though here's a last minute note from its coordinator Michael Schimmel:  Thanks for the space advising everyone of our 40th reunion.  We have about ninety people coming as of now.  Special entertainment for the evening:  Bob Brenner and Booker Gibson on the piano.  Doing a duet.  How can anyone miss that?
   
    And a note from Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Oh, my gosh:  here it isn't even a week later, and I am correcting Mrs. David again... well, rather suggesting some liberating information.  While the title of "Mrs." is not only a respectable statement, having your name stand alone without the "Mrs.," "Ms.," or "Miss," to me has always stated who I am, not who the world sees me as.  I prefer to be just Barbara, but, hey I could be wrong.  Or just our of date.
        Also, while we're mentioning birthdays:  Ed Albrecht also celebrated his on October 30th.  As I've written before, growing up across the street from him, I always assumed his birthday was on the 31st, as his parties always combined Halloween, costumes, apple bobbing, and birthday cakes.  He just recently corrected me, reminding me when his birthday actually is.  But in my heart and mind, the date won't matter as much as the best memories of those days.
   

    Only one reminder this week:
   
    Next Alumni Association Meeting:  This Thursday, November 16th.  South High School
        library.  7:15  PM.  Everyone welcome.