Magical moment for Andrew Brennan and Shoreham-Wading River unified basketball! 
Magical moment for Andrew Brennan and Shoreham-Wading River unified basketball! 🏀 pic.twitter.com/zEwR3wPcno
— SectionXI (@SectXISuffolk) May 12, 2023
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Paul Gibson Gets Nod for NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced it will formally induct its Hall of Fame Class of 2023 on July 26th at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY.
This year’s representative from Section XI is former pro pitcher Paul Gibson, who played at Center Moriches High School.
Gibson was an incredibly talented three-sport athlete. He earned numerous honors in baseball, basketball, and soccer during a career in which he earned eight varsity letters. He earned All-County honors once in basketball and twice in soccer, but was most known for a dominant baseball. Gibson was a two-time All-American in 1976 and 1977 and garnered All-State, All County, and All-League honors from 1975-78. He posted a 36-5 record, 0.39 ERA ,and struck out 412 hitters in high school, and his teams won three league titles and one country crown. In 1978, following his senior year of high school, he was drafted in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
The Detroit Tigers signed him as a free agent in 1984, and in 1987, the southpaw led the International League in victories and was third in games started. This paved the way for a Major League debut as a relief pitcher on April 8, 1988. That same year, the Detroit Baseball Writers Association named him the Tigers Rookie of the Year. He played seven seasons in the Majors, 19 total seasons, including minor league ball, with the Tigers, Mets, and Yankees. Paul retired after the 1996 season, but not before accumulating 22 wins, 11 saves, 345 strikeouts, and a 4.07 ERA in 556 innings.
Following his professional career, Gibson was named head coach of the Center Moriches High School varsity baseball team, serving from 2000-2006 and guiding the team to two Long Island Championships and a 149-26 career record. In 2006, he became a scout for the Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Kansas City Royals. Mr. Gibson has been inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame (1995) and the Center Moriches Hall of Fame (2012). In 2016, Center Moriches School District named its baseball field after Paul and retired his jersey number.
He ran the All Pro Sports Academy in Bellport, Long Island, from 1995-2012, and since then, Gibson has been the Senior Director of Pitching Performance for the Kansas City Royals. Paul resides in Center Moriches with his wife, Carla. The couple has two sons and four grandchildren.
Ruckert Roots on Lindenhurst Flag Football at Jets Facility
The Lindenhurst girl’s flag football team played Huntington at the New York Jets’ training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey last week.
Lindenhurst and Ohio State alum Jeremy Ruckert, a 2022 draft pick of the Jets, joined them on the sideline for the entire contest. To his delight, Lindenhurst won, 24-0.
ICYMI: Josh Knoth Throws Another Perfect Game
Pat-Med phenom Josh Knoth threw his second-career perfect game last week.
The right-handed ace recorded 19 strikeouts against Riverhead.
Long Island’s top baseball prospect, he’s committed to Ole Miss, but will likely be a high selection in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft.
Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Induction is May 18
The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2023 earlier this year. The induction is scheduled for May 18 at East Wind in Wading River, NY. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are officially available here!
INDUCTEE LIST
- Carl Adams: Brentwood native and college wrestling coach at Boston University
- Angel Athenas: Special Olympics Power Lifter from Huntington
- Mike Bowler: Longtime Rocky Point High School lacrosse coach
- Joe Donnelly: Longtime baseball writer at Newsday
- Dawn Ellerbe: Central Islip native, Olympian, Cal State Northridge Athletic Director
- Ryan Flanagan: West Islip native, pro lacrosse player and coach
- Ross Gload: East Hampton native, former MLB player
- Joe Grady: Longtime Section XI multi-sport official
- Chris Higgins: Smithtown native, former NHL player
- Pat Kirwan: Former St. Anthony’s coach, NFL front office exec and NFL analyst
- Mike Komisarek: West Islip native, former NHL player
- Pat Lafontaine: Town of Huntington resident, former NHL player
- Chris La Morte: Sachem alum and former international gymnast
- Ed McGuire: Riverhead native and EVP of LA Chargers
- Tim Melia: East Islip native and MLS player
- Tom Migliozzi: Longtime Half Hollow Hills West baseball coach
- Ralph Napolitano: Longtime Brentwood wrestling coach
- Christopher Pendergast: ALS Ride for Life Founder; lived in Miller Place
- Jen Sabatelle: Shoreham-Wading River alum, EVP of Communications at CBS Sports
- John Scully: Holy Family alum, Notre Dame All-American, former NFL player
- Julia Smit: Mount Sinai alum, Olympic swimmer
- Justin Turri: West Islip alum, pro lacrosse player, NCAA lacrosse coach
- Missy Wassell Foote: Ward Melville alum, Hall of Fame college lacrosse coach
- Historic inductees: Ralph Sammy Bunn, Carlton “Hub” Edwards, and Constantine Ricci, who played semi-pro baseball in leagues across Long Island in the early to mid-1900s.
Sayville Hosts Salute to Troops Baseball Game
Great job by Sayville baseball for hosting a Salute to Troops game this season. Check out those custom camo uniforms!
Section XI Football Officials Training Classes
New Section XI Football Officials Training Classes begin in June.
The dates are June 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, and 26.
June 27 & 29, if needed.
For more information contact Carl Superina 631-513-8508.
Section XI Alums Headed to NFL Camps
Three Suffolk County natives are headed to NFL camps.
John Glenn alum and Stony Brook University product Damien Caffrey signed a contract with the Chicago Bears.
Port Jefferson alum Jacky Chen, a lineman from Pace University, signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
Sayville’s Jack Coan, who spent last season playing in the XFL, has been invited to Seattle Seahawks’ Rookie Minicamp. He played college ball at Wisconsin and Notre Dame before signing as a free agent with the Colts, but was cut in 2022.
Mount Sinai’s Jake Spallina Named U.S. Lacrosse Northeast POY
Congratulations to Mount Sinai’s Jake Spallina for being named Lacrosse Magazine’s Northeast Player of the Week.
The Syracuse commit has been on a tear with faceoffs, goals and assists and helped the Mustangs to three big wins over Massapequa, Islip and Blue Point last week.
Sayville Supports West Islip During Lax Fundraiser
West Islip would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the Sayville High School girls’ lacrosse coaches, players, and booster club for the compassion and generosity they displayed recently during a game supporting a West Islip player’s mom as she fights cancer.
Twenty-four hours prior to the game, attendees were encouraged to wear blue to show support and provide strength to the player’s mom, and the Sayville team not only wore blue ribbons but also made a generous donation to the family to help during these tough times.
“The gesture was very heartwarming to the family, the West Islip team and all in attendance,” said West Islip Athletic Director Tim Horan, “and truly demonstrated a sense of community between two great towns! It was very refreshing to see the teams compete in an exciting game, while still supporting a stranger in need! Kudos to your coaches, players and community on providing this life lesson to all!”