Tar Heels champs of Yaphank tournament

The Nassau County Tar Heels 11u Baseball Club, comprised of players from Franklin Square, Wantagh, Levittown and Huntington, recently headed to Yaphank to compete in the Baseball Heaven Labor Day Championship Tournament. The Tar Heels played a total of six games, and were named champions of the 11u (11 and under) division.

“The team was firing on all cylinders,” said Frank Pinto, the team’s manager. “Our pitchers were outstanding, our hitting and defense were unbeatable and, overall, our boys played tight as a team. They worked hard and we’re really proud of them!”

The Tar Heels’ defense allowed just 11 runs (less than two per game). Offensively, they scored 50 runs, including double-digit tallies in four of the six games. Rich Oliver, who coaches the Franklin Square Little League, said the Tar Heels represented themselves with dignity and maturity, and maintained a “high level of sportsmanship” throughout the tournament.

The Franklin Square Little League’s four boys’ teams — 9-10 Division, comprised of 9 to 10-year-olds; 10-11 Division; 11-12 Division; and 13-14 Division — were named New York District 29 champions this summer.