* 1999 BLLA LEAGUE OFFICERS *

President - Tony "Bear" Colangelo
Vice President - Angelo Masullo Jr.
Secretary - Paul "Sharkey" Romano
Treasurer - Paul Sullivan

* Dedication to Anthony Bucci *

Approximately four years ago, a whirlwind of a boy entered into our instructional program and was tagged to be our next star. This boy learned how to play baseball from his two older brothers, both of whom were already displaying their talents on the field. He also received the basic fundamentals of baseball from his father who coached in our program for a number of years.

Since his father built our refreshment stand and his mother often worked in the refreshment stand, he felt as if he had a birthright to all of the goodies therein. In the summer he would get so darkly tanned and handsome with those beautiful white teeth and shining eyes. Often he would wear white shorts and light colored tee shirts only to get caked in mud while playing with his friends. There were the special times that he would get a bag of candy fish from the refreshment stand then immediately go around the corner and fill the bag with water so he could watch his fish swim. Oh, there are so many stories about this little boy that will be told for years to come.

This past Mothers Day this precious little boy, Anthony Bucci, was taken from us. We pray for his grieving mother Franca, who fought a courageous fight with every fiber of her body. To his father Tony we can only say that we hope and pray that time will heal your wounds. To his brothers Joe and Pete, you were so fortunate to have a little brother who showed you real strength throughout his long fight.

With our deepest respect for the entire Bucci family, and in honor of the celestial light that, though it shined far too briefly here on earth, shines ever so brightly in the heavens and continues to fill so many hearts with warmth, the Brookline Youth Baseball Association dedicates the 1999 season to the memory of Anthony Bucci.

12/9/88 - 5/9/99

* Steve Poremski Plumbing - The Undefeated! *

The Brookline Youth Baseball program will be entering it 50th season in the year 2000. In all that time, there had never been a Little League team (or any other for that matter) that had put together back-to-back undefeated seasons, until now!

Steve Poremski Plumbing has capped off the final decade of the 20th century by claiming consecutive Little League titles in 1998 and 1999, compiling 13-0 and 18-0 records in the process.

It's possible that there was a longer winning streak. In the mid-sixties, the American Legion Little League team strung together 20-0 and 19-1 years, and Jim Klingensmith's travelling Pony team rang up an incredible 28-0 record in 1955. These are the only two squads that could challenge Poremski's 31-game winning streak. However, we are certain that no team in Brookline baseball history had gone undefeated two years in a row, until this season.

This is quite an accomplishment and the B.L.L.A. sends its sincerest congratulations to manager Tim Reitmeyer, coaches George Nassif, Rich Munizza and Kevin Reitmeyer, sponsor Steve Poremski and all the players who contributed to this remarkable feat:

David Christopher, John Corcoran, Scott Dallas, Kurt Faust, Tommy Francesconi, John Gallagher, Alan McClelland, Domenic Mecca, Mike Minor, Dave Mizer, Kevin O'Rourke, Brandon Poremski, Josh Poremski, Andrew Robinson, Tim Schmidt, Ryan Schanck, Billy Seibel, Dave Vergot and Demetri Xenakis.

Click on images for larger photos."

* The Mayor's Cup *

Brookline's entry in the 1999 Mayor's Cup Little League championship, Steve Poremski Plumbing, finished the tournament with a 3-1 record. A promising run at the elusive Cup came to an end on July 25 as Brookline lost 4-0 to a strong Brightwood team.

Despite losing an opportunity to play at Three Rivers Stadium in the semi-finals, the boys from Brookline did earn a spot in the top five Pittsburgh area teams, and that is an accomplishment to be remembered.

According to Mayor's Cup rules, each team picks up three randomly chosen players from their respective league. Brookline took two more due to vacations. The official Brookline roster for 1999: Max Boyle, John Corcoran, Andrew Robinson, Tim Schmidt, Brandon Poremski, Demetri Xenakis, Shawn O'Rourke, Mike Moore, Alan McClelland, Dave Mizer, Ryan Schanck, David Christopher, Mike Minor, Kurt Faust, Steve Marsh, Josh Poremski and Nick Brewer. Manager: Tim Reitmeyer. Coaches: George Nassif, Rich Munizza and Kevin Reitmeyer.

Game Results

July 18 - Brookline 1 <> Perry 0
July 22 - Brookline 3 <> Spring Hill 2
Note: Tim Schmidt - HR.
July 23 - Brookline 6 <> Mt. Oliver 5
Note: Brandon Poremski - 4 innings, 11K;
Tim Schmidt - HR (inside-the-park).
July 24 - Brightwood 4 <> Brookline 0