In the rearview mirror

2008 local sports retrospective in headlines and photos

By RICHARD A. ROSS

January

• TALL ORDER: Sullivan West staves off feisty O’Neill (girls basketball)

• PORT JERVIS captures first-ever Eastern States Classic title (wrestling)

• LITTLE BY LITTLE: Eldred defeats relentless Roscoe in league victory for a third straight win (boys basketball)

• STEAMROOM STUNNER: Monticello’s defense staves off fired up Liberty (boys basketball)

• DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: Liberty holds off outstanding O’Neill as VanLieu reaches 1,000 points (boys basketball)

• LADY PANTHERS tops at Holiday Mountain (alpine skiing)

• PARADISE ON ICE: 49th Annual Manor Rotary Ice Carnival entertains and amuses

• MEASURING STICK: Sullivan West gets the better of undefeated S.S. Seward (girls basketball)

February

• SMOKE SIGNAL: Liberty one win away from sectionals with win over Sullivan West (boys basketball)

• ARC LIGHT: Randy Gilmore’s walk-off three pointer gives Fallsburg an electric win over Sullivan West (boys basketball)

• FLYING COLORS: Fast times and long distances mark OCIAA boys championships (indoor track)

• SONNENSCHEIN wins boys giant slalom (alpine skiing)

• DAWGS’ SHOW: Sullivan West girls win county meet of champions; Ellenville boys prevail (indoor track)

• HAPPY BERTH DAY: Manor Lady Wildcats lock up sectional berth with division win over Eldred (girls basketball)

• THE TRIBE ARRIVES: Eight-year trail of tears sectional absence ends with dramatic Liberty win over Sullivan West (boys basketball)

• LEAGUE LORE: OCIAA girls best many of last year’s times and distances; Eldred is Sullivan County leader as Warwick wins again (indoor track)

• STAYIN’ ALIVE: Sullivan West ousts Fallsburg and hopes for win over Burke to make the dance (boys basketball)

• ALPINE TRIUMPH: Monticello boys takes Section Nine title; nine county skiers head to state championships (alpine skiing)

• LEGACY OF LOVE: Emotions and memories abound as Dick O’Neill’s storied career ends (boys basketball)

• TRI-VALLEY THREEPEAT! Lady Bears capture third straight title; Ellenville boys win as Sullivan West girls and Liberty boys are runners-up (indoor track)

• FIT TO BE TIED: Lady Bulldogs clinch Division IV tie with stunning win over undefeated Burke (girls basketball)

• COMPLETELY FLOORED: Port Jervis brothers Sean and C.J. win titles as does Butler; Monticello’s Brugaletta gets 100th career win (wrestling)

• GIANT KILLERS: Sullivan West wins fifth straight Billy Moran title with win over tough S.S. Seward (girls basketball)

March

• JOURNEY’S END: Heart-rending losses terminate fine runs; exit wounds suffered by all 10 county teams prior to finals (boys and girls basketball)

• EGENES AND HEINS best of Section Nine at states (NYS Alpine Ski Championships)

• WINTER BEARS garner awards and accolades (Tri-Valley winter sports awards)

• FLYING FINGERS: Monticello’s Jessica Fingers takes sixth in 1500 at states (NYS Indoor Track Championships)

• LIVE from Glens Falls : New York State boys basketball championships

• WESTIES’ WINTER WINNERS: Sullivan West winter sports awards highlight great individual and team efforts

• SOMETHING OF VALUE: Fallsburg winter athletes derive lifelong lessons from striving hard (Fallsburg winter sports awards)

• TOPSY-TURVY: My View: How the mighty have fallen (NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament )

• GREY is 10th in weight throw at nationals (indoor track and field)

• THREE PORT JERVIS wrestlers named to TH-R All-Stars (wrestling)

April

• ON TRACK: Preview of events and Sullivan County icons for upcoming season (track and field)

• ERROR TERROR: Seven fielding blunders lead to Generals’ conference-opening loss (college baseball)

• QUICK FIRST STEP: Monticello track opens its season with boys and girls league wins over Burke

• SKI SLOPE SCHOLARS: 98.29 average by Monticello girls skiers is tops in state; Monties’ girls indoor track and boys ski teams named scholar athletes as well

• KEEPING ON: Monticello keeper Jessica Stant makes soccer a year-round venture in quest to improve her game (girls soccer)

• MARK OF PERFECTION: Tri-Valley’s Bo Murphy hurls a perfect game against Chapel Field (baseball)

• BREAKING POINT: Lady Bulldogs’ one-point victory snaps Tri-Valley’s streak of 129 division wins; Bulldog boys complete Division IV sweep of Bears (track)

• PICK UP STICKS: Tri-Valley routs Eldred with a 14-run fifth as Lady Bears’ bats blaze (softball)

• ENDURING MEMORIES: Monticello holds a baseball tournament in memory of John Spear; Liberty captures championship with mighty bats

May

• TWENTY SOMETHING: 20th Monticello games sparkle as Fingers and Devine named outstanding track athletes and Grey hailed as outstanding field athlete (track and field)

• FEARLESS FOURSOME: Tri-Valley notches fourth-straight SCSO title with breakout win over Monticello; Liberty downs Eldred for first win (softball)

• WON BY ONE: Liberty boys edge Sullivan West in Division IV gem; Lady Bulldogs on verge of division title with strong win over Lady Indians (track and field)

• ACES HIGH: Tri-Valley’s Murphy and Sullivan West’s Reimer hook up in a pitching duel; Bears edge Dawgs in eight-inning thriller (baseball)

• RUN AND GUN: Lady Bulldogs get the winning run after gunning down O’Neill at the plate (softball)

• RELAYS REDUX: Bears win Tri-Valley Relays Division II title; other locals impress with fine performances (track and field)

• GLORY ROAD: Sullivan West girls and Liberty boys capture first-ever Division IV spring track and field crowns

• GREENS’ GRACE: Lady Bulldogs glide by Ellenville; Bulldog boys remain unbeaten with win over Fallsburg (golf)

• A CUT ABOVE: Eight Sullivan County golfers qualify for sectionals at league championships; Liberty’s Goldstein finishes one stroke behind Kingston’s Kleeschulte

• CHAMPIONS ALL: County’s best go head to head for individual honors (Sullivan County Track and Field Meet of Champions)

• THE DEFENSE RESTS: Liberty has a red-letter day at the expense of numerous Sullivan West errors in game two of crucial Division IV series (baseball)

• WINDY WONDERS: Strong winds factor into results in OCIAA championships; Pine Bush’s Rosario breaks Iatauro’s 2004 steeplechase record (track and field)

• THE COMEBACK KID: Liberty’s Josh Goldstein rebounds from five-hole deficit to win Section Nine golf crown; Sullivan West’s Justin Armstrong heads to states too (golf)

June

• VICTORY LAP: Tri-Valley boys and girls repeat as Class C champions; Eldred girls capture first Class D crown since 2002 (track and field)

• DYNASTY DAWGS: Sullivan West’s boys golf team wins fifth straight Division IV title; Armstrong pars the course in win over Tri-Valley

• FINISH LINE: Grey signs a letter of intent to compete at Slippery Rock University (track and field)

• MOVING ON: Red Hook overcomes deficit for sectional win; Sullivan West seniors reach the end of stellar sports era (softball)

• MAGNIFICENT MONTIES: Ryan Sonnenschein wins Mayor’s Trophy; Devine and Palhano are Best Athletes at Monticello Senior Sports Banquet

• BUFFALO BOUND: Host of county athletes heading to track and field state championships

• BANNER YEAR: Monticello’s volleyball, boys alpine skiing and girls golf teams unveils this year’s championship banners

• GOLDEN BOY: Colin Seidl is crowned state champion in steeplechase; first gold medal in Sullivan West history (track and field)

• RED RENAISSANCE: Liberty’s “Block L” awards night celebrates outstanding achievements in a remarkable year

• BEARS’ AFFAIR: Tri-Valley lauds its spring athletes at awards ceremony

• COMETS’ TALE: Fallsburg celebrates spring athletes at awards ceremony

July

• FABULOUS 49’ERS: Surging South bests North in 49th annual Delaware Valley Little Fellows League All-Star game

• THERE COMES A TIME: Eldred’s Al Wojtaszek retires after 35 years of service

• EMPIRE ZONE: Liberty’s Evan Kirsch first-ever Sullivan County baseball player chosen for Empire Games

• LIBERTY LIGHTS: Goldsteins’ hole-in-one highlights golf tourney to fund field lighting

• CHIEFS SWEEP: Boys in blue beat Renegades for second Teeners’ title in the past three years

• HIT PARADE: Undefeated Charlie’s Angels bang out 20 hits to complete season sweep of L&B Tack (SCWSL softball)

• STARSTRUCK: Annual Sullivan County Women’s Softball League All-Star game features fun and camaraderie

• 18 WHEELER: Runaway Charlie’s Angels roll to 18th straight win bypassing Cooper Paint for third time in the season (SCWSL softball)

• FUN AND FROLIC TURNS 14: Dr. Don Games celebrates 14th year of youthful Olympic hijinx

• AREA KIDS MEDAL AT ESG: Rosario of Pine Bush, Leroy of Port Jervis win gold; Fingers wins a silver and bronze, Fiedler and Khan are bronze winners (Empire State Games)

August

• FREMONT FRENZY; Unprecedented power surge propels Matthews on Main to title win in wild and wooly Fremont Tourney (softball)

• COLLINS CLASSIC: Late heroics propel Jorgenson’s to Collins Tourney title over defending champs L&P Tree Service (major men’s modified softball)

• DELIVERANCE: It’s seventh heaven for Charlie’s Angels in come-from-behind series-clinching win over gritty Klein and Sons

• CLOUD NINE: Charlie’s Angels ascend to championship in nine-inning thriller over feisty L&B Tack

• AWESOME FOURSOME: Fitness Factory’s dynasty continues with sweep of Styles Barber Shop (Monticello Men’s Softball League)

September

• SOFTBALL SISTERHOOD: Sullivan County Women’s Softball League picnic celebrates award winners

• DEVIL DAWGS: Reimer leads Sullivan West to huge league win over Ellenville in season opener (football)

• SLIPPERY ROCK: Liberty loses fumble fest to powerful Delhi in non-league opener; VanLieu knee reinjury makes bleak day even gloomier (football)

• STAND AND DELIVER: Eldred stops Hancock on run conversion attempt in OT to garner win in epic battle (football)

• RED CROSS: Perfect send from Max Siegel feeds Sam Heinle for Liberty’s lone goal over league rival Sullivan West (boys soccer)

• SOLDIERS’ FIELD: Bulldogs prevail in grueling ground league war versus iron Indians (football)

• BEARS’ DOZEN: Tri-Valley captures 12th home tournament title with win over Ellenville (girls soccer)

• A PLACE IN HISTORY: Sullivan West unveils banner commemorating Seidl’s state championship in steeplechase, the school’s first-ever gold medal in track and field

• STRIKE FORCE: Reimer rushes to five TDs and throws for two more as Dawgs outscore explosive Millbrook in key league tilt (football)

• HEADING NORTH: Tri-Valley take vital first step with convincing win over Pine Plains (football)

• AT LAST: Fallsburg gets first volleyball win in recent memory in hard-fought league match with Sullivan West (volleyball)

October

• DIVISION PRECISION: Erlwein, Seidl and Bertholf are champs; Sullivan West girls win seventh consecutive Division IV crown; Tri-Valley girls defend Division V title (cross-country)

• 1812 Overture: Livingston Manor/Roscoe pushes Tri-Valley to the brink as teams prepare for biggest battles of the year

• SAFETY SQUEEZE: Chester recaptures on a safety and 70-yard kickoff return to down Eldred for Division V title

• C-D BURNER: Class C Sullivan West lights up Class D Eldred in non-league neighboring schools mismatch (football)

• HEAD ON: Fallsburg is one win away from sectionals following key league victory over Liberty (boys soccer)

• ZIP LOCK: Sullivan West and Liberty battle to a scoreless overtime tie in key league tilt (boys soccer)

• RED RESURGENCE: Liberty girls roar back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Tri-Valley in OT (girls soccer)

• SURREAL APPEAL: Finger’s eight TDs and 485 yards rushing power Millbrook to shootout league win over relentless Tri-Valley (football)

• HOME RULE: Homecoming, football alums and a rout of Chester make for fun as Dawgs now are 5-0 (football)

• TRAILBLAZERS: Sullivan West unveils new nature trail as its boys and girls teams down Tri-Valley to remain unbeaten (cross-country)

• NIGHT MOVES: Stoked Tri-Valley gets second-straight league victory and dampens Liberty’s homecoming hopes for a much-needed win (football)

• PRIDE IN STRIDE: Liberty girls cap off uplifting week with league win over Fallsburg (girls soccer)

• DYNAMIC DEBUT: Monticello starts football anew after 73 years with big win over Sullivan West (football)

• GROUND WAR: Ellenville rides Exner’s rushing and cashes in on Eldred miscues for a non-league win (football)

November

• LEAGUE LORE: OCIAA championship features cross-country milestones; Monticello’s Fingers takes second in girls run; Erlwein is 11th

• DOME PRONE: OT win over gritty Eldred sends Lady Manor Wildcats back to sports dome to defend ‘D’ title (girls soccer)

• GREEN SUPREME: Eldred survives 19-0 first quarter deficit to beat LM/R to set up Class D title defense against Chester (football)

• EIGHT STRAIGHT: Bulldogs complete unblemished regular season with Bears’ shutout: next up they meet for real (football)

• HALLOW-WIN: Unbeaten Sullivan West advances to championship with overwhelming playoff win over Tri-Valley (football)

• FINAL DESTINATION: Eldred tunes up for Class D final with win over Liberty; Indians close season of missed opportunities (football)

• BLUE STREAK: Sullivan West finishes strong against Ellenville in volleyball quarterfinals

• ‘C’ CHANGE: Ellenville’s overwhelming first half shocks valiant Sullivan West (football)

• ANY GIVEN FRIDAY: Chester wins annual Class D share wars and wrests title from Eldred (football)

• STATELY RACE: Sullivan West’s Seidl is third in ‘C’ boys; Monticello’s Fingers is sixth among ‘A’ girls at states (cross-country states)

• CLAIM TO FAME: Roscoe’s Fred Ahart’s impending induction into NYS Basketball Hall of Fame rewards a storied career as a coach and mentor

• TRAIL TRIUMPHS: Fingers chosen as OCIA cross-country senior runner of the year other Sullivan County standouts named all stars

• GREEN NATION: Eldred’s football banquet lauds past season and augurs success; Conklin chosen as MVP

• AWESOME AUTUMN: Tri-Valley lauds its all athletes at fall sports presentation

• TRULY SUCCESSFUL: Sullivan West athletes garner awards and ponder success

• WINTER WONDERLAND: Basketball, wrestling and indoor track on top in first full week of winter sports action

• ROCK ROLLS: Livingston Manor and Eldred are winners in opening round of Eldred girls basketball tournament (girls basketball)

December

• NEW ERA: Monticello gains a split in Hawley tourney opener as Russo debuts as coach (boys basketball)

• WIN ONE: Sullivan West comes out firing in opening-night win over Port Jervis (boys basketball)

• EXCELLENCE EXTOLLED: Words of praise, gratitude and respect at football banquet define Sullivan West’s sterling season

• FORTH IN THE FOURTH: Figueroa leads fourth quarter surge to help Bulldogs beat talented Manor (boys basketball)

• CATS ‘N’ DAWGS: Graby and Murphy propel Sullivan West to non-league win over improving Monticello (girls basketball)

• STARLIGHT: Sullivan West’s Figueroa, Reimer and T-V’s Yager named Varsity 845 All-Stars

• EASTERN FRONT: Monticello downs Fallsburg as back-in-the-day non-league rivalry rekindles (boys basketball)

• INDOOR ROAR: County’s best make waves at West Point (indoor track)

• WAR PAINT: Talented Liberty’s season turns north with first win against struggling Fallsburg Comets (boys basketball)

• TRAIL TREASURES: Sullivan County Cross-Country All-Stars excelled this past fall

• BEAR-LY ICTORIOUS: VanLieu lifts Bears to waning-seconds win over gritty Manor Wildcats (boys basketball)

• CLOSE ENCOUNTER: Sullivan West survives a hard-fought game against gutsy Liberty for first league win (girls basketball)

• ODDS AND ENDS: Sullivan West prevails over short-handed Liberty in Division IV rivalry tilt (boys basketball)

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