22nd Annual Greenport Lacrosse Shoot-Out sponsored by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation and the Nassau County Police Activity League August 1-2, 2015 at Greenport High School, Greenport NY. Greenport High School on the North Fork of Long Island was the site for more than 5000 lacrosse players, coaches, parents, Officials and spectators for the 22nd Annual Greenport Lacrosse Shootout held on August 1 and 2, 2015 under sunny skies.
This very popular annual festival is sponsored by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation, a chapter of USLacrosse, and the Nassau County PAL Lacrosse League.
Youth lacrosse players from Nassau and Suffolk County community groups, PAL Youth clubs, as well as middle school, junior varsity and varsity high school players clad in colorful uniforms, competed in a “friendly round-robin type” tournament. This year a record number of 70 boys and 13 girls youth program teams took part. In addition to these competitors, 12 post-high school men’s lacrosse teams competed for the Tournament Championship Trophy on Sunday. A first for the Greenport festival this year was a men’s wheelchair lacrosse game between two teams.“Each year this event gets bigger and better and more popular in terms of registration, sponsorship and spectators“, said Harry Jacobs, the hard working and dedicated Greenport Shootout Committee Chairman for the LIMLF. “As a chapter of US Lacrosse, the governing body of lacrosse in our country, our mission is to foster and promote the game of lacrosse for all in the Metropolitan New York and Long Island areas. With more teams registering, the continuing support of our commercial sponsors, Greenport Village officials and the Greenport Schools Board of Education, we are able to provide scholarship’s to deserving Boy & Girl athletes and programs in this large area. Of course we also love coming here to the East End and the role we play in having so many parents and fans visit this great village at the peak of the season.”
Throughout the weekend the sidelines of the expansive and well-groomed athletic fields of Greenport High School were lined with canopy tent, tables and chairs providing a “tail-gate family party” atmosphere for parents, players, coaches and siblings. Much credit for the success of the festival also goes to Chairman Harry Jacobs, co-chairman Billy Rebman, Jim Howell of the Nassau County PAL and coordinator of the Nassau County PAL Youth Lacrosse League, Russ Ketchum President of the LIMLF, Sallie and John Phillips, L.I.M.L.F. Treasurer, Officials Assigners, Scott Howell, Carol O’Sullivan, Tom Hourican, Jack Schroeder, Mike Nelson, Hutch Vandershuyt , Barry Cohen, Joe Baccarella, Joe Kovar, Greg Lane, Tim Drake, Pat Bernardo, Rosalia Gioia, Angela Ritchie, Tom Rotanz, Randy Naftal, Eric Geringsward and Frank, Nick, Maya Pallone and Mike Gagen, Greenport Schools. Of extremely great assistance was Charlie Russo and members of Hope House who help get the seven fields ready for competition before the first game.
Rocco Nakouz of LaxFirstAid Tri-State was the on-site trainer tending to the needs of all the athletes and Mid-Island Press of Plainview provided printing, awards, Posters and printed the brochure. Special thanks go to David Gamberg, Superintendent of Greenport Schools and his staff the Greenport Board of Education, as well as the leadership of Greenport Village and the Mayor’s office and respective staffs.
The Greenport Police Department, EMS, and Fire Department service personnel were also on hand for safety and security
needs. Proceeds from the Greenport Shootout and other events sponsored of the LIMLF are used to fund scholarships for boys and girls high school programs, the PAL Children with Special Needs programs, and youth and community start-up programs. Two $1000 scholarships were awarded to Willie Riggins III and Sarah Tuthill of Greenport High School this past spring for Excellence and Community Service for the high school’s athletic program. In addition, six scholarship awards were presented this past season to outstanding lacrosse student-athletes from Nassau, Suffolk, and New York City.
Other participants and sponsors included Mike and Dorothy Thearle of South Bay Trucking, Steve and Chris Avazis of Arena Graphics, Jim Howell, Mid-Island Press of Plainview, Inc., Betty & Ellen, Soundview Motel, Wheelchair Sports Foundation as well as many food and equipment vendors. This annual event caps a very successful season for the Foundation. Highlighted this year’s programs was the sponsorship of the
Second Annual the “Shootout For Soldiers” event recently held in July at the Town of Oyster Bay Field of Dreams. Proceeds and donations from sponsors for this twenty-four hour non-stop friendly lacrosse tournament for 85 youth, adult, special needs teams and armed forces veteran teams enabled the LIMLF to donate more than $112,000 to The Wounded Warrior Project, The Rangers Lead The Way Fund, the Semper Fi Fund, the Gary Sinise Fund and Team RWB.