CARRIE MILLER PHOTO | A 2-year-old boy fell out of a second story window and through the Bilco doors leading to the basement of this home on Main Road in Mattituck Tuesday morning.

A 2-year-old Mattituck boy was airlifted to an area hospital after dropping out of a second-story window and falling through the open Bilco basement doors of a home on Main Road in Mattituck Tuesday afternoon, Southold Town police said.

Javier Cruz fell out of the window around noon, police said. The basement  was located directly beneath the window.

A plumbing crew that had been working on the house found him in the basement and called 911, police said.

Javier was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center where he is listed in fair condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.

cmiller@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Kaan Ilgin during a conditioning drill at Mattituck’s first practice on Monday.

As a goalkeeper, he probably had to do more running than he wanted, but Steve Ostrowski still had a big smile on his face after Mattituck’s first session of preseason practice on Monday.
Ostrowski and his teammates woke up early on the last week of summer vacation to train at 7:30 a.m. at Mattituck High School, the first of 10 two-hour, two-a-day practices prior to the Suffolk County League VIII boys soccer season.

There were few complaints from Ostrowski, who will captain the team as one of two seniors on the squad; Oscar Puluc is the other senior.

“Just getting back with the guys and getting some touches on the ball,” he said. “The whole thing is great, other than the running.”

Ostrowski’s goals were simple and direct.

“Obviously, the short term is get a set lineup. You know what you’re doing,” he said. “Mid-term is like to get that first win. The first win is like the hardest thing. We actually lost our first game last year — and that was really tough. You start off with a record like 0-1. You want to start off with 1-0. Long-term goal is to get back, get back to where we were last year.”

Despite having only two seniors return from a team that reached the Class B state semifinals last fall, Mattituck is poised for another memorable season. The Tuckers have a young team, but it is a talented side that has loads of potential.

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Joe Tardif and the rest of the Mattituck players began preparations to navigate themselves through a new season.

The Tuckers captured the Town of Brookhaven Summer League small schools title, which certainly can’t hurt, although they lost to the large schools champion, Central Islip, in the league’s overall final.

“I want them to build off the success from last year and the last couple of years,” coach Mat Litchhult said. “Our goal is to keep our tradition of winning the county championship. I want them to build off summer. I don’t want summer to go to their heads. I don’t want them to look back at summer and being like, ‘Oh, we played with Central Islip in the large school/small final. We only lost, 1-0. We should be fine in our league.’ That’s not the case. We’ve got to work hard. We’re going to play tough games. Center Moriches returns everybody from last year. Hampton Bays is going to be good. Southampton plays us hard all the time. You have to do the work. So today’s day one as much we had a great summer. And we can build off of it. Our end goal always is to see if we can win a county title.”

Litchhult, who addressed his team exactly at 7:30 a.m., is a realist. Even with a young team with loads of potential, he admitted he doesn’t know what to expect. He hoped to help the players grow and mould them into a cohesive unit.

“That’s the $100,000 question, whether we can do that,” he said. “I know we have the talent. Sometimes youth can be a good thing, sometimes youth can be a bad thing. I told them first thing. ‘Steve Ostrowski’s the senior. Let him step up and be a leader, but we need some guys behind [him]. I don’t care if you’re a junior. I don’t care if you’re a sophomore. Be vocal, step up, be a good player, lead by example.’

“Now, can they bridge the gap when we step onto the field against a Center Moriches? And when they step onto the field and be able to handle it and take their team? I know that they can play. I have seen them play in county championships the last couple of years as freshmen, as sophomores. I know they can handle the competition. Can they handle that when it’s their team? That’s the question. They have a senior. He’s going to lead. But we need everybody to take advantage, take that team and make it theirs.”

The players trained on what will be the junior varsity soccer team’s field. The girls team, which also held its first practice Monday, worked out on the lacrosse field. The soccer field, which will be used for games, was not utilized. It is, more or less, sacred ground.

After he addressed the team, Litchhult had the players do some stretching, running and kicking the ball around in the early minutes.

“First day you just never know what to expect,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve done it for. I thought overall it was a solid first session. I know some of our boys had a tough weekend. They played three or four games with their club teams. Did I go overboard and kill them physically? No. I’m glad to see them here. I’m glad to get the team back together to get some touches on the ball, get a little bit of fitness.”

A 27-year-old man driving without a license was arrested for DWI in Mattituck early Sunday, Southold Town police said.

Police spotted Cesar Chavez-Ruiz of Mattituck swerving in and out of his lane while driving on Breakwater Road near Cox Neck Lane about 3 a.m., according to a police statement. Mr. Chavez-Ruiz was pulled over and police discovered he was drunk, police said.

He was arrested and charged with DWI and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

psquire@timesreview.com

LYNCH FAMILY COURTESY PHOTO | Civil rights activist Bill Lynch of Mattituck.

To the Editor:

Having read about the death of Bill Lynch this week, I was reminded of my frequent encounters with Bill while his mother, Lily, was still alive. He and I met a number of years ago, when it was time to update the heating system in their home in Mattituck. Then we would talk from time to time when he would call me for service. Of course, as is my habit when meeting clients at their homes, I try to get to know them on a personal level. I was fascinated to learn from him of his work in the world of politics. And, being something of a political wonk myself, appreciated to hear that someone from such a small-town upbringing could end up being the deputy mayor in one of the largest cities in the world, and become so respected in the geopolitical world.

His experience was varied and extensive but his matter-of-fact way of relating his stories was truly refreshing. He was quick to smile and always left me feeling more like a friend than a business acquaintance.

While we were members of different political parties, Bill always emphasized the need to look past our differences, yes, both racially and politically, to find a common ground for which we could do better to serve our community.

He being 25 years my elder, and certainly a whole lot more politically experienced, I took his advice to heart. And I think approaching public service in this way, Bill’s way, has served me well. I feel honored to have known Bill Lynch and am saddened by his death.

Bob Ghosio Jr., Mattituck

Mr. Ghosio is a Southold Town Trustee and Republican candidate for Town Board.

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Molly Kowalski, a senior, is Mattituck’s top singles player.

PREVIEW

A high school girls tennis team knows it is in a good situation when the biggest issue it faces during preseason practice is the question of who will play on its third doubles team.

At the same time, Mattituck’s veteran coach, Jim Christy, fully understands the importance of doubles to his team’s upcoming season.

“It comes down to doubles,” said Christy, who is in his 33rd year of coaching the Tuckers (14-2 last season).

Christy said Mattituck could finish anywhere from first place to fourth place in Suffolk County League VIII. “It depends how we get the doubles playing,” he said.

As of last Thursday, Mattituck had five players under consideration for third doubles. “The other parts of the lineup are sort of falling into place,” said Christy.

Mattituck’s lineup is headlined by its top two singles players, seniors Molly Kowalski and Kyra Martin. They were both all-league choices last year. Martin hasn’t lost a league match in two years.

Christy said Kowalski has looked good in practice. “Molly is what I would describe as a tough out,” he said. “She is very focused, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, very much like Kyra. They’re carbon copies of each other.”

The top two doubles teams also appear set. Two sophomores, Anna Kowalski (Molly’s sister) and Courtney Penny, are slotted in at first doubles. Christine Bieber and Melissa Hickox, who are both seniors, are paired at second doubles.

It looks as if the third and fourth singles spots will go to Elizabeth Dwyer and Emily Mowdy, two eighth-graders who played for the junior varsity team last year.

Emily Ciamaricone, Autumn Harris and Erin Miller are all seniors with varsity experience.

A freshman, Haley Martin (Kyra’s sister), could be one of the third doubles players. Moving up from the junior varsity team are sophomores Julia Krudop and Ava Gaines, and juniors Victoria Ireland and Nicole Considine.

“Last year we were basically undefeated at second, third and fourth singles,” Christy said. “I think we’re very much like last year. It will come down to, again, how well we can get the doubles teams to play. The singles players are very competitive, they’re very consistent. If we win two of the three doubles points, we’ll have a very good year.”

Either way one looks at it, there’s no getting around a tough fact. A complete high school tennis lineup requires 10 players for four singles entries and three doubles teams; Southold/Greenport (4-11) had only seven varsity players this past weekend.

“Pretty scary,” said coach Allison Krupski.

Considering that a preseason team meeting in June was well-attended, Krupski said she was surprised at the low turnout for preseason practices. But five seniors, two of whom started last year, did not come out for the team. The junior varsity team has eight players. Krupski said she had not spoken to the athletic director, Mike Brostowski, about the situation yet, but she would advise keeping the teams split since most of the junior varsity players are freshmen.

So, as things stand, the varsity Clippers will go with three singles players and two doubles teams. That means they will forfeit two team points every match.

“They’re really working hard every day in practice,” Krupski said of her players. “They’re mentally trying to put it out of their mind that they’re going to forfeit two points every match.”

Six of the seven varsity players are seniors, led by Alexandra Small, who is expected to play first singles after handling third singles last year. Victoria Piechnik, the team’s Greenport representative, is slotted at second singles, with Jamie Grigonis and Caroline Metz in contention for third singles.

Jessica Rizzo and Shannon Quinn formed an all-league doubles team last season. Willow Wilcenski, a freshman, is the team’s only non-senior; she plays doubles.

“I’m still looking forward to a great season,” Krupski said. “I think individually they’re going to have a successful season.”

There is a positive side to being shorthanded: Players get more individualized attention and work.

“We get a lot more drills in,” Krupski said. “We do more things with less people.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Southold/Greenport has only seven varsity players, including Alexandra Small, who is expected to play first singles.

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Mattituck goalkeeper Steve Ostrowski and his teammates celebrating following their 5-4 victory over Spackenkill in a Southeast Region final.

PREVIEW

Any time a Long Island high school boys soccer team takes some time off from school in November and boards a coach bus to head upstate, it’s a great season.

And so, 2012 was just that for Mattituck (16-4-1). The defending Suffolk County League VII champion won its 15th sectional title and reached the New York State final four for at least the sixth time, according to coach Mat Litchhult. Mattituck’s wild ride came to an end with a 3-1 loss to Livonia in the state Class B semifinals. (Livonia was later declared a co-champion with Ichabod Crane after those teams played to a goalless draw in the final.) Livonia coach Ray Maxwell said Mattituck was “as good as we’ve seen.”

The memory of that magical playoff run by Mattituck lingers.

“I think that is a driving force for these guys,” Litchhult said of his players. They want to get back there.”

As Litchhult sees it, for all their youth, there is no reason why the Tuckers couldn’t mount a similar campaign this year. The talent is there, starting with Kaan Ilgin, a junior striker from Turkey who scored 13 goals and made the all-conference team last year. Another junior striker, Mario Arreola, was a 7-goal scorer. He was an all-league player along with goalkeeper Steve Ostrowski, who is going into his senior season.

Twin brothers James Hayes and Paul Hayes, both juniors, were starters last year along with junior outside back Walter Jacob. James Hayes plays in center midfield and Paul Hayes is a central defender.

Kevin Williams, a junior who will play center back, saw a lot of playing time and produced 5 goals.

Outside midfielder Oscar Puluc, center midfielder Oswaldo Aldaz and striker Joe Tardif also bring varsity experience.

New to the team are: defender Mike O’Rourke, midfielder Kevin Diffley, midfielder Erik Schwartz, midfielder Jack DiGregorio, goalkeeper Nick Vitolano, midfielder Matt Krauza, defender Andrew Cushman, goalkeeper Ben Knowles, defender Matt Carter, midfielder Ryan Foster, striker Brian Doherty, defender Dan Parks, midfielder John Batuello, defender Dan Fedun and defender Connor Almberg.

Twenty of the team’s 25 players are juniors, three are sophomores and two are seniors.

“For a young squad, we have a lot of experience,” Litchhult said. “Some of these juniors have been in two county championship games already.”

“I think they’re a motivated bunch,” he continued. “I think they know we have some talent.”

And depth, too. “I think we have some guys coming off the bench who could be starters on other teams,” said Litchhult.

Litchhult said he is not sure who the captain will be, and whether that will be determined for the entire season or on a game-by-game basis. “They’re not really a rah-rah-type of team,” he said. “They’re not really a lot of guys yelling and screaming.”

Then again, the Tuckers would be content to let their play do the talking for them.

“I think their potential is unlimited,” Litchhult said. “They can do whatever they want this year.”

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Will Richter playing against Port Jefferson, which was responsible for three of Southold’s five losses last season.

One thing looks certain for this coming season: Southold (13-5) will not have to worry about Port Jefferson.

For the third year in a row, Southold’s season ended with a playoff loss to Port Jefferson in 2012. It was the second straight year in which that loss came in a Suffolk County Class C final. Port Jefferson was responsible for three of Southold’s five losses last year.

But Port Jefferson, which has won state championships the past two years, has been bumped up to Class B, is no longer in Southold’s league and not on Southold’s schedule this year. That means there are no Port Jefferson-Southold matchups, which have become notoriously physical and intense, in the works for 2013.

It could be seen as an opportunity for Southold to contend for League VIII and Suffolk Class C titles with the likes of Pierson/Bridgehampton and The Stony Brook School.

“I think we are contenders,” said Andrew Sadowski, who will enter his 19th season as Southold’s coach with a 221-101-16 (.654) career record. “If we continue to play hard and work hard, we should be right in the mix.”

The First Settlers will sorely miss Evan Miller, a prolific scorer who produced 30 goals in his senior season. That will mean a change in the balance of goal production.

“I think there’s going to be an even balance of goal scorers,” Sadowski said. “We’re going to need it from everybody.”

At the same time, he said, there is no need to be overly concerned about goal scoring. “There are several players who will score,” he said.

Senior midfielders Drew Sacher and Will Richter should be among them. Seven of the team’s eight returning players were starters last year, including junior midfielder Zach Ellis, junior defender Ryan DiGregorio, junior midfielder Shayne Johnson, senior midfielder/defender Brian Hallock and senior Kenji Fujita, who has moved from goalkeeper to the field as a midfielder or a forward. Michael Shade, a senior midfielder/defender, is the other returning player.

With Fujita’s move to the field, John Charles Funke, a junior who played for the junior varsity team last year, is the No. 1 goalkeeper. Also new to the team are: defender Kevin McGough, midfielder/defender Jose Membrano, forward Dean Albergo, forward/midfielder Joe Worysz, defender Jack Dunne and defender Chris Bucci.

Sadowski said several players can play multiple positions, so he is mixing and matching to see what works best. “I think collectively as an entire group, they’re settling into their roles,” he said.

“We’re getting there, I think,” he added. “We just have to get there by next Saturday” for the season-opening game at Hampton Bays.

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Austin Hooks, left, and Ryan Weingart account for the bulk of Greenport/Shelter Island’s varsity experience.

A three-word sentence by Greenport/Shelter Island coach Chris Golden pretty much said it all: “We’re starting inexperience.”

He isn’t kidding or exaggerating, either.

Aside from a pair of three-year varsity players, seniors Austin Hooks and Ryan Weingart, the Porters (6-9-2) don’t have much in the way of veterans. Charlie Binder and Eddie Rogers, both senior midfielders, are back. Two juniors, goalkeeper Alex Perez and defender Nick Droskoski, played sparingly. Two sophomores, forward Bryon Rivas and defender Angel Colon, saw some time.

And that’s pretty much it. It adds up to the most inexperienced team Golden has had in his seven years as the Porters’ coach. About two-thirds of the players on the varsity and junior varsity teams combined are freshmen or sophomores.

“Long-term, it’s simple, to develop the players and give them the experience they need,” said Golden, whose career record with the Porters is 42-53-8 (.408).

This affords opportunities for defender Justin Bracken, midfielder Eduardo Sanchez, midfielder Chris Sponza and defender Ben Bracken (Justin’s cousin) to make their mark.

Golden said it is important for his players to be comfortable playing more than one position. “There’s going to be a lot of interchangeable parts,” he said. “These kids have to be knowledgeable and have the ability to play everywhere and anywhere.”

With Hooks moving out of goal, the goalkeeping job is being competed for by Perez and Richard Torres. How will the 6-foot-3 Hooks fare in the field?

“He’s going to have moments of brilliance,” Golden said, “and moments when you probably shake your head.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Southold/Greenport’s all-conference center midfielder Justina Babcock is going into her fourth varsity season.

PREVIEW

Sometimes the wisdom of a decision isn’t fully appreciated until years after it is made.

No need to tell that to the Southold/Greenport girls soccer coach, Katy Smith. Smith recognized that bringing five freshmen onto her first varsity team three years ago would pay off in the long run. “I did something right in bringing those freshmen up,” she said.

That payoff could come this year for the Clippers (8-4-2 last season), who have missed reaching the playoffs by one game in each of the past two years. The team last made it to the playoffs in 2009.

“I think we’re finally ready to make it to playoffs,” winger Cindy Van Bourgondien proclaimed. “It’s been so long.”

And the Clippers are still a young group, with only three seniors: all-conference center midfielder Justina Babcock, winger Leah LaFreniere and Van Bourgondien. Babcock and Van Bourgondien are entering their fourth varsity season.

Isabella Simon, a junior sweeper, was an all-league pick last year. The defense, including stopper Rosemary Volinski and fullback Michaela Manno, will protect goalkeeper Masha Winkler, who was promoted to the varsity team last year as a freshman. “She definitely rose to the challenge,” said Smith.

Julie Van Gorden, a winger/striker, and Megan Van Bourgondien, a center midfielder who is Cindy’s cousin, were starters last season. The Clippers hope Laurel Sutton and Michelle Innamorato will add punch to the front line. Two players who sat out last season with injuries, winger Ajsia Martocchia and forward Jasmine Fell, are undoubtedly eager to play again.

“I think the chemistry is tremendously better,” Smith said. “They’re all pulling their own weight.”

“Their physical ability is there, and the skill,” she added. “I really look forward to seeing what these girls do.”

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Mattituck sweeper Nicole Zurawski is believed to have NCAA Division I ability.

Malynda Nichol is no stranger to adversity, and that may be why she is the new Mattituck coach, taking over for Pete Hansen, who left the school after one year.

Adversity is part of the package. It’s something the Tuckers have to deal with nowadays.

The fact that the Tuckers graduated 12 players from last year’s team may be the least of their problems. Once a virtual soccer factory that received a steady supply of talented players through club soccer, that supply has dwindled dramatically for a variety of reasons. Last year Mattituck did not have enough players for a junior varsity team, so the school fielded only a varsity team. A considerable number of players saw little or no playing time for the senior-loaded team. Mattituck went 7-8, losing to Babylon in a Suffolk County Class B outbracket game.

While Mattituck has a junior varsity team, coached by Kim Gerstung, back this year, the varsity players bring a mixed bag of talent and experience. “We see some good things already,” Nichol said, “but we have a lot of different levels.”

Nichol played at a high level herself. She was a player in the Olympic Development Program, a forward for Penfield High School outside of Rochester and an outside midfielder for George Washington University. She also played semipro soccer for the Rochester Ravens, but her playing career was hampered by six knee operations.

Now, in her first high school varsity coaching job, she is facing a new challenge.

Mattituck is counting heavily on two juniors, sweeper Nicole Zurawski and forward Abby Graeb, for their abilities and experience. The rest of the players have seen little to no varsity action up to this point. Zurawski, who is already in her fourth varsity year, is regarded as an NCAA Division I-caliber player.

Catherine Hayes, a freshman midfielder, sat out last season with a concussion. Also seen as potential starters are stopper Kyle Freudenberg, defender Madison Kent, defender Sara Pfennig, midfielder/forward Patricia Brisotti, midfielder Sam Stapon, midfielder Kellie Stepnoski, goalkeeper Val Hommel, midfielder Amy Macaluso and forward/midfielder Rachel Winkler.

Nichol said she is unsure where Courtney Murphy, who is recovering from a hip flexor injury, will play. The team has other options in forward Isabel Torgrove, goalkeeper Emma Fasolino and stopper/midfielder Hannah Fitzgerald.

“It’s taking some time, but the girls are showing great promise,” Nichol said. “I see the passion is there, and I’m excited.”

She added: “They want to win and they want to learn. We want to bring the soccer program back up to where it was.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

ROHAN MURPHY COURTESY PHOTO | Rohan Murphy does pushups in the weight room at Penn State, where he wrestled from 2004 to 2006.

American Paralympian Rohan Murphy will be a special guest speaker for students in grades seven through 12 at Mattituck Junior-Senior High School on Friday, Sept. 20.

Mr. Murphy was born with a disease that required both his legs to be amputated when he was four years old. His parents were told he would need 24-hour care for life.

Instead, he took up varsity wrestling while a student at East Islip High School and went to Penn State on a wrestling scholarship. He competed on the Penn State teams from 2004 to 2006 before becoming an accomplished powerlifter, winning a bronze medal in the 2006 Paralympics in Korea.

He has been featured on ABC News and in Sports Illustrated, and he recorded a commercial for the Nike “No Excuses” campaign.

He is now a motivational speaker making appearances at schools and civic groups across the country.

Check out his Nike commercial below:

ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Kaylee Bergen, a junior, is one of Mattituck’s three all-county runners.

PREVIEW

Sometime in the near future, one should start seeing girls walking the hallways of Mattituck High School wearing T-shirts and jackets that proclaim them to be the 2012 Suffolk County Class C cross-country champions.

The championship is history, the T-shirts and jackets are on order, and the Tuckers have begun work on defending their title. Those wonderful memories from last year are still fresh, though.

What a season it was. Mattituck went 4-1 in League VII before winning the county title. It then went on to run in the state meet, finishing fourth in its class, the highest a Class C team has ever finished in New York State, according to coach Jean Mahoney.

“It was exhilarating; it was great,” said Mahoney, who was the Suffolk Class C Coach of the Year. “Most teams from Section XI were like, ‘Where is Mattituck?’ They were blown away that this little team from this little farm town could go all the way.”

Mattituck returns all but one runner from last year’s team, and should still be strong. Three all-county runners — freshman Melanie Pfennig, junior Kaylee Bergen and sophomore Audrey Hoeg — are among them.

Providing further depth are sophomore Mia Vasile-Cozzo, sophomore Taylor Berkoski, senior Hallie Kujawski, sophomore Briana Perino and junior Sarah Sheppard.

Sara Goerler, a sophomore who is a former soccer player, has joined the team along with freshmen Sascha Rosin, Katie Stumpf and Tina Imbriano.

“I like the way they work together,” Mahoney said. “They work hard. They’re a good team. They have a good work ethic, and that’s huge.”

Do they have what it takes to repeat as county champions?

“I hope so,” Mahoney answered. “It all depends on how hard they work. They have to want it. They have to want to do better than they did last year.”

The way the Southold First Settlers (5-1 last season) look at it, what they lack in numbers, they have to make up for in heart and determination.

In dual meets, the top five runners for each team score points, and that is what Southold has, five runners. No more, no less.

“It definitely has an impact in that we don’t have room for injuries,” said coach Karl Himmelmann, whose team was the League VIII runner-up last year. “We need these five girls, and they know this: They have to work together and work hard and give the best effort that they can do. That’s all I can ask from them. I’m not going to ask for anything other than for them to give their best effort.”

The team is led by two four-year runners, seniors Shannon Guyer and Katie Connolly. They were both all-league runners and the team’s top two runners last year. Guyer (16th in 23 minutes 6.20 seconds) and Connolly (17th in 23:19.50) were the top two Southold finishers in Division IV in the county division championships over 3.1 miles at Sunken Meadow State Park last year. Connolly and Guyer both qualified for the county championships last year, but that meet was cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy.

“They’re going to be the foundation of the team this year in terms of leadership,” Himmelmann said. “They’re both poised to do strong this year. They’ve both been running throughout the summer. They look strong in practices.”

Katie Hunstein, a sophomore who was among the team’s top five runners last season, also returns. Freshmen Julia McAllister and Carlie Wegley are new to the team.

“Even though they’re still only five, it’s like that old saying,” Himmelmann said, “you got to be in it to win it, and they’re definitely in it.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Southold junior Jon Rempe leads a deep team into the 2013 season.

PREVIEW

Cross country is a sport that incorporates a team concept along with the individual aspect. In order to emphasize the team angle, the Southold boys team has adopted a motto for this season: “We run as one.”

It’s something coach Karl Himmelmann wants his runners to keep in mind when they are training or competing in a meet.

“Running can seem like a pretty solitary, isolated sport because you’re off by yourself, but it’s a team effort,” he said. “We run as a team.”

And the First Settlers hope to win as a team this season. They certainly have the ingredients.

Southold (4-2 last season) is coming off back-to-back Suffolk County Class D championships and is seen as a contender for the League VIII title this year. Its top runner, junior Jon Rempe, returns to a deep team along with freshman Owen Klipstein, junior Chris Buono and junior Michael Cosmadelis. Rempe and Klipstein were all-league runners last year. Rempe finished ninth in the Division IV team qualifier in the Section XI division championships at Sunken Meadow State Park last year. His time on the 3.1-mile course was 18 minutes 38.10 seconds.

“Jon Rempe has consistently been my top runner, but the other boys … have also been in that top mix as well,” said Himmelmann.

Like all cross-country coaches, it seems, injuries are a concern for Himmelmann, who knows that an injury to a key runner can knock a team off course. That is why he encourages his athletes to train smart, and has set up a training schedule to bring them along gradually. The idea is to strengthen muscles and joints for the season in the hope that it will help avoid pulled muscles and foot injuries.

But the First Settlers have already been hit by an injury. Gus Rhymer, a junior who was the second Southold runner to reach the finish line in the divisional meet in 19:47.40, will miss the start of the season with a foot injury.

In the meantime, some newcomers to the team should help absorb his absence as well as the loss to graduation of four-year runner Jon Tomici and James Shine. Two juniors, Jeremy Rempe (Jon’s twin brother) and Gregory Quist, are new additions. So are five other first-year runners: sophomore Gage Bennett, sophomore Michael Gensler, freshman Joe Saporita, freshman Joe Tsoumpelis and senior Dan Stahl.

“A lot of these boys have been running all summer long,” said Himmelmann. He added: “They are all looking very strong. They’re looking fast.”

Another positive development for the cross-country program in Southold is the addition of junior high school boys and girls teams, both coached by John Palmeri. “That’s going to definitely help our program down the road,” said Himmelmann, who hasn’t had the benefit of junior high teams to draw from during his four years as the coach of Southold’s boys and girls varsity squads.

Meanwhile, the varsity team is eyeing a possible threepeat with county championships.

“I think we have a good shot,” Himmelmann said. “I think if the boys continue to progress, I think we have a legitimate shot.”

The sight of a small army of high school runners hopping off a team bus may not exactly be common, but it might be something someone would expect to see from a big school like St. Anthony’s or Sachem East. But tiny, little Mattituck?

“Last year we got a lot of looks,” said coach Julie Milliman, whose team started last season with 46 runners and finished with 40.

This year the number has dropped a little to 30, which is still a large size for a cross-country team, no less a cross-country team from a small school.

“We have a good mix,” Milliman said. “They push each other to be competitive, and with 30 kids you’re always going to have a friend.”

Of that 30, about 26 are returning runners and 13 are seniors.

Coming off a two-win, rebuilding season, the Tuckers expect to be more competitive this year. They are counting on veteran runners like senior Adam Hicks, sophomore Jack Dufton, sophomore Eddie Dowling, freshman Matt Heffernan, senior Bobby Becker, senior Kevin Schwartz, senior Chris Mehalakes and sophomore Lucas Webb. Hicks recorded a time of 19:21.80 that brought him 19th place in the division championships at Sunken Meadow.

“I do know that if some of these kids run to their potential, we’re going to fare much better than we did last year,” said Milliman, who is in her fourth year as the team’s coach. “They just have a more focused attitude, and I think they’re hungry for the prs.”

In Milliman’s first year, Mattituck had 12 runners, and that number grew to around 20 in her second year.

“It’s taken off,” she said. “As long as they have [good] attitudes … and they’re good kids, I’ll take as many as want to come out.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Greenport/Southold sophomore Marina DeLuca, an all-league outside hitter, is one of the top players for a team in transition.

PREVIEW

The Greenport/Southold girls volleyball team made a lot of noise — figuratively and literally — last season. As for this new collection of Clippers, well, you may want to turn up the volume a little bit.

When asked to identify the biggest difference between last year’s team and this year’s squad, Greenport/Southold coach Sue Kostal did not hesitate for a moment, calling last year’s Clippers louder than the current collection. “Much louder,” she said. “It’s night and day.”

Depending on the scenario, that may or may not be desirable, but one thing is for certain: The Clippers are starting over.

“It’s a big transition year,” said Kostal.

Having lost five players, all of whom played regularly, including outside hitter Shelby Kostal, the coach’s daughter who now plays for SUNY/Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, Greenport/Southold heads into the season with some unknowns.

Yet, there are some vital remnants from last year’s team, which went 12-2, losing to Babylon in the Suffolk County Class C final. Marina DeLuca, a sophomore outside hitter, was an all-league player last season. She was part of a starting lineup that included libero Samantha Henry and middle hitter Kendra King, who are both juniors.

One can envision expanded roles for the team’s two other returning juniors, outside hitter Jenna Standish and off-side hitter Meg Murray.

Ashley Billera, a defensive specialist and the team’s only senior, is looking to make an impact along with four sophomores: middle hitter Gina Anasagasti, outside hitter Rosa Hernandez and setters Sydney Mulvaney and Mercedes Edwards.

More than anything, Sue Kostal said, the younger Clippers need court experience, and there are no shortcuts to that. It takes time.

“Their skill level has to get better,” she said. “They just have to play more.”

Developing chemistry is also an important factor that doesn’t happen overnight. “It’s a small little box with six people on it that you have to be able to trust,” said the coach.

When a reporter reminded Frank Massa that last year was the first time in three years that Mattituck (6-13) didn’t make it to Glens Falls for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships, the Tuckers coach asked good-naturedly, “Are you trying to rub salt in the wounds?”

Not that reaching the Suffolk Class C semifinals — which Mattituck did, losing to Babylon — is shabby, but Massa said he does not believe the team reached its potential in 2012. The exciting prospect for him, however, is discovering the potential of the 2013 Tuckers, who have some experience and depth to draw from their 18-player roster.

Two seniors, setter Laurel Bertolas and middle hitter Shannon Dwyer, lead a cast that includes two other returning starters, sophomore setter Carly Dorhy and junior outside hitter Emile Reimer. Bertolas, who is in her third varsity year, is the team’s longest-serving player.

Also bringing varsity experience are middle hitters Pam Batist and Kayla Healy, setters Casey Rugnetta and Tricia Dorfmiester, and back-row specialists Jessica Makucewicz, Lauren Waters, Nicole L’Hommedieu and Courtney Benediktsson.

The new additions are middle hitter Colby Prokop, back-row specialist Constantina Leodis, libero Julia Orlando and outside hitters Caralee Stevens, Lizzie Wilcencki and Lisa Angell.

“I have a lot of interchangeable parts,” Massa said. “Right now, hopefully, we’re trying to preach defense because I think that more than anything else, defense is going to be our mainstay.”

The Tuckers have reached the playoffs for the past nine years, and played in county finals in seven of those years. But they will have their hands full in League VII, where the competition is expected to be fierce with Bayport-Blue Point, Elwood/John Glenn, Center Moriches, Hampton Bays and Mount Sinai.

Said Massa, “For us small guys, it’s a brutal league.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Mattituck senior Richie Corazzini was one of three all-league golfers from last year who are returning this season.

PREVIEW

When Jim Underwood retired as the Mattituck boys varsity golf coach, he apologized to his successor, Paul Ellwood, for leaving him with such a young team.

“And then they won the league championship,” said Ellwood.

And then they did so again and yet again!

As it turned out, no apologies were necessary as the Tuckers won three successive league championships. They came agonizingly close to a fourth straight league crown last year, only to see it slip from their grasp with a loss to Eastport/South Manor on the final day of the season at Hampton Hills Golf and Country Club.

Mattituck finished the season with a 10-2 record, behind League VII champion Eastport/South Manor (11-1). Over the past five years, Mattituck’s record is a remarkable 56-4.

“The record is great, but the guys, they kind of have that chip on their shoulder after last season,” Ellwood said. “They’re not taking things for granted this year.”

Mattituck will be a force to be reckoned with once again. The Tuckers return their entire lineup, including all-league golfers Eric Olsen, Brad Tyler and Richie Corazzini. All three of those seniors had nine-hole averages between 39 and 40 and took turns playing the No. 1 position.

More varsity experience is provided by sophomore John Dwyer (42 average), junior Chris Mauceri (44) and freshman Matt Mauceri (46). Liam Sehuford, a senior, and Parker Tuthill, a sophomore, played mostly exhibition matches last season.

It’s a solid eight, to be sure.

“We’re good, we’re deep,” Ellwood said. “It’s just how are we going to play in those big matches? If we catch fire, I don’t think anybody is going to beat us.”

Ellwood said it will be critical for Mattituck two take two wins from its three away matches against Eastport/South Manor, Greenport/Southold and Shelter Island.

The competition in League VII is expected to be keen among those four teams, including a Greenport/Southold contingent that coach Dave Fujita said is the deepest he has had in years.

“It should be interesting,” Fujita said of the upcoming League VII season. “I haven’t seen it this competitive in a while. Anything can happen. If we play the way we need to play, we have a shot at anything, but playing it and saying it are two different things.”

A big plus in Greenport/Southold’s favor is the fact that the Clippers (8-4) lost only one player to graduation, Dave O’Day. The rest of the lineup returns, five seniors among them.

The co-captains, senior Rob Anderson and junior Tom Messana, both all-league selections last year, are competing for the No. 1 spot. They averaged in the low 40s.

“I’m counting on these guys to break 40 this year on a consistent basis,” Fujita said. “If they break 40, they’re giving themselves a chance to win their match.”

Also featured are senior Tim Stankewicz, junior Alex Poliwoda, senior Rob Mahony, and sophomores Brendan Walker and Liam Walker, who are not related. Brian Tuthill, a senior, played in the first match last year before a shoulder injury shut him down for the remainder of the season. Tuthill is about 95 percent recovered and has been cleared to play, said Fujita.

Bobby Van Mater, a freshman, and Ryan Harroun, a senior, are new to the team.

Fujita said Anderson and Messana can beat anyone, and his next four golfers should be fairly consistent, hopefully breaking 45.

“I’m lucky,” Fujita said. “I have great kids, they love the sport and hopefully they’ll take these memories with them wherever they go. Think about it, playing golf after school on these beautiful courses; it doesn’t get any better than that, right?”

bliepa@timesreview.com

CYNDI MURRAY PHOTO | Traffic was being directed around the tree before 9 a.m. Friday.

Police were diverting traffic after a tree fell into the roadway in Cutchogue Friday, slowing morning traffic for about 15 minutes for drivers.

The tree fell into the roadway along Main Road near the Mattituck border.

Police were on the scene directing traffic around the tree via the eastbound shouler about 8:45 a.m. Work crews were not yet on the scene.

MILLER FAMILY COURTESY PHOTO | Buddy and Debora Miller aboard the boat named for the Mattituck resident.

A boat is probably the last place you’d expect to find a donkey, but it’s the perfect fit for Buddy.

The miniature donkey, owned by Jimmy and Debora Miller of Mattituck, took home the prize for Best Mascot during the Great North Harbor Tug Boat Race in New York City earlier this month.

The Millers’ tugboat, also named the Debora Miller, didn’t do too shabbily, either. The boat earned first place in its race division.

The Millers purchased the 79-foot boat last year for Mr. Miller’s Port Jeff-based business, Miller Marine Services. While this was the couple’s second year in the competition, Buddy shined in his debut.

MILLER FAMILY COURTESY PHOTO | Miniature donkey Buddy, owned by Jimmy and Debora Miller of Mattituck, eyes the New York City skyline during the Great North Harbor Tug Boat Race earlier this month.

In the past, dogs, hermit crabs and even a chicken have vied for the mascot title. But until this year, no one involved in the event had ever seen a donkey mascot.

“The judge came over to make sure he was real and not animatronic,” Ms. Miller said. “Everyone walked over to see him, people from other boats.”

Buddy is used to the attention. A local celebrity in his own right, he has made television appearances; visited libraries, churches, local shops and nursing homes; and participated in programs for special needs children and adults. He even goes caroling at Christmastime.

Buddy hasn’t let it all go to his head. According to his “mom,” he’s most at home when strolling with his pasture mates — a dog, three horses and a potbellied pig — at the couple’s Mattituck home.

Two years ago, Ms. Miller, a member of the East End Ass Whisperers, a group of local women dedicated to rescuing donkeys, saved Buddy from being bought at auction by a slaughterhouse.

Since then, Buddy has become a regular at St. Patrick’s Day, Fourth of July, Halloween and Christmas parades. For him, the tugboat ride was just another day at the office. On race day, he remained as cool as a cucumber.

Buddy rode into Staten Island in his trailer and was then gently placed aboard the Debora Miller using a cargo net and a boom. The onlookers, choppy waters, acceleration of the engines and the honking of the tug’s foghorn didn’t faze him one bit. He calmly ate his hay and observed the chaos around him. And his owners were sure to provide him with a private stall with mats and railings, hay, water and grain.

“He may not have appreciated the majesty of the Statue of Liberty or the skyline of New York, but he got to see it all from his lofty perch,” said family friend and fellow Ass Whisperer Cathleen Springer, who also attended the race. “He happily wore his sailor hat and life preserver all day.”

Accompanied by applause and cheers, both the Millers and Buddy were presented their awards at the 42nd Street pier in Manhattan. Once the crowds dispersed and the passengers disembarked, Buddy calmly walked into the middle of the cargo net, which was carefully raised, before boarding the trailer for his ride back to the barn.

cmurray@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Southampton’s Elliot LaGuardia and Mattituck’s Paul Hayes in pursuit of the ball.

TUCKERS 2, MARINERS 1

Free-kick taking is an art, and what Kevin Williams crafted on Tuesday was a thing of beauty. At least in Mattituck eyes.

For over an hour of play in the Southampton-Mattituck boys soccer game, neither team had scored, and one began to wonder if either would before the day was over. Then, in the 64th minute, Mattituck was awarded a direct free kick 28 yards in front of the Southampton goal.

Mattituck’s free-kick responsibilities are shared by the left-footed Kaan Ilgin and Williams, who prefers his right foot. Ilgin deferred to Williams, and the junior central defender stepped up to take the kick.

What makes taking a direct free kick in such situations so tricky is that the kicker must strike the ball high enough to go over the defensive wall, yet not so high that it rises over the crossbar. At the same time, the shot must have the power and the placement to beat the goalkeeper.

Williams’ attempt had all of the above.

“I thought it was going to hit the crossbar, and in the last second it looked like it dipped a lot,” he said.

The ball flew into the net, to the right of flying goalkeeper Garrett Pike for Williams’ first goal of the young season. It was the sort of goal players dream about.

“You just can’t teach that,” Mattituck’s attacking center midfielder, James Hayes, said admiringly. “That was a great goal.”

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Mattituck junior forward Kaan Ilgin assisted on the winning goal, put 3 of his 4 shots on goal and completed 21 of 29 passes.

It was the first of 3 goals within a span of 3 minutes 43 seconds in the Suffolk County League VII game, leaving Mattituck with a 2-1 victory in its home opener. Hayes spotted Mattituck a 2-0 lead 2:20 after Williams’ strike.

But it was the first goal, the ice-breaker, that was the most impressive.

“I’ve seen him take shots like that in practice, and he did it again,” Mattituck coach Mat Litchhult said. “You know, it’s tough to get that kind of a swerve on a ball.”

Moments after the first goal, Ilgin slid a cutting pass into the penalty area for Hayes, who then slid the ball under Pike for a 2-0 lead and Hayes’ second goal of the season.

Ilgin is a tremendously skilled player. “His technical ability on the ball is some of the best I’ve ever seen,” said Litchhult.

The junior forward had 49 touches on the ball, put 3 of his 4 shots on goal, and connected on 21 of 29 passes.

If Williams’ goal loosened things up for the Tuckers (2-1, 2-0), the second goal may have made them feel too loose, said Litchhult. “I think the 2-nothing lead hurt us a little bit because I think we relaxed and we thought the game was over.”

It wasn’t.

Southampton (2-2, 1-2) pulled itself back in the game 1:23 later when Elliot LaGuardia knocked the ball between goalkeeper Steve Ostrowski’s legs.

Four minutes into the game, Ilgin nearly set up a goal by Mario Arreola, only to see Southampton’s Tyler Wisner clear the ball.

Another close call came six minutes into the second half when Hayes passed to Oswaldo Aldaz, whose creative flick nearly reached the net before Southampton’s Kevin Dexter booted the ball to safety.

Mattituck survived a couple of threatening shots by Southampton’s Ezekiel Martinez that barely missed their target in the second half.

All in all, it was a good showing by the Tuckers.

“We strung so many passes and they couldn’t touch it,” Hayes said. “It’s just good to watch.”

Mattituck, a New York State Class B semifinalist last year, once again has plenty of talent. At the same time, the team is young. Only two of Mattituck’s 25 players are seniors, Aldaz and Ostrowski. Expectations are high.

“I’d say this is one of the best teams that Mattituck has ever had,” Hayes said. “I know we can go to states and I’m positive we can win it; it’s just a matter of the hard work we can put in like we did last year.”

An occasional goal off a set piece wouldn’t hurt, either.

Williams is the first to acknowledge that the majority of free kicks don’t find their mark, instead sailing over the crossbar, going wide or hitting the wall.

“You never really know where it’s going to go,” Williams said. “It has to be perfect. It’s more of a 1-in-10-shot chance, but I guess I got it. I hit it.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Stony Brook’s Sydney Dunn, left, and Mattituck’s Abby Graeb trying to gain control of the ball.

TUCKERS 3, BEARS 1

As a sweeper, Nicole Zurawski’s main responsibility is to clean up messes in the back.

This year, the talented junior has taken on an added responsibility by becoming part of the Mattituck High School girls soccer team’s attack. She has caused a mess or two for the opposition’s defense and goalkeepers to clean up on their side of the field.

Take, for example, what transpired in the visiting Tuckers’ 3-1 victory over The Stony Brook School on Wednesday.

With the Suffolk County League VII encounter knotted up at 1-1 midway through the opening half, Zurawski powered in a brilliant 20-yard shot to give the Tuckers (2-0-1, 2-0) a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Zurawski’s goal was sandwiched around scores by teammates Trish Brisotti and Isabel Torgove. Morgan Pius tallied the Bears’ lone goal.

Zurawski has scored 3 goals from outside the penalty area this young season, giving Mattituck a unique weapon that not many teams — high school, college, amateur or pro — possess, a central defender who can score from distance.

“Her goal for herself was to get five goals,” Mattituck coach Malynda Nichol said. “I think that she’s well beyond that. We’re getting her to take more shots, try to spring her forward a little bit more.”

Nichol liked what she saw from the rest of her team.

“The girls worked hard, they battled,” she said. “We’ve been working a lot on stretching the field and possessing the ball and I think they made some good decisions in the second half.”

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Sydney Dunn of Stony Brook gets a foot on the ball before Mattituck’s Trish Brisotti can.

The game was played on The Stony Brook School football field, narrower than most soccer fields and definitely not as wide as the Tuckers’ home pitch.

“It was a little difficult playing on a field this narrow because we do like to play the ball out wide,” Brisotti said. “You really don’t have that much room to make a mistake because the field’s so narrow your defender is right on you.”

It probably wouldn’t matter how wide or narrow the field was trying to defend one of Zurawski’s long-distance shots. She already had one in the season-opening 2-2 tie with Central Islip on Sept. 13 and another in a 3-0 win over Smithtown Christian on Sept. 16.

“I just picked my head up and looked where the keeper was,” Zurawski said. “Just shot far post high because it’s usually a lot harder to stop when I shoot high. There’s everyone in the way. I picked my head up and found the space in the goal and shot it, smacked it.”

Smacked through several bodies, over the head of a defender standing near the right post and over goalkeeper Fiona Farrell.

“She has great placement for the shot,” Nichol said. “She’s an outstanding player.”

Right after Zurawski scored, one of the Stony Brook coaches said, “That’s a sweet spot.”

Indeed it was.

Zurawski has forged her reputation as a calm and cool central defender, someone who is supposed to make sure those type of goals aren’t scored on the Tuckers.

“There are a lot of characteristics that make her a good player,” Nichol said. “One is her work ethic, the fact that she never gives up. She is smart in the back. She communicates with her outside backs and leads them. And she’s also tenacious. So she’s good in the air and she has a nose for the ball.”

Zurawski was paired with senior stopper Kellie Stepnoski, who replaced the injured Kyle Freudenberg (knee). Stepnoski made her presence felt by keeping the ball away from Zurawski and goalkeeper Val Hommel as much as she could by winning 50-50 balls.

“She stepped up big time,” Zurawski said. “She’s like an animal out there. She wins literally every 50-50 ball. She’s awesome.”

But as well as those two central defenders played, the Tuckers could not stop the Bears from scoring.

Only two minutes into the match, Brisotti struck from eight yards out to give Mattituck a 1-0 advantage.

Stony Brook (0-2, 0-2), however, began to dominate and equalized on Pius’ high shot over Hommel with 29:04 remaining in the half as the Tuckers failed to clear the ball from the penalty area.

“We came out flat in the first half.” Nichol said.

Slowly, but surely, the Tuckers got their act together, pressing for an insurance tally. With 3:21 remaining in the match, they got it. Defender Motunrayo Tejuoso lost the ball in the Bears’ defensive third. Abby Graeb passed the ball to an open Torgove on the right side and the senior forward rolled the ball into an open right corner.

“I put it in as lightly as I could,” Torgove said. “It was more placement over power.”

And some relief for the Tuckers.

Said Torgrove, “There were only a few minutes left on the clock and without it there was always a chance that they would get another one and tie it.”

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Mattituck middle hitter Shannon Dwyer tries to direct the ball past an attempted block by Center Moriches’ Caroline Casey.

TUCKERS 25, 23, 25, 25, RED DEVILS 13, 25, 19, 21

The Mattituck High School girls volleyball team has traditionally been known for tenacious defense, but hitting? Not exactly.

Well, that may be changing. This season the Tuckers have some big swingers. The high-flying Shannon Dwyer may be the most well-known of them, but Emilie Reimer is the hardest hitter on the team, according to coach Frank Massa. Also, Pam Batist can put some balls away with force, too.

Mattituck’s hitting ability was prominent Thursday night when the Tuckers knocked down 26 kills in a four-game win over Center Moriches. Reimer, a junior in her second varsity season, smacked down 8 kills, Dwyer had 7 and Batist 5 as Mattituck spoiled Center Moriches’ home opener with a 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21 result in the Suffolk County League VII match.

The setting of Laurel Bertolas (13 assists) and Carly Doorhy (10) gave Mattituck’s hitters something to swing at.

Desiree Warnken had 7 kills and Emily Pettit contributed 10 assists for Center Moriches.

The win brought Mattituck’s record to 3-2, 2-1 in the league. Center Moriches is 0-2, 0-2.

RACHEL YOUNG PHOTO | A makeshift memorial has been placed at the scene of the motorcycle crash in Mattituck that killed Farmingville man Michael Lourine Sept. 8.

A Farmingville man who was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Mattituck earlier this month died soon after the accident, Maloney Funeral Homes in Lake Ronkonkoma said.

Michael Lourine, 33, was heading west on Main Road at 5:50 p.m. on Sept. 8 when he lost control of his 2006 Kawasaki while making a turn and struck a curb, Southold Town police said. He hit his head on a utility pole during the crash and was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment, where he died that same day.

A funeral mass was held Sept. 13 at St. Mary’s R.C. Church in East Islip.

Mr. Lourine, a New York City firefighter, was honored on FDNY Medal Day 2007 for his heroics with a team of other firefighters from Ladder Co. 105 in Brooklyn.

Read about him here.

A makeshift memorial of flowers, ribbons and a framed photograph of Mr. Lourine have been placed at the site of the crash, next to Mattituck Presbyterian Church.

RACHEL YOUNG PHOTO | A framed photograph of Michael Lourine was placed at the scene of the crash.

ryoung@timesreview.com

KATHARINE SCHROEDER FILE PHOTO | Captain Dave Berson walks the dock outside Scrimshaw’s restaurant in Greenport the morning after Superstorm Sandy struck the North Fork. The restaurant’s owner, Rosa Ross, described the dock as looking like a ‘jumble of wood’ in the storm’s aftermath.

Jerry Tuthill vividly remembers the anguish he felt the first time he surveyed the cruel hand superstorm Sandy dealt to his family’s 25-year-old Greenport restaurants, Claudio’s Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry’s.

“The docks were all torn up,” he said. “Crabby Jerry’s was completely wiped out. I built this place myself, so it really broke my heart.”

As devastating as Mr. Tuthill’s ordeal following Sandy was, it unfortunately wasn’t unique. Some North Fork businesses, like Pepi’s Italian Restaurant in Southold, were in ruins following the storm, which ravaged the Atlantic coastline late last October.

“It’s destroyed,” owner Pepi Gibinska told the Suffolk Times last November. “My deck is inside the restaurant. We’re trying to save what we can.”

Ten months later, Pepi’s remains closed.

“We’re working on reopening,” Ms. Gibinska said. “It takes time.” She declined further comment, but said she has obtained building permits to reconstruct the restaurant.

Special Report: Remembering the ‘L.I. Express hurricane of 1938′

Scrimshaw Restaurant, which sits on the water at the end of Main Street in Greenport, also suffered extensive damage but was closed for only three weeks following the storm.

Rosa Ross, Scrimshaw’s owner and executive chef, said the restaurant had a significant amount of electrical damage. The eatery’s outdoor dock, however, fared the worst.

“It looked like a giant picked up the dock and just threw it back down,” she said. “It was a jumble of wood.”

JENNIFER GUSTAVSON FILE PHOTO | Nearly 11 months after this photo was taken, Pepi’s Cucina Di Casa restaurant in Southold has still not reopened.

The dock was replaced in June, Ms. Ross said, and although the restaurant has been up and running for months, customers still ask her if Scrimshaw is operating.

“I just had someone call me today and ask if we were open,” she said with a light chuckle this week.

“From mid-July to the end of Labor Day, the season was good,” Ms. Ross said. “We’re still struggling to recoup and pay off all our debts.”

In Mattituck, Love Lane Market was closed for eight months after an electrical malfunction caused by Sandy burned out the store’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, effectively spoiling all refrigerated merchandise. The store reopened at the beginning of July but has since struggled to find its momentum, owner Mike Avella said.

“We had an OK summer,” he said. “We’re definitely not where we were last year at this time. Unfortunately we had to restart from zero, pretty much.”

In addition to losing all the store’s inventory, Mr. Avella said, he also needed to hire and train new staff.

“It cost me a lot of money to come back in,” he said. “We’re maybe 75 percent of where we were last year with inventory.”

But as challenging as this year has been, Mr. Avella said, the future looks promising.

“On a positive note, we are applying for grants from New York State and we have high hopes that we’re going to receive a grant that will help us finish restocking and hire more employees,” he said. “Ideally, we’ll be in a position to take advantage of the Thanksgiving holidays.”

In Greenport, Mr. Tuthill is also looking on the bright side.

“I’m not looking forward to another storm like that, let me tell you,” he said. “But it could have been worse. A lot of people thought that we’d never be open for the season because we had so much damage.”

Claudio’s Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry’s both opened in May, on time for the summer rush. Claudio’s Restaurant also suffered damage but was open 36 hours after the storm.

And although Labor Day, which traditionally marks the end of the summer business season, came and went two weeks ago, Mr. Tuthill said the restaurant still sees a lot of business when the weather is nice.

“Greenport isn’t a hidden secret anymore,” he said. “People know about it now. I’m amazed how many people are coming here on the weekends and even during the week.”

If all goes well, he said, there will be plenty of visitors at this weekend’s Greenport Maritime Festival, where Bill Claudio is parade marshal.

“I’m hoping for a good weekend with the Maritime Festival,” Mr. Tuthill said. “That would really help us out a lot.”

ryoung@timesreview.com

TUCKERS 2, HURRICANES 0

The Mattituck High School boys soccer team ran into a hot goalkeeper on the last full day of the summer on a sunny and windy Saturday afternoon.

Senior Ryan Blake put on a goalkeeping clinic, keeping Westhampton Beach within striking distance of the defending Suffolk County Class B champions.

But Blake proved to be only human. He could not stop every shot sent his way in what turned into a 2-0 non-league victory for the Tuckers at Carl Hansen Memorial Field in Westhampton Beach.

“Yeah, he’s human,” said junior defender Kevin Williams, who had a superb free kick denied by Blake. “He’s a first-year goalkeeper, which I heard. It’s unbelievable that he’s playing. We were coming at him really quick. Sometimes we need to settle down, relax and bring it to him slowly.”

When the Tuckers did, they scored. Junior forward Kaan Ilgin set up James Hayes’ first-half goal off his corner kick and added an insurance goal in the second half. Mattituck recorded its fourth consecutive win after a season-opening loss. The Hurricanes fell to 0-5-1.

“We’re not playing our best soccer and that could be a scary proposition,” Mattituck coach Mat Litchhult said. “We controlled the match. We knocked the ball around. Their keeper [turned in] one of the best keeper performances I’ve seen in a long time.”

The Tuckers hope they will not meet a goalkeeper in Blake’s class soon again. He made 18 saves, many of high quality.

“Awesome game,” Hurricanes coach Don O’Brien told Blake, who had to run off after the match for another commitment.

The Tuckers probably had wished he could have left slightly earlier.

“The goalie was good,” said Ilgin, who was denied at least six times by Blake. “It was actually frustrating because I could have scored goals.”

Ilgin played playmaker as his corner kick was headed in by Hayes at the near right post with 16 minutes 11 seconds remaining in the opening half.

“I saw him pointing to that spot,” Ilgin said. “O.K., he was going to get it. So I just bent it there and he headed it in. Great goal.”

Mattituck pushed for a goal, but Blake had some other ideas. So did his teammates, who tried for an equalizer, which would have been devastating for the visitors.

“We talked about that,” Litchhult said. “Our back line has done a great job stabilizing us back there, keeping in good shape, limiting any kind of opportunities.”

The attack finally solved Blake from the run of play with 21:18 left in the game. Ilgin, who had been denied in and around the penalty area, decided to launch a 30-yard attempt from the right side that beat Blake.

“I took it long distance because every time I dribbled, they closed space, so I just shot,” he said.

Hungry to add to their lead, the Tuckers were awarded a 20-yard free kick from the left side. Williams, who smacked in a superb 28-yard free kick in a 2-1 win over Southampton four days earlier, tried to make it a double within a week as he fired a hard shot over the defensive wall toward the upper left corner.

“There it is,” said Litchhult, standing with O’Brien at midfield.

And there was Blake, who had been positioned at the far post, but managed to scurry across the net, leap and parry the ball away.

“How many saves? Nine? Ten?” an incredulous Litchhult asked O’Brien. “Some are ridiculous.”

Added Williams: “I didn’t expect that goalie to get anywhere near there. It’s hard for the goalie to see it past the wall. He got there quick. It was down low. It was hard for him to see. It’s hard to hit one of those shots. It’s way harder to save it.”

Williams has liked what he has seen.

“If we play as a family, we’re always going to know where everyone is going,” he said. “We’re going to anticipate what everyone is going to do because we’ve been playing with each other for years.”