Yorktown fans congratulate the team after their 7-6 win over Shoreham- Wading River during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016.

Yorktown’s Jamison Embry (3) keeps the ball away from Shoreham- Wading River defense during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016. Yorktown defeats Shoreham- Wading River 7-6.

HEMPSTEAD – The moment was growing exponentially as the clock ran down. Pulses were racing with a berth in the state title game on the line and momentum went back and forth with the ball.

In the midst of all the drama, Jamison and Hunter Embury were having a catch in the backyard.

“Those guys have been playing lacrosse since they could walk,” Yorktown coach Dave Marr said of the sophomore catalysts who grew up on the fly this season. “They are not the fastest, or the biggest. They just know how to play.”

Yorktown’s Dom Cioffi (26) celebrates with his teammate Hunter Embry (23) their 7-6 win over Shoreham- Wading River during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016.

And the organic connection between the identical twins landed the Huskers in position to win another NYSPHSAA Class B championship.

The former water boys ganged up on Shoreham-Wading River, leading Yorktown to a 7-6 semifinal win at Hofstra University Wednesday. Hunter scored the Huskers’ last three goals. Jamison set up two of them, finishing with a goal and three assists.

It was quite the show.

“This is awesome,” Hunter said. “I’ve watched Yorktown lacrosse for as long as I can remember. It’s bigger than us, the coaches always remind us of that. I can’t believe it right now. It’s an awesome feeling.”

Yorktown already has seven NYSPHSAA titles.

Yorktown’s Hunter Embry (23) scores during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016. Yorktown defeats Shoreham- Wading River 7-6.

The Huskers play Jamesville-DeWitt at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Middletown High School. Each of their last two championships have come against the Red Rams.

It was a 5-5 game after three quarters, and both defenses were fierce.

Yorktown was a man up when Jamison made a risky pass down to Hunter on the crease for a goal with 6:41 to go.

The play was undoubtedly rehearsed hundreds of times in the yard.

Kyle Casey picked up a loose ball, threw it to me and I saw Hunter,” Jamison said. “There was just a little gap. I threw it to him and he scored. That was an amazing feeling. That was an insane play.”

The Huskers were suddenly in control.

“My brother and I have been playing lacrosse together as long as we’ve been alive,” Hunter said. “I knew he would see me. I was going to cut and I guess he knew where I was going. Thank God the pass got through. It was so nerve-racking. The whole game was so emotional. To see the shot go in there is like a dream come true.”

It wasn’t over.

Jose Boyer came up with a couple of late ground balls to protect the lead.

It got bumpy for a few minutes before Hunter struck a final time with 1:03 to go. The rest of the game was a scrum and Jason Curran scored with five seconds remaining to get the Wildcats back within a goal.

Boyer tied up the ensuing faceoff long enough for the clock to run out.

Yorktown’s Liam Donnelly (21) blocks a shot during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016. Yorktown defeats Shoreham- Wading River 7-6.

“My heart was beating 100 miles per minute,” Yorktown goalie Liam Donnelly said. “That was insane, but we prepare for that. We were ready and we stayed composed.”

Players of the game: While the Embury twins stole the spotlight, it was a defensive game. The Huskers gave up only two goals after the intermission, so Boyer deserves the shout-out along with Donnelly, Brett Makar, Darren Mata and Tyler Makar, all of whom came up with timely stops and ground balls.

Turning point: Before they hooked up to give Yorktown a 6-5 lead, Jamison and Hunter knotted the score late in the third quarter.

Stat line: Dom Cioffi added two goals for the Huskers. Anthony Altimari had one goal and went 7-7 on faceoffs. Boyer had a team-high six ground balls. … Curran had two goals and two assists for Shoreham-Wading River and Jimmy Puckey had seven saves.

Quotable: “It was sickening, to the point where your stomach is bad,” Marr said of the high level of intensity. “You’re thinking every little thing is going to turn to the negative. You’re trying to stay positive with it and keep going, but honestly, the kids handled it better than I did so I’m glad for that.”

Twitter: @lohudlacrosse

Pleasantville losses 10-12 to Cold Spring Harbor during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016.

Pleasantville’s Logan Schneeweis (25) and Jack Drillock (31)console each other after losing 10-12 to Cold Spring Harbor during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016.

HEMPSTEAD – In the wake of a surprisingly close loss to a state power, Pleasantville had only a few regrets.

The Panthers emphasized not giving up anything easy in an NYSPHSAA semifinal rematch with Cold Spring Harbor, but they let Seahawks goalie Devin Burdo walk in for a goal in the opening seconds then failed to challenge Kevin Winkoff a short time later.

It was the nightmare scenario.

Pleasantville’s Mike Hammond (27), Tanner Bates (2) and Logan Schneeweis (25) console each other after losing 10-12 to Cold Spring Harbor during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016.

Pleasantville managed to settle down and throw a scare into the defending state champions before falling 12-10 on Wednesday in a Class C semifinal at Hofstra University.

The first two goals of the game hurt the most.

“We talked before the game about not giving up anything early,” Panthers coach Chris Kear said. “We ended up spotting them two right away, so we were worried they might come back to haunt us.”

Pleasantville never recovered from a poor start last spring and lost this game to the Seahawks by 10.

Mike Hammond was the hero Wednesday.

He got a the faceoff win and got the Panthers on the board right after the Winkoff goal to give the Panthers life. And the senior gave Cold Spring Harbor FOGO standout Matt Licciardi quite a run.

Hammond managed 10 wins despite playing with a torn labrum.

Pleasantville’s Brian Reda (22) keeps the ball was from Cold Springs Harbor’s Mike Visconti (2) during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016. Pleasantville losses Cold Spring Harbor 10-12.

“I noticed I might have a few pounds on Licciardi,” he said. “I roughed him up and did everything I could to make him work.”

It was a 2-1 game at the end of the first quarter.

Jack Drillock legged the ball upfield in the opening minutes of the second quarter and set up Brian Reda, who made it a 2-2 game. Pleasantville was suddenly inspired and it was a nail-biter the rest of the way.

“I thought we had a good game plan coming in,” Reda said. “We owed them a good game after last year. Mike Hammond did a hell of a job for us. He’s so tough. He’s the reason it was close.”

Taylor Strough gave Cold Spring Harbor a 5-4 lead with a goal in the final seconds of the first half and then made it 6-4 with a blur of a shot to start the second half. Licciardi extended the lead to 7-4, but the Panthers kept coming back.

“We started off slow, but after that first goal of the game we banded together,” Hammond said. “We decided we weren’t going down like that again. We knew that we could play with them and we did.”

Pleasantville’s Mike Hammond (27) battles for control of the ball during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016. Pleasantville losses Cold Spring Harbor 10-12.

The score was tied 9-9 with 14.1 seconds to go in the third after Reda got loose, but Licciardi scored another goal before the quarter ended. Ian Laviano and Strough netted goals in the fourth quarter to lock down the win.

Player of the game: Since it wasn’t supposed to be a close game, Hammond deserves the recognition. He missed three games with the shoulder injury earlier in the season and was a disruptive force at the faceoff X until late in the second half. “It was the best game of his life,” Kear said.

Turning point: Licciardi won eight straight faceoffs to close the game and help the Seahawks pull away.

Stat line: Jack Howe finished with two goals and two assists for the Panthers. Reda and Declan McDermott each had two goals and one assist. Lucas Cohen added two goals for Pleasantville. … Strough had four goals for Cold Spring Harbor and Licciardi finished with three goals and two assists.

Quotable: “We stayed close the whole game,” Reda said. “A couple of loose balls at the end, a couple of pushes that could have gone either way, that was the only difference. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Twitter: @lohudlacrosse

Iona Prep’s Anthony Militie throws out Msgr. Farrell’s Gary Otten on a sacrifice bunt in the third inning of the CHSAA "AA" baseball championship final at St. John’s University in Queens June 10, 2016. Msgr. Farrell scored two unearned runs in the inning.

Iona Prep’s Billy Gerken is congratulated after scoring a run in the first inning against Msgr. Farrell during the CHSAA "AA" baseball championship final at St. John’s University in Queens June 10, 2016.

NEW YORK – The road to the CHSAA finals had been relatively smooth over the past few games for Iona Prep, with the Gaels not having allowed a run in their last three games.

But facing Monsignor Farrell in the final game at Jack Kaiser Stadium at St. John’s University Friday night, the Gaels surrendered an earned run in the first and two more unearned runs in the third, finding themselves playing from behind for the first time in a while.

But that was no matter. The Gaels merely waited for their moments, scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to capture the CHSAA AA championship, 5-4.

Iona Prep celebrates after defeating Msgr. Farrell 5-4 with a walk-off hit by Michael Gorman in the ninth inning of the CHSAA "AA" baseball championship final June 10, 2016.

“We’ve battled all year,” Iona Prep head coach Ryan Mahoney said. “We always say, ‘It’s just business as usual,’ and they handled that well today. … To get down early and fight back just speaks volumes for our kids.”

Starting pitcher Anthony Piccolino hit Farrell’s Hayden Gumb to lead off the game, and after advancing on two fielder’s choices, he’d sneak home when Piccolino’s first offering to Farrell pitcher Vin Vitacco went to the backstop.

Iona Prep evened the score at one apiece in the bottom of the first when catcher Chris Dutra reached on a walk and then scored from first on a triple by Joe Lasorsa that went all the way to the center-field wall.

Farrell picked up two more runs in the top of the third when Joe Lorelli and Gumb reached on errors and were driven home by Rob Regina’s single to right field.

Pinch-hitting for Andrew D’Autilio in the ninth spot with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Joe Iengo ripped a double to the left-center field gap. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a trick slide around Farrell catcher Jerry Huntzinger after Piccolino hit a sac fly to left.

Iona Prep’s Anthony Piccolo pitches against Msgr. Farrell during the CHSAA "AA" baseball championship final at St. John’s University in Queens June 10, 2016.

After taking the first pitch he saw in the back, Gaels center fielder Sam Roque took second on a wild pitch. Three pitches later, catcher Chris Dutra hit a ball deep in the hole to the third base side, and reached base when the throw from third eluded Farrell’s Michael Mattarazo, allowing Roque to score and tie the game at 4-4.

After getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the ninth, Christian Rosell ripped a triple to the right-field corner to lead off the ninth.

“I was just looking for the first fastball I’d see, to try to turn on it well,” said Rosell, who won the Jack Curran Award as the CHSAA tournament’s most valuable player. “Good things happen when you jump those fastballs.”

Two batters later, Michael Gorman singled to right field, scoring Rosell and sending the Gaels pouring out of the dugout, CHSAA Champions for the first time since 2012.

“It’s amazing,” Rowell said of the Gaels’ comeback win. “It shows we’re a resilient team. … We’ve been bouncing back, we’ve been fighting back all year.”

Turning point: Iengo’s pinch-hit double in the sixth, followed up by the trick slide around Huntzinger to draw the Gaels within one.

Stat line: Hayden Gumb of Farrell went 1 for 4 with a single, and reached on an error, a hit by pitch and a walk. He scored three of Farrell’s four runs.

Notable: Iona Prep pitcher Lasorsa won the Ron Patnosh award as the CHSAA’s player of the year. He’s thrown 14 scoreless innings in the playoffs, allowing just three hits while striking out 20.

North Salem’s Danny Capra throws a pitch during Saturday’s 10-0 win over Immaculate Heart Central in a Class C baseball state semifinal at Conlon Field in Binghamton.

BINGHAMTON – Throughout its unforgettable run this season, North Salem has relied upon its own version of the Big 3 — Danny Capra, Connor Mahoney and J.B. Healy. The trio of arms guided the Tigers all the way to Binghamton to compete for the Class C state championship, so it was only fitting that all three had a role to play in bringing the title home.

Capra took his turn first on Saturday at Conlon Field, striking out nine in a dominant 10-0 semifinal win over Section 3’s Immaculate Heart Central. Mahoney was up next, getting the start against Section 5’s Avon later in the day with the championship on the line. He got through five innings without incident, but when the situation got hairy in the sixth, Healy was ready to answer the bell.

The junior right-hander closed the door on an 11-8 win, giving the Tigers their first-ever state title.

“I was waiting to come in,” Healy said. “I wanted to come in earlier. I was ready the whole time. I wanted my number called. I had all of the confidence in myself — and my teammates to help me out. ”

The value of North Salem’s pitching depth was front and center as Avon struggled to find someone who could get outs.

The Braves started the same pitcher in both the semifinals and finals, Brandon Gingher. And when the Tigers chased him from the game in the third inning, Avon had no answer.

“Me, Danny and J.B. all work together,” Mahoney said. “I think that’s why we’ve come as far as we have, because we have depth — and not a lot of teams have that. These guys that we just played, they ran out of pitching. Pitching wins games.”

Danny Capra celebrates after catching the final out as North Salem won the Class C baseball state championship at Conlon Field in Binghamton on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

If the pitching wasn’t enough, the Tigers (20-6) probably could have slugged their way to the title.

Between the two games, they hammered out 21 runs on 20 hits. Adam Concadoro was a spark at the top of the lineup, scoring five runs on the day, while Capra went 6 for 7 with four runs scored and three RBI. Healy, Mahoney and Phil Foglia each had multiple RBI, and all nine starters reached base safely at one point or another.

“We’re a special team,” Healy said. “We’ve got a lot of talent on this team. It’s a special year.”

Capra was in complete control in the semifinal, allowing just three hits over 6 1/3 innings while the North Salem bats continued to pile on runs. The Tigers appeared to be on their way to a similar rout in the final with an 11-1 lead in the fifth inning, but Avon showed some fight in the sixth.

The Braves rallied to cut the deficit to just three runs, but Healy pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to stop the bleeding.

“We didn’t get back on our heels,” North Salem coach Rob Gilchrist said. “It’s baseball. You have to grind. I was just trying to tell the kids, ‘Don’t let that moment control us. We need to control the moment.’ We settled down and we finished the job.”

Mahoney and Healy are juniors who will be back next season, but Capra will graduate as the staff ace that led a young team to the promised land.

“I’m happy I was able to go out the way that I did,” he said. “I did it with the teammates that I had behind me. They’re great and they made it really special.”

As Gilchrist embraced his players and soaked it all in, he couldn’t help but think of recent North Salem teams that helped create such a moment.

“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of commitment, but the kids wanted it,” he said. “We’ve had good teams the last few years, and they laid the foundation for these guys right here. These guys learned from them, and we just won a state championship for all of these teams we’ve had in the past that couldn’t get there.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

North Salem celebrates winning the Class C baseball state championship at Conlon Field in Binghamton on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

SUFFERN — When Edenis Augustin’s name was called as a scholarship recipient at the 36th annual Journal News Rockland scholar-athlete awards dinner, the emphatic “Woo!” that echoed through the Crowne Plaza did not belong to the Spring Valley valedictorian and football star. Tigers head coach Andrew Delva had the pleasure of celebrating for his now-former player.

“I didn’t know the criteria or what I did to win, but I’m blessed,” said Augustin, a two-year captain who posted a 101.07 average and will attend the University of Pittsburgh next year. “On the field, you see a lot of great athletes, and then you come here and see a lot of scholars, as well, so it’s just a great mix of people from different schools and different walks of life.”

From left, Scholarship winners Kevin Jefferson (Suffern Boys Basketball), Sienna Perry (Tappan Zee Winter Track), Courtney Ollis (Suffern Girls Tennis), and Edenis Augustin (Spring Valley Football) are photographed during the Journal News Rockland scholar-athlete dinner at Crowne Plaza in Suffern June 14, 2016.

Thirty-five student-athletes were honored at the Crowne Plaza for their efforts in uniform, their accolades in the classroom, and their contributions in the community. Augustin, Tappan Zee weight thrower Sienna Perry, Suffern tennis standout Courtney Ollis and Suffern boys basketball player Kevin Jefferson each received a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of The Journal News Media Group, Rockland Boulders and Crowne Plaza.

All 35 student-athlete honorees were given two vouchers to a future Boulders game.

“It’s just amazing to see how all the accomplishments have come in and just to think that we’ve all gone through the same stuff trying to get to where we’ve been,” said Perry, who will attend Cornell University next year.

Guest speaker Mark Ernay, a play-by-play announcer with the Boulders and a communications professor at St. John’s University, had plenty of wise words and jokes for the honorees, as well as one request: “Dream big — as big as you can imagine,” Ernay said. “You know somewhere along the way you were told, ‘Eh, that won’t happen,’ but you made it happen.”

Ernay made it a point to remind the dozens of teenagers filling the room how their actions can impact those around them.

“Somewhere out there, there’s a little kid — maybe an underclassmen, could be a younger brother or sister or cousin, niece or a nephew; more often than not, though, it’s a total stranger. They’ve seen you play or compete, and they go to bed at night dreaming that some day they’re going to grow up and be you,” Ernay said. “It’s a daunting thought that you are someone’s role model and you don’t even know it.”

Athletic skill alone did not get these 35 student-athletes in the room Tuesday night. There’s also the ability to manage time properly and the willingness to help others, which does not always come easily.

“Know your limits, and if you’re going after something, make sure you go 100 percent,” Augustin said. “Don’t focus on what other people are doing. Do you, and by doing that, you can be great.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Sports reporter and columnist Mike Zacchio shows his ink for a story on tattoos June 16, 2016 in the studio.

Sports reporter and columnist Mike Zacchio shows his ink for a story on tattoos June 16, 2016 in the studio.

Sports reporter and columnist Mike Zacchio shows his ink for a story on tattoos June 16, 2016 in the studio.

Sports reporter and columnist Mike Zacchio shows his ink for a story on tattoos June 16, 2016 in the studio.

One of Mike Nolan’s many tattoos.

One of Mike Nolan’s many tattoos.

A leg tattoo on Mike Nolan.

The chest tattoos of Mike Nolan included a grim reaper throwing a fastball — nod to his baseball talent.

Devan Lawson (10) of Spring Valley gets a rebound in game action against Suffern at Suffern High School on Jan. 8, 2016.

Devan Lawson (10) of Spring Valley in game action against Suffern at Suffern High School on Jan. 8, 2016.

Devan Lawson (10) of Spring Valley watches his teammates from the bench during game action against Suffern at Suffern High School on Jan. 8, 2016.

Devan Lawson (10) of Spring Valley gets a rebound in game action against Suffern at Suffern High School on Jan. 8, 2016.

Niko Potiris, 17, a student at Saunders High School who doesn’t have a tattoo shows off tattoo he made with his ink pen at Saunders High School on Jan. 7, 2016.

Saunders basketball player Nick Nolan has a tattoo of his brother Mike Nolan, who was shot and killed in the fall. Nolan was photographed at Saunders High School on Jan. 7, 2016.

Saunders basketball player Vincent Edmondson has several tattoos and shows the one on his arm that reads "Only the family." Edmondson was photographed at Saunders High School on Jan. 7, 2016.

J.R. Maloney, owner of Vanguard Tattoo of Nyack, works on a memorial sleeve for Michael Sayegh of Thiells. The sleeve is principally in honor or Sayegh?s sister who died of cancer as well as other family members. J.R. Maloney, owner of Vanguard Tattoo of Nyack, works on a memorial sleeve for Michael Sayegh of Thiells on Oct. 30, 2014. The sleeve is principally in honor or Sayegh’s sister who died of cancer as well as other family members.

CHAMPS!!! The Rockland Boulders defeated the New Jersey Jackals in game 6 of the CAN-AM League Playoffs and at Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ on Sept. 8, 2014. This was the Boulders first league championship.

Saunders basketball player Nick Nolan has a tattoo of his brother Mike Nolan, who was shot and killed in the fall. Nolan was photographed at Saunders High School on Jan. 7, 2016.

Nick Nolan said he never thought about getting a tattoo at this stage in his life but considered it a possibility in the future. That was before his brother, Mike, was shot and later died from his injuries at the age of 23.

Nolan has a tattooed portrait of Mike on his left arm, including a replica of the elder Nolan’s chest tattoos scaled to fit.

“He loved (tattoos),” Nick Nolan, 18, said of Mike. “He always said he was going back to finish (a piece) and keep going.”

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Tattoos often get a bad rap, especially when showcased on teenagers, but memorial tattoos of loved ones tend to be a free pass on judgement with teens and tats.

Saunders basketball player Nick Nolan has a tattoo of his brother Mike Nolan, who was shot and killed in the fall. Nolan was photographed at Saunders High School on Jan. 7, 2016.

“People think if you have a tattoo on your forearms that people aren’t going to hire you, that it looks disgusting,” Nolan said. “People will have their opinions.”

Mike Tracy, whose family owns the wildly-popular Candlelight Inn, said there is no tattoo policy at the Scarsdale-based restaurant. Even though Tracy is not a fan of tattoos, he said they are not a factor when it comes to potential employees.

“There’s no tattoo policy, and obviously (tattoos are) very popular and a lot of kids and people have them now, which is fine,” he said. “I judge by the content of their character, not their skin.”

Tracy, head coach of the Edgemont varsity girls basketball team, also removes his personal views when on the sidelines.

“Personally, I think they’re too young, but I wouldn’t put my views on a decision that a player would make,” Tracy said. “That’s up to the parent and the daughter. That’s not my place as a coach.”

‘If you can go to war, you can still get tattooed’

A closer look at Mike Nolan’s crying eye tattoo overlooking New York City.

Dr. David C. Lane, professor of sociology at the University of South Dakota and author of a forthcoming book called “The Other End of the Needle,” said tattoos have been growing more acceptable over the years, particularly in sports.

“If you go back to a picture of a (professional) basketball team from, say, the 1950’s — find me a tattoo,” said Lane, who is himself heavily tattooed. “Now, all of sudden, I think it’s hard to find people that don’t have tattoos in the NBA.”

The legal age to get tattooed in New York is 18, according to the New York State Public Health Law, but teenagers in the market for ink can go to neighboring New Jersey or Connecticut, where only the consent of a parent or guardian is required.

J.R. Maloney, owner of Vanguard Tattoo in Nyack, has been a tattoo artist for more than two decades, working on people of all ages and from all walks of life. Maloney tries to avoid inking teenagers if he can, but sees no issue with the legal age.

“If you can go to war, you can still get tattooed,” said Maloney, a former Marine. “That’s just how it is.”

Saunders varsity boys basketball head coach Anthony Nicodemo got his first tattoo — a parrot wearing a Yankees cap and drinking a margarita — inked on his calf about four years ago. When Nicodemo started coaching 19 years ago, he had a vision of what kind of coach he wanted to be, and it didn’t include having players with tattoos.

Saunders boys basketball head coach Anthony Nicodemo, seen at a January game in New Rochelle, came out as gay and won praise and support. He called Friday’s Supreme Court ruling “stunning.”

“You want to be like the Bobby Knight guy — ‘No tattoos, no long socks, no sleeves, no this-and-that,’ — and then over time, as we developed ourselves into a program here, it doesn’t bother me. It’s a kid’s personal expression,” said Nicodemo, who completed his seventh year at Saunders this winter. “For me, early on you wanted this certain level of discipline, and then you kind of realize there’s more important things than whether a kid has a tattoo or whether a kid wears socks a certain way when you’re trying to build a program.”

Nicodemo said the school he works at, The Reach Academy in West Harrison, does not have any staff rules governing the visibility of tattoos, but he doesn’t think he would get a tattoo “blatant for everyone to see,” given his role as an educator. Nicodemo said it’s “small-minded” to judge someone solely because they have a tattoo.

A look at Mike Nolan’s tattoos on his right arm.

“If you look at a person — I mean, I have a tattoo. Does that change anything of me? Absolutely not. I have three degrees, and make good money, and am a coach and a role model,” he said. “Just because I have a tattoo doesn’t mean anything.”

‘Remember, it’s forever’

Taylor McCarthy’s college essay was written, in part, as a way to persuade her parents to allow her to get a tattoo.

The 18-year-old all-state volleyball player for John Jay wanted a small orange heart on the outside of her index finger in memory of her friend, Andrew Gurgitano, a Harrison student who died last year and loved the color orange. McCarthy’s parents were “very understanding” after reading the essay, but she had to deal with skeptics that included some of her teachers before getting the tattoo.

“They started thinking of me on the back of a motorcycle or joining a gang or something like that,” she said. “I had a couple of people try to convince me not to get it and they were like, ‘Remember, it’s forever.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s kind of the point.’”

Saunders basketball player Vincent Edmondson has several tattoos and shows the one on his arm that reads "Only the family." Edmondson was photographed at Saunders High School on Jan. 7, 2016.

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Now permanently etched into her skin, McCarthy is glad she went through with the decision, although it will likely be the only ink she gets for the foreseeable future.

“It’s something I can look at when I get upset,” she said. “I can’t imagine anything else I would want on my body permanently for the rest of my life.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud 

Sports reporter and columnist Mike Zacchio shows his ink for a story on tattoos June 16, 2016 in the studio.

Rye High School’s James McHugh, the Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year, is photographed at Rye Golf Club June 17, 2016.

Rye High School’s James McHugh, the Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year, is photographed at Rye Golf Club June 17, 2016.

Rye High School’s James McHugh, the Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year, is photographed at Rye Golf Club June 17, 2016.

Rye High School’s James McHugh, the Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year, is photographed at Rye Golf Club June 17, 2016.

Rye High School’s James McHugh, the Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year, is photographed at Rye Golf Club June 17, 2016.

Since his father bought him his first club at 2, James McHugh has often been the quiet one in the household, steps away from the conversation, swinging at whatever he could find. Whether he had steel in his hand or just plastic, McHugh was left to his imagination as parents Jim and Vicki zeroed their attention on older sister Kristen, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when James was still a baby.

All these years later, McHugh’s fervor for golf runs stronger than ever.

“He wanted to be on our team since he was in third grade,” Rye golf coach Pat Romano said. “Ever since I could remember James as a little boy, he’s had a tremendous passion for golf.”

In his final year with the Garnets, and more than ever before, McHugh channeled that love into results. The Rye junior and reigning Met Junior champ won his second straight Section 1 tournament last month and then closed his high school golf career by claiming the state Federation Cup in a playoff at Bethpage Black.

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“Being under the stress coming down the stretch with the lead or near the lead, it’s a great way to prep yourself even if (high school golf) is not as big as some of the tournaments in the summer,” said McHugh, the Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year. “Doing well and winning gave me some confidence for this summer and I’m hoping it will push me forward.”

Beginning immediately, the amateur circuit will be McHugh’s sole focus after two straight strong years at Rye. Although he just completed his junior year, McHugh has already expired his athletic eligibility after he spent the 2013-14 school year at Club Med Academies in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Despite logging hours completing online coursework that year, his credits weren’t approved by the Rye district, which forced McHugh to repeat his sophomore year.

McHugh will still complete high school at Rye next year, but he’ll be ineligible to play golf. That doesn’t mean he won’t be involved. In fact, after his success working with teammates this year, Romano already has an assignment for him.

“The other kids say, ‘What is James going to do next year?'” Romano said. “I say right out, ‘Oh, he’s going to be my assistant.'”

Late surge makes Connor Daly a state champ

McHugh outduels Ito in playoff to win Federation title

2015 Westchester/Putnam all-stars: One last time, James Nicholas put on a show

McHugh is no stranger to helping others. Almost every year since he was 7, McHugh has held his own incarnation of a contest held at various clubs, only instead of competing against the pro, golfers have lined up to “Beat the Kid.” McHugh’s efforts the last decade have raised over $80,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

If his volunteerism extends to coaching next year, McHugh still plans to find time to practice. He yearns to work more on his game, but has struggled to find adequate practice facilities for a player of his caliber. Rye Golf Club, his home club, has no range and its short-game area is sparse. McHugh has enjoyed some level of access to both Glen Arbor and Westchester Country Club in the past, but he has never had a consistent home to pound balls at the range.

James McHugh of Rye is pictured here at 7 teeing off on the first hole at the Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale on Sept 12, 2005. McHugh was hitting against older players to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. McHugh, The Journal News’ Westchester/Putnam golfer of the year, has raised over $80,000 for the JDRF since.

“I’ve tried to find ways around it,” he said. “I’ve played a pretty rigorous tournament schedule so a lot of time I can be away playing and practicing at the courses that host the tournaments.”

McHugh has undoubtedly succeeded in spite of his modest practice time. His win at last year’s MGA Junior over James Nicholas — last year’s golfer of the year — proved as much. And McHugh’s future appears bright already; he has already given his oral commitment to Penn State with the intention of signing officially during his senior year.

Otherwise? He’ll spend most of his days at Rye Golf Club, tinkering, swinging at whatever he can find, just like when he was a kid. Quietly, the best player in Section 1 will be lingering somewhere outside the tournament field, getting better whenever and however he can.

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Coach of the year —

Matt Hogan, Stepinac: After reaching last year’s CHSAA championship, Hogan’s Crusaders reached that next crucial step. They defeated Iona Prep in a dramatic match, winning 3-2 when the final match was determined in extra holes. It was the first CHSAA golf title for Stepinac since 1997. The team’s No. 1 player, Paul Terminello, also placed second in the state championship and sixth at the state Federation tournament.

First team

Christian Cavaliere, Sr., Somers: The Boston College-bound Tusker qualified for the state tournament for the fourth straight year. He placed eighth at states after a fifth-place finish at sectionals. He also served as the No. 1 player for a Somers team that reached the Section 1 team championship.

Connor Daly, Sr., Bronxville: Daly fired a three-under 33 on the back nine to pull off a shocker and win the state championship at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Ithaca. His was the first state golf title in Bronxville’s history. The Villanova-bound Daly also tied for second at sectionals and was fourth at the Federation.

Chris Gay, Sr., Bronxville: Along with Daly, Gay was an integral member of Bronxville’s team, which finished the regular season with Section 1’s best scoring differential. He also tied for second at sectionals and tied for 10th after qualifying for a second straight state tournament.

Brent Ito, Sr., Ardsley: Like Cavaliere, the Michigan commit qualified for his fourth straight state tournament. Ito held the first-round lead at sectionals and ended up tying for second. He also tied for second at states, finishing just a shot behind Daly, and came up just short at the Federation, falling to McHugh in a playoff.

Matt Minerva, Fr., Iona Prep: After transferring to Iona Prep from Valhalla, Minerva quickly grabbed control of the No. 1 position in the Gaels’ lineup. He went 8-1-1 in league play to help the Gaels reach the CHSAA championship match. Minerva’s record included a 3-0 mark against Stepinac.

Second team

Chris Collins, Sr., Stepinac

Nathan Han, Fr., Somers

Aidan McDermott, Sr., Pleasantville

Jay Milch, Jr., Fox Lane

Paul Terminello, Sr., Stepinac

Sol Thompson, Jr., Scarsdale

Honorable mention: Frank Calabro, Sr., Eastchester; Thomas Corrigan, So., Irvington; Kyra Cox, So., John Jay; John Del Priore, So., Kennedy; Harrison Eisberg, Sr., Mamaroneck; Jonny Emmerman, Sr., Scarsdale; Matt Ferrari, Fr., Croton-Harmon; Chris Garceau, Jr., Stepinac; Jackson Harrower, Sr., Byram Hills; Charlie Hite, Fr., Hackley; Charles Jolly, Fr., Rye Country Day; Philip Milana, Sr., Harrison; Sebastian Naibaho, Sr., Iona Prep; Takan Nakada, Sr., White Plains; Ken Nixon, Jr., Iona Prep; Phil Servider, Sr., Carmel; Rio Ureno-Dembar, So., Croton-Harmon.

Casey Duff from Yorktown High School is The Journal News/lohud.com girls lacrosse player of the year. Here she is pictured at the school, June 17, 2016.

Casey Duff from Yorktown High School is The Journal News/lohud.com girls lacrosse player of the year. Here she is pictured at the school, June 17, 2016.

Casey Duff from Yorktown High School is The Journal News/lohud.com girls lacrosse player of the year. Here she is pictured at the school, June 17, 2016.

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS – Even now, Casey Duff can vividly remember how last year’s sectional final against league rival Somers went down.

With time ticking down in regulation and the score tied at 9-9, she was called for shooting space while defending Somers’ Gabby Rosenzweig, awarding a free position with 4.2 seconds left.

Rosenzweig promptly buried the 8-meter attempt as time expired, sending Duff and her teammates to a third straight year of heartbreak in the sectional final.

“You don’t always agree with the refs, but that’s their job and they make the call,” Duff said. “I handle most calls pretty well – that’s probably the worst I’ve ever reacted.”

That play simply gave Duff more motivation to work on her game over the summer. With Yorktown finally winning a sectional title this year and making it all the way to the Class B state final, it is safe to say the hard work was all worth it.

The senior midfielder did everything for Yorktown this season. Duff had 75 goals and 16 assists, those numbers part of the reason she is the Journal News/lohud.com Westchester/Putnam Player of the Year.

“My mental game definitely improved,” she said. “That was a big part of why we were able to do so well this season, not just my mental game, but our entire team and coaches. We were all on the same page.”

Despite having their projected starting goalie leave the team before the start of the season, and also playing a tough schedule and losing against the likes of Connecticut powers Darien, New Canaan and Greenwich, as well as nationally ranked Bayport-Blue Point, the Huskers felt confident they would end their five-year sectional title drought.

“We did have those tough losses, but they made us a better team. We were definitely prepared for one-goal games, definitely prepared for overtime, definitely prepared to keep a lead and fight back if we had a deficit,” Duff said. “All those tough games prepared us way better than any easy games could have. Even though our record wasn’t as good as it usually is, I’m grateful. It couldn’t have worked out a better way.”

Duff, who as a midfielder was relied upon to both score and defend, did both of those at a high level, as well as coming up big in the clutch.

Like against North Rockland, when she scored consecutive goals on individual efforts in the second half to secure a big win.

Or like in the regional final against Niskayuna, when she picked up a ground ball and fed Katie Comerford for the overtime winner.

Or like in the state semifinal against Watertown, when she scored the winning goal in overtime on an individual effort, for what coincidentally was also career goal No. 200.

While she didn’t go looking for the big moments, she certainly didn’t shy away from them.

“I welcome the pressure. I like it, I don’t mind it either way,” Duff said. “Everyone was just as important: the big people, the small people, the people that don’t get to play as much. I enjoy being the go-to, but everyone has the moments, everyone is just as important as everyone else.”

Casey Duff from Yorktown High School is The Journal News/lohud.com girls lacrosse player of the year. Here she is pictured at the school, June 17, 2016.

It seems odd now, but Duff wasn’t originally a lacrosse player growing up.

“I was really a soccer person,” she said. “I played soccer every day for 12 years, not exaggerating.”

But lacrosse was the family sport, and after watching her older brother Ryan and cousin Alex Poritzky play when she was a kid, she wanted to join in.

She got her start in the third grade, and eventually decided to pursue the sport more seriously after the end of her freshman year.

“Lacrosse was the complete opposite of soccer – you don’t use your feet. When soccer was over, I’d go to lacrosse and it would be kind of like a break, it was like the fun sport, the sport I played with all my friends,” Duff said. “It wasn’t as serious as soccer at the time, so when I played lacrosse, it was always about just having as much fun as you could. I think that’s why I fell in love with it.”

Despite not being able to play lacrosse in eighth grade, due to missing a tryout that conflicted with a soccer tournament, she made Yorktown’s varsity as a freshman. After suffering a shoulder injury during the season that required surgery, she was able to showcase herself to several college coaches in the summer after her sophomore year.

She caught the attention of Syracuse, the school to which she eventually decided to commit.

I just loved (Syracuse), I just loved the program; when you go up there, it’s an awesome environment they create, an environment like no other,” Duff said. “I was up there for a camp when I was looking at the school. It’s the Nike Cup. It’s a giant tournament, I would never expect anyone to even talk to me from the team. But they were like ‘do this, this will help you do better on the draw and do better on your shot,’ so they were so helpful with teaching. It created an awesome environment.”

While Duff will head upstate next season to continue her lacrosse career, she was able to go out on a high note: with her teammates, having the time of her life up at Cortland at the state championships.

And also, continuing Yorktown’s winning tradition.

“They said that you will make the best memories of your life, and I probably did,” Duff said of the trip. “It’s a great tradition that we have here, I know I’ll be back when I’m not playing. Everyone loves it, and everyone comes back and makes it a family. It really is just a family.”

Action during a Section 1 girls lacrosse game between Yorktown and Somers at Yorktown High School on Thursday, April 21st, 2016. Somers won 11-10.

The rest of the Journal News/lohud.com all-county first team:

Katie Comerford, Yorktown: The senior attack will graduate as one of the best off-ball cutters in Yorktown’s history, and also as one of the most clutch. In the postseason, she scored big overtime goals against Somers and Niskayuna. Signed to play at Villanova next year, the two-time All-American finished the season with 87 goals and 23 assists.

Micheline DiNardo, Rye: The backbone of a Garnets defense that allowed only 7.16 goals per game, the senior goalie averaged nine saves a game and helped lead her team to the sectional semifinals. The two-time All-American, who also averaged three interceptions per game, will play at Georgetown next year.

Lilly Grass, Bronxville: The most dangerous player in the Broncos’ deep offense, the senior attack scored a team-high 68 goals to go with 30 assists. The Michigan-bound Grass, who graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer with career totals of 227 goals and 114 assists, also leaves as a two-time All-American.

Carli Mager, Yorktown: The top defender for a team that made it to the state final, Mager routinely led a Huskers defensive unit that had success against fellow top Section 1 schools North Rockland, Bronxville and Somers. The Ohio State-bound junior also was a key piece in the team’s transition game in the midfield.

Sammy Mueller, Hackley: The engine that drove Hackley back to an NYSAIS title this year, the senior midfielder solidified her spot as the best player in the program’s history. She finished the season with 110 goals and 38 assists. Signed to play at Virginia next season, Mueller finished her varsity career with a program-record 289 goals.

Gabby Rosenzweig, Somers: A defender her freshman year, Rosenzweig graduates as one of the top all-around players in the section. The senior midfielder and two-time All-American, who scored a game-winning buzzer-beater in the 2015 sectional final, finished the season with 62 goals and 36 assists and will continue her career at Penn next year.

Livy Rosenzweig, Somers: One of the most imposing offensive players in the state, the junior attack used her skill and athleticism to rack up 73 goals and 48 assists on her way to All-America honors. Committed to play at Loyola, she’ll be especially leaned on next year with the graduation of older sister Gabby.

Ellie Walsh, Bronxville: The flashy, highly skilled midfielder did a little bit of everything for the Broncos, finishing the season with 43 goals and 43 assists. The junior, who is committed to play at Cornell, was also honored as an All-American.

Paige Werlau, North Salem: Despite North Salem being the second-smallest school in all of Section 1 girls lacrosse, the Tigers have been one of the top Class C teams the past couple of years thanks in large part to Werlau. Signed to play at Albany next year, the senior finished the season with 77 goals and 21 assists and leaves as North Salem’s all-time leader in career goals (220) and points (279).

Lindsay West, Fox Lane: With 69 goals and 18 assists this season, the senior midfielder finished her career with 235 goals. Committed to play at Colgate next year, West was at her best in Fox Lane’s 6-5 upset win over Suffern in the sectional quarterfinals, scoring four goals, including the winner.

Mamaroneck’s Talia Land (25) guards the net against Scarsdale during girls lacrosse game at Scarsdale High School on April 27, 2016. Mamaroneck defeats Scarsdale 9-7.

Second team all-county:

Allie Arcidiacono, Somers: While Somers is known for its high-paced offense, Arcidiacono was one of the key pieces on the other side of the ball for the Tuskers. The senior defender, who will play at Louisville next year, played a big role in helping Somers limit opponents to 7.37 goals per game.

Katie Bradbury, Lakeland/Panas: With 67 goals and nine assists this season, the senior midfielder was the best offensive player for a relatively young Rebels squad. Bradbury, who finished her high school career with 210 goals, will play at Catholic University next year.

Lauren Craft, Brewster: One of the top underclassmen in the area, the sophomore midfielder led a resurgent Brewster squad with a team-high 59 goals to go with 20 assists. Committed to play at Penn State, Craft also led Brewster with 66 draw-control wins.

Rilea Fusco, Yorktown: Yorktown’s top playmaker finished the season with 36 goals and 67 assists, with one of her assists coming on the game-winning goal in the sectional final against Somers. The junior attack, who is committed to Syracuse, will be one of the team’s top returners next year.

Olivia Jensen, Bronxville: In her first year at Bronxville, the junior attack fit perfectly into the Broncos’ offense, finishing the season with 44 goals and 56 assists. Committed to Cornell, Jensen was also the team’s primary draw-taker, winning 108 draw controls.

Ali Korin, Mahopac: The senior midfielder was Mahopac’s top scorer, finishing the season with 57 goals and 21 assists. Signed to play at Vermont, Korin also came up big in the clutch this year, scoring the overtime winner in a regular-season game against Fox Lane and also assisting on the game-winning goal against Scarsdale in the sectional semifinals.

Talia Land, Mamaroneck: Called the rock of the team by Mamaroneck head coach Rocky Lividini, Land was a stabilizing influence on a young Tigers squad, at times often acting looking more like a defender rather than a goalie with her forays outside of the crease. The Amherst-bound Land was the key reason the Tigers allowed only 7.41 goals per game this season.

Jilly Mehlman, Scarsdale: One of the fastest players in the section, the junior midfielder was a Swiss-army knife for the Raiders. The team’s top scorer finished with 56 goals, 31 assists, 45 ground balls and 44 draw controls.

Taylor Regan, Rye Country Day: With Julia Massaro having graduated, Regan effortlessly slid into the role as the Wildcats’ go-to, everything scorer this season. The junior midfielder, who is committed to Virginia, passed the 200-goal and 100-assist milestones this season.

Ashley Stilo, Yorktown: One of Yorktown’s top defensive players, the senior midfielder was able to put up 13 goals and seven assists despite a more reserved role on the offense. She is signed to play at Virginia next year.

Mason Warble,  Bronxville: Despite battling an injury during the latter part of the season, the junior midfielder remained one of Bronxville’s top all-around players, finishing with 38 goals and 12 assists. Committed to Brown, Warble also picked up 43 ground balls and had 17 caused turnovers.

Honorable mention:

Sadie Albert, So., MF, Harvey; Allie Berkery, So., MF, Bronxville; Emma Coleman, Jr., D, Scarsdale; Raphaella DaSilva, So., MF, Valhalla; Nicole DiFabio, Sr., A, Pleasantville; Maggie Dymes, Jr., MF, Croton-Harmon; Beth Finley, Jr., MF, Bronxville; Amanda Hartzell, Jr., A/MF, Rye; Alyssa Kirby, Sr., D, Mahopac; Caileigh Lampersberger, Sr., D, Yorktown; Izzy LaRocca, Sr., MF, Somers; Mary Kate Lonegan, Sr., MF, Brewster; Brie Losito, So., MF, Harrison; Carlyn Mucci, Jr., A, Lakeland/Panas; Gianna New, So., MF, Fox Lane; Kali Peeples, MF, Sr., White Plains; Mackenzie Porter, So., G, Hen Hud; Michelle Seger, A, Jr., Yorktown; Julianna Sullivan, Sr., MF, Ursuline; Mallory Toolan, A, Sr.,, Irvington; Madi Warne, So., MF, Holy Child;

Coach of the year: Jocelyn Grafstein, Ursuline. Despite working with a underclassmen-heavy roster, Grafstein helped engineer one of the biggest turn-arounds in Section 1 this season. taking a squad that went 5-11 last year to a 12-6 record this year.

Twitter:@Szkolar_Lohud

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Kayla McDermott, Rockland softball player of the year, photographed at North Rockland Hiigh School on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Kayla McDermott, Rockland softball player of the year, photographed at North Rockland Hiigh School on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Kayla McDermott, Rockland softball player of the year, photographed at North Rockland Hiigh School on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Kayla McDermott, Rockland softball player of the year, photographed at North Rockland Hiigh School on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Kayla McDermott, Rockland softball player of the year, photographed at North Rockland Hiigh School on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

THIELLS – Kayla McDermott pulled into the North Rockland High School annex parking lot Wednesday morning fresh off a workout at Body By Huebner in Stony Point — one of three sessions she attends throughout the week.

Those sessions are the reason why she’s sporting a tank top and gym shorts on this particular morning, and they’re also the reason why McDermott has transformed from a self-described “stick” into one of the top players in the state.

“I just felt more powerful,” said McDermott, this year’s Journal News Rockland softball player of the year. “The (pitching) speed, that’s when it started to rise.”

Most of the comments McDermott received were complimentary, but the “You look like a guy” caused her to be self-conscious when she started lifting a year ago. The Manhattan-bound hurler has since blocked out that negativity, much like how she ignored the chants and cheers surrounding her on the mound.

“I see the Olympians, they look gorgeous. (Olympic gold medalist pitcher) Jennie Finch, she looks amazing. I realized that it’s just different, you don’t see it in high school — girls working out,” McDermott said. “I think that people are starting to see athletes as more beautiful and strong, and you want to be able to look like you can handle yourself.”

Few have handled themselves better on the field than McDermott, who earned second-team all-state honors this season after posting a 21-2 record with a 1.28 ERA and 205 strikeouts.

With just one season of high school ball left, McDermott made a request to Red Raiders head coach Jackie DiNuzzo in the offseason: She wanted to hit. DiNuzzo, a North Rockland product herself, was happy to oblige, under one condition.

“She said, ‘That’s fine, just get an elbow guard,’ ” McDermott recalled.

“I really wanted to try and possibly hit in college, so I thought, ‘Well, I have to get it going in high school first,’ so I practiced the same amount as my pitching,” said McDermott, who still squeezes in one hitting session per week during the offseason, while pitching five times per week. “I just really wanted to show what I could do because I was never allowed to hit before, so I thought, my senior year, I’m just going to pour it on — offensively and defensively.”

In the first game of the season, it was McDermott who had the walk-off single. McDermott batted .349 with three home runs and 32 RBI while hitting in the middle of the Red Raiders’ high-powered lineup.

McDermott leaves North Rockland with a plethora of memories and accolades, but no section title.

McDermott admitted that it was tough to hear the DJ Khaled victory anthem, “All I Do Is Win” — the team’s go-to jam after each win — in the days after a loss to John Jay-East Fishkill in the title game, but that she also grew from the experience.

“I learned from that game, it helped me,” she said. “We all got over it, and we’re all fine now … hopefully.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LoHudSoftball

The rest of the Journal News Rockland first-team all-star team includes:

P — Emily Turilli, Pearl River: The junior battled through a minor back issue to earn first-team all-state honors in Class A, compiling a 16-3 record with a 1.15 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 116 innings. Turilli carried a no-hitter into the final inning of the section final, eventually pitching all nine innings in the 2-1 win.

C — Bella Chiorazzi, North Rockland: One of the most complete athletes in the section, from offense to defense to leadership, Chiorazzi earned a first-team all-state nod in Class AA after hitting .585 with five home runs and 35 RBI. The 6-foot junior has already become a sought-after recruit for Division I programs.

1B — Jesse McCarthy, Pearl River: The junior burst onto the scene with a breakout offensive season that included a .506 batting average during the regular season and .538 average in the postseason. McCarthy was named seventh-team all-state in Class A.

2B — Caroline Alicandri, Pearl River: The left-handed slap hitter was a nightmare for opposing pitchers, hitting at a .500 clip for the season out of the leadoff spot for the Pirates. Alicandri was a key cog in one of the top infields in the state, earning third-team all-state honors.

3B — Victoria Alonso, North Rockland: Despite breaking her nose days before the season and being forced to wear a protective mask for the season, as well as move from second base to the hot corner, the pint-sized junior leadoff hitter was dynamic for the Red Raiders this season in all areas.

SS — Deangie Jimenez, North Rockland: The proud owner of what many Rockland coaches called “the best hands” they’ve seen in decades, Jimenez anchored the Red Raiders’ middle infield with her sensational defense. Jimenez will suit up for Monmouth next season.

OF — Julie Marsico, Pearl River: The senior rose to the occasion when it mattered most, hitting .538 in the postseason for the Pirates in her final year. Marsico has already started taking classes at Florida State, although she will not play for the Seminoles next spring. Marsico and Alicandri leave having compiled an 84-15-1 record while on varsity together.

OF — Amanda Schweitzer, North Rockland: A rare 12-time varsity letterman, the senior outfielder ended her high school career with a third-team all-state selection after mashing seven home runs and 33 RBI while hitting at a .506 clip. Schweitzer leaves North Rockland as the program leader in hits (129), home runs (nine), RBI (78) and doubles (32).

OF — Allie Wood, Suffern: While she split pitching duties with junior teammate Gabby Caccamo, the senior was a factor for the Mounties wherever head coach Melissa Luciano needed her.

UTIL — Alana Prosapio, Nanuet: The senior shortstop drove in 22 runs and scored 20 for the Golden Knights. Prosapio finished with a .354 batting average in her final season, with a .970 fielding percentage.

UTIL — Courtney Carbone, Nanuet: The Golden Knights’ leadoff hitter scored a team-high 28 runs and drew a team-high 13 walks. The senior posted a .993 fielding percentage at first base, committing just one error all season.

DP — Sara Herskowitz, Clarkstown South: Opposing pitchers had the luxury of pitching around the Binghamton-bound slugger after the Vikings were hit hard by graduation last season, but the senior catcher still hit .493 with eight home runs en route to fifth-team all-state honors.

Coach of the year — Chris Woolgar, Pearl River: Woolgar had to find a part-time replacement for Turilli for the second consecutive season, and his decision (Tara MacGregor) kept the Pirates afloat in the middle of the season. His knowledge of the rule book played a pivotal role in the section semifinal and final, helping the Pirates to victories in both for their third title in as many years under the Pearl River alum.

Second team

P — Gabby Caccamo, Suffern, Jr.

P — Kelly O’Brien, Albertus Magnus, Fr.

C — Megan Sneeden, Nyack, Sr.

1B — Gina Selvaggi, North Rockland, Sr.

2B — Alicia Bertolino, North Rockland, Sr.

3B — Jaclyn Vormittag, Nanuet, Sr.

SS — Meagan Woods, Pearl River, So.

OF — Celia Santini, North Rockland, Sr.

OF — Ciara Saxton, Nanuet, Fr.

OF — Brianna Turchiarelli, Clarkstown South, Sr.

UTIL — Oriana Castello, Nanuet, So.

UTIL — Emily Lancia, Suffern, Sr.

DP — Nicole Spiegelberg, Tappan Zee, Sr.

Honorable mentions: Taylor Adolff, Clarkstown North, Sr.; Corinne Berkery, Nanuet, Jr.; Kaitlyn Borruso, Tappan Zee, So.; Sarah Brauer, Clarkstown North, Sr.; Stephanie Cambrea, Tappan Zee, Sr.; Michaela Contreras, Nyack, Sr.; Kaitlyn Fudge, Clarkstown North, Fr.; Allie Schepis, Suffern, Sr.; Erika Witt, Suffern, So.

Yorktown boys lacrosse goalie Liam Donnelly, the Westchester/Putnam player of the year, at Yorktown High School June 30, 2016.

Yorktown boys lacrosse goalie Liam Donnelly, the Westchester/Putnam player of the year, at Yorktown High School June 30, 2016.

Yorktown boys lacrosse goalie Liam Donnelly, the Westchester/Putnam player of the year, at Yorktown High School June 30, 2016.

Yorktown boys lacrosse goalie Liam Donnelly, the Westchester/Putnam player of the year, at Yorktown High School June 30, 2016.

Yorktown boys lacrosse goalie Liam Donnelly, the Westchester/Putnam player of the year, at Yorktown High School June 30, 2016.

Casey Duff and Liam Donnelly, Yorktown High School lacrosse players, were both named Journal News players of the year. Here they are pictured at the school, June 17, 2016.

Yorktown boys lacrosse goalie Liam Donnelly, the Westchester/Putnam player of the year, at Yorktown High School June 30, 2016.

Three days after Yorktown suffered a stinging loss in the state championship game, Liam Donnelly was back on the field, geared up, stick in hand, getting ready to play at the next level.

It’s called absolute dedication.

Donnelly was all in every moment of a scholastic career that began when injuries forced the Huskers to bring up an undersized eighth-grader to play goalie.

It wasn’t long before he became an institution.

“Liam was obviously naturally talented, but he’s worked really hard at it, too,” Yorktown coach Dave Marr said. “The last five years he’s had the lacrosse stick in his hand most of the time and you can see it on the field.”

How many Huskers in the history of Section 1’s most successful program have been a part of five consecutive sectional titles?

It’s a ridiculously short list.

“Playing for Yorktown has been an incredible experience,” said Donnelly, who is headed for Rutgers later this summer. “I don’t take anything for granted. I’m so thankful for all of my teammates, all of my coaches. I wouldn’t trade anything that happened over the last five years. I’ve loved Yorktown lacrosse my whole life and to have my own little piece of history is incredible. I’m thankful I got the opportunity.”

If there’s one player who did everything he needed to do for the Huskers during a surprise run to the NYSPHSAA Class B final, it was Donnelly, who is the Journal News Player of the Year for Westchester and Putnam.

“Looking back on the season, it’s humbling to get the awards, but that’s on my team,” he said. “We pushed each other every single day, the defense, the offense. All of the individual awards, they go back to the team.”

The sentiment isn’t surprising and it’s not part of a script.

Donnelly was always quick to credit the defense no matter how many dramatic saves he was forced to make, claiming teammates only allowed shots they knew he could stop.

“Having the experience of being on the varsity team for almost five years, that inspired a lot of respect from his teammates,” Marr said. “And the way he works, they see his effort, so it’s kind of hard not to follow the guy. Liam’s heart was in it 100 percent. There wasn’t any false bravado, it’s just, ‘We have to get it done. This is what we have to do. We have to do it together.’ And he led the way.”

Donnelly was an easy All-America pick, saving 62.7 percent of the shots he faced.

His best game of the season came in a humbling 12-3 loss to Darien, Connecticut, a nationally ranked team with frightening talent. It would’ve been an ugly loss if not for his 16 saves.

Rivals in and outside Section 1 took immediate notice.

“I treated it just like any other game,” Donnelly said. “I don’t like to make it a personal thing, but I kind of knew I had to stand on my head for us to have a chance. It’s not really a good feeling. I would rather have an off- game and win. I’m fine with that.”

The next step is getting ready for the college game.

Donnelly is playing in the Sound Shore league with other Yorktown alumni on Husked Corn. He’s back at Charlie Murphy Field on a daily basis, facing old teammates intent on scoring.

“I’m honestly not sure how college-ready I am,” he said. “I went to one Rutgers practice and saw the level of talent. I’m working every day so when I get there it’s not too big of a step for me and I’m ready to play.”

Yorktown’s Liam Donnelly (21) blocks a shot during boys lacrosse state semifinals at Hofstra University Shuart Stadium in Hempstead June 8, 2016. Yorktown defeats Shoreham- Wading River 7-6.

2016 Journal News Boys Lacrosse All-Stars

Westchester/Putnam

First team

A – Brendan Johnson, White Plains, Sr. (Siena)

A – Ara Atayan, Bronxville, Jr. (North Carolina)

A – Brian Reda, Pleasantville, So. (Fairfield)

M – Eric Greenberg, Mamaroneck, Sr. (Lehigh)

M – Cullen Morgan, Fox Lane, Sr. (Georgetown)

M – Kyle Casey, Yorktown, Jr. (Albany)

D – Zach Kryza, Iona Prep, Sr. (Villanova)

D – Jack Drillock, Pleasantville, Sr. (Siena)

D – Brett Makar, Yorktown, So. (Maryland)

G – Liam Donnelly, Yorktown, Sr. (Rutgers)

LSM – Jose Boyer, Yorktown, Jr. (Notre Dame)

FO – Nick Vazquez, Lakeland/Panas, Sr. (Hartford)

Coach of the year – Rob Anderson, Briarcliff

Second team

A – Kevin Prunty, Lakeland, Sr. (Siena)

A – Keaton McCann, Briarcliff, Jr. (undecided)

A – Will Cabrera, Scarsdale, Sr. (Yale)

M – Matt Lupinacci, John Jay, Sr. (Colgate)

M – Max Persico, Iona Prep, So. (Bryant)

M – Matt Magnan, Fox Lane, So. (Syracuse)

D – Jake Murphy, John Jay, Sr.

D – Tyler Makar, Yorktown, Sr. (St. Joseph’s)

D – Thor Adamec (John Jay) So. (Colgate)

G – Graham Goldheim, Briarcliff, Sr. (Union)

LSM – Aidan Hynes, Mahopac, Sr. (Yale)

FO – Andrew Evans, Mahopac, Sr. (Marist)

Honorable mention

Davis Allen, Pelham, Jr., M; Anthony Altimari, Yorktown, Jr., FO; John Arcidiacono, Eastchester, Sr., MF; Andrew Babyak, Bronxville, So., D; Kevin Blank, Brewster, Sr., M; Theo Bresolin, Rye, Sr., D; Austin Burns, White Plains, Jr., LSM; Jack Cassella, Fordham Prep, Sr., M; Justin Cavallo, Yorktown, Jr., A; Ralph Chrappa, Bronxville, Sr., FO; Gianni Ciffone, Stepinac, Sr., A; Chris Conley, Mamaroneck, Sr., A; Christain Donahoe, Mahopac, Sr., M; Jamison Embury, Yorktown, So., A; Emmett Fay, Mamaroneck, Jr., A; Dan Foley, Mahopac, Sr., M; Kevin Gallagher, Putnam Valley, Sr., M; Elliot Graham, Scarsdale, Sr., M; Herschel Halesworth, Iona Prep, So., A; Will Hynson, Rye, Jr., A; JoJo Janavey, Lakeland/Panas, So., A; Shahe Katchadurian, John Jay, So., G; Hunter Keech, John Jay, Sr., MF; Evan Kieltyka, Somers, Jr., D; Ryan Kirkpatrick, Rye, Jr., A; Andrew Lowman, Somers, Jr., M; Jack Marschke, John Jay, Sr., LSM; Thomas Marra, Fordham Prep, So., A; Charlie McAllister, Iona Prep, Sr., G; Declan McDermott, Pleasantville, So., M; Matt McLaughlin, Harrison, Jr., A; Sean New, Fox Lane, Sr., D; Isaac Newland, Iona Prep, Jr., A; Matt Nichauls, Pelham, Sr., M; Daniel O’Rourke, Mamaroneck, Jr., D; John Plimpton, Briarcliff, Sr., A; Jackson Rieger, John Jay, So., A; Sam Roth, Croton, Sr., M; Anthony Sardo, Westlake, Sr., A; Mike Smith, Hen Hud, Sr., M; Alex Souza, Kennedy, Sr., A; C.J. Stier, Fordham Prep, Jr., M; Alston Tarry, Bronxville, So., M; Thomas Tenney, Fox Lane, Jr., A.

Veterans participate in the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

PGA professionals Bill Osetek, left, of Rockland Lake Golf Course and Andy Crane of West Point Golf Course cheer after Paul Iorizzo of Hawthorne, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, made a putt during the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

PGA professionals Bill Osetek, left, of Rockland Lake Golf Course and Andy Crane of West Point Golf Course look on as Paul Iorizzo of Hawthorne, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, putts during the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

PGA professional Andy Crane, left, of West Point Golf Course advises Paul Iorizzo of Hawthorne, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, as he lines his putt during the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

Veterans wait for the start of the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

Veterans sing the national anthem before the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

Veterans wait for the start of the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

Veterans sing the national anthem before the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament July 6, 2016 at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marks the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

Standing just behind the third green at Metropolis Country Club, Paul Iorizzo looked at a hard-breaking 15-foot downhill chip out of the collar.

Addressing the ball, he slowly drew back his wedge and started the ball on a good line. It rolled slowly downhill and to the left, traveling most of the way to the hole slightly faster than a snail’s pace, stopping two feet from the hole. It was the best attempt in his group, which included two PGA Professionals. He’d later tap in the two-footer.

“The best thing about golf,”Iorizzo said, “standing over that ball, you forget about all your aches and pains and everything. It’s therapy.”

PGA professional Bobby Miller of Knollwood Country Club hits a shot during the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament on Wednesday at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marked the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

Iorizzo, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who was wounded in combat in Vietnam, is among the newest graduates of the Met PGA HOPE program, which brings military veterans and PGA professionals together to teach the veterans how to play golf and enhance their quality of life.

The program, run by the PGA of America’s Metropolitan Section, is open to all veterans, but is geared specifically toward those suffering from disabilities and is meant to help them assimilate back into their local communities.

On Wednesday afternoon, the veterans, many of them wounded in combat from Korea to the Global War on Terror, joined the pros for an afternoon scramble at Metropolis to celebrate their graduation from the program.

Iorizzo, of Hawthorne, had played some golf before the program, “But this was amazing, with all the pros giving us tips.”

Jose Romero of Yorktown Heights, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, is shown during the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament on Wednesday at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marked the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

The lessons, however, went in both directions, as pros had to learn new ways to teach the game as an adaptive sport.

“You just have to completely step out of the box” when teaching wounded veterans, said Steve Kladis, the assistant professional at Rye Golf Club.

Some of the veterans bear physical scars from their service that make it difficult to teach the game with the traditional methods provided by the PGA Teaching Manual or “Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf,” Kladis said.

“No matter what kind of injury they have, it’s a different way of life,” explained Knollwood Country Club’s Bobby Miller.

Miller served two years in the U.S. Army as a clerk before becoming a PGA Professional.

Paul Iorizzo of Hawthorne, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, contemplates his chip during the Met PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) tournament on Wednesdsay at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. The tournament marked the graduation of the Met PGA six-week program that teaches adaptive golf in hopes of helping veterans assimilate and have fun. The veterans get to keep the set of golf clubs and can play in the summer league created for them.

“This is the most fun” of all the things Miller has done as a member of the PGA of America over the past 31 years, he said. “Everyone has a smile on their face, and no matter how bad it is, they’re all appreciative.”

The appreciation is mutual.

“I was in the Army, in Vietnam in 1969, and when we were all coming home, we were spit on and told not to wear our uniforms home,” said William Nehmzow of Yorktown. “So this is great that we’re being recognized.”

Military service is a sacrifice, Paul Glut, a Marine veteran who served in an intelligence unit from 1984 through 1988, explained under the shade of a maple tree near Metropolis’ 10th tee.

“These guys, fortunately, have made it through,” said Glut, who is now the head professional at the Woodside Club on Long Island. “A lot of their buddies, our friends, didn’t make it through, so anything we can do to help them, whether the government comes up short to assist them, I’m all for it.”

Over the past year, the PGA HOPE program has expanded from a group of 25 veterans at West Point Golf course to three groups of more than 80 veterans on Long Island, at West Point, and in the Bronx.

“For the PGA to do what they did, it’s the best,” said Jose Romero of Yorktown Heights, who served as a Marine in Vietnam in 1967 and ‘68. “I’ll salute them any time for everything they did for us.”

That salute will be gratefully returned.

From left, Mount Vernon High School basketball coach Bob Cimmino and principal Ron Gonzalez, talk about the renovations to the gym at Mount Vernon High School July 14, 2016.

A worker sands the floor as part of the renovations to the gym at Mount Vernon High School July 14, 2016.

MOUNT VERNON – After one of his last open gyms at the high school in late April, Bob Cimmino was asked to identify and mark the dead spots on Mount Vernon’s iconic hardwood. He knew them well, so armed with two rolls of colored tape and a handful of teenagers, Cimmino embarked on the task of determining whether or not the district could salvage the floor for the upcoming renovation.

“It looked like polkadots, like freckles,” said Cimmino, Mount Vernon’s boys basketball coach and athletic director. “We just kept putting tape in different spots. A kid would run over with a basketball and say, ‘Coach, here, here, here. Here’s a dead spot. Here’s a dead spot.’ We put Xs all over the place. When central administration saw what we had done, I think they scratched their heads for a minute and said, ‘We’re going to patch this?'”

And with that, what began as a fairly comprehensive renovation anyway became that much more extensive. The result is stark: Mount Vernon’s famed high school gym has undergone a complete transformation for the first time since it was built in 1963.

Mount Vernon schools bond work set to begin

$108 million schools bond for Mount Vernon passes

Mount Vernon auditorium: Revival in the wings

The gym project, which began May 1, is one part of what superintendent Kenneth Hamilton has dubbed his “20/20 Vision.” High school principal Ronald Gonzalez said the visibility of the basketball program and the athletic program in general has heightened its relevance to Hamilton’s mission.

“It is the epicenter of the district,” said Gonzalez, who expects the gym to be fully operational when school opens Sept. 7. “There are two things people think about when they think about Mount Vernon: the alumni, the actors we’ve had and basketball. It’s no secret that when the winter comes it’s a shot in the arm for all of us. The school just feels different. The atmosphere in the classrooms and the hallways, it’s just different. There’s a real sense of pride.”

Come this fall, it will look different. That much has been accomplished already with a new floor (still unfinished), new light fixtures, a new speaker system and new bleachers. The new seats have have been embossed with logos big and small to match the golden Mount Vernon Knights logo and even included 25 VIP seats behind the home bench.

A rendering of what Mount Vernon’s new home floor will look like when it is complete.

“I will miss some of those dead spots on the floor,” said Cimmino, who has chronicled the project’s developments on his Instagram account. “We ran certain plays in some of those dead spots. We had an advantage. Now it’s just straight up. But it’s going to be a beautiful place to play. I marvel about how much the district is caring.”

Gonzalez said the renovations will serve more than just the basketball program. The motorized dividing wall that separated physical education classes had broken and will be replaced by a retractable curtain. The revamped space should also allow the school to host events like volleyball and wrestling tournaments, which the gym had been unfit to host in the past.

Gonzalez said funding for the gym renovation came from an EXCEL bond passed before he became the principal in 2011. (Voters passed a proposition for an EXCEL bond in 2009.) It is separate from the $108-million bond passed in March that earmarked funds for the majority of improvements in Hamilton’s ambitious plan.

“What I’m very happy about and pleased with is that this is not the end,” said Gonzalez, who couldn’t provide a figure for the cost of the project. “It’s the beginning.”

The school has no definitive plans set, but Gonzalez expects to host an event to christen the new gym in September and another during the start of the basketball season. Cimmino said all of the old banners will be secured in Plexiglas, and they and the retired jerseys will be repositioned.

“It’s refreshing,” Cimmino said. “It’s like you open the window in a stale classroom. You feel revitalized and you can’t wait to get at it. I’m anxious to see how our players take it. They use the terms bouncy and how they’re going to bounce off the new floor. That should be special. I think they’re proud already and I think they’ll be even prouder.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Arlene Welsh of Tomkins Cove and Carolyn Gamboli of Garnerville participate in the Rally for the Cure benefit golf outing at the Philip J. Rotella Gof Course in Thiells Aug. 1, 2016.

Jeannie Baek of Pomona tees off during the Rally for the Cure benefit golf outing at the Philip J. Rotella Golf Course in Thiells Aug. 1, 2016.

Martin Donohue III tees off during the Rally for the Cure benefit golf outing at the Philip J. Rotella Gof Course in Thiells Aug. 1, 2016.

Mary Gail Lucas of Stony Point tees off during the Rally for the Cure benefit golf outing at the Philip J. Rotella Golf Course in Thiells Aug. 1, 2016.

Michael Laudien, director of golf, with a hole flag during the Rally for the Cure benefit golf outing at the Philip J. Rotella Gof Course in Thiells Aug. 1, 2016.

THIELLS – When 13-year-old Martin Donohue III walks into the pro shop at Philip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course, it’s usually to meet with head golf professional Michael Laudien before their lesson.

Donohue had other plans Monday morning.

The New City resident informed Laudien that he wanted to play in the course’s annual Rally for the Cure event, which raises money for breast cancer awareness.

Donohue, nicknamed “Marty Mittens” due to the fact he wears two golf gloves instead of the traditional one, is the youngest person to ever partake in the event’s 10-year history.

“My aunt, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She lives in Puerto Rico, but now she’s survived and I’m very happy she survived,” Donohue said of his “Titi Tere,” who was diagnosed and went into remission within the last year. “We went to go visit her and comfort her. She went through chemo and now her hair’s growing back, so I’m happy that’s happening, too.”

The tournament is especially meaningful for foursome teammates Arlene Welsh, a breast cancer survivor, and Carolyn Gamboli, daughter of the late Philip J. Rotella.

“It’s really an honor for me to play in this tournament because my mother also died from breast cancer,” Gamboli, whose mother passed at age 68, said as her eyes started to well up with tears. “It’s pretty emotional.”

Gamboli, Welsh, Ruth O’Connor, Judy Clayton, Ginny Vitiello are on the tournament committee, along with Laudien. Gamboli said her father would’ve been “very proud of all of us” to see what the tournament has become on the course named after him.

The event raises between $7,000 and $9,000 each year, according to Laudien, who started the tournament after losing his grandmother to the disease in 2006.

“I think breast cancer has affected everybody in some capacity,” Laudien said, sporting a bright pink shirt like so many of the 90 participants Monday. “Anything I can do with golf and maybe raise money for a charity that is dear to my heart is a home run.”

Close to 30 local businesses donated gift certificates, prizes and merchandise for this year’s tournament. Even competing Rockland courses such as Blue Hill (Orangeburg), Patriot Hills (Stony Point), Rockland Country Club (Sparkill) and Spook Rock (Suffern) supported the cause.

The course used pink cups, sticks and flags at each hole in honor of breast cancer awareness.

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LoHudGolf

Girls attend the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association’s annual Girls to the Tee event at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

There wasn’t a single awkward pause in the conversation Monday when nearly 100 girls from the region gathered at Westchester Country Club for the WMGA Foundation’s annual Girls to the Tee clinic. It’s a technicolor jolt of adrenaline run by volunteers intent on providing opportunity and instruction to a growing population of girls who are beginning to embrace the game.

Here are six reasons why this event is so important:

1. It’s a start. The free instructional clinic debuted in 2008 and more than a few local standouts got the bug here. Spending a picturesque afternoon among enthusiastic peers with the splendor of Westchester Country Club in the background can be inspirational.

“We really want to spark interest,” WMGA Foundation chair Diane Mock said. “There are so many choices for girls in athletics. Golf is a sport they can play with mom and dad, with brothers and sisters and with best friends.”

Apawamis’ director of instruction Monique Thoresz looks on as Sofia Krause, 11, of Greenwich practices her swing at the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association’s annual Girls to the Tee event at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

2. Golf is almost cool. We have an entire generation of kids who see Rory McIlroy and Lexi Thompson as true athletes. It helps put golf on the same level as soccer, lacrosse, softball, gymnastics and soccer. Seeing a gaggle of girls all geared up and ready to learn validates the decision to give the game a try.

“It’s more of a sport now,” said Ally Steffen, a rising senior at Byram Hills who first came with friends several years ago and was back volunteering. “How athletic the game has become and how competitive the sport is, that was a turn on.”

Amanda Latkany, 13, of Rye practices her swing at the Girls to the Tee event put on by the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

3. No boys allowed. A wide majority of the girls learn the game in the company of boys who have a habit of showing off. Not here. The girls are grouped according to ability so nobody gets intimidated, even the beginners. It’s simply a more supportive community.

“Based on my experience here, girls golf is exploding in this area,” said Westchester director of instruction Gary Weir. “This is an important tool for growing the game. It’s not about playing in college and becoming a professional, it’s about helping them play good golf for as long as long as they play.

“A lot them are isolated at their own clubs. They come here and there and get to see how much fun all of these girls are having.”

Girls practice their stance during the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association’s annual Girls to the Tee event at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

WMGA Foundation: The organization funds college scholarships, provides WMGA membership to deserving juniors who do not belong to a club, and runs Girls to the Tee. 

4. It’s free. There were 17 teaching professionals from local clubs giving up a day off to provide hands-on instruction. Westchester Country Club grants full access to its expansive practice area and putting green, allowing the girls to receive help with full swings, chipping and putting. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without snacks and drinks. Golf can be expensive and not everyone in the region belongs to a private club.

“This is really important for the pros, too,” said Apawamis director of instruction Monique Thoresz. “It’s a long, hot season. It’s revitalizing to come here and see the girls. It’s exciting for us. Every year we’ve done this, it’s grown in different ways. At first, some of the girls who came were unsure. Now, they are rocking full bags, pink hats. There’s a spring in their step.

“We need to be growing the game of golf. These are our members in the coming years.”

Unique Hicks, 6, of White Plains takes out her club at the Girls to the Tee event put on by the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

5. There is a social aspect to golf. A number of the girls have some real ability. Girls to the Tee is a perfect venue for those who have plans to play competitive golf to get acquainted with players who share a passion for the game. Parents can also huddle up and compare notes.

“My daughter, Ava, is so into golf,” said James Minisolo, a Somers resident. “I told her this would be a good place to make some friends. There are so many girls who are getting involved now. Ava has already got her future planned. She wants a scholarship to Alabama. She wants to major in architecture. She wants to play on the LPGA Tour.”

Eloise Schultz, 6, of Rye practices her swing at the Girls to the Tee event put on by the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

6. In the end, it’s all fun and games. There is no urgency to make all of these girls into high school or collegiate golfers. Maybe a number of the girls come back next summer. Maybe they bring a friend along. Maybe few become regular players somewhere down the road.

“You don’t really see a lot of girls playing golf at my club,” said Kayla Wels, a 9-year-old from White Plains. “I do like this. Golf is fun. It’s kind of relaxing, there’s nobody talking when you play and you have to really concentrate.”

Golf professional Terri Migliaccio guides Aine Breen, 8, of Port Chester during the annual Girls to the Tee event put on by the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association at Westchester Country Club in Rye, Aug. 8, 2016. The free clinic, for girls ages 6-18, is an afternoon of instruction and networking to help show girls who are learning the game that they are part of a larger group.

In this file photo, Scarsdale hockey coach Jim Mancuso gives last-minute instructions to his team before a regional win at Shenendehowa in March 2014. Mancuso is one of four varsity coaches who won’t be returning to Scarsdale in the 2016-17 school year.

Four varsity head coaches at Scarsdale High School with nearly 80 years of coaching experience among them have either been fired or resigned over the past few weeks.

Raiders’ Ice hockey coach Jim Mancuso, baseball coach David “Doc” Scholl and softball coach Dave Scagnelli have all been informed that they are being let go, they confirmed to The Journal News/lohud. Brendan Curran confirmed he has resigned from his post as boys’ lacrosse coach.

Scarsdale hockey coach Jim Mancuso gives last-minute instructions to his team before a regional win at Shenendehowa in March 2014. Mancuso is one of four Scarsdale coaches who won’t return to the Raiders’ athletic program in the 2016-17 school year.

Mancuso, Scholl and Scagnelli all declined to comment further.

The specific reasons for the coaching changes remain unclear, with superintendent Dr. Thomas Hagerman stating, “Unfortunately, employment law prohibits us from discussing individual disciplinary or non-renewal information with others, including the press.

“What I can say is that all coaching assignments are made on an annual basis. Going forward, under (athletic director Ray Pappalardi’s) leadership, we will have clear, consistent and high standards for all coaches, as well as a solid annual evaluation process to monitor their performance. These factors will determine annual appointments or reappointments.”

Reached by phone, Kathy Coleman, a former president of the Maroon and White Club who remains on the board, said that “Everybody has their supporters and detractors. It’s very easy for the supporters to come out in these circumstances and next to impossible for the detractors to come out.”

“(Pappalardi) took a year to really look at how our programs are run, and I’m sure he put a lot of thought into this,” Coleman said.

Entering his second year at Scarsdale, Pappalardi previously spent eight years as Athletic Director at Edgemont High School from 2008 through 2015, according to his profile on the social network LinkedIn.

Pappalardi responded to an e-mail from The Journal News regarding Scholl, writing, “I am sorry that, as this is a personnel issue, I cannot comment directly.”

He added: “I can share that a comprehensive search and selection process will take place. I have not set a timeline. However, I do believe that the position will be advertised by early September.”

Curran told The Journal News/lohud that he met with Scarsdale athletic director Ray Pappalardi on August 3 and offered his resignation, which was accepted.

“I think the nature of the business has changed in my second term at Scarsdale,” said Curran, who previously coached the Raiders for from the mid-90s through the early-2000s. “I felt we had gotten the program back on it’s feet, so it was a good time to step away.”

Curran took over as varsity lacrosse head coach three games into the 2014 season. He formerly coached at North Salem and came to Scarsdale as an assistant with Tim Weir. The Raiders took a big step forward this past spring, finishing 14-5 and losing to eventual Section 1 champion Lakeland/Panas in a Class A semifinal.

Mancuso spent 25 years as the school’s varsity hockey coach and is highly-regarded in Section 1. The program has ranked among the best in recent years. Scarsdale won sectional championships in 2014 and 2015, advancing to the NYSPHSAA semifinals each year.

Last year, the Raiders finished 10-10-2 despite graduating a number of all-state talents and playing a very ambitious schedule.

Scholl had been coaching baseball at Scarsdale for 24 years, including 12 as the head coach for the varsity team. He established the Scarsdale Baseball Club, led the Raiders to a league title in 2006 and coached right-handed pitcher Henry Hirsch, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013. This past season under Scholl, Scarsdale finished 8-12.

Scagnelli spent the last 26 years as head coach of the Raiders’ varsity softball program, where he helped groom the careers of four Division I players and was named League II-A co-coach of the year in 2015. Scagnelli has also coached the football, girls soccer and boys basketball programs with the Raiders.

Twitter: @lohudsports

Mike Dougherty, Vincent Z. Mercogliano, and Mike Zacchio contributed to this report.