O’Keefe, Sluggers claim South Riverdale LL crown

 After taking the first game against the Baron’s BatMen, the Dale-way Auto Body Center Sluggers of the South Riverdale Little League entered the second game of a best-of-three championship series with a chance to clinch a title with two straight wins.

The Major’s Division team did just that, leaving no doubt they wanted the championship as the Sluggers thrashed the BatMen 20-1 after a 15-run fifth inning.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Matt Mahony, a coach on the Sluggers said about the win. “They’re having a great time, and it’s fun to see them so happy. It’s great for the kids, this is what it’s about here in Little League.”

Behind starting pitcher Harry O’Keefe’s three innings of one-run ball, the Sluggers kept the BatMen in check. With the score tied at one in the third, O’Keefe helped himself at the plate, providing what would prove to be the game-winning run with an RBI single.

“Harry, every game, is the spark plug,” Mahony said. “He leads our team. He’s a great competitor, great baseball player.”

O’Keefe loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third, but got out of the jam with a strikeout to end the BatMen’s lone threat.

“I felt good, I just wasn’t hitting the strike zone,” O’Keefe said about his performance.

The game slipped away from the BatMen in the fourth and fifth as they committed seven errors in two innings, leading to 18 runs.

After posing for team pictures and receiving hugs and kisses from their parents, O’Keefe and his teammates couldn’t wait to do one thing: “Eat pizza,” O’Keefe said.

— Daniel Ynfante

Soccer club registration

The Riverdale Soccer Club is now registering players for the fall season for boys and girls born between 2001 and 2003. 

The season runs Sept. 9 through Nov. 19 with three programs, all of which take place at Seton Park, West 232nd Street and Independence Avenue. 

The PeeWee instructional program, for boys and girls born in 2010 and 2011, meets Saturday mornings. Older boys and girls will play regular games in the Riverdale Soccer League. 

The boys division plays its games Saturday afternoons, with the girls divisions playing Sunday afternoons. 

Each division has three age groups — a younger group for players born in 2008 and 2009, a middle group for players born in 2006 and 2007, and an older group for players born from 2003 through 2005.

The registration fee is $75 per player before June 30, which includes a uniform jersey, shorts and socks. Registration is by mail only and is subject to availability. 

Are you ready for some football?

The Public School Athletic League released its 2017 football schedules, and both JFK Campus and Clinton open the season Sept. 9.

The Knights, who went 6-3 last season and reached the second round of the PSAL playoffs, kick off at South Shore in Brooklyn at 1 p.m. The next two weeks will find the Knights playing at home when they host Midwood on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m., before meeting Bronx rival Clinton on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. 

Kennedy then travels to Staten Island for a battle with defending PSAL champion Curtis on Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m., before opening October with a home date against Lincoln on Oct. 6 with a 7 p.m. matchup. 

The rest of October sees the Knights travel to Fort Hamilton on Oct. 14 at noon, and Truman on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m., before returning home to host Wagner on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. 

Kennedy closes out the regular season with a home game versus Brooklyn Tech on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

Clinton plays its first three games on the road with dates at New Utrecht (Sept. 9 at noon), Port Richmond (Sept. 16 at noon) and Kennedy before hosting its home opener versus Campus Magnet on Oct. 1 at noon. 

The Governors, who failed to reach the PSAL playoffs last season with a 3-6 record, will then travel to PSAL runner-up Erasmus Hall for a 3:30 p.m., contest Oct. 6 before returning home to host Boys & Girls on Oct. 14 at noon. 

The Guvs then close out October with a pair of road contests at New Dorp (Oct. 21 at noon) and Grand Street Campus (Oct. 28 at noon), before closing out the regular season on Nov. 3 when they host Truman at 3:30 p.m.

For registration, visit RiverdaleSoccerClub.org, or call (718) 601-8639.