‘Pac Nine-Year-Olds Getting Used to Battling for Titles

Mahopac Indians 9-year-old team celebrates successful summer WPBA season. The Indians recently completed a strong summer season that saw them advance to the WPBA’s 9YO championship game, where they dropped a tight, 10-9, decision to Lewisboro.

That was after Mahopac had knocked off the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds earlier in the week.

The team finished the summer at 14- 7, under Manager Lorenzo Zefi and coaches Mark Krasniqi, Frank Moloney and Artie Schaier.

The poise the team showed in the playoffs hardly surprised Zefi, since the Indians have already proven they are a championship team – they won a WBA 9-year-old title as an eight-yearold team last year, then won the New York Elite Baseball (NYEB) 9U championship last spring.

“I thought the summer went well, the kids came together and improved during the season,” Zefi said, adding he wasn’t surprised to see the team fighting for another title. “I thought we would get there,” Zefi said, adding “this is the third time… we won last year, and in the spring, so we have some talented kids.”

Above: Zack Puckhaber. • Below: Christian Zefi Skip Pearlman A pitching staff of Christian Zefi, Tom Krasniqi, Zack Puckhaber, Ryan Moloney and Justin Schaier gave the Indians a chance to win every time they took the field.

“They did a great job all season,” Zefi said. “Zefi had two no-hitters, Tom was great in the playoffs, and Zack, Ryan and Justin also pitched well for us.”

Jackson Schaier and Drew Riolo ©, Nick Guistino (1B), Dylan Brehm (2B), Krasniqi (SS), Puckhaber (3B), Chris Walpole (LF), Aidan Madden (CF) and Munoz (RF) round out the infield and outfield for Mahopac.

Skip Pearlman “Defensively our infield was really good, they were solid all year,” Zefi said. “Our outfield was also good – especially in the playoffs. Offensively, we scored more runs than most of the other teams, the guys can hit up and down the lineup.

“It was a great season, and a great time with the kids,” Zefi concluded. “And I want to really thank all the parents, the kids and my coaches.”
BASEBALL
MAHOPAC 9
Lewisboro 10

Jackson Schaier Skip