Sports

U15 GIANTS DEFEAT VALLEY DOGS: The Livingston U15 Giants Little League baseball team defeated the Bergen Valley Dogs, 9-2 , on Saturday, July 16, at the Tevlin Field Complex on Okner Parkway. Shown above left, Giants pitcher Will Waldron delivers a fastball against the Valley Dogs. Above, Livingston Giant Julian Schultz drives the ball to left center field against Valley Dog pitcher Connor Stewart. Below, Livingston Giants catcher John Marco Maiello sets and holds the strike from pitcher Will Waldron. Home plate umpire Guy M. Ebel made the call against Valley Dogs batter Jameson Brooks. Below, left, Livingston Giants Andrew Depaul drives the ball up the middle against Bergen. Don Schwartz Photos

GIANTS PLAY EXPOS: The Livingston Giants 14U Little League baseball team was defeated by the Morristown Expos, 11-3, on Thursday evening, July 7, on the Oval. Shown here, clockwise from top left, Giants pitcher Bo Belcuore brings it to the plate against the Expos; Giants John Mauro avoids a pick-off at first from Expos pitcher Carmen Salerno; and the Giants Christian Giordano drives the ball to left center against Morristown pitcher Carmen Salerno. Home plate umpire Mike Rosenberg and Expos catcher Marc Antonio follow the ball. Don Schwartz Photos

The Livingston 10U Williamsport Little League Team captured the District 8 championship with a 9-5 win over Nutley American, on Saturday, July 9, at the Meadowbrook Little League Complex. The total team effort was highlighted by power hitting throughout the line-up and solid defense in the field. The team now moves on to the Section 2 tournament in Hoboken beginning this weekend. Shown here, clockwise from top left: Livingston centerfielder Gavin Violette drives the ball up the middle against Nutley; a team photo shows, in front, Ryan Rosenberg, John Agriantonis, Michael DeCorso, Gavin Violette, Matthew Gillock, Liam Zotti, Cameron Roig, Ryan Traub, Manny Bahler, Bryce Cullen, and Tanish Reikhy, and at rear, coaches Dave McLaughlin, Mike Sorrentino, Greg Bushwell, and Ben Hauser; team members celebrate their victory; Livingston’s Matthew Gillock makes the turn at third to score at home plate; and Livingston pitcher Ryan Rosenberg delivers a fast ball to the Nutley batter.

NAMED TO ALL-STATE TEAM: Livingston’s Josh Mandelbaum was named First Team All-State Tennis by the Star Ledger. He was 22-0 this year as a sophomore for Newark Academy. He practices at the West Orange tennis club. Mandelbaum is a five-star recruit who owns a UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) of 11.23. The son of Richard and Lianne Mandelbaum of Livingston, he has been playing tennis since he was seven. During his freshman and sophomore years at Newark Academy, his record was 44-1. He is ranked #1 nationally for Boys 16 and Under Doubles 2021 Final Rankings by the United States Tennis Association.

Livingston High School Class of 2025 varsity lacrosse goalie Frank Bagolie was selected to play in the Matt Chandik One Percent Lacrosse Showcase All Star game after playing against some of the toughest competition in the country.

The national All Star game took place Tuesday, June 28, at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The showcase featured six teams of Class of 2025 players, each of whom had the opportunity to play three games. Teams mixed top players from regions all across the country, from as far away as California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. The day concluded with 40 players from each division, including Bagolie, chosen to participate in the All-Star Games.

The One Percent Showcase is touted as an event for the top uncommitted players in the country in the Class of 2023, as well as the nation’s top 2024 and 2025 players.

LITTLE LEAGUE GIANTS WIN: The Livingston Little League U15 Giants defeated the Annandale Colonials, 11-9, on the Oval on Thursday, June 30. Shown above, Lancer catcher John Marco Maiello holds up on a low fastball from pitcher Ralph Warnier. Home plate umpire Keith Brower and catcher Brooks Orr follow the ball. At right, Livingston pitcher Julian Schultz delivers a fast ball againt the Colonials. Don Schwartz Photos

WILLIAMSPORT TEAM EDGES CEDAR GROVE: The Livingston Williamsport Team USA Baseball League team defeated the Cedar Grove Panthers, 5-4, on the Lou Krutoy Field at the Meadowbrook Little League Complex on Sunday, June 26. Shown here, Livingston pitcher Matthew Gillock brings it to the plate against the Panthers. Don Schwartz Photo

Gayle Edelstein of Livingston will participate in the 21st annual World Maccabiah Games, to be held July 14 through 25 in Jerusalem, Israel.

This will mark Edelstein’s third Maccabi appearance for the Maccabi USA women’s volleyball team. After a silver medal-winning performance in the 2019 Maccabi Pan Am Games in Mexico City, Mexico, Edelstein will be leading the U.S. open women’s team in the World Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer. Previously, she had led the U.S. junior volleyball team to a Gold Medal in the 2017 World Maccabiah Games that were also held in Israel.

Aston Roberts, a ninth grade student who recently moved to Livingston from New York City, was featured on the United States Chess Federation (USCF) top one hundred list for his age group.

“We were overjoyed,” Bridgette Roberts, Aston’s mother, said. “For us this was a significant achievement and accomplishment after all the hard work. Just seeing his name on the list made us really proud of him. Aston was very excited to be included amongst the top chess players in the country. He wears it as a badge of honor.”

Aston’s dad, Adrian, began teaching him how to play chess when he was five years old. The Roberts’ view chess as a family activity.

ANGELS ARE LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: The third grade 9U Angels were the Livingston Little League regular season and playoff champions. Shown here are, front, Kaiden Shah, Matthew Granet, Reid Nodelman, and Tal Wasserman; middle, Emmett Murphy, Kieren Kane, Jonah Khedouri, Brayden Murphy, and Caleb Quiroz; and rear, coaches Ryan Murphy, Jason Granet, Joe Murphy, Kevin Kane, and Stafford Quiroz. Also on the team were Kiaan Kal and Eli Matthew.