News by Tom Barton
News by Tom Barton on South Shore Press
Are The Mets Going with a Youth Movement?
It’s hard to believe that the New York Mets, with a billionaire owner, might opt for a youth movement after spending so much on a star player like Juan Soto just last season, but that nightmare might become a reality for Amazin’ fans.
Bowl Season Brings Value
The new landscape of college football has brought many changes, and the transfer portal has significantly affected bowl games. More and more players are opting out of bowl games if their teams aren’t in the College Football Playoff, and while that is disappointing for fans, it gives sports bettors an edge.
Miller Place Student Athletes Decide on their Next Stop
The Miller Place School District recently held a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony to honor thirteen exceptional student-athletes who will continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level after graduation. This special event celebrated years of dedication, hard work, and commitment both inside and outside the classroom.
Suffolk Wrestling Producing Stars
Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated released its updated National Pre-Season Rankings for both boys’ and girls’ wrestling, offering an early look at the top high school competitors across the country. Among the nation’s elite were 25 athletes from New York, each earning a place inside the top 30 and highlighting the state’s continued strength in the sport.
Addison Ruland Breaks Pat-Med's School Record
There is a new name atop the record books at Pet-Med. At the conclusion of the fall 2025 season, Patchogue-Medford High School senior Addison Ruland officially set a new school record for career goals, marking one of the most impressive accomplishments in the history of the program.
Pat-Med's Field Hockey Stars Take Home State Honors
Patchogue-Medford High School seniors Kate Comiskey and Sophia Fox achieved remarkable recognition this season, standing out as two of only eighteen field hockey student-athletes in all of Suffolk County to earn prestigious All-State honors.
Sayville Football Earns Rutgers Trophy
Sayville Football has won the Rutgers Trophy, awarded to the best team in Suffolk County. The Golden Flashes capped off an unforgettable season by finishing 12-0, securing their eighth Long Island Championship and bringing home the seventh Rutgers Trophy in program history. Sayville earned this prestigious honor at the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner, where the program was officially recognized as Suffolk’s most outstanding team.
William Floyd Cleans Up at the Awards Dinner
The William Floyd Colonials football program had a big night this week earning a host of honors at the annual Suffolk County Football Coaches Association awards dinner held at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge.
Ja’Quan Thomas Wins the Hansen Award
Ja’Quan Thomas will need to find a place to put all his new trophies and awards after this week.
The Polar Bear Moves South
The Baseball Winter Meetings are supposed to ignite enthusiasm in fan bases and reconstruct rosters so that teams can contend. For the New York Mets, however, these meetings have become a string of nightmares and broken dreams. This week the Mets lost another beloved star when Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
Donnie Baseball is Still Waiting
In yet another disappointing and frankly baffling outcome, Don Mattingly was once again denied election to the Baseball Hall of Fame this week. “Donnie Baseball” did not receive the 12 votes required from the 16-member Contemporary Baseball Era Committee at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, falling short of induction in what marked his 19th appearance on a Hall of Fame ballot.
William Floyd Basketball Hosts Coach Sumpter Memorial Game
The William Floyd High School boys’ varsity basketball team, led by head coach Will Slinkosky, recently hosted its first annual Coach Darrell Sumpter Memorial Game in a matchup against Sachem North.
Sachem Student Wins First Ever Sports Media Award
The Suffolk County Football Coaches Association has selected Sachem North senior Alyssa Tappin as the recipient of its first-ever Student Media Award, created to honor outstanding storytelling, coverage, and dedication to high school athletics.
Sachem East Wins Wrestling Tournament
The Sachem East Varsity Boys Wrestling Team delivered an outstanding performance this weekend, capturing first place at the Lou Giani Huntington Wrestling Tournament.
Jane Bonner Takes the Plunge
Councilwoman Jane Bonner proudly participated in the Annual Polar Plunge at Cedar Beach this past Saturday, joining hundreds of supporters who braved the icy waters of the Long Island Sound to raise funds for Special Olympics New York.
Will the Rays Magic Strike Again?
There is an old adage in baseball circles that when the Tampa Bay Rays’ front office calls you about a trade, you should hang up the phone immediately. That is because, in all likelihood, the Rays have identified value in one of your undervalued assets and are preparing to fleece you in a deal.
It's Over for the Lions
The Detroit Lions saved their season with an outstanding offensive performance against the Cowboys Thursday night, but for sports bettors there is a bigger picture to notice.
Tragedy Strikes Long Island Coach
Wading River’s own Liam Gleason, the Siena University men’s lacrosse coach, died Wednesday at Albany Medical Center, three days after suffering a severe head injury from a fall at his home.
Hockey for Cancer Pays Off Big
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina joined Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon and representatives from the Strohm Foundation to present a substantial donation to the Stony Brook Cancer Center.
Uncle Stevie Adds Casinos to His Resume
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen won approval to operate a casino next to Citi Field in Queens, one of three projects selected by the New York State Gaming Commission’s facility location board to receive downstate gambling licenses. Cohen, the hedge fund billionaire who submitted an $8 billion proposal with Hard Rock International, was chosen alongside Genting Group’s Resorts World and Bally’s Corp.
Daily Feed
Stony Brook students blend fitness and ecology in 3K EcoWalk
Stony Brook University students participated in the "Running Wild 3K EcoWalk," a new Earthstock event conducted on April 21 at the Ashley Schiff Preserve.
Are The Mets Going with a Youth Movement?
It’s hard to believe that the New York Mets, with a billionaire owner, might opt for a youth movement after spending so much on a star player like Juan Soto just last season, but that nightmare might become a reality for Amazin’ fans.
Bowl Season Brings Value
The new landscape of college football has brought many changes, and the transfer portal has significantly affected bowl games. More and more players are opting out of bowl games if their teams aren’t in the College Football Playoff, and while that is disappointing for fans, it gives sports bettors an edge.