Mickey Mantle Royals Claim League Title; Mack Kicks Off Wednesday

VALLEY FALLS - The Lansingburgh Royals' Mickey Mantle squad staked their claim to the 2008 Eastern New York Mickey Mantle regular season title (well, a share at least) with a 12-0 win over the Warren County Nationals at Chapko-Lewis Stadium in Valley Falls.

Zach Gardner and Jordan Zareski combined for a three-hit shutout and Gardner (12) and Zareski (3) mowed down 15 Nationals in total.

Bryan LeClair hit a pair of doubles to lead the offensive charge. In a span of five at-bats in the fourth inning, Lansingburgh hit four one-RBI doubles.



Lansingburgh's Jordan Zareski follows through on a double, his third hit of the day, while competing vs. Warren County. (Tom Killips — The Record).

The state Mantle tournament begins on the 24th and until then, the Royals plan on resting and practicing. They'll also get to pick up a few pitchers from ENY Mantle teams that didn't make the cut.

This team went to the 2007 15-and-under Mantle World Series in Oklahoma - so we know they're talented. They'll have to win big in states and the northeast regionals to get back to the World Series.

"It was a big game, but I knew I had Gardner on the mound," LeClair said. "We went to Oklahoma last year with most of the same kids and that makes us stronger. That kind of experience comes in handy for big games.

Check out the full story in Wednesday's Record - plus a preview story about the 2008 Connie Mack NYS Tourney.

Final Eastern New York Mickey Mantle League Standings

Team	Won	Lost	Tie	Pct.	GB
Lansingburgh Royals *	16	2	0	.889	---
Sorensco DevilCats *	16	2	0	.889	---
Warren County Nationals	15	3	0	.883	1
South Colonie	13	5	0	.722	3
Clifton Park	11	6	0	.647	4.5
Schenectady Braves	11	7	0	.611	5
Cohoes	9	8	1	.529	6.5
Greenwich	7	9	0	.438	8
Halfmoon Mariners	7	9	1	.438	8
Columbia	7	10	0	.412	8.5
Albany	6	11	1	.353	9.5
Cambridge	6	12	0	.333	10
Coxsackie	4	13	1	.235	11.5
Sorensco Falcons	2	16	0	.111	14
Bethlehem	0	17	0	.000	15.5

* Denotes league co-champions

Any questions or predicitions, feel free to drop us a line or leave it in the comments.

-- Will Montgomery

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The 2008 Connie Mack NYS championships begin on Wednesday at Knickerbacker Park and Colonie High School.

Look for full coverage of the tournament in The Record and for bonus coverage here on Off the Record.

2008 CONNIE MACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wednesday
At Colonie High
North Country Coyotes vs. Halfmoon Mariners, 1 p.m.
Colonie Raiders vs. West Genesee Wildcats, 4 p.m.
At Knickerbacker Park, Troy
South Troy Dodgers vs. East Greenbush Devil Cats, noon
Clifton Park Yankees vs. North Colonie Padres, 3 p.m.
Lansingburgh Royals vs. Fayetteville-Manlius Hornets, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Day Two, TBA
Friday
Day Three, TBA
Saturday
Championship at Knickerbacker Park, TBA