On Aug. 4, girls and boys who are members of the Patchogue Youth Athletic Association (PYAA Nighthawks) baseball and softball league gathered for a special practice and celebration with the Nighthawks Fastpitch Girls Team.

In attendance were kids ranging in ages from 5 through 14, representing several T-ball, Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Minor Boys, Senior Girls, and Major Boys PYAA Nighthawks teams. The younger kids got to see the premier fastpitch softball team in action and work one-on-one with them on their fielding, batting, and other game skills.

At the end of the evening, all of the players celebrated a successful season with ice cream, popsicles and cookies. During the event, leadership of PYAA, including president Peter Feehan and incoming president Robert Weber, gathered with several Village of Patchogue trustees, notably parks commissioner Joseph Keyes, to announce the first-ever PYAA Alumni Benefit Softball Game.

Keyes, trustee Tom Ferb, trustee Lizbeth Carrillo, president Peter Feehan, and deputy mayor Jack Krieger were all present at Rider Avenue Fields on Thursday, Aug. 4.

“The Village of Patchogue and the PYAA has a long, positive history together—about 72 years that PYAA has participated on our fields [and] played on our fields. It’s been a great partnership, great relationship, [and] we look forward to many, many more years, and the fundraiser I think is just a fabulous idea, just to continue that relationship, that partnership, and to keep the league and the community atmosphere growing,” said Keyes.

“I played Little League back in the early ‘60s. I played baseball over there and PYAA. I managed, I coached. My son, Benjamin, I coached his team. PYAA has been very, very important in my life. I’ve been involved my whole life. My father was recreation commissionor at one time and we were all involved. My brother, my dad, my sister, you know, it’s a great thing. Pete Feehan is a great guy. Trustee Joe Keyes has it all under control. I’ve been around these fields for a long time and it’s been fun. This is a great idea to do this fundraiser game and I’m looking forward to it, looking forward to PYAA 72 more years, and all these kids, it’s good for the kids and it’s good for the parents, it’s good for everybody,” added Krieger.

The game, which will be co-ed and is anticipated to become an annual event, will be a community fundraiser to raise money for the beautification and maintenance of the village’s Sept. 11 park, which is located on Maiden Lane within the Village of Patchogue.

The PYAA Alumni Benefit Softball Game will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1. PYAA is looking for former players who would like to come out for a good time in support of a great cause. In addition to those who played PYAA baseball or softball when they were younger, the game is also open to current and former coaches, commissioners and directors, as well as current league sponsors.

To contact the league, follow them or message them on Facebook @pyaanighthawks. The game time and format will be announced once the number of teams is confirmed. Tickets to the event will be sold to the public and will include traditional baseball food and fun activities for kids. Details will be announced on the PYAA Nighthawks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pyaanighthawks).

ABOUT PYAA

The Patchogue Youth Athletic Association league was founded in 1950. The league has been inexistence for over 70 years. The league is searching for historic materials such as journals, pictures,and/or memorabilia from the 1950s and 1960s. Both the Patchogue-Medford Library and the GreaterPatchogue Historical Society would welcome information as well. If you have any of these items, pleasecall the Patchogue-Medford Library at 631-654-4700 and ask for the Local History Room, or message PYAA Nighthawks on Facebook. The league is open to any child who would like to have fun and play ball. Registration will be opening upin early 2023, and all players receive uniforms and access to training clinics at Steel Sports Academy in Yaphank, NY. The PYAA Nighthawks play at the Village of Patchogue’s Waldbauer Park on Rider Avenue, which is excellently maintained by the Village of Patchogue, and features a turf field and a concession stand. League Sponsors for the 2022 season were Fusco, Brandenstein & Rada, PC, J. Signs, McGiff Halverson Dooley LLP, Patchogue Ambulance Company, Patchogue Fire Department, Patchogue Lions, Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers, Rotary Club of Patchogue, and Ruland’s Funeral Home. The league is appreciative of their support, as well as other businesses such as Bimbo Bakeries and Liberty Cola who help support league events.