On this day 26 years ago, Newsday released its League VIII baseball preview. Here is the outlook they gave for the 1996 season.
Favorite
Defending Class D Champion Pierson/Bridgehampton
Top Contender
Stony Brook
Stony Brook Key Players
- 1B – Paul Ciofrone
- SS – Robbie Marvin
Prime Time Players
Paul Ciofrone: Stony Brook, 1B, Sr., 6-1, 190 lbs
All-County selection who led county with seven homers and a .522 average… Drove in 32 runs… Can also play outfield… Runs a 6.6 60-yard dash… One of two local players chosen preseason All-America by Collegiate America… Highly touted by major league scouts.
The Bears went on to win both the League VIII and Suffolk County titles behind League MVP Marvin and the All-Long Island play of Ciofrone. Ciofrone went on to be taken by the New York Mets in the 1996 MLB Draft before earning All-American recognition at Hofstra. Marvin became an All-ACC second baseman at the University of Virginia.
stonybrookbears.org 