On this day 26 years ago, Newsday released its League VIII baseball preview. Here is the outlook they gave for the 1996 season.

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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.

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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.

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