25 Years Ago in Bonac Sports: 10.18.18

October 7, 1993

I am one of the few sportswriters, it seems, who thinks that soccer can indeed become a popular sport in this country. The evidence is all around us locally, as more and more children realize what a kick it is to boot a ball around.

. . . It used to be — about 10 or 15 years ago — that there was one men’s team here, an excellent team, but only one. Now, there must be at least a half-dozen in East Hampton and its environs of comparable strength. The level of play makes for good spectating, certainly on a par with a good South Fork high school basketball game, probably more exciting than most high school football or baseball games, and undoubtedly more riveting than men’s slow-pitch softball games.

. . . Speaking of the Latino League, rather than be shunted to a remote field out by Montauk Point, it should remain right where it is, and the powers-that-be should see to it that the grass is cut regularly, as is the case at Herrick Park and at the town’s Terry King baseball field on Abraham’s Path in Amagansett. — Point of View

Bob Nugent of Southampton and John Kenney of Shelter Island sublimated their competitive instincts as they neared the end of the 5K Georgica Jog Sunday. They crossed the finish line at East Hampton’s Main Beach together, at 15 minutes and 41 seconds, their hands raised.

When the question of who would accept first prize came up, Kenney replied, “Bob wins the tiebreaker — he’s got four kids, I’ve got three.”

October 14, 1993

East Hampton’s golf coach, Claude Beudert, thought Southampton, the defending New York State champion, which reportedly had not lost a league match in the past 10 years, was ready to be taken, and yesterday, at the South Fork Country Club in Amagansett, he was proved right.

The Bonackers, who had dropped an 8-1 decision at Southampton recently, prevailed on their home course by a score of 7-2 as Kevin Somers, at one, Carl Libert, at three, Tony Berkhofer, at four, and Mike Brady, at six, won their matches. 

October 21, 1993

Having seen the worst of it, according to its coach, Mike Gunther, the East Hampton High School boys volleyball team can look forward to a winning second half of the season, barring disaster.

The young Bonackers finished the first half at 4-4, having reeled off four straight wins before succumbing to Hauppauge in five here on Friday.

. . . Tim Ross, Bonac’s talented sophomore setter, was sidelined Friday because of a neck injury that he had suffered off the court. His substitute, Josh Brussell, “did a good job,” said Gunther. “Our problem that day was we couldn’t serve the ball into their court.”

In general, Gunther said, “We’re passing well, hitting well . . . I only had one hitter last year, Scott Smith. This year, I’ve got four — Chris Bernier, Mike Bennett, Jesse Libath, and Josh. But you haven’t seen our best hitter yet, and that’s because he’s been setting the whole time — Tim Ross.”

October 28, 1993

The best soccer team East Hampton High School has ever fielded was waiting yesterday to learn which team it will face in a county out-bracket playoff game this afternoon. It is the first time a Bonac soccer squad has made the playoffs.

A scale model and drawings of a $2 million youth center for East Hampton, designed by the acclaimed architectural firm of Gwathmey Siegel and Associates, have been in Town Hall for the last two weeks, as the Town Board considers whether to underwrite the center’s operating expenses.

Under a cooperative agreement not yet formalized, East Hampton Village would donate the property behind the G&T Dairy (also known as the Chicken House) for the building. The Youth Alliance, an ad hoc group organized by an East Hampton resident, David Silver, of West End Road, would be responsible for raising funds for its construction, and the town would cover operating expenses.

The proposal nearly created a partisan shouting match at a Town Board meeting Tuesday, however.

. . . As Supervisor Bullock and Mr. Cooper defended the project, the discussion took on an angry tone. . . . “We have an operating budget of $4.5 million for the Police Department alone,” Mr. Bullock said. “Are you saying you can’t find a half million for a youth center this town has wanted for 30 years?”