Sports Briefs: 03.22.18

Still Dangling

Whether football will make a return here remained a question mark as of Monday. Joe Vas, East Hampton’s athletic director, said a group of possible independents will appeal today a ruling by Section XI’s athletic council upholding a 3-1 conference vote prohibiting East Hampton from playing in Conference IV — a conference with smaller-enrollment schools — in the fall. Darren Phillips, Southampton’s athletic director, is to make the case on East Hampton’s behalf.

Conference IV had voted in favor of East Hampton playing in that division, though Conferences I, II, and III did not.

Vas said recently that ultimately he would prefer that East Hampton, Southampton, Port Jefferson, Greenport, and Mercy form an independent league of their own, “but now we’ve learned that Mercy’s closing, which hurts,” he said during Monday’s conversation.

It would be “up to the communities,” he said, regarding a four-team independent league. Asked if another school might agree to replace Mercy, the A.D. said, “Maybe.”

Slow-Pitch

Mike Ritsi has asked that teams and individuals (men and women) interested in playing in a summer softball league at the Hank Zebrowski field in Montauk contact him either at Michael [email protected], or by calling 631-384-2727. He’s also seeking sponsors and umpires. The registration deadline is April 19. The season is to run from mid-May through August.