There’s no disputing the spot-on words of coach Matt Raleigh following Maine-Endwell’s state championship-clinching victory Saturday against Suffolk County foe Kings Park.
“It was our time,” Raleigh shared following a contest that ranged from a tad tedious early to perfectly scintillating late at Mirabito Stadium, where the Spartans closed out a 5-3 win for New York’s Class A baseball title.
How better to sum up an afternoon on which:
▸ The Spartans triumphed though being rationed a mere four hits.
▸ Their starting pitcher was replaced one batter into the third inning, conclusion of which left the Long Islanders a 3-2 advantage.
▸ They scored the tying and go-ahead runs courtesy of an outfield collision that allowed a baseball to drop to the grass in the last of the third.
▸ And, to assure it’ll be a high-ranking entry among the program’s all-time highlights, they wrapped it up by pulling off a game-ending, bases-loaded double play — initiated by a piece of defensive genius from the pitcher who was tugged early.
And then, Maine-Endwell’s players, coaches and substantial gathering of faithful supporters celebrated.
Senior pitcher Preston Nezelek came through with unflinching work after succeeding freshman Michael Jamba, and the latter provided the play of the season for Maine-Endwell, which closed with a 22-5 record and a blend of joy, satisfaction and relief.
“It’s a great feeling, I’m so happy for the seniors, the leadership that I had with these guys throughout the year was amazing,” Raleigh said. “We’re definitely overachievers. That was a very good team we just beat but it was our time and our guys came through in the clutch.”
The Spartans had blanked Kings Park for three successive innings through the sixth, which center fielder Liam Hadfield concluded by making a wonderful catch while scooting toward right field with two out and runners at first and second — and tacked on an exuberant fist pump upon securing the baseball.
But in the top of the seventh, the Kingsmen offered up three base hits in their first four cracks to load the bases. Raleigh paid Nezelek a visit on the mound, with infielders gathered.
The next batter, starting pitcher Everett Zarzicki, hammered a bouncer that third baseman Jamba craftily gobbled up, made right-shoe contact with the bag to erase the runner motoring from second and chucked a supremely accurate heater across the diamond to round out the win before jubilantly under-handing his mitt skyward.
“When I went out there with the bases loaded, I told Jamba, ‘This is coming your way, tag third and throw it across the infield to end the game —and it actually happened so it felt good. Although that hit scared me, I thought it was going to score a couple runs.
“It was hit extremely hard. We thought about bringing Adam DeSantis in right there, he’s someone who hasn’t pitched all year but he’s a big, intimidating guy. But we know Nez throws strikes. I said we’ve got to go first-pitch changeup, we did. The guy got a good piece of wood on it but thank God it went right to Jamba and he made one heck of a play.
“Our defense came through again. Pitching and defense was the key.”
More: Maine-Endwell one victory away from capturing Class A state baseball championship
Kings Park took a 3-2 lead into the last of the third, but soon Maine-Endwell had the bases loaded courtesy of an error, a walk and a hit batsman. To the plate came Jamba, who sent a high fly to short right field. Defensive confusion led the backtracking second baseman and incoming right fielder to awkwardly collide. The ball descended to the ground and M-E had a lead it would not relinquish.
The Spartans completed scoring in the fourth, which began with Dominic Randesi smacking a double to deep right field and proceeded to a sacrifice fly by Jack Hennessey — who demonstrated his customarily dependable glove, footwork and strong arm throughout at shortstop.
Nezelek was outstanding, and clearly the proper call by Raleigh to enter the game.
“Preston coming in the third inning and gave us everything he had, started to run out of a little bit of gas but hats off, what a performance,” Raleigh said. “He did an amazing job. The goal was to go with Jamba, he’s got 4-5 pitches. He left some pitches up in the zone and they felt pretty comfortable against him. We know ‘Nez’ has one heck of a changeup and he can mix up speeds very well.
“Watching Kings Park on Friday night, they hit the mid-80s fastball pretty good so we went soft on them and it paid off.”
Nezelek, who indeed was aware he’d be next man up on the mound, addressed his frame of mind upon entering the state final.
“It’s same thing, like every time, throw strikes and trust the defense behind me. Go back to the basics — and it worked out,” he said. And of that bases-full pickle in the last? “Attack them, throw strikes and my defense will finish it off.”
Indeed.
Raleigh paid repeated tribute to the 12th-graders on M-E’s roster, some of whom had a hand in the Spartans’ state runner-up football finish and final four basketball appearance this school year.
“Kudos to them, great leaders. We’re going to miss them and I’ll miss them greatly,” he said. “They’ve been great all year. It’s probably the first time in my 12-13 years of coaching that I didn’t have to raise my voice one time all season because they were such good kids.”
More: Maine-Endwell strikes early against Marlboro, heads to Class A state baseball final four
▸M-E pitchers allowed three or fewer runs — eight total — in four state playoff games.
▸ The Spartans and Kingsmen matched shutout victories in Friday’s semifinals.
▸ M-E was a state-final participant for the second time in the most recent four opportunities, 2019 (runner-up) and Saturday. The tournament was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because COVID-19.
While influenza remains the top concern for Maine public health experts, other viruses are also currently circulating, including norovirus and COVID-19.
“Influenza is clearly the main event,” said Dr. Cheryl Liechty, a MaineHealth infectious disease specialist. “The curve in terms of the rise of influenza cases was really steep.”
Maine reported 1,343 flu cases for the week ending Jan. 3, an uptick from the 1,283 cases recorded the previous week, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations increased to 147 from 108 during the same time periods.
“I hope the peak is now,” Liechty said, “but I’m not really sure.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday that all of New England, except for Vermont, is currently experiencing “very high” levels of influenza. Vermont is in the “moderate” category.
“What we are seeing, overwhelmingly, is the flu,” said Andrew Donovan, associate vice president of infection prevention for Northern Light Health. “We are seeing both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in our patients.”
Norovirus also appears to be circulating, although due to its short duration and because it’s less severe than the flu, public health data on the illness — which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that typically resolve within a few days — is not as robust.
“Norovirus is the gastrointestinal scourge of New England winters and cruise ships,” Liechty said.
According to surveillance data at wastewater treatment plants in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, norovirus levels detected in those communities are currently “high.” The treatment plants participate in WastewaterSCAN, which reports virus levels in wastewater through a program run by Stanford University and Emory University.
Dr. Genevieve Whiting, a Westbrook pediatrician and secretary of the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said viruses are prevalent right now, especially the flu and norovirus.
“For my patients right now, it’s a rare encounter that I hear everyone in a family has been healthy,” Whiting said. “I’ve had families come in and say their entire family has had norovirus. Several of my patients have had ER visits for suspected norovirus, where they needed IV fluids because they were dehydrated.”
Both Liechty and Whiting said they are seeing less respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, likely because there has been good uptake of the new RSV vaccine, which is recommended for older people and those who are pregnant. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
“The RSV vaccine has been a real success, as RSV was a leading cause of hospitalizations for babies,” Whiting said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased to 610 in the final week of 2025, compared to 279 the previous week. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at primary care, pharmacies and clinics across the state.
“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet,” Liechty said, “you should beat a hasty path to get your shot.”
Defensemen Max Wanner was re-assigned to the Maine Mariners from the Providence Bruins on Thursday. Defenseman Michael Underwood was also re-assigned to Maine.
Wanner, 22, was acquired by the Boston Bruins when they traded Trent Federic to Edmonton last March. He played in 15 games for the AHL Providence Bruins at the end of last season, and seven this season.
Underwood returns for his second stint with the Mariners. He appeared in 67 games with Maine last season.
2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
Power bank feature creep is out of control
Defensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
Viral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
Pat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
Damon Wilson II, Missouri DE in legal dispute with Georgia, to re-enter transfer portal: Source
