Get Ready for Baseball Magic at Baseball Heaven

Saturday marks the fourth annual Tim Crowley Memorial Baseball Tournament for Sachem. Held under the lights at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, the Sachem-only tournament honors Crowley, a former Sachem player who passed away tragically in a 1997 car accident.

Crowley played with Sachem High School North baseball coach Tom Gambino at Oglethorpe University and played high school ball with Scott June, co-owner of All-Pro Sports Academy in Bellport. June helps with fundraising for the tournament and is very involved with Sachem baseball.

"I always looked up to him when I was in high school," said Sachem High School East baseball coach Kevin Schnupp, who trained with Crowley for a short time while he was playing ball at Dowling College. "He was the nicest guy and such a tremendous baseball player."

Schnupp remembers going to a playoff game against West Babylon and watching Crowley hit very well off eventual major leaguer Billy Koch.

The tournament originally started in 2006 as a four-team varsity get-together, but two years ago June suggested the format be changed to include all Sachem teams. The junior high teams will play first, followed by the JV and the event will conclude with a night game between the Sachem North and Sachem East varsity clubs.

"The last two years we have had amazing turnouts, as well as amazing games," Schnupp said. "It's a great representation of how Tim played the game and what he felt about baseball."

Crowley was an exceptional athlete at Sachem, earning varsity letters in football, volleyball, basketball and baseball. He was a three-year starter as a shortstop. 

Each year the Crowley family, his parents – who throw out the first pitch – and sisters Tara and Kristen, both Sachem graduates, come to the tournament and hand out a $1,000 scholarship to a senior at East and North, who are quality baseball players and students.

Anyone looking to make a donation to the Tim Crowley Memorial Scholarship Fund can do so by mailing a check to All Pro Sports 990 Station Rd. Bellport NY 11713, Attn: Scott June.

"As a member of the Sachem family, it is my honor to take part in this tournament and see his family present two great student athletes with scholarships each year in his memory," said Gambino.

As it is every year, Saturday night will be a special night for Sachem athletics.

Check Sachem Patch for a game story, feature about the night, photo gallery and video highlight.