Reunion brought back players from around the country to celebrate 40 years later
It has been 40 years since Sachem won its first Suffolk County baseball championship, but to those guys it felt like yesterday that the black and gold were piling on one another in the middle of the diamond.
John Matheis quieted the bar area at Flanagan’s Pub on Hawkins Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma to praise coach Bill Batewell for instilling values in him and his teammates that have lasted a lifetime.
“Sachem is a culture,” said Matheis, “it’s an attitude.”
Batewell, who received a plaque for his dedication to the program, held court for a few minutes telling stories and reminiscing
“It was all for the kids,” Batewell said. “It’s about all of you.”
Neal Heaton, Sachem’s greatest baseball talent, was at the reunion. He uniquely graduated from Sachem in December of 1978 so he could enroll at the University of Miami a semester early. He was pitching as a freshman for the Hurricanes, rather than spending one more spring at Sachem and winning a county title. The decision was wise as Heaton went onto have a legendary career at Miami, eventually being draft in the second round and playing more than a decade in the big leagues. He has since been inducted to a number of Halls of Fame, including Sachem, Miami, Suffolk, and College Baseball.
The event was organized by the Sachem Alumni Association.