Slain Postal Worker Remembered in Softball Classic

A crowd of some 200 people gathered at Harbor Island Park this weekend to take part in the second annual Stephen Spina Softball Classic, honoring the Mamaroneck resident and postal worker killed in 2007 at the age of 36 in his apartment.

Twenty teams from various area towns competed in the event, eleven in a Men's Division and nine more in a Co-Ed Division. Competitors and fans were also treated to a weekend long barbecue, as well as a raffle, where everything from Mets and Giants tickets to golf bags were up for grabs. All proceeds went to the Stephen Spina Memorial Fund. 

A number of Spina's family members were in attendance, including his sister and co-organizer of the event Christine Foley, who spent most of the weekend thanking long-time family friends for coming out to the event.

"We're really excited about this weekend," Foley said. "The turnout is so great and everyone showing support for my family is wonderful. A lot of these people that are playing out here were friends of our families for years. It's great that they came out again this year."

Each team played three games on Saturday, with the top four teams in each division returning on Sunday to decide who would be named the champions. On the co-ed side of the event, things were kept mostly fun and lighthearted, with teams like "12 Fl. Oz" and "Lazy Boys" taking the field against each other. The men's division was hotly contested, however, with teams like the "Demons" and "Snakes" fighting for a spot in Sunday's championship game. In the end, it was the team from "Cellar Bar" out of Larchmont that took home the co-ed championship, defeating the team from "Anthony's Bar & Grill" out of Harrison by a score of 5-0. "Cellar Bar," led by Mamaroneck High School Head Baseball Coach Mike Chiapparelli, played stellar defense all tournament long, giving up one only run in their last two games.

On the men's side, it was the "Rogues" taking home the title, coming back to defeat the "Snakes" by a score of 8-5.

Win or lose, all participants were thankful for the opportunity to come out and support the Spina family, and throw the ball around the very same field where Stephen Spina once umpired for the Larchmont Little League.

"This is a great thing for Stephen Spina," said Anthony Russo, owner of Anthony's Bar & Grill in Larchmont and sponsor for the event. "The event was run perfectly, the volunteers were amazing, the weather was perfect. Stephen was just a good guy. He was down here all the time. It's a sad thing that happened."

Stephen Spina's 15-year-old daughter, Skyler, also in attendance, handed out plaques to the runner-ups and winners of each division on Sunday. The Spina family hopes they will have matched the $10,000 raised at last year's event this year, with the intention of upping the $12,500 reward New York State Crime Stoppers is currently offering to help find Spina's killer.

No arrest has been made in his death. He was discovered dead in his Mamaroneck Gardens apartment on Sept. 17, 2007, killed by multiple stab wounds.

"We're hoping that it will be incentive for someone to come forward with information so we can solve this and put this all to rest," Foley said.

While the hope of finding Spina's killer remains very much alive for his family members and friends, this weekend's event will undoubtedly go a long way in showing them how cherished and appreciated he was among those who knew him.

"It makes it a little better knowing that he was so loved by so many different people," said David Smith, friend of Stephen Spina for eight years. "He was loving, sharing, caring. He'd take the shirt of his back and give it to you."