Sports Briefs: Riverhead lacrosse team honored as Most Improved Team

BOYS LACROSSE: Blue Waves receive awards The Riverhead boys lacrosse team received several postseason awards after finishing the best season in program history this past spring. The Blue Waves, who won a program-record 10 games, received the Most Improved Team award for Division I. They were also awarded a scholar athlete team award by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Riverhead coach Victor Guadagnino received the Division I Coach of the Year award for Suffolk County.

Guadagnino took over the Blue Waves in 2011 and in his second season had the team on the cusp of the playoffs. Riverhead finished one spot short in the power rankings, despite finishing with a winning record. The Blue Waves were the only Division I team to miss the playoffs with a winning record.

Riverhead returns most of its starting lineup next year, including leading scorers Ryan Bitzer and Ryan Hubbard.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Zilnicki is an all-American Western Connecticut senior center fielder Jackie Zilnicki of Riverhead was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III all-American second team. Zilnicki, who played in 41 games this past season, was the team leader in batting average (.480) and runs batted in (44). She also scored 33 runs and was successful in 14 of 20 attempted steals.

PAL SOCCER: Registration deadline The Riverhead Police Athletic League coed soccer program for boys and girls entering kindergarten through seventh grade will run from Sept. 15 through Nov. 17. All games and instruction will be on Saturday mornings at Stotzky Memorial Park. Sessions will be broken down into instruction and drill led by certified trainers and followed by games. Registration is open through June 29. The cost is $50 for Riverhead Town residents and $60 for non-residents. Go to townofriverheadli.gov, Local Links, Hot Links, Juvenile Aid Bureau & Police Athletic League. Scroll down to the registration and information page.