Hudson, Spurgeon, Abidin going to Hofstra

WRESTLING

Hudson chooses

Hofstra

Jamel Hudson has decided to keep things local.

The St. Anthony's senior and Newsday's Long Island wrestler of the year has committed to Hofstra. Hudson won the 132-pound state championship and was named New York's wrestler of the year by the National Wrestling Coaching Association.

"I spoke to a lot of coaches during the recruitment process, and coach Rob was the most honest," Hudson said of Hofstra coach Rob Anspach. "He told me it won't be easy, but if I work hard, it will be fine."

Hudson is the latest Long Island recruit to sign with Hofstra. Plainedge's Dan Spurgeon and 2011 Hills East graduate Anthony Abidin, who won an NJCAA championship this past season at Nassau CC, will join Hudson in Hempstead.

"I've wrestled with a lot of these guys, and I think Hofstra will become the location for Long Island wrestlers like it was in the past," Hudson said. "I think we're entering a glory age of Hofstra wrestling."

BASEBALL

UR's Laureano

masters Masters

Upper Room's Ramon Laureano pitched a no-hitter and just missed a perfect game Monday at the Masters School in West Simsbury, Conn. He lost the bid for a perfect game when he walked a batter with one out in the seventh.

"After the walk, I thought I should've struck him out," Laureano said. "It feels good because I have a lot of confidence in myself, I knew I was throwing good."

Laureano, a senior born in the Dominican Republic, has been residing with Upper Room coach Tony Passalacqua for two years, struck out 15 batters, including the first nine of the game, for his first no-hitter.

"I was trying to just throw the best I can and that's it," Laureano said. "My curveball, my two-seam and my [four-seam] fastball were all very good."

Passalacqua praised Laureano for his consistent commitment to the game.

"He works hard, loves the game, and has a world of talent," Passalacqua said. "He'll throw three pitches, and when he's feeling good and he's on, he'll over power you and can fool you too."

Upper Room won the game 12-0, with Jovanni Thomas hitting two home runs and a triple to drive in six runs.

GIRLS TRACKHertzberg

has twice the fun

Nicole Hertzberg had a busy day on Thursday, but it ended with the results that she wanted.

Hertzberg was a double winner in the Cougar Invitational at Bellmore JFK, earning gold medals in both the high jump (5-0) and the 100 high hurdles (15.7 seconds).

It wasn't an easy double, though -- the Clarke senior had to cut her time at the high jump short so she could compete in the hurdles. She cleared 5-0 on her first attempt, then hurried over to clerk in at the hurdles.

"It's always hectic running multiple events back-to-back," she said. "But my coaches are always there for me to clerk in, and the officials are always helpful."

Hertzberg got to the starting line for the hurdles just in time, won the race, and then hurried back to the high jump to see if she could get her final few jumps in. She ended up sticking with her height of 5-0, but she was still happy with her performance.

Said Hertzberg: "I finished on a high note."