Lesko proud of Coram's Diamond in Pines

Brookhaven Town supervisor Mark Lesko couldn't help but beam as he looked up to the stands during last night's Long Island Class B boys soccer championship at Diamond in the Pines in Coram. He saw a crowd of more than 500 people watching the second game of a doubleheader from the mobile bleachers at one of his town's parks. Earlier, the crowd was even larger for the Class C game, featuring nearby Port Jefferson.

"That was one of our priorities after we upgraded this park," Lesko said of the 2008 renovation project that included adding the turf field that has hosted soccer playoff games all week. "These fields are jewels and it's great for our town."

Now, Lesko is thinking bigger. He'd like Diamond in the Pines to be considered as a host site for future state tournaments in boys and girls soccer.

"When Brookhaven high schools go upstate, our fans travel and spend money on meals and hotels. We'd like to keep some of that money here, and have the upstate fans travel to Brookhaven. It could spur our economy. I consider this park second to none."