Bassetti Photo Wins 2007-08 Penguin Championship!

Players:  Timmy Marker, Jake Babb, Jimmy Ellerman, Gavin Somers, Danny Harvey, Justin Bishop, Julien Pearce, Gordon Miller, Adam Welsh and Luke Schmidt.  Coach: Russ Babb  Assistants: Jeff Pritchard, Tim Marker and John Percodani

SOMERS POINT – The atmosphere at Lightning Arena was electric as Bassetti Photo, who finished 1-14 the previous season, wrapped up a remarkable turnaround by winning the 2007-08 Penguins’ Cup, 3-1 over American Legion.  Bassetti jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period and was able to withstand the constant pressure put on by a hard working, never give-up American Legion squad.  Justin Bishop closed out his natural hat trick on a beautiful feed from Danny ‘He’s Got Eyes in the Back of His Head’ Harvey.  A short-handed American Legion squad was not about to go down without a fight.  Behind the constant hustle of Robby Lemons and numerous big saves from Colin Naumchik, the Legion kept it close.  Mary Rose Minichino scored for the Legion to start the third stanza spoiling the shutout bid by rookie standout goalie Gavin Somers.  Throughout the game, Somers did a splendid job covering up loose pucks, stopping play without taking chances and allowing his solid corps of defensemen to clear everything else.  The Bassetti team relied on a defense-first approach all season and it showed in the final game.  Legion coach Todd Tomlinson remarked after the game that he was extremely proud of his team for sticking together and getting better each and every week.  Bassetti coach Russ Babb agreed, stating, “by the end of the season no one wanted to have to play that Legion team because of the match-up problems they presented plus the fact that they never quit coming at you.”