Staten Island vs Queens Pickleball Showdown: Staten Island pickleball players will face a Queens team in the first Battle of the Boroughs tournament on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Premiere Pickleball in Richmond Valley. The event aims to bring boroughs together in a friendly competition while showcasing local pickleball talent.
Event Setup and Schedule
The tournament runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each team includes 32 players — 16 men and 16 women. Players will compete in a total of 128 games, with each participant playing eight matches: four gendered doubles and four mixed doubles. The first team to reach 65 points will win the Borough Battle Cup.
Teams and Players
The Staten Island team is captained by Erik Lombardo and represents Premiere Pickleball.
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| Erik Lombardo | Tara Lombardo |
| Boris Tserlin | Erica Olsen |
| Rob Pandolfi | Nancy Lin |
| Ricky Comitini | Amalia DiTrapani |
| Sam Forin | Coby Resnick |
| Andrew Lutter | Hayley Yandoli |
| Jacob Yandoli | Olivia Iacono |
| Jared Ciccarelli | Sophia Kaufmann |
| Lenny Krenek | Rosanna Neis |
| Gary White | Alyssa Krenek |
| Steve Gerwer | Raffaella Pernice |
| Sal Pernice | Lilly Liu |
| Wally Liu | Lisa Kain |
| Sal Frangipane | |
| John Ficarra | |
| Nick Yandoli |
Background and Vision
The event follows the Pickleball Island Cup, staged by Erik Lombardo in February 2025, where Staten Island defeated Long Island. Lombardo said, “This has been a dream of mine. I always envisioned the Battle of the Boroughs. Six months down the road, we hope to play another team from another borough and so forth.”
Community Engagement
Borough President Vito Fossella and South Shore Councilmember Frank Morano are expected to attend. Spectators are welcome to watch and support the players. The event emphasizes friendly competition, community involvement, and the growth of pickleball in New York City.
News in Brief: Staten Island vs Queens Pickleball Showdown
The first Battle of the Boroughs pickleball tournament will be held Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Premiere Pickleball in Richmond Valley. Staten Island will face Queens with 32 players per team. Each player competes in eight games, and the first team to 65 points will win the Borough Battle Cup.