Lou
Petrucci "All-Time" Players
Lou
Petrucci has
coached and managed baseball teams in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and
Long Island for almost 30 years. Here's a selection of players that Lou
would go to war with against any team, any time.
These
are players who always played their hearts out. They played the game with great
spirit and enthusiasm. They never complained about playing time, nagging
injuries and sore arms. Missing a game was a greater sin than breaking all of
the Ten Commandments. These are players who always came through in the clutch.
They know how to win and they taught others how to compete. They love baseball
in the same spirit as the characters in "Heart of the Hide".
P.S.
Readers, Please Beware. There are also former students of Mr. Lou Petrucci
who you wish to have on your team soon.
The Pitching Staff:
Name/Team/Current Club
Turk
Wendell,
Campbell Avenue Bullies and Major League pitcher with the Chicago Cubs, New York
Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.
Nick
Mangini, 2001
AABC National Champion Long Island Tigers, Long Island Collegians and currently
at Post University in Waterbury, CT.
Mike
Parisi, Long
Island Tigers and current Double AA pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals'
organization.
Richie
Smullen,
Campbell Avenue Bullies and Southern Connecticut State College superstar.
Andrew
Vella, Long
Island Tigers and Chaminade High School standout.
Nick
Luisi, Long
Island Collegians and current St. John's University starter.
Frank
Velardo,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future host of MTV.
Justin
Muir, Long
Island Collegians and current St. John's University standout.
Garrett
Douglas, Long
Island Tigers and Division High School star.
Matt
Lyons, Long
Island Collegians and Stony Brook University standout.
Ron
Covais, IBUA
All-Stars and Massapequa High School legend.
Mike
Martin, Long
Island Titans and Chaminade High School standout / Manhattan College.
Matt
Smith, Long
Island Tigers' closer and Wantagh High School star.
Kayla
Malone,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future clothes designer of K-Unit.
Sam
Ytuarte, Long
Island Tigers and Oceanside High School star.
Mike
Hinchey,
New York Baseball Academy and Plainview High School standout.
Jose
Collazzo, Long
Island Collegians and Tarleton State (Texas) star.
Brian
LaMarr, Long
Island Tigers and Bronx Science star.
Danny
Rehman, IBUA
All-Stars and University of Richmond legend.
Ed
Schroder, Long
Island Collegians and Suffolk Community College standout.
Mike
Striker, Long
Island Collegians and New York Institute of Technology star.
Max
Gold, New York
Baseball Academy and Half Hollow Hills standout.
Frank
Sonnenberg,
Long Island Collegians and New York Institute of Technology standout.
Brent
Savin, Long
Island Tigers and Molloy College standout.
Paul
Gibson, Long
Island Collegians and Quinnipiac Univesity standout
Brian
Drury, IBUA
All-Stars and Hofstra University standout.
Chris
Kalousdian,
Long Island Titans and Kings Park High School standout / Manhattan College.
Ray
Fitzgerald,
Long Island Tigers and University of Bridgeport standout.
Tom
Lucchese, New
York Baseball Academy and future Eckerd College standout.
George
Pagan, Long
Island Tigers and SUNY Old-Westbury standout.
Johnny
Barbieri,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and St. Anthony's High School standout.
Frank
D'Aversa, Long
Island Tigers and St. Joseph's College standout.
Sam
Juarez,
Long Island Collegians and Dowling College standout.
Matt
Ventimiglia,
Long Island Tigers and Chaminade High School standout.
Brandon
Haney, Long
Island Titans and Kings Park High School standout / Flagler College.
Anthony
Rinaldi, Long
Island Tigers and CW Post standout.
Lee
Czemba,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future New York Yankees' public relations director.
Chuck
Ristano, Long
Island Tigers and Sacred Heart University star.
Catchers:
Bobby
Ziolkowski,
Long Island Tigers and Stony Brook University standout.
Steve
Malvagna, Long
Island Collegians and current New York Mets farmhand.
Tom
Murray, Long
Island Collegians and captain at the New York Institute of Technology.
Justin
Echevarria,
Long Island Tigers and Stony Brook University standout.
Sean
Doyle, Long
Island Tigers and University of Albany baseball captain.
Mike
Blair, Pat's
Place and Housatonic Community College standout.
Bobby
Soler, Long
Island Tigers and American University standout.
Richie
McCarren Jr.,
New York Baseball Academy and Seaford High School superstar.
Kevin
Norton,
Long Island Tigers and Elon College standout.
Troy
Wegenaar,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Gelinas Junior High School legend.
Mike
Powers,
Massapequa Chiefs and Johns Hopkins University lacrosse standout.
Eric
Fierro, Long
Island Tigers and Manhattan College standout.
Luciano
Coletta,
Giannotti Giants and West Haven High School legend.
Tom
Caltabiano,
Massapequa Mets and Hofstra University standout.
Infielders:
Adam
Farino, Long
Island Tigers and Sacred Heart University standout.
Brian
Rath, Long
Island Collegians and Adelphi University star.
Raj
Paty, Long
Island Tigers and University of Pennsylvania standout.
Keith
Kenny, Long
Island Tigers and Iona College standout.
Mark
Kessler, Kelsey
Avenue Crew and Springfield College superstar.
Darren
Bell, Long
Island Tigers and Molloy College standout.
Tommy
Maisano, Long
Island Tigers and Fairfield University legend.
Tom
D'Alessandro,
Long Island Titans and Half Hollow Hills High School standout / Cornell
University.
Anthony
Piccininni,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and movie star in Oliver Stone's World Trade Center.
Mike
Hirschfield,
Long Island Tigers and Yale University legend.
John
Galanoudis,
Long Island Titans and Farmingdale High School standout / Molloy College.
Bobby
Kessler, Kelsey
Avenue Crew and Westminster Academy legend.
Dominick
Belvedere,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Duke University wrestling standout.
Mike
Alas, Long
Island Titans and Chaminade High School standout.
Jimmy
O'Leary, Long
Island Tigers and University of Richmond standout.
Kevin
Courtney, Long
Island Sound and St. John the Baptist HS standout / SUNY Stonybrook.
Ryan
Cooper,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Gelinas Junior High School legend.
Dave
Sigadel, The
Cardinals and Boston University legend.
Johnny
Matzelle, Long
Island Mariners and Half Hollow Hills High School standout.
Bryan
Sabatella, Long
Island Collegians and current Seattle Mariners farmhand.
Alex
Beltrani,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Marist College lacrosse standout.
Leor
Needleman, Long
Island Mariners and Ward Melville High School standout.
Johnny
"The Old Pro" Fraschella,
Long Island Tigers and Oceanside High School standout.
Webb
Lancaster, The
Cardinals and Boston University graduate.
Greg
Paduano, Long
Island Tigers and St. Anthony's High School standout.
Lou
Kessler, Kelsey
Avenue Crew and American International College legend.
Matt
Prokopowicz,
Long Island Tigers and Hofstra University standout.
Paul
Chambrelli,
Pat's Place and West Haven High School standout.
Cameron
Castronova,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Ward Melville High School legend.
Mike
Anquillare,
Randall's Bullies and Fordham University standout.
Ty
Blankmeyer, New
York Baseball Academy and future St. John's University superstar.
Matt
Gold, Long
Island Tigers and Half Hollow Hills standout.
Meaghan
Ann Kristol,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Ward Melville High School softball standout.
John
Ferrie, Kelsey
Avenue Crew and West Haven High School standout.
Bobby
Haney, Long
Island Tigers and Kings Park High School star / University of South Carolina.
Tully
Lovisa Jr.,
Long Island Tigers and Huntington High School standout.
Michael
Prestia,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future CEO of Hormel.
Steve
Vitale, Long
Island Tigers and Nassau Community College standout.
John
Gambardella,
Pat's Place and West Haven High School's second all-time leading hitter.
(Jerry Gambardella Jr. is first.)
Kevin
Connors, Long
Island Tigers and St. Thomas Aquinas standout.
Robbie
"Chief" Macchione,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Ward Melville High School lacrosse star.
Steve
Summer,
Long Island Tigers and Mercy College standout.
Bryan
Ellison,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Ward Melville High School standout.
Alex
Ellison,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Ward Melville High School legend.
Chris
Vasami, Long
Island Collegians and Elon University standout.
Mike
Kearney,
Long Island Tigers and New York Institute of Technology standout.
Kristina
Noce, Fork Lane
Kings and future CEO of Abercrombie.
Joe
Badalamente,
Long Island Tigers and Suffolk Community College standout.
Mike
McMillian, Long
Island Collegians and New York Institute of Technology standout.
Paul
Farino, Long
Island Tigers and University of Nebraska football fullback.
AJ
Nunziato, Ward
Melville High School and Long Island Tigers standout.
Ethan
Gilbert,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Superintendent of Schools someway, somehow,
and certainly, somewhere.
Jeff
Friedson, The
Cardinals and Boston University legend.
Alex
Gryzmalla, Ward
Melville High School and future Tufts University standout.
Steven
Einig, Massapequa
Chiefs and former Massapequa High School football captain.
Taylor
Gittin,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future United States Attorney General.
Dave
Johnson, Long
Island Collegians and New York Institute of Technology standout.
Lou
Gorman, The
Cardinals and Boston University legend.
Pat
Miconi, Pat's
Place and University of New Haven star.
Kelsey
Loechner,
Minnesauke 405 All Stars and Ward Melville High School standout.
Outfielders:
Joe
Holden, Long
Island Collegians and New York Mets farmhand.
Matt
Wynn, Long
Island Tigers and Oceanside High School legend.
AJ
DiMichele, Long
Island Tigers and Molloy College star.
Gennaro
Gambardella,
Kelsey Avenue Crew and West Haven High School legend.
Greg
Meisner,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Ward Melville High School superstar.
John
Saidnawey, The
Cardinals and Boston University superstar.
Paul
Fenton, The
Cardinals and General Manager of the Nashville Sound in the National Hockey
League.
Brian
Alas, Long
Island Tigers and University of Richmond standout.
Yael
Needleman,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future CEO of GAP.
Matt
Rao, Long
Island Tigers and Plainedge High School superstar.
Les
Burns, Too Tall
Hall's and Southern Connecticut State standout.
Ralph
Petrucci,
Kelsey Avenue Crew and West Haven High School icon.
Bill
Gambardella,
Kelsey Avenue Crew and University of New Haven Hall of Famer.
Dan
Khoury, Long
Island Tigers and Oceanside High School superstar.
Al
DeLuca,
Terrible Ten and Boston University superstar.
Bradley
Steven Nunn,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future National Hockey League standout.
Vinnie
Tricarico, Long
Island Tigers and Oceansdie High School standout.
Marc
Gold, Long
Island Collegians and Columbia University star.
Sal
Grisafi,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Ward Melville High School legend.
Kenny
DeVanney, Long
Island Collegians and St. John's University standout.
Mike
Mastrogiacomo,
Terrible Ten and Boston University football captain.
Tom
Kurt, The
Cardinals and Boston University legend.
Ryan
Einig, Long
Island Tigers and Massapequa High School heartbreaker.
Alexandra
Kennedy,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Ward Melville High School volleyball standout.
Gregg
Bencic, Long
Island Tigers and Holy Trinity High School standout.
Matthew
Vincent Aquavella,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Commissioner of the National Football
League.
Glenn
Miller, The
Cardinals and Boston University superstar.
Jimmy
Aurora, IBUA
All-Stars and the real King of Queens.
John
Simone, Long
Island Collegians and Quinnipiac University standout.
Kevin
O'Hea,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Chaminade High School lacrosse standout.
Brent
Justice, Long
Island Collegians and North Carolina Greensboro star.
Joe
Qatato, Bronx
Bombers and Emerson College legend.
Alexa
Reph,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future CEO of American Express.
Mike
Connors, Long
Island Tigers and Adelphi University standout.
Brandon
Rist, Long
Island Tigers and St. Mary's College superstar.
John
Palazzo, Pat's
Place and Housatonic Community College star.
Anthony
Humphreys,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future Ward Melville High School lacrosse star.
Kaitlyn
Johnson,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and field hockey standout at the College of William and
Mary.
Danny
Kerrigan, Long
Island Mariners and Northport High School standout.
Steven
Hernandez, Long
Island Tigers and Chaminade High School standout.
Designated Hitters:
Richard
Gravante, The
Cardinals and Boston University legend.
Sam
DeVore,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and Johns Hopkins University lacrosse star.
Gregory
Anthony Casino,
Minnesauke 405 All-Stars and future President of the United States.
But
seriously folks, the following are some of Coach Lou Petrucci's
most
memorable baseball
coaching highlights:
1.
August 4, 2001. Matt Rao's walk-off grand slam home run in the
bottom of the seventh gave the Long Island Tigers an 8-5 victory over
the Midland Warriors. The win made a complete game winner of Brian
LaMarr and advanced the Tigers to the AABC Championship series.
2.
August 5, 2002. Keith Kenny slammed a 3-1 fastball over the
rightfield fence at Patterson Park for a dramatic two-out, three-run homer that
advanced the Long Island Tigers to their second consecutive AABC championship.
Kenny's shot gave the Tigers a 6-5 win.
3. August
5, 2001. Dan Khoury crushed two homers and drove in six runs to
support the clutch pitching performance of Johnny Frascella as the Long
Island Tigers won the AABC National Championship with a 19-2 victory over
the Dayton Classics at Patterson Park in Dayton, Ohio. Joey Russo
added three hits while Andrew Strauch delivered a homer and five RBI.
4.
August 4, 2002. George Pagan tossed a four-hiiter as the Long
Island Tigers defeated the Midland Warriors, 4-1, in the AABC World Series in
Dayton, Ohio. Brian Alas went two-for-three and Steve Vitale
slugged a solo homer.
5.
August 8, 1988. John "JP" Palazzo's two-out, two-run
single in the bottom of the sixth powered Pat's Place to an amazing 7-6
upset win over the Bank of New Haven in the West Haven Twilight League playoffs.
Pat's Place, with only one player older than 20 (player-manager, Lou Petrucci),
became the youngest team to play in the title game of the oldest amateur
baseball league in New England.
6.
June 18, 2002. Anthony Rinaldi tosses a complete game three-hitter
as the Long Island Tigers' 15s upset the heralded Long Island Tigers' 16's,
coached by Ray Babinski, 8-3 at Suffolk Community College. Keith
Kenny's two-run single in the fifth powered the younger Tigers' offense.
7.
July 28, 2000. Steven Hernandez and AJ DiMichele drove in
two runs each to support the stellar pitching of Andy Larsen and Ray
Fitzgerald as the Long Island Tigers East club defeated the powerhouse
Brooklyn Bonnies, 5-2, in the NABF Eastern Regional semifinals at Burns Park in
Massapequa. The win gave Coach Petrucci his 40th victory of
the summer season and broke former LI Tigers' East skipper, Butch Caulfied's
win record.
8.
August 3, 2003. Lou Petrucci's Long Island Tigers trailed the
Rowland Texas Rangers, 5-4, with two-outs and two strikes on Tully Lovisa
in the top of the seventh in the AABC National Championship in Norman, Oklahoma.
With two strikes, Lovisa fouled off seven consecutive pitches and eventually
crushed what seemed to be the only baseball used in the game into
right-centerfield for a two-run double. The Tigers added three more runs
in the inning for a 9-5 win to remain undefeated and advance to the semifinjals.
Coach Petrucci's
crew lost a
controversial 21-17 game to eventual champion, Orange County Dawgs and finished
third in the 16 team tournament with only 12 players.
9.
June 24, 1997. In his first start of the season, Tom Caltabiano
struck out 12 hitters and allowed only one hit as the Massapequa Mets defeated
the Rockies, 11-1, to win the Internaional Championship at Brady Park. Pete
Cardone, Ryan Einig and Anthony Gugliero delivered key hits in
the victory.
10. August
2, 2005. The Long Island Collegians advance to the Atlantic Collegiate
Baseball League championship series with a 6-5 13-inning playoff win over
the Stamford Robins at Cubeta Stadium in Stamford, Connecticut.
Petrucci's Collegians rallied to win 10-of-11 games down the stretch to make the
playoffs. In this game, Long Island rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the
eighth as Matt Lyons tossed three shutout innings in relief. Key
hits from Mike McMillan and Brian Rath made Joe Zaccaria
the winning pitcher. Jose Colazzo recorded the final out of
the game for the save.