Pignatello Ends Rollercoaster Senior Year on a High Note

It was a topsy-turvy season for Montclair's Chris Pignatello on the diamond for 2011.
    

This last season for the Mounties senior saw Pignatello start the season at third base, then move to first base and even play a few innings on the mound in relief.
  Wherever Montclair wanted him to play, Pignatello was there.
    

He was effective in relief  as well as playing defense in the infield.   His versatility helped him receive an All Super Essex Conference honorable mention nod.
    

His best game might have been the last game of the season -- and the last of his Montclair career.
  With the Mounties already knocked out of the state playoffs by Morris Knolls, Montclair had a couple of games remaining, including the last one against Millburn.
    

And Pignatello showed his stuff in his lone start of the season as he fired a complete game three-hitter in the 3-1 victory over Millburn (a school that made the Greater Newark Tournament.) “It felt really good,” said Pignatello about starting the June 2nd finale.
    

What didn’t feel good was a shoulder sprain after he felt it during an outing against West Orange in May.  After that game, he missed a few weeks of play before coming back late in the season.  He took Millburn victory with him to Union.
    

One reason he had such a great season was that, having signed intent to play baseball at Union College in Schenectady, New York, Pignatello knew the pressure was off.  It helped him remain elaxed and focused during his senior season. 

Now, with his high school year completed, the Montclair graduate can’t wait to get to Union in August.  "I'm very happy to be going to Union," he said. "The last two years I have been comfortable at Montclair. It is going to be a new experience. At Union I have to re-prove myself and it will be a challenge."
    

Pignatello, who picked Union over the likes of Loyola of Maryland, TCNJ, Fairfield University and Catholic University, said for him it came down to Union and Catholic. 

"Catholic was very proactive and called me every other week," said Pignatello. "I really liked the campus."
  Still, he ultimately chose Union. 

His pitching will be his calling card the rest of the way for his baseball future. Pignatello throws a slider, change-up, curveball and fastball, emphasizing other pitches rather than the fastball. 

"I would say that I am more of a junk ball pitcher," he commented. 

Offensively, his .250 batting average for the season was balanced by playing solid defense at both third and first.  It was a big change for Pignatello, who only batted once during his junior season, after being on the mound for most of 2010.     
    

For 2011 with a wealth of pitching, Montclair wanted him to come out of the bullpen. "We had a large number of pitchers and my coach wanted me to pitch in relief because I had been pitching on the varsity since I was a sophomore," said Pignatello.
    

The incoming Union College freshman said he considered his new role of reliever to be a challenge. "[The coaches] wanted me to be in the big situation in the game," he said , noting that saw relief situations in six games during the season.
    

In preparation for fall ball at Union, the Montclair grad is slated to play this summer for a North Caldwell club team. 

"I'm not looking to add a pitch. I'm just looking to refine my technique,"
 he said.  After that, he looks forward to a fresh new season at Union College.