Local 11-Year-Old Wins 2015 Mets SNY Kidcaster Contest

Photos courtesy of Charlotte Sasso

Amagansett resident and Mets fan Dante Sasso was recently annouced as the winner of the 2015 Mets SportsNet New York (SNY) Kidcaster contest.

The 11-year-old, who has been to about 40 Mets games in his life, will get the chance to call a play by play on August 31 at Citifield in the game against the Phillies.

Dante first heard about the contest earlier this month, which required him to write a 100 word essay on how to convince someone to watch SNY, while watching a Mets game on t.v. earlier this month.

In his winning essay, he wrote:

Do you like action? Rooting for underdogs? Then you’ll love watching Mets baseball on SNY! If you’re new to baseball, you’ll learn the rules from Gary’s expert calls. Keith’s and Ron’s colorful commentary will give you the inside pitch on playing winning baseball. This is the year to tune in as the Mets’ pitchers strike out the world! See amazin’ defense and miracle offense before we put it in the books! One hundred words is barely enough to share my enthusiasm, but watch a game with me and you’ll agree “Ya gotta’ believe!”

“It wasn’t that hard [to write],” he said. According to his mother, Charlotte Sasso, owner of Stuart’s Seafood in Amagansett, he only spent about a hour writing it.

He was announced as one of 10 finalists and on June 22, he went into the SNY studio to audition for the chance to call an inning in the booth, which Dante practiced for beforehand.

“I was kind of nervous, but not that nervous,” he said.

Charlotte said that after Dante’s audition, they were told that the contest winner would be announced in a day or two.

However, while having lunch, the two were told by SNY producers to return to the studio because of a ”problem with the camera.”

Dante was all ready to re-audition when SNY broadcaster Keith Hernandez, came out and surprised him, telling him that they played a trick on him. Dante was the winner all along.

“I was just in total shock,” he said.

“He was speechless, which is unusual for him,” Charlotte said. “He is thrilled to be the contest winner.”

Before the game in August, Dante will get plenty of practice announcing for the Hamptons Collegiate League Montauk Mustangs for the season, which ends in July. He recently got the chance to announce on Monday’s game.

“He loves all things Mets and all things about baseball,” Charlotte said, which is evident based on the fact that Dante has been playing since he was in kindergarten, is currently attending baseball camp, and recently went to watch the Mets’ spring training.

Watch a video of Hernandez surprising Dante below.