MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Hosted by New City Generals is a Big Hit

Nearly 100 young competitors showed up Sunday at Albertus Magnus High School to show off their baseball and softball skills in the MLB Pitch, Hit and Run competition hosted by the New City Generals youth travel baseball organization.

Though predominantly baseball players, eight softball players participated as well, a number which the Generals look to grow in future years. Each of the kids were spread across four ages groups: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 and 13/14.

The competition broke down into four categories that each child competed in.  First up was pitching, followed by hitting and then base running.  Each child was given a score for each and then also given an overall score.  Top performers from each age group and category will move onto the sectionals in Connecticut on May 21.  The winner from that day will move onto the team championships at Yankee Stadium to compete for two tickets and an all-expenses-paid trip to July’s MLB All Star game at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.

The event was hosted by the New City Generals, a local travel baseball league in its second year of operation.  The league was created by four members of the New City Little League with the express intent of creating a league in which kids of all levels can play and flourish both as players and human beings.

“I love it,” said the league vice president and one of the founders, Joe DiRocco.  “I love seeing organizations like the (Clarkstown) Stars, like some Little League guys coming, because it’s about the kids.  That’s the bottom line.  The more kids we can get playing baseball, the better it is for New City baseball.  So, as a whole organization, we’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short period of time.  It’s not about winning, I mean, I’m very successful with my team, but it’s more important for me to see the kids develop year by year.  Last year my team was very good, but just to watch them improve, it showed them that the hard work had paid off.  That’s what we try to instill in the kids, to be hard working in everything you do, not just baseball.  So it goes off the field into the classroom and the type of person you’re going to be.  We’re raising the future men of our world.  These kids have really responded well to it, and I’m really pleased about the program and Anthony, our president, and what he’s done with us.”

With the torrential downpour Saturday, it seemed like the event might not happen Sunday morning.  According to the event’s coordinator, Wayne Meda, none of it would have happened if it were not for the help of the dedicated group of volunteers that makes up the organization, one of which brought his landscaping company in to dry up the field which had turned into a lake overnight.  Meda is also a director for the New City Generals and manager of the 10-and-under Blue Team.

“It’s very exciting,” said Meda.  “We all went to bed yesterday not knowing what was going to happen, but we said, if we get up and it’s not raining, we’re having an event.  Everyone worked really hard, big crowd here between 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning and we got the whole place setup.  About a quarter to ten, we were ready and when the first kids got on the field, it was a real feeling of accomplishment and the kids were having a good time and I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.”

The Generals president and another of the founders, Anthony Aurecchione, was extremely pleased with the day’s success and made sure to thank everyone who helped out.

“This has been good,” said Aurecchione.  “When we first started, I never imagined that we would be where we are right now.  We sat down a year and a half ago and we thought for us to have three teams, that would be a success.  Now, for us to have 11 teams, 160 kids and something like this, where we got a lot of support, about 100 kids today, and it looked like they had fun in and out.  Just to see Generals out here, it was great.  Even to see the other organizations, it was good.  That just shows that something like this, it’s all about the kids.  It didn’t benefit our organization much, other than getting our name out there a bit, but ultimately, it’s all about the kids having a good time and we did that.”  He added, “It’s amazing, the support that we have here with everyone helping out.  I’ve surrounded myself with so many good people, it really supports me and takes the pressure off me as president.”

Helping out their organization too, and competing in the event, were 9 year old Michael and his older brother Jojo, sons of Joe Chillino, equipment manager for the Generals.  “I had fun,” said Michael.  “Hitting was my favorite.  Today, I got to play with my friends and have a fun time.”  Michael plays catcher, first base and pitcher for the 9-and-under blue team.

Michael follows in his older brother Jojo’s footsteps, who plays the same positions for the 12-and-under blue team.  “It was fun,” said Jojo.  “I got to do a lot and I did my best at the competition.  It was a long day, but I enjoyed it and got to hang out and play baseball with my brother and friends.”  Jojo and Michael were one of many Generals players who showed up to help out, compete and have fun.

In addition to the many excited members of the Generals, in attendance were players from NCLL and other travel baseball and softball leagues in the area.  Ten year old Trevor Montana was one such player, a shortstop who plays for the Renegades travel baseball league.  He also plays for the NCLL Boston Red Sox in the Majors division.

“It was just a lot of fun,” said Montana.  “I liked all of them [the events].”

Competitors will be notified by Meda this week concerning how to proceed.

While the Pitch, Hit and Run is over, the Generals season opens on Memorial Day weekend at a tournament in Hackensack, NJ.  The Generals kick this off in style with a pep-rally weekend, which begins on Saturday, May 21 with a fundraiser, co-ed parent softball tournament and concludes Sunday May 22, with the championship game and a full blown pep-rally at Kennelly’s Grille House in Congers.

Pitch, Hit and Run Winners:

• Boys
  
  • Age Group 7/8
    
    • Pitching = Mark Maraia
    • Hitting =Ari Beal
    • Running = Jack Wishner
    • Overall = Eoghan Cornell
  • Age Group 9/10
    
    • Pitching = Jack Tucek
    • Hitting = Trevor Montana
    • Running = Trevor Montana
    • Overall = Jack Tucek
  • Age Group 11/12
    
    • Pitching = Harry Covert
    • Hitting =Brian Lander
    • Running = Christian Fender
    • Overall = Harry Covert
  • Age Group 13/14
    
    • Pitching = Jason Trent
    • Hitting = Jason Trent
    • Running = Jason Trent
    • Overall = Jason Trent
• Girls
  
  • Age Group 7/8
    
    • Pitching = Jayleen Caban
    • Hitting = Jayleen Caban
    • Running = Jayleen Caban
    • Overall = Jayleen Caban
  • Age Group 9/10
    
    • Pitching = Tara Hagan
    • Hitting = Tara Hagan
    • Running = Tara Hagan
    • Overall = Tara Hagan 
  • Age Group 11/12
    
    • Pitching = Angela Murano
    • Hitting = Angela Murano
    • Running = Angela Murano
    • Overall = Angela Murano
  • Age Group 13/14
    
    • Pitching = Kelly Chaney
    • Hitting = Kelly Chaney
    • Running = Kelly Chaney
    • Overall = Kelly Chaney