The old Brooklyn Dodgers cry of “Wait till next year,” should not be heard this season in Middle Village. The Midville Dodgers’ upcoming 2001 season is shaping up just fine for the Midville Seniors squad (ages…
“Dem Bums” would be proud of young namesakes
The old Brooklyn Dodgers cry of “Wait till next year,” should not be heard this season in Middle Village. The Midville Dodgers’ upcoming 2001 season is shaping up just fine for the Midville Seniors squad (ages 17 and 18). The team, managed by veteran Walter Tuthill and joined by coaches Jim Gleason and John Mazur, hopes to rely on their years of baseball experience to bring a championship season to the Middle Village area.
Most knowledgeable baseball observers agree that for several years the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division has been the premier high school baseball league in the metropolitan area. And it is no coincidence that most of the Dodgers’ players are proven standouts from this league.
Solid at every position
Looking at the pitching staff, which is the foundation of any baseball team, the Midville corps will include several high school standouts this season. The Dodgers have added Brian Morgan, St. Francis Prep’s all-city senior, who posted a phenomenal 10-1 record for the Terriers last season. Another addition, Molloy’s Mike Mole, is a 6-foot-5 senior who throws in the mid-80s and who can certainly dominate a game. His teammate and hometown boy, Phil Kuhner, possesses one of the best curveballs in the city, also comes over to Midville. Ex-McClancy lefty, Kenny Hodge, along with Christ the King’s lefty Leon Kruset, gives the Dodgers two excellent southpaw pitchers. Add CK fire-balling right-hander, Ken Gleason to the mix and things should be very interesting in Midville this year. Gleason is perhaps the hardest thrower of the bunch and adds experience and poise to the staff.
Anchoring the Midville staff is Syosset High School senior Brian Fieldler, a 6-foot-6 possible future Ivy League hurler. He is considered to be one of Long Island’s top hurlers and will play a big role on the hill for the Dodgers this season.
Ex-John Adams High School star Sean Bell, a hard-throwing righty, will also see time on the hill. And don’t overlook CK’s Danny Ecchavarria, who will be used in relief appearances and has turned heads with his pitching ability.
The Midville Dodgers’ outfield will be led by rightfielder Anthony Ditroia, a lefty hitter from Molloy, is a solid line-drive hitter who hits third in the potent Molloy lineup. His teammate at Molloy, Phil Kuhner, is a top defensive outfielder and a superb clutch hitter with speed. Christ the King’s Leon Kruset, another defensive standout and left-hand bat, will compete for an outfield job. Bell, who can flat out fly and hit, and Hodge will make for good competition in the Dodgers outfield.
The Midville catching duties will be handled by St. Edmund's standout Joe Burke and St. Francis Prep’s Anthony Genna. Genna was one of the top hitters for the Dodgers last season and will also see time as the designated hitter.
Burke is considered to be one of the top hitters in the CHSAA. Last year he hit four home runs in one game going 6-for-6 with nine RBIs against McClancy as a junior. CK's clutch hitter, Keith Crevatas, will also compete for catching as well as infield duties.
The Dodger infield is solid up the middle with excellent defensive players. John Masur, Molloy’s starting shortstop, is among the city’s best defensive players and does all the little things to help his team win. CK’s flashy shortstop and last season’s Dodger MVP, Danny Ecchavarria, brings his outstanding skills and speed to the team’s infield.
Grover Cleveland's middle infielder Al DiCanio, an outstanding offensive player with good speed, also returns to join the Dodgers. Two of NYC’s top hitters, both from St. Francis Prep, will see time at the corners as well as at DH; Sylvester Guiterrez and Nick Theoharis are both true sluggers in every sense of the word.
Christ the King’s Kenny Gleason, another standout hitter, will also see time on the corners.
The 2001 version of the Midville Dodgers is a coach’s dream. Dodger fans are excited and are expecting the team to do very well in competing against the best competition in the metropolitan area.
“We are not backing down from anyone with this bunch of talented youngster, Gleason said. “Everyone is anxious to begin and hopefully it will be a super year.”
There is no doubt that Juniper Valley Park will be an interesting place this summer.
