Councilwoman Sandra Ung met with the players and coaching staff for the Flushing High School baseball team Friday at Leavitt Field to congratulate them on winning the school’s first Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) championship since 1948.
Ung, who attended Flushing High School, also announced that $500,000 in capital funding was secured to renovate and improve Leavitt Field, where Flushing High School plays its home games.
“I want to give a big congratulations to all of you for this history-making undefeated season,” Ung said. “We just passed the city budget last Monday and part of that was to secure capital funding and I’m happy to dedicate part of that funding to fix the field.”
In addition to the budget announcement, Ung gave each member of the baseball team New York City Council certificates to honor their accomplishment. Additionally, the team’s head coach, Joe Gerloven, told the players that he and the rest of the coaching staff were in the process of getting championship rings made for the players.
Among the engravings that will be on the rings are “undefeated,” “city champs” and “15-0.” According to Gerloven, prices haven’t been announced yet, but arrangements will be made so that each player can pay for their ring individually should they choose to get the ring. The players will also have the option to choose whether they want the rings to be silver or gold and, for an additional fee, can ask for custom engraving.
“I’m incredibly appreciative of all this,” Gerloven said. “I’m blown away! This isn’t just about the current team; it’s about every generation hereafter.”
The baseball team will be in attendance at Citi Field on July 27, where they will be recognized by the New York Mets for their accomplishment this season prior to the game against the Yankees. The details about how they will be honored will be known as the date approaches. The tickets come courtesy of the PSAL.
After posting a 15-0 record during the regular season, Flushing High School won all five of their matchups during the PSAL tournament, defeating South Bronx High School 3-2 at Staten Island University Hospital, Community Park on June 9. The 2022 season marked Flushing High School’s baseball team’s first PSAL championship game appearance since 2002 and its first title since 1948.
A total of 32 high schools from across all five boroughs of New York City participated in the PSAL AA Division tournament. After being crowned champions of the AA division, the PSAL will move Flushing High School up to AAA next season.
The championship game was initially supposed to be played at Yankee Stadium, but a scheduling conflict resulted in it being moved to Staten Island University Hospital, Community Park, home of the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League.
