Johnnie LaRossa of North Massapequa has formally committed to attend the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. LaRossa will be on the roster of the baseball team starting in the fall of 2013, and will compete for a spot on the left side of the infield. The Hawks play Division 1 athletics in the America East Conference.

“I feel great about choosing Hartford,” said LaRossa. “It’s a great opportunity to play there and help build the program.”

The 6-foot tall is a talented shortstop / third baseman who also can play outfield. He batted third all year at St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, NY. He also led Hanks Yanks 18U team over the entire summer with a .374 batting average.

LaRossa had substantive discussions with about six schools on the east coast. Hartford seemed like the best fit both both academically and athletically. LaRossa visited the campus with his father in October, and felt very comfortable there. Head Coach Justin Blood and Assistant Coach Steve Malinowski showed the LaRossa’s around campus and asked them to observe a team workout and practice. They also met Coach Mike Nemeth, who works with the infielders. Shortly thereafter this visit, LaRossa chose to formally commit to the school.

“I feel like they are good coaches and they will help me get to the next level,” explained LaRossa. “Coach Nemeth works the guys hard and helps get them better. And Coach Blood told me he’d help me with everything.”

“I feel that his hard work and dedication paid off,” explained LaRossa’s father, John. “It’s a good place for him. He can live up to his full potential as he continues with his college baseball career. It’s also a good match for him socially and academically.”

LaRossa plans to major in either accounting or sports management.

10/27/12 – 12N-5P – Baseball Player Magazine College Coaches Camp
Some Of The NCAA’s Premiere Division I & II Baseball Schools Will Be In Attendance.
$200 Per Player Confirmed Colleges Register *

Brookville, NY, October 8, 2012

It’s rare that college-level baseball games in the Fall have much significance in the scope of baseball or life in general. However, this past weekend a clear exception was evident. The Inaugural “Pitch For a Cure: Strike Out Juvenile Diabetes” Baseball Tournament was held this past weekend at LIU Post in Brookville, NY.

Baseball teams from Concordia College, LIU Post, Molloy College, and Monroe College gathered at the LIU Post baseball field.  New York Mets third base coach (and former World Champion) Tim Teufel threw out the first pitch before the first game on Saturday. Malloy played Monroe in the first game, followed by Post hosting Concordia. Well over 150 ballplayers attended the games, and more than 200 spectators watched and participated with donations and purchases to help the charity.

There were auctions, a 50/50 raffle, sales of donated items, and a snack table. All together, the event raised over $3,200. for the charity, according to LIU Post assistant coach and Pitch For a Cure (PFAC) Tournament Coordinator Jon Mauchan. Participating schools also donated funds.

When discussing the event, Mauchan stated, “It turned out great. The first game went fourteen innings, that was a little curveball, but really all that did was help raise more money. More food got sold. More drinks got sold. It was great.”

John Susino, a pitcher on the LIU roster, contracted Juvenile Diabetes at the age of 11. His sister just got diagnosed; she’s 11. That hit close to home for Mauchan. PFAC tries to help many just like them. PFAC helps kids by trying to get their mind off of their disease and how it affects their lives. One of the ways is by inviting youngsters to baseball events like these.

“Most kids have insulin pumps now, directly into their stomach,” explained Mauchan. Some pumps have wires connecting them to battery packs, some are wireless. “It’s (OK), other than the ‘honeymoon period.’ When they first get it put in, they’re not used to the way their body feels. They (usually) don’t remember anything for two weeks. But once they get used to it, with the exception of having to walk around with a pump in your pocket, and checking your blood six to eight times a day, before meals, after meals, it’s (still) a pain.”

Rob Dromerhauser, founder of PFAC, was inspired to help youngester afflicted with Juvenile Diabetes after his son Connor was diagnosed. Dromerhauser, a former catcher, was drafted and played professional baseball in the 1980’s.

All four teams played a second game on Sunday. In the championship game, Concordia bested Monroe for the first ever Tournament trophy.

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (September 28, 2012) - The LIU Post baseball team will join Concordia College,  Molloy College, and Monroe College this October to “Pitch For a Cure: Strike Out Juvenile Diabetes”, raising awareness for juvenile diabetes in a weekend baseball tournament on October 6-7 at the LIU Post baseball field.  Headlining the event will be 1986 World Champion and current New York Mets third base coach Tim Teufel, who will be on hand to throw out the first pitch before the first game on Saturday.

The schedule for the weekend will be as follows:
Saturday, October 6:
10:30 a.m. – Molloy vs. Monroe
1:00 p.m. – LIU Post vs. Concordia
Sunday, October 7:
9 a.m. – Championship game

Pitch for a Cure is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to sick and needy children in any capacity, fulfilling children’s wish list throughout the year, supporting families with financial assistance to defray medical expenses and providing assistance to hospitals and childcare facilities in any capacity.

The tournament will be run as a charity event by LIU Post assistant coach Jon Mauchan.

“I am running this tournament for a great cause that is near and dear to my heart,” said Mauchan. “A family friend was stricken with this disease in 2006.  As many as 3 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes. Forty children per day are diagnosed (15,000 per year). Children that are diagnosed with type 1 are dependent on insulin injections or pumped insulin for life!. The hope is that with proceeds raised from events like this, we can some day find a cure….and someday in the near future!”

You can bring donations to the game or go to the website (below) and donate directly on the site.

For more information on Saturday’s even, please visit the facebook page. For more information on “Pitch For a Cure: Strike Out Juvenile Diabetes”, please visit www.pitchforacure.org.

The Long Island Whalers are pleased to congratulate Greg Weissert of Bay Shore High School for verbally committing to Fordham University in early July.

Greg was the first Whalers player to verbally committ to a college in 2012. He was also being pursued by other universities, but he ultimately decided to choose Fordham because of their high level academic record.

Greg is an outstanding student and one of the Whalers top players in the organization. He is an excellent “two way” player meaning he can play both a position and pitch at a high level. Greg focuses on playing third base for Bay Shore H.S. however for the Whalers he plays third base, second base, first base and outfield.

Greg finished the season second in innings pitched, strikeouts, earned run average, and he led the team with fewest walks per nine innings.

Greg has been a Whaler since he was 15 years old and the Whalers are also pleased to have his younger brother Brian in the organization. The Whalers would like to thank Greg, Brian and their parents Ray and Liz for their loyalty to the Whalers organization and the 17 Navy roster, which was coached by long time Whalers coaches Matt Lemanczyk and Jason Galbraith.

We wish Greg nothing but the best in his future playing for Coach Leighton at Fordham University.