Battipaglia commits to Villanova
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- October
- 31
I’ll admit it: This one caught me by surprise.
After a strong summer and fall, Somers senior RHP Jerry Battipaglia has committed to pitch at Villanova.
A lot of you probably don’t know about Jerry, so here goes: He’s 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, and boasts a fastball that tops out around 88 MPH. He throws a slider and a changeup, and all of his pitches have shown great improvement since the end of the high school season with Somers, the Class A champ.
Now let’s get to Somers…remarkably, Jerry pitched just 17 innings this season with the Tuskers. His numbers were good (2-1, 3.76 ERA, 16 hits and 15 K’s), but his work was limited. Obviously, Somers has terrific pitching with Dan Tracy, Dan Zlotnic, and Ron Stenz. But it’s amazing that Battipaglia has evolved far enough to land at Villanova, which is a testament to how hard he’s obviously worked. Need evidence: After seeing him play with the South Florida Bandits this summer, Perfect Game chose Jerry as one of 21 seniors from New York state for the 2007 Top Prospect Games.
From what I’ve gathered, Villanova liked Battipaglia’s projectability. He’s a big guy who throws like a big guy, and his size and strength tell the Wildcats’ coaches that Jerry has even further room to develop.
‘Nova has had a good tradition developing pitchers. Iona Prep grad Brian Slocum, an Indians farmhand who was a dominant high schooler in Westchester, and Mets prospect Kevin Mulvey are both former Wildcats.
Great job by Jerry. This one came from nowhere, but sounds like well-deserved.
I’ll have more on this today or tomorrow.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 at 3:15 pm by Josh Thomson.
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Josh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in
March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of
2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has
since covered various high school and pro sports. Away from sportswriting,
Josh lives in Westchester and spends his free time either with his
fiancee, Sarah, or expertly managing his various championship-winning
fantasy sports teams. He's visited 21 major-league baseball stadiums and
insists that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the best by far. Josh
graduated from Carmel High School in 1998, then went to Boston University,
where, in 2002, he received a degree in communications with a minor in
history. 
Jake Thomases has covered baseball, hockey, girls basketball, and girls soccer for the Journal News since arriving in 2003. He previously interned at The Poughkeepsie Journal while attending Vassar College. He is socking money away under his mattress to buy the Knicks, at which time he will trade Jerome James to Cleveland for a ham sandwich.
Josh….You don’t seem to get it. “It came from nowhere”...It came from the place where the majority of recruiting comes from which is Showcase Baseball NOT High School baseball. If you check around the college coaches only want to talk to the summer travel coaches and scouts that have seen these kids play. That is where the high level of competition is. HS stats are a JOKE! Congratulations to Jerry!
Congratulations, Jerry! I heard they are changing the name of the Big East Conference to the Big Piercing Eyes Conference.
Section 1…Contrary to what you may believe, I DO know what you’re talking about. Recruiting happens during the summer and fall, not in the spring.
But still  considering the universe that we have here centers around LoHud baseball and the players who play in the LoHud  it is very rare to see someone who pitched so little during the high school season sign with a Big East baseball program. I hope you’d agree with that.
Also, so you know, I have it from a much better source than you do that Jerry improved by leaps and bounds this summer and fall…so I’m not just throwing something at the wall and hoping it will stick. I report these stories, ya know…
congrats jerr bear! way to work your ass off to get here. Make somers proud!
I dont no much about Battapaglia but I have been to a lot of High School sports game in a majority of sports. I ask this question when was the last time you saw a major college recruiter at a High school game. Put it this way if they were at high school games, the” Somers terrific pitching with Dan Tracy, Dan Zlotnic, and Ron Stenz” would also be getting college scholarships. Fact is scouts dont come to games and dont care about high school stats. Get real Josh Thomson – “much better source than you do that Jerry improved by leaps and bounds this summer and fall….” This is false there is no possible way the kid could improve that much between June and Oct obviously your sources are wrong. Congrats to Jerry!
OK. You can have your opinion. After a couple phone calls yesterday, I’m pretty confident where I stand.
High school baseball around here means nothing! It is all about what team you play for during the summer and what showcases you are invited to. Good Job Baby Face!!
Yea Josh get real my man…come see any competitive summer team and then your talking real baseball. High School Baseball is an absolute joke! Watch Bayside, NY Nine, Taconic Rangers, LI Tigers, Titans..its a WHOLE different level
Congratulations to Jerry. The Bandits did well with their recruiting this year. There is nothing wrong with HS baseball. It has become apparant that the job of the HS coach is to prepare their players for the summer season…. Stats mean nothing to anyone but the HS coaches votong on the All-League etc.
The college season runs alongside the HS season. 56 games to be played between February 22 and May 22 approx 90 days. there is very little time for any college coach to be at a HS game unless they are one of the local teams. There was a time a few years back when the Notre Dame coach was at a Kennedy game. You will see Iona, Manhattam and some of the D2’s at Section One games.
This brings out the importance of the Empire State Games for those players who don’t play on the big travel programs. Showcases are the other big opportunity. It’s just unfortunate that the Section One Coaches don’t encourage their players to attend the Perfect GAme event held at Dutchess Stadium in June. Josh you should stop by this year also…It’s interesting.
By the way, Sean Hagen threw very well in Jupiter as did Kevin Scrabola. Mike Mercurio had a big game in the opener and Anthony Carona had 2 hits in his last game. Those were the only locals I saw. The event was attended by over 500 scouts.
Last chance showcase here in the Northeast for Pitchers and catchers. http://www.allprosports.com . Paul Gibson, former ML pitcher and now a scout for the Atlanta Braves will be hosting many of the NE college coaches and scouts at the facility on Long Island.
Sean Hagen from Mamaroneck has the potential to be a top five round draft pick. I saw him during the H.S. season. While it is true that college coaches do most of their recruiting during the summer, when it comes time to find out what kind of charecter and make up the kid has, they go to the H.S. coaches for that.
Been Around,
College Coaches go to High School Coaches for very little…They want to see the kid play themselves, often on more than one occasion against “good” competion. For a kid that they are recruiting the “Character” is apprised of the resume of the player… grades, how the player presents himself and what he has done when he is not on the field !
Baseball Notes,
I can tell you that many college coaches talk to H.S. coaches regarding a kids make-up and charecter, most of the time H.S. coaches have known the kid for a period of years on and off of the field. You give these money grubbing show cases too much credit. I have been around enough baseball fields both H.S. and college to know that there are no secrets. I have seen the coaches from Dominican, Concordia, Fordham and Iona at many H.S. games. This young man from Somers sounds like there is a great deal of potential there, I wish him luck. I saw Somers beat Pearl River in the Class A final. Tracey is a kid with a great make up and he throws a change up that can get college hitters out. He just needs to develop his fast ball to make the change up more effective. I go back t my first point the Hagen kid has the biggest upside of any kid that I have seen in a long time.. well maybe since B.J. Slocum out of Iona Prep.
Having a close relationship with a local college coach I can tell you that Charecter is a huge factor in recruitment. Its not just about being on the field, kids have to handle themselves for the other 7 months of the year. I have seen many talented kids not able to handle the responsibilites of being a college student. So any good coach will rely more on the adults that have worked with the kid rather than his resume or grades.
You need to add Grades to Character as well. When it comes to recruiting, GPA’s mean just as much to a college scout as the kids 90+ fastball. (well, ok 90+ will get you in somewhere.)
Summer baseball and showcases are where its at. Throw the Hudson Valley Bulls into that mix as they had several of their players taken also. Reifenhauser/Castellito/Scrobola/Brown/Diresta/Alosco/O’Hanlon and soon to be the Filauro brothers from JJCR.
Been Around,
I said nothing and made “no Mention” of showcases …they are just as you put it “Money Grubbing”. A player can get noticed at a showcase but the odds are much greater and it it hard to measure the “intangibles”...
Making it in College as a Student…Is just as I said…The High School Grades and Board Scores! ALSO, I WILL SAY IT SLOWLY THIS TIME, WHAT HE DID IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN HE “WASN’T ON THE FIELD!
The Adults will always have an “AGENDA” and any good coach knows it!
Forgot James Harlen, he also picthed for the Bulls. Sacred Heart this year.
You guys need to get off your chairs and get to one of the big “money grubbings”. When hundreds of coaches attend, they aren’t there for the social agenda…There are many players in the area who’s aspirations are above Dominican, Concordia, Iona or the local schools who may make Section One games. If they are hoping to get out of the area as many of these kids have, they need to showcase or play travel ball.
“Been Around” mentions Hagen and Slocum…both have been and were out on the travel circut. The showcases or showcase events are definitely where it’s at. Hagen has gotten alot of mention being showcased with the College Select Team or the ESG. You have mentioned the other pitchers from Somers, if they are as talented as you say, they should get out there… BTW, What year are they? Somers will have a big time staff this year.
If your desire is to perform on Broadway in a big production you have to audition on the big stage not just your hs auditorium.
And I’m not saying there is anything wrong with the above mentioned programs so don’t take that angle. Iona is going to continue getting better every year under Coach Carey and Dominican has numerous players in professional baseball over the past few years. Manhattan has something like 14 players in the minors right now.
The issue above is HS vs travel or showcase. They each have a different value. Maybe we’ll hear from a few of the players who have attended these events.
For us, if it weren’t for the HV Bulls, (or any of the abovementioned select travel teams), my son wouldn’t be playing at a high level college team. The only time we ever saw a college coach at a high school team is when the players were seen at a showcase, then the college coach would “maybe” make a trip up to see the kid play at a high school game. Maybe. And of course, it would only be the Pace, Iona, Concordia, Sacred Heart, Marist, Dominican or other local college. If they had time. Like someone said above, the hs and college seasons intertwine, no way does a coach have time to come see a potential recruit.
And for what its worth, the MaxPreps stats are a joke as we all know. Coaches pay ZERO attention to those. Zero.
HS and showcase/tournaments are like night and day.
The HS season is cool because of school spirit, pride and competition. Bigtime rivalries between schools are always fun because it spices you up a bit. However, the HS season has little effect on a person playing at the next level.
Obviously, a person SHOULD have good high school numbers if they are going to play at the next level. But that doesn’t mean they do. Take a look at a kid like Battipaglia, who didn’t throw much for Somers this year but has a good arm and a projectable body. He got hooked up with the South Florida Bandits during the summer and threw well at the right time. Or Corey Baker from Clarkstown South, whose HS numbers were average at best but shined with the Bayside Yankees during the summer and is now at Pitt.
The summer circuit is huge. Whether its tournaments in the southern part of the country or the Empire State Games, that is where the attention is. The Perfect Game Northeast Top Prospect Showcase in Cape Cod had over 100 scouts in attendance. THe Empire State Games probably had 70. And the tournament this past weekend in Jupiter, Florida had like 700.
People can argue this point all they want to, but the numbers make it pretty obvious. After participating in the said events and more, I can confidently say that while the HS season is a lot of fun and good competition, it means very little when it comes to being seen.
What sucks is that so many kids just sit back and hope their HS stats get them looks, or play in the WPBA (MAJOR waste of time). Lots of good ballpayers go unnoticed because they dont put the time in to play summer ball with the high level teams in the area.
D-1 Dad,
I’m sorry if I have offended you by mentioning Iona, Pace, and Concordia. By the way do you know who was the Kansas City Royals AAA player of the year?... Mike Aviles from a little D-2 school called Concordia. I have seen too many superstars from Section One come home or transfer after they go to D-1 schools, more kids come home or transfer than play four years at D-1 schools. Pace had three pitchers from their staff get drafted in 2006, Concordia up until 2007 had one of the best D-2 programs in the Northeast, they hold the record for the most wins ever by a college team in NY state for one season. Believe me I have seen enough baseball to know when a kid is a D-1. player, there just are not that many in Section One irregardless of show cases. I just have a problem when I hear that kids(parents) have to pay thousands of dollars to play for a team like the Bayside Yankees, or up to $500 for a showcase. I’m in my early 40’s and I don’t ever remember hearing about kids that should have been playing D-1 and were not. Show cases have become like bottled water, when it really comes down to it are they really needed. Most of us grew up just fine drinking tap water.
Alright Battipaglia is a great pitcher and all but we all know the reason why he got signed…..its the eyes, there piercing!!!!!!!
“Been Around”
Did you bother to read where I wrote that there isn’t anything wrong with the local schools. I personally know the head coaches from almsot all that you mentioned. There have been many, many players who have been given the opportunity to play minor league baseball from the local D1’s and D2’s as well as just high school. Just look at the summer Journal News on Sundays and their listing. They also miss many who are playing.
If we go back and look at those who have made “Major League careers” from our area. Dave Flemming-Georgia, BJ Surhoff-UNC, BJ Slocum-Villanova, Jason Dellaro-USouth Florida. I guess it’s all about dreams and opportunities.
The point we miss is that any player who is given the opportunity to play baseball in college, I don’t care what division, what conference or association, that kid is special. Some will make it and some will not. It’s a testament to their will and dedication.
If you have the opportunity to play on a top travel program and can afford the $$$ to compete at some top showcases, the experience is priceless. Have the opportunity to travel with your son.. priceless. Watch some of the best players in the country play, tremendous. I have watched hundreds of hs games over the past 15 years and hundreds more on the travel circut. It is all special, every kid gives it their all but the talent level—-not close. Do I look down upon either NO. More times then not, it’s not about the $$ but opportunity, or the knowledge or lack there of about what events to attend. Some HS coaches are pretty knowledgeable and others have never seen games outside of the ones they coach.
BTW- It does not cost thousands of dollars to play for the Bayside Yankees. It costs no more than those little league fathers who pay “Local” pitching coaches for years to teach their sons how to pitch. And if you are good enough to make the Senior team of Bayside, then it doesn’t cost you anything as Bayside is sponsored by many organizations and professional ball players who have gone through their program. Bayside and the other well known travel teams offer their players one big thing – the opportunity to be seen by college scouts from all over the country. They give
their players the exposure that they need but rest assured these ball players work very hard and sacrifice alot to get where they are. It is not just how much money you can afford because money wont buy you a spot on Bayside!!!!
Bayside is the best team in the state..hands down
Take a look at Panetta, Ferraro, Rozins (Fox Lane), Boyer (Tuckahoe) and I believe i left 1 or 2 out from HV…all quality young men and players. I’ve been coaching for along time and no one can say anything about Bayside…they have just about the most respect out of all organizations around!
HVMOM…well said! It’s all about hard work and staying on top of your game to be able to compete at the highest level. Not just during the school year, summer season but for these kids it starts in Jan and ends Nov 1. That one of the things that seperates all these guys.
Why does Bayside not allow their players to participate in the ESG’s and why are they band from all Perfect Game tournaments? I know many Bayside parents were not happy this past summer so please don’t make them out to be this great organization. There are some skeletons in their closet.
I don’t believe Ferraro, Rozins or Boyer played on the HV team. I think Pannetta was the only one.
Unfortunately the showcases and elite teams are a convenient way for college coaches to recruit and this has led to a windfall for these showcases and elite team programs. The majority of these programs will claim they are for the best interest of the kids, but then prevent them from participating in the ESG games or other showcase events. These programs are recruiting services and they care about the almighty dollar but they have become a necessity if a player wants to go to a big time college. The average person who can’t afford paying top dollar for exposure go to the smaller local schools. In a lot of cases, they will have as much talent as can be seen by the number of players getting drafted out of these programs. The East Fishkill showcase that someone recommended should be endorsed by the high school coaches is one of the biggest rip offs there is. Perfect Game takes a cut on all Perfect Game sponsored showcases so the showcases can run anywhere between $250-$450 a showcase. The Perfect Game East Fishkill showcase costs $650 so the person coordinating this showcase is making a killing. I would bet my bottom dollar that the coordinator is also running one of these summer elite teams that are put together for the best interest of the kids. Anyone who believes these programs are not taking advantage of the kids and parents is kidding themselves. The problems it is a necessary evil if the goal is to go to one of the bigger D-1 programs.
I called Perfect Game, I don’t think Perfect Game has any partners and I did find out the guy who runs/coordinates the evnt and he does run a team out of CT. He is also a PG emplyee and NE Director. PG does not take a cut.However when you can bring 75-100 recruiters into our area, it’s an opportuntiy. I’m also certain that the rental for the stadium, DCC and Beacon HS cannot be cheap. Our area is probably one of the most expensive geographically that they hold an event.
Is the $$$ charged high, yes, I think so too, and I’m not sure I could afford to send my son nor do I think he is of that caliber. That being said, could he make the ESG? Can he play for an elite travel team? What are my other options to get him seen? If the coaches that I was told were there are not just top division schools but all the way down to DCC is there a place for him?
Observation,
Although I do agree that there are summer programs that are out for the “almighty dollar”, you are painting a lot of people with a very broad brush. You will find that most of the “elite” summer programs have scholarships and are very open to student/athlete’s who’s parents cannot foot the bill (I know from personal experience). It is important for a player to be on the Perfect Game “radar” but it is the big time D1 programs that have the financial ability to travel extensively for recruiting. It is often the D2 and D3 schools, who often can offer a fantastic educational opportuntity, that do not have the funding to go out and find the talented players from “lesser summer programs” or high school baseball. I was one who had always been against the pay for play philosophy but have found that there is a happy medium. It is the parents and players that for the most part must set their sights on what are realistic objectives based on talent. Quite often when players/parents are subjected to the “elite” summer programs and made aware of the world of talent that exists outside of our own world better choices can be made. It is also very important that we put playing the sport we love in perspective. It’s still about having fun, after all there are more brain surgeons than professional athletes.
Observation your generalization astonishes me. To say an event is a rip off is without merritt. Are you one of the HS coaches who didn’t send their players? The ESG allow a roster of 18 of our players to be seen by 50+ coaches. The PG event allows anyone who is willing to pay the chance to prove themselves in fron of 75+ coaches and 6 ML scouts. Did you bother to find out how many kids have benifited from the event over the last 2 years? I didn’t believe it myself until I was there and saw how it was run and how it benifited our players. From what I hear there have been quite a few players that have been discovered and gone off to colleges from this investment.
It may not be for everyone, but that does not give you the right to diminish it’s value to others.
As far as travel teams. There are some very good teams in our area. One of the reason that some don’t allow players to try out for ESG is because they already are well into their own schedule. It’s also not just the travel teams but local legion coaches have frowned upon it.
Teams like Bayside and Perfect Game do not allow their players to participate in ESG because of the committment to their schedules. As HVDAD (no relation) said, many of these programs do offer scholarships to those who cannot afford to pay but they still must try out and be of the caliber that is expected on these teams. I do not feel they are a “recruiting service” but an excellent opportunity for the better play to get exposure. The college scouts know that these teams field the best and they come out to see them. BTW – MLB scouts are also present at these games.
Sorry folks, I never diminished the importance of these events. They are extremely important. I have high regard for the Perfect Game programs but go check out the cost of every Perfect Game showcase and let me know which ones even come close to the cost of Fishkill. Perfect Game has showcases in most major cities and I find it hard to believe Fishkill is more expensive then some of these areas. Last time I checked there were just as many coaches and scouts at Select Fest and that cost $200. Since when does bringing 75+ coaches and 6 ml scouts justify $650. I did not say Perfect Game was a rip off, I said the Fishkill showcase that you are recommending is a rip off. If you are going to spend that money, you are better off paying $400 for the PG showcase in Wareham, Ma, spend the other $250 for the hotel and at least you got a little vacation out of it for the same cost as Fishkill.
Showcases such as Wareham and the Top prospect showcase are by invitation. Fishkill is open to any/all that pay the fee. Even then, programs may restrict attendence because of scheduling conflicts. There are no college coaches or professional scouts that will recruit based strictly on a showcase and Perfect Game is the first to say so. They are set up to put a player on the radar and hopefully create a desire by coaches and scouts to watch a player in action with their team.It is then usually the better teams that get watched. (HVMOM no relation)If you are who I believe, your son is a heck of a player !!!!!
Thank you HV Dad. He is.
I just wanted to go the record and say that I would put the NY Nine program against any of those other ones.They have not been around anywhere close to Bayside but they are right there with them now.From a personal experience it is not about the money but it is all about the kids attitude and skills.And all of these teams are going to cost money to play on because of all the travel expenses.But there are many other programs that do it just to make money off of thier players.They always have many kids to pick from and somehow they put toghether a great mix of players and coaches.With the Nine it becomes a real Family type feel between the 3 diffrent teams & Coaches. And for recruiting they give all the help you will ever need plus all the exposer you can ask for.As for the perfect game it all of the players should attend one event that they can afford .There is no need to attend more then that unless your a top player.
Too bad out of those 4 that currently play for bayside, Panetta was the only one to tryout for ESG I believe.
Also Joe Gatewood from Arlington is with the Yankees..
Ferraro tried out too.
HV Mom who is ur son?
just want to let every one know that schedules are out now for this year. You go to them by clicking this link http://sportspakdb.lhric.org/mainindex.asp
Josh honestly your article is a joke Jerry is very deserving of his D1 scholarship. Get a education Josh