I’m still in frigid Kingston, where we’re wrapping up our state semifinal football coverage for the night. In case you’re wondering, Rye and Dobbs Ferry advanced to the Dome (again) and New Rochelle lost a heartbreaker. In other news, I may have frostbite…

On the hot-stove front, we’ve learned that Clarkstown North LHP Chris O’Grady has committed to George Mason. His brother, T.J., who went to St. Joe’s of Montvale and is a sophomore righty, already pitches for the Patriots, so they will join forces beginning in the fall of ‘08. Jake is supposed to talk to Chris, so I’ll let him fill you in with the details.

I’ve exchanged a couple e-mails lately with pitchers: Port Chester’s Jesse Burba and White Plains’ Josh Herzenberg. Both guys are undecided as of yet but each has a few different options he’s mulling over. If and when they commit, I’ll certainly pass along where they’re headed.

As always, if you, your player or your son has signed on somewhere to play ball, e-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com and I’ll pass the news along.

Until then, stay outta the cold…

I posted a link to Perfect Game’s 2008 follow list. Here’s the list for the class of ‘09.

The list includes the following:

Anthony Cervone, Beacon

Anthony Carona, Kennedy (from Carmel)

Tyler Donovan, Iona Prep (from Brewster)

Mike Mercurio, Kennedy (from Brewster)

Alan Filauro, John Jay-CR

Sean Hagan, Mamaroneck

Nick Modico, Kennedy (from Putnam Valley)

Dan Sorine, Eastchester

Note: Carona and Donovan, who are both catchers, are the only two considered among Perfect Game’s top 250 players nationally

Has this been the busiest November for local baseball or what?

Got word today that former Carmel RHP Tyler Bugna has committed to Towson University. Bugna played last season at Cecil College, and has one more season left there before he gets his associates degree.

“I have a real nice feel for the campus. It’s a good size and it’s close enough to home that my parents can come down and watch me throw,” Bugna said. “Whether they want me to be a starter or a reliever, my goal is to help them win any way I can.”

Bugna had a solid year at Cecil. He went 3-3 with a 3.23 ERA and struck out 30 batters in 43 2/3 IP. His fastball has gotten to the point where it’s around 90 m.p.h. because he’s added some strength sinc getting to college.

“There were more than 20 Division I and II schools recruiting Tyler and he loves Towson,” Cecil coach Charlie O’Brien said. “I think it is a perfect fit for him socially, academically and baseball-wise. I am 100 percent confident he will be successful there.”

Just heard from Stepinac coach Pat Duffy. His ace, RHP Greg Caruso, committed to American International College, a Division II school in New England. Caruso earned a scholarship there.
Caruso will eventually join his old catcher Anthony Arrichiello, who is at AIC now. Arrichiello was The Journal News’ second-team all-star catcher last season.

As I mentioned in the Maruri story, this caps a great offseason for the Crusaders, who had all three of their senior captains receive scholarships. It also leads me to think about next season, when they may be the favorites over Iona, Mount and Fordham to win the Bronx-Westchester. Having a good No. 1, a good SS, and a good No. 3 hitter is a nice foundation.

Another local player has made his decision. Port Chester catcher Frank Fiumara will attend Oneonta.

The senior, who was an alternate for the Hudson Valley team this summer, had interest from some D-I and D-II schools, like Fordham, Iona, Pace, Fairfield and Mercy, but he chose Oneonta instead. The Oneonta coach came to Port Chester to recruit Fiumara, who also liked the strength of the program and the school.

Anyone has other commitments this week, feel free to email me at jthomson@lohud.com. I’ll try and post them here when they come in.

Oh, the value of cell phones.

I just got off the phone with Stepinac coach Pat Duffy, who was at the airport, and Stepinac MASHER Alex Maruri, who was delivering pizzas. The word is that Alex has decided to accept an offer from Elon, former home of Mamaroneck’s Chris Vasami and current home of Pleasantville’s Ken Ferrer and Brewster resident Jason Sinclair.

I haven’t talked to Maruri much yet (again, the pizza), but Duffy told me Maruri really wanted to play down south. He and his dad traveled all over to look at schools — Wake Forest, Maryland, High Point, Coastal Carolina, Illinois, St. Louis — and found Elon was the best fit all things considered. I know he had strong feelings for Maryland as well, but it sounds like the Terps’ roster was pretty booked.

I’ll have more after I talk to Maruri. Also, it sounds like Stepinac RHP Greg Caruso is pretty close to inking a scholarship, which would make three seniors on the same team with scholarships. Not bad…

UPDATE (11/14): For anyone interested, here’s the story on Alex.

Another day, another Iona Gael.

This time it’s Stepinac SS Eric Capowski, who will join the Gaels next season along with the two pitchers from Mahopac.

For those who haven’t seen him, Capowski’s a gamer. He had the game-winning hit in a victory over Iona early this spring…capping one of the great comeback wins of the season.

Stepinac coach Pat Duffy told me back then that Capowski would find a D-I school. Duffy just thought the kid was a baseball player. Apparently he was right.