Five local players commit to college
-
- July
- 30
We’re only part way through the summer of ‘08 but a handful of ‘09 grads have already given their commitments. 
I’ll have more detail in the future, but here are the guys who are locked up:
- Dan Zlotnick (above), LHP/OF, Somers — Vermont
- Tyler Donovan, C, Iona Prep — Winthrop
- Mike Mercurio (right), SS, Kennedy — High Point
- Steven Roche, RHP, Iona Prep — High Point
- Anthony Cervone, RHP, Beacon — St. John’s
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on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 6:28 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.
Where the heck is High Point?
North Carolina (Big South Confrence)
A school that is on the rise. A beautiful campus is attracting more and more to the school each year.
Congrats to ALL!
Thanks. I wonder why they’re recruiting up here.
Hey this is an awesome start for the 09’ class. The guys headed to High Point will be joining Kyle Mahoney from Carmel HS who will be a soph there this fall. If you check the rosters for these programs you’ll see a few local guys sprinkled in.
Ken Ferrer from Pleasantville is at Elon (Big South) and Alex Mareri is headed there this spring. I guess this is why they are recruiting up here.
Also let’s not forget Sean Hagan St John’s who was the first to commit and will be apart of the pitching staff there with Cervone.
Congrats guys. You’ve worked had and should be proud of yourselves. This is a great accomplishment and hopefully just the begining of very long baseball careers!
Josh:
Do you know if Zlotnik is going as a pitcher or outfielder(or both)? Personally I have not seen him pitch, but from what I have read, he throws in the upper 80’s from the left side. So I am curious as to why he would pick Vermont. With his arm strength, velocity and his attitude, I would have thought he would have went to a better program.
Vermont is still D 1 and it is a great accomplishment, I am just inquiring as to why he chose that school with a year left to prove himself even more. Any info?
to answer your question baseballfan, the reason more colleges are recruiting up here are because the kids are tougher. These kids no how to cope with losses aswell as how to win where as the southern kids are not the same way. Since the Northern kids are able to do this, building up a winning program will be easier because after losing they will not be down but will be working hard inbetween games to get those wins
well put bbball
i agree, that was very well put
Zlotnic chose Vermont for it’s strong academics and a very specific major that he wanted and they offered. Many of the other schools that persued him did not have his major. He also wanted to stay here in the NE so combine that with his academic prefernece and Vermont was a perfect choice. The Vermont coaches did a very good job and got a very good player.
Answer
Thanks for the information. I also noticed Vermont only has two lefty pitchers back so he probably will play right away. No knock on him, was just curious.
whens yock signing, kid is goin to be the biggest recruit out of the ‘09 class…anyone have any news on his process?
I agree fly. Funny, in the spring there was all this back and forth on here about who the best SS was. As one astute blogger wrote, “let em play”. We did and Yock has clearly distinguished himself both with his bat and glove.
But i guess “merc” distinguished himself when it matters most. In front of the college coaches. All these guys were at the same events, in front of the same coaches and this group had multiple offers in front of them. Now “let the rest play out” and we’ll soon hear where the rest of the guys end up.
The class of guys has some very talented players.
baseballfan you may not be old enough to remember the NY battle as to who was the better SS Jeter or Ordonez and now Reyas. The Mets guys had all the flash but Jeter had the Championship as a “team player” sound familiar.
bbball….......have you ever played ball in the south? Or ball at all? What do you know about southern baseball, kids being tougher? I’m not knocking the kids up here, but tougher, and know how to lose? What the heck are you talking about?
Yes, I played baseball, in the south, DI, Big South Conference, 4 time conference champs, Southeast Regional participant. I have been there, kids up here aren’t any tougher. Maybe we should say the kids are good and deserve the offers.
Look, this is about what these kids have worked for and have now accomplished. There are going to be many many more to come. This is not about who had what stat’s, who plays for what school or what summer team. These kids have spent countless hours working to be the best they can be and this is the result. Whether they have great senior season’s, put up great numbers, win championships is all icing on the cake.
Many of these kids have been friends since little league, have played on All-star teams against and together and as the article reads, some will now be opponents. This I am certain will never dampen their friendships.
Behind the scene’s there is more going on with these guys then we know about. They all talk with each other and would help the other at the drop of a dime. It’s nonsense on here that makes it seem like they are at each others throats and actually care about what some of you write.
CONGRATULATIONS boys and look forward to reading about more of our guys.
Bunch of former local stars playing for a local summer collegiate league championship on Sunday. Click on the Connecticut Lawment to see a whos who.
http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=tscbl&sport=baseball&t=c&p=home&s=baseball
All you soon to be seniors and college freshman, take note of this local league, very good competition and MBL sponsored.
Here is some info. on the schools record from last season.
St. John’s 42-16 RPI 68
Winthrop 26-34 RPI 157
Vermont 27-24 RPI 200
High Point 20-33 RPI 205
Eddie, you da man. Now explain what you wrote. Especialy since the first comment was “where is high point”. Please explain RPI and how each w or L effects it as well as how strength of schedule plays in. Then you can talk about the actual record and you should have added SOS which is based on the schedule you play. Talk about confusing your self. Just go to Boyds world for the real info.
how are northern kids “tougher” than southern kids? coping with losses? correct me if i’m wrong…in every game there’s a winner and a loser, so that makes 50% of all baseball players in the world “soft”??? i’ve got 50 bucks that says a little mexican boy will ride up here on a goat from guadalajara and kick your you know what for callin him “soft”
you are funny when you ask how a southern school signs a northern kid and why they would be interested in him. Did you ever hear the rumor that colleges dont come to school ball games? well its very true for the most part. All these kids who want any shot at playing ball in the south go to southern showcases, tournaments and camps where any body is a possibility in the eyes of coaches, no matter where you’re from. end of story
Congratulations Danny Z! your dedication and passion all these years has paid off. you’ll do great things in ball and in life.
Every college coach will tell you, do not go to a school just for baseball. You can get cut, or injured and then your stuck at a school you really didn’t like to begin with.
Ha:
You seem to be snide, but yet your facts are not totally accurate. Showcases can help but that is not the answer. It all depends on the talent of the individual. If the ability is there then it goes to the willingness of the coach, parents and summerball coach to help in the recruiting process.
I played JUCO ball in North Carolina back in the early 90’s. I do think that Northerners have a bit of a tougher mentality, but Southern kids get to play year round. They develop quicker and lax is not really played down south.
On my JUCO squad we had six guys drafted out of HS on a 35 man roster.
Billy I am not sure if I agree with you. I also played JUCO ball in the early 90’s We made it to the world series in Grand Junction Colorado. We were one of two teams from the North East. I also traveled to many parts of the south to play ball. I never saw a distinct difference between mentality’s. I also had many teammates who played in Southern conferences and it was never mentioned.
I do agree with you about Southern kids having less distractions and playing year round. In the JUCO world series we lost to a team from Arizona(who won the whole thing) They literally played 40 more games than us…and trust me you could tell.
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I wonder why the Iona kids chose Winthrop. I would think that they would hold off a bit for a better academic school. Even down there there are some schools at similar baseball levels with better academics. Davidson, Furman, William & Mary, Duke even Richmond are stronger academic schools with lower end D1 baseball programs. What’s the rush?
Are you saying that because they go to Iona Prep they have to be strong academic kids? #2, it doesn’t matter where you want to go it’s who wants you. Maybe these other schools had no interest in these guys or were not recruiting a catcher of SS. #3 only one kid chose Winthrop, the other chose High Point. #4 how bout if you hold off for the better academic school, it doesn’t come and you lose the first offer. It happens
What I am saying is that when you send your kid to a private school like Iona you are usually doing so to give him a better academic opportunity. Or else just leave him in Brewster or wherever and save the money. The basic rule of thumb in college recruiting is to put academics first this way if sports do not work out you are still at a school you like and will get the best education possible at. When you go to a somewhat obscure school in an obscure place you are not following that logic. I happen to know one of the kids and I knew him as a very good student a few years agao. Hopefully that has not changed. Just thought there were better academic opportunities for him out there. Even if they are D3. There are some very good D3 baseball programs out there with excellent academics.
Everyone has different priorities I guess just thought it was early to commit and I like to see kids thinking academics first. For some I guess it doesn’t matter academically where they go they just want the most money. I could be wrong but I thought one of the kids in that group had enough money and good enough grades to have options is all.
. eVEN IF
I have not heard any word on the catcher Jon Cosenza from Lakeland. I feel that he deserves to be in the conversation with Panetta, Carona, and Filaro. While his bat may not be quite as strong he is still a great hitter and i feel he is a better defensive catcher then them. Does anyone know if he is attracting any college attention or if he is even close to signing anywhere?
Your right about Jon he belongs right with those other 3 guys. I’m sure they’ll all get something at some point. It’s a long road in the recruiting process. I don’t think Jon or Filaro have had the exposure of the other guys and I’m sure you can add Donovan in there too becuase he already got his. I’m sue playing Legion ball, the schools that he has played in front of are quite different then Corona who has traveled extensively all over the country to play in front of coaches. Panetta had a great series in ESG and Bayside usually gets their guys out there. Where does Filaro play/ does he even play summer ball?
as an athlete, isn’t it your objective to be the best and compete against the best? i think that is what drives these kids to chose the schools they do? did you look at the schedule, facilities and weather that the kid will have the opportunity to cpmpete in? NC, Wake Forest, Duke etc etc. big time stadium, weight rooms. they still have time to go to class and get degrees. is this not why a kid spends all the hours practing, training, lifting trying to get better. why should he settle for D3? Get your degree, do well and if baseball doesn’t workout, get your post graduate degree from one of those schools.
shouldn’t we be happy for the kid? he’s worked hard in and out of the classroom and whether his parents have money makes no difference.
You’re missing my point. Obviously you don’t put a high value on academics. My point is I think he could have done better academically and I would have liked to see him do so.
Not all kids have academic options. There was one on that list who I think does. I didn’t say he had to go D3 and you certainly aren’t “settling” if you go D3. Many kids will get mote playing time, less travelling and a much better education in D3. There ate also many better D1 schools he could have gone to. NC and Duke by the way are light years from High Point or Wintrop academically.
I just want to see the kids do the best they can both academically and in baseball.
I understand Filauro is getting tons of interest. It’s early yet. Too early to commit.
“Haste makes waste”
How about the other two catchers who have been “showcased” all over. Have they been offered anything or have anything in the works?
Fan, your miising the point. NC and Duke are on their schedule to play games against. no one compared them academically. There is definitely a value to the academic side of schools but obviously you don’t understand the recruiting side of things and the value of finding the right fit. I’m sure if NC or Duke was recruiting anyone of these players and there was the “fit” of more playing time etc. then those schools would have been an option. how about the fact that they visited quiet a few schools and really felt comfort in the situation, academic, athletic and social atmosphere. Again, because the kids go to private schools does not pigeon hole them to a certain area. Zlotnic could be the best student of them all and he chose his school because of fact that they are going to let him be a 2 way player. I know for a fact he had opportunities to go to better academic schools. This does not make his decision wrong it make it right for him.
Jay. you can’t commit until someone makes you and offer. there are lots of guys getting “interest”. when SOME coaches start offering money they don’t give you a lot of time to mull it over. letters and such are nict to fill your scrap book with, phone call show that they have interets but $$$$ talks.
just wondering, has Volpe from Carmel made an decision? there was word around that he had a few offers and was close to a deal.
Jay. i think Filaro is one of the best in the area so i was not speaking down
Where is McGovern getting interest from?
I would expect to heare 7 or 8 committments after this weekend from the Rangers. They have been touring the south for the past 6 weeks (except for Empires where they had 6 guys)between tournaments and showcases so it’s time to get the reports.
Rangers spent 2 weeks in Marietta at PG and 4 days at USC at Impact….How is that touring the south for 6 weeks..You need to work on your math skills.
There’s a “value” in the academic end? Are you for real? This is college dude. They can go play on some single A farm team in the middle of nowhere if it’s just about baseball. Get real please. I hope you’re not a parent of some kid needing to make important lifeshaping decisions. Because if you are that kid is at a competitive disadvantage in the real world.
Dude you sound like the parent or player who is mired in some town team. Yes, it’s parents or players like you who have no shot and should be looking for an academic situation at this point. especially since you won’t have any other options. there is still 23U leagues during the summer so you can continue playing or watching your kids games.
if these kids are recruited and give $$$$ money to play at these very competitive programs then why should they not be allowed to give it a shot? because YOU say it’s about academics. go tell bill gates.
every kid has the dream of one day making it somewhere in pro ball. they spend hours and hours practicing, giving up their summers to play on the best travel teams around (ok maybe not you or your kid). now they are given an opportunity and by the way a lot of money to continue that quest and they are supposed to say no because 1) they went to a certain hs, 2) because the school is not harvard, 3) because the parents have money?
when it’s over, it’s over then life outside of baseball begins and guess what, he will move on. for some kids this reality begins before hs, some after hs and for others it’s after college or when some ml team says so.
pat the kids on the back and follow them for the next 4 or 5 years. dude, wish these guys luck, they need it and they deserve it. i bet they’ll be 20 section 1 kids that get some $$$ to continue playing
So you’re kids a pro prospect? Good for him. If he is I’m sure he had pro interest like the pitcher from Don Bosco who turned down close to 1MM to go to Boston College. That kid throws 92=93 MPH and is a legit prospect. Lucky for him someone in his family has brains. He’ll get his shot. Even if he leaves BC early, but he’ll get at least half way through college and have a chance to mature mentally and physically.
I’ve seen people on here whining about Scarsdale, Greeley and John Jay kids having money. For the most part their families are in a position to buy houses in those towns because of advice they were given and decisions that they made. Harvard, Amherst, Trinity, Brown, UVA, W&M etc all have kids that go pro. And thoses that don’t go on to succesful careers and had a lot of fun playing/competing in college. If you’re telling your kid that he has a shot to go pro (which is one in a million) and he can start to worry about the rest when he is 22=24 you are putting him at a competitive disadvantage. Twenty years from now he too will need someone to give his kid money to go to college. Don’t you get it? It’s a cycle. The way to get out of it is to make better decisions for your kids. It does’t start when they’re 22. It starts when they’re in middle school and earlier. What classes they take, what school they go to and how hard they study. That’s the ticket. Not baseball. We in Westchester don’t live in some ghetto where baseball is the way out. This isn’t “Perfect Game” the movie. Get real dad!
Our kids can have fun and compete in college and if they work hard and are very lucky have a shot at the pro’s. Mike Mussina went to Stanford. Our job is to be honest with them and put them in the best position to succeed in life. Take my advice for what it’s worth. Hopefully it will benifit your kid.
baseballfan you can’t be for real. why should these kids ever play ball? they should just go to school from 9-3 get good grades and go on to the best schools around. You are so right. Mike Mussina is a great example while Manny Ramirez who never went to school at all can now buy and sell Mike. Or for that matter ARod, Jeter, these guys never went to any school.
It’s also nice that you mention areas of wealth in Westchester. These folks got there because of advice? I’d like to know how many got there on daddy’s dime. Old money, market money, they all didn’t get there because hey went to the schools you mentioned.
The more you write the more it’s evident that you couldn’t play and should have studied more.
Congratualte the kids and move on. Maybe one day you can ask for a ticket and an autograph.
Baseballfan:
you bring up some valid points but your comment about the kid from Bosco turning down 1MM is complete BS. So before youy spout off, you should know the facts. If he was offered that, HE WOULD HAVE SIGNED. I know the kids agent!
Now as much as I do agree with children receiving proper advice, you as a parent should know better than actually thinking the school they choose/graduate from makes or breaks them.
You seem to be one of those parents that already has chosen the path for your child instead of allowing them to grow and make decisions on their own. This is a pathetic way to raise children. Guidance is one thing, but telling them what to do is another. Instead of worrying about what your friends think, you should focus on what your child thinks!
I am one of three kids. My brother and sister went to Ivy league schools. I went to community college and a D2 school to play baseball. 15 years later I am very successful. I didn’t have an ivy league degree but I was smart and figured out ways to get my name to the top. I don’t regret my decision to go this route. In fact, my brother and sister envy me.
So take your head out of the sand and understand its not about the name of the school, it is about the person who attends the school. Using Zlotnick as an example. From what I read, he is goinig to major in Elementary Ed. Does he need to go to Harvard for that…NO! Instead he chose a college he loved, will get instant playing time and will hopefully gradute in 4 years. This is what a parent should endorse, not frown upon.
HRs,
Did you play at RCC? That must have been quite an experience playing in Colorado! Do you remember Brien Taylor? He was drafted by the Yankees in the first round in 91? If he didn’t sign with the Yanks, he was going to attend Louisburg. Louisburg was in my team’s conference that year. Taylor was from NC and a bunch of guys played against him in HS that were on my team. They said the kid was the real deal. Too bad he broke his hand.
What do you think about the Zlotnick kid? A lefty throwing between in 85-89mph is a rare commodity around here. Could he be a late round pick in next year’s draft, if he didn’t commit to UVM?
I don’t know if you’re the same guy or there’s more than one idiot on here. Now your comparing these local 09’s to ARod, Jeter, and Manny Ramirez? Your selling pipe dreams. Talk about pathetic? You probably coached your kid and are living vicariously through them. You probably still play softball and have a beer belly. Have you ever been to your kids school? Ever met their guidence counselor? If you don’t understand the value of a good education and how it can open doors by this point in your life you never will and that’s unfortunate for your kids. Let the kids from overseas get the good degrees and jobs. Your kids can work on their houses. Unbelievable.
And right, everyone who lives in affluent towns in Westchester are living off of their parents money. Can’t be that their parents taught them how to achieve and succeed, by example. Many of us played college and pro sports, got a good education and made a good life for ourselves and our families. Don’t be jealous. Give your kid an opportunity. Stop telling him he can be Arod. If he was you/we would know already.
Enough of this. I was just trying to help. it was clear to me that some kids were being sold a bill of goods, by their own fathers none the less, and I tried to offer some help. The ignorant will stay ignorant. It’s a sad cycle but you are living proof why it continues.
And I know the Bosco kids agent too. His name is Rob and the kid was offered a lot of money. And there are no kids around here in the 09 class anywhere near his level.
Billy:
Yes I did play at RCC. Grand Junction was amazing. We wound up 5th in the country. The entire town lives for the World Series. We were celebrities.
Brien Taylor had everything. It is unfortunate that he never was able to show MLB what he could do.
In terms of Zlotnick, I like his chances of getting signed. He may need to add a few MPH on his fastball but mechanically he is pretty sound and has a nice upside. I actually think signing with a D1 school will help him in the long run.
Baseball fan.
If you knew actually knew the agent and not just his name than you wouldn’t have made the initial comment. It was not close to a million dollars.
Not sure I see your point about the Bosco kid being better than anyone in the 09 class. I never mentioned anything like that. In addition, you haven’t shown the ability to analyze anything except college names. So why would anyone listen to you. Is there truth to your statement..yes, but so what.
Denhardt was/will not only be better than this 09 class he will be better in most areas across the entire country. The kid was drafted in the 17th round.
baseballfan,
as was written, the more you write the bigger idiot you become. no one but you made or brought up the ml guys. re-read your post about mike mussina and how he went to stanford and got an education and is playing ball. the other side that you completely missed was that there are plenty of guys (like those mentioned) who didn’t go to college at all and are doing well. no one compared them to the kids around here.
you must have gone to band practice or the beauty palor with your mom that day and din’t study.
find a different blog becuase you don’t belong giving advice here. stop dropping names. you could not have been a ball player..DUDE
I thought this blog was meant for all of us to tear the kids apart and yell about whos better then who! not having the dads go it, this world is going upside down
? dude, not a dad but that was some funny stuff. LMAO
what about me?
A few things here:
A kid in HS/College cannot have an agent—
it is against NCAA rules and makes him ineligible—he can have an “advisor”Every one of the kids named deserves and worked for the situation they have been offered (keep in mind nothing is final until they sign the letter in November)-
they are all excellent players-not every kid takes the same route and who amongst us knows the finanacial package they were given—each of the families wants and needs are different.I have no dog in this race you seem to have created—I have three sons who played college baseball and all at various levels of their choosing and their choices came back in the mid 90’s and prior to that when you could not get the exposure you can get now
Why not simply stop with the cat fights here and applaud these fine young men for what they have achieved to date and what we hope they will achieve in the future? It might be the mature thing, not to mention gentlemanly, thing to do
Why the cross outs???
Say Hey I now that he can’t sign with an agent and it is called an advisor. His advisor is a legit agent and has been for a long time. The term was mis-used. I was a scholarship baseball player on two levels and I am now coaching. So I have the experience. the point was that baseball fan is full of it when it comes to knowing about the kid from bosco and he is throwing around dollar amounts like it monopoly money.
This thread is about the kids and the decisions they make. Problem is a parent like basbeallfan makes it about himself and creates a competition amongst families within the community. He is all about name dropping than the actual interest of his or anyone’s child.
This is great news, I can tell you that from experience, the Roche kid has come a long way and has a bright future, if he keeps his grades up.(one of the strongest arms I’ve ever seen). GREAT STUFF GUYS KEEP IT UP!!!
Mike, you know who this is and i’m truly jealous u get to room with Roche at High Point. Congratz