Olesczuk, Bates, Pilla choose college destinations
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- August
- 10
Another few days go by and another group of local players make their college commitments. There’s a story out tomorrow, but here’s a recap on them:
T.J. OLESCZUK, Hen Hud shortstop, committed to Winthrop — With a pretty solid list of Division I suitors, Olesczuk, a three-year starter for the Sailors, had plenty of opportunities to play college baseball. As you’ll read in tomorrow’s paper, what it came down to for him was how much each program wanted his services. No team chased after him like Winthrop, and that is exactly where he ended up. Olesczuk estimated that Winthrop watched him play as many as a dozen times, beginning with the Battle at the Border in Port Chester. … Northeastern, Wofford and Manhattan also offered him, according to Olesczuk. Penn St., Old Dominion, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame showed interest, especially Penn St. and ODU. You can read more tomorrow from T.J., who was the Section 1 leader in homers and RBI and was a first-team TJN all-star.
CHRIS BATES, Regis LHP, committed to Tulane — Many of you (OK, OK…me included) probably don’t or didn’t know about Bates. He is from Ossining, he is 6-foot-5 and he has pitched on the varsity the last two seasons for Regis, a highly competitive CHSAA A Division team out of Manhattan. Bates is an interesting guy. He originally looked into Tulane based solely on academics, but the Green Wave staff caught him pitching for the Taconic Rangers down in Georgia. A few conversations later the Big Lefty was in the Big Easy, and the rest is history. … Tulane was only the third school Bates visited, after Richmond and Appalachian State. With an academic reputation he sought, and solid Conference USA competition, No. 3 was more than enough for Bates.
JOHN PILLA, Ardsley shortstop, committed to Young Harris College (GA) — Here’s another interesting school, much in the mold of Pat Farina, the Mahopac outfielder who committed to a first-year NAIA school this summer. Pilla gave his verbal to Young Harris, which is a former junior college powerhouse that will begin play next season in Division II. The school had previously been a junior college and is now in its first school year as a four-year institution.
This entry was posted
on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 10:06 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.
Congratulations Ryan, TJ and John. It was a great summer of baseball playing with you guys. I hope to add my name to the list very shortly.
Pennell, Olesczuk and Pilla all played for the Clippers? Any other committs from them? Where is the Clippers Coach? I need some information to make a decision for my son this fall.
Any more commitments from the Clippers? Where has the clippers coach been on these blogs?
As soon as we have more I’ll let you know. Colin Moran and Mike Tandy are close and Chris King from RI is very close with Coastal Carolina, GA Southern and Virginia Tech as the top dogs.
Heres just a list ive compiled from speaking to players and coaches about some 2010’s. These are NOT commitments but schools that have either offered or are expected to.
Colin Moran- Tennessee, Elon. Mike Tandy- URI. Richie Giner- URI, Sacred Heart. Jared Hirchberg- Manhatten. Forrest Drucker- URI, Mercy, C.W. Post. Josy Espinal- University of Central Florida.
Some other players I expect to sign are Tyler Curry, Nick Leinigen, and Danny Collins
jared hisrchberger to manhatten? is this before or after he quit his summer team after literally not having a hit the entire summer?
who else commit to colleges for baseball on that summner team? i only know of bates green and hirshberg, all D1 programs. Alfredo where are you going?
Those arnt commitments just offers. And the offer from Manhatten was as a pitcher.
Bill ur not even close with some of these. Josy has not gotten anything from Central Fl and should be making a decision soon. Moran has not gotten an offer from Tenn and he is close too. Maybe Clippers Coach can give us a heads up
isnt manhatten a CATHOLIC school?
Peter magnesio what’s your point
Hey Bill 707
How do you get this info? Is it reliable?
Verbal Commitments from Taconic Rangers players:
Green to BC;
Bates to Tulane;
Hirschberg to Manhattan.
oleszcuk is a beast and always has been since his little league days…u new he would play ball in tha south.. although i wood think he would fare very well at a big east school such as Seton Hall too..
Im curious to know when and how hirschberg committed to manhattan… do they want him as a pitcher?
If they want him as a position player , which one?
I guess Bill 707 knows something?
Nick Lenigen from Blind Brook and Danny Collins, Briarcliff, were All- Section selectess this season….Not surprised that colleges are offering…...I have heard of these two guys…...Who is Tyler Curry?... there are others out there that are talking to college coaches also who were not all section selectees.
Well you asked for it so here goes. Its been a great summer so far and we are just about to get started for the fall and I don’t expect things to slow down.
Ryan Pennel to Elon
TJ Olesczuk to Winthrop
John Pilla to Young Harris
Chris King to Coastal Carolina
Coming soon actually we should know these in the next week:
Colin Moran Maryland, FAU, Elon
Mike Tandy Rhode Island, Young Harris
Josy Espinal St Peters, FIU, LIU, Rhode Island
Congratulations to Colin Moran who was selected from 80 players this week to play Sunday 10am @ Fenway Park. What a great honor and opportunity. Information on the event is here http://www.summerrivalryclassic.com
The tournament invitees were chosen from the hundreds of kids that had been invited to the Area Code tryouts this summer. The Clippers had 10 players invited of which Ryan Pennell was asked to go by the Oakland A’s.
hirshberg this whole summer was horrible he did not have one hit this whole year and manhattan is to good for him trust me. and where is curry thinking of going?
I get my info from coaches. And yes the info is reliable. I was the first person to post Green to BC on this blog.
“overrated” calm down over there..Why would hirschberg have gotten any hits? He was being showcased as a pitcher, and rarely batted. Things have worked out well for him as a pitcher, as he has gotten his scholarship that everybody wants
Billy boy, which coaches are u getting ur information from? hs, summer or from the colleges cause I know for a fact some is inacurate. Many folks could have posted about Green who were actually involved but felt it was more deserving coming from him or the coaches who were involved in getting him there.
where do these velocities come from that are in the article? must have been a windy day. Bates was 84 at best according to perfect game and 2x i saw him he was 81. Green and Pennell are close both throwing 89 on their best day down in GA and Hershberg was 84. Maybe Bill 707 can give us some info when he talks to the coaches. Just figuring they were inflated like the MLB on TV
does anyonew know whose looking at the kennedy tandem of joe smith/ tom baroni?
section one fanatic that’s easy nobody – Baroni and Smith are plain and simple not good enough for any decent college program. Have you ever watched them play
Kennedy got owned last year in the final
Bates- 18u- 81-84
17u- 82-85
Green- 18u- 84-88 toutch 90
17u- 82-84 toutch 87
Pennell- 18u- 86-89
17u- 82-88
Hirschberg 18u- 83-86
17u- 82-84 toutch 86
actually easy smith is gettin looked at by albany iona bryant nd st johns…..nd baroni has it down to fordham west point bates nd bryant so i dnt no where you come off sayin there not good
if hirschberger wanted to be showcased as a pitcher than why did he quit his summer team after no gettin enough time in the field?
He didn’t quit he had gotten enough interest as a pitcher and just waited for some offers..No need to showcase down south which is where taconic was going
Actually being looked at and getting a scholarship to a school are 2 different things talk when the money hits the table and the committment is complete,
both baroni and smith are not only solid players but phenomenal students so i highly doubt they have any trouble playing on anyones team
baroni and smith are nothing. they may be smart, but have no ability to play in any d1 d2 or d3 baseball program that is good. walking on to a school and getting a scholarship are two different things.
I have seen Smith and Baroni play before and they are D1 talents. Baroni is a shut down pitcher out of the bullpen and already has spots locked down at Bryant and Fordham. Not to mention high intrest from West point which if im not mistaken gave Texas a run? Smith is a phenomenal outfielder and has intrests from st johns, albany, bryant, manhattan, and iona.
I repeat being given a chance to walk on and receiving a scholarship are 2 different things None of these teams have offered scholarships until then calm down.
Hey tails ,
Why such hatred for certain players? What do you know about college baseball scholarships anyway?? Most baseball money will never come close to paying all the college bills. Some coaches have to split limited money among 30 or more players.
West Point did almost beat Texas. Took a 10-6 lead into the 9th and lost. Everyone at West Point is on a full scholarship whether or not you are on the baseball team. West Point was also recently named by Forbes as the best college in America. surpassing Princeton who was named the best last year.
tails, you just should bitter and ill informed…..both of those boys can go almost anywhere they want because of their grades….so why would a baseball program which is aloted only a certain number of scholarships waste one on them when they can go to their school for almost nothin and still make major contributions on the baseball field
One of my boys told me that things maybe looking up for Mercy College baseball, a new coach with a great track record has joined them.
who is the new Mercy Coach? Hopefully its Griner. Uncle Sonny can get kids in college again
Nick Leiningen is no longer going to attend Blind Brook…He is going to switch to Greeley for his senior year…
Also heard he is going to play at a D1 School
How do you switch high schools ?? Did he move from rye town to chappaqua? Also, you heard he is going to play D-1? Is that also as easy as switching high schools in your opinion? Just what are you talking about.
all i heard is that his family and him are moving to chappaqua..and as for playing in college i have heard that he has D1 potential.
Nick Leinegen and his family moved to Chappaqua. He does have some D1 interest. He played summer ball with some other kids that have d1 interest like Jesse Zweibon (allready goes to Greeley) and Forrest Drucker.
Drucker has no D1 interest. I promise you he will not be playing at any D1 school. finished summer with an ERA close to 7 …tournament ERA close to 17
Nick Leinegen tried out for the NY Nine twice and got cut both times. D-1 Intrest? More like D-3
I coach him and he tried out once and made it but didnt play because he works over the summer and couldnt miss that much work because his family needs the money. Maybe you should get the facts right before going after my players.
I love to watch HS baseball and enjoy watching my kids play the game but I can’t figure out this last post since I’ve watched my kids play at Greeley the last three years and driving there leads me to ask one question. Who “NEEDS” money and moves TO Chappaqua???? (during a recession no less!) What kind of player is this kid Leinegen and I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful but Harrison is much closer and more affordable plus we could use a boost if he is good. What is the truth here?
Watch out for the Huskies this year as we have had 2 solid JV years in a row and Coach D will do a good job with this talented bunch, sorry to say but we didn’t have much the last 2 years despite what a few dads have said as they lead the blog charge against Coach D.
Okay here are the facts:
ive been around baseball and have coached against this kid leiningen.
he is a very talented player, and seems to always to the right thing on the feild.
he is a very good hitter, and can run like the wind and steals at will.
hes a lefty off the mound throwing low to mid 80s. i know him and his family fairly well and i know that the house the live in now is more expensive than the one him and his mother are moving into in chappaqua.
he is most likely going to play D1 somewhere.
any other questions feel free to ask and ill see if i can help.
Who cares?
lol yea i mean who is this kid? greeley sucks anyway
what is going on with Michael Bradshaw.
Mr. Rose-
To say Greeley sucks is just not true, I’ve watched them for the last few years (a couple times per year) and they are a decent team, they seem to be well coached and play the game fairly sound. I’m not saying they are great but they are one of those teams that you might not want to get in the first round of the playoffs. I’m sure HScoach can attest to that.
Sounds like this kid can help, best of luck to him and I didn’t mean for my prior post to come off as arrogant or condescendingly. I know Blind Brook is very nice and not cheap, I just found it ironic.
Purchase is very nice too!
Pitcher from blind brook is good but Avalos from Dobbs who is also a small lefty has better stuff.
I think the hating on Jared Hirschberg should stop. These blogs get vicious and regardless of whether someone thinks another kid being the keyword is good or not it’s not right for someone to bash him let alone on the internet. It’s time we just start saying oo congratulations or good for him whether or not we like it. I’m not saying Jared is a future major leaguer but I do think the abuse he is receiving on this blog along with other kids is unfair and not right considering the ages of these kids. Baseball is a grinding game and it takes a mental toll on someone, these kids arent professionals so to have people tack on with more abuse is just wrong. Let’s all just stop the hating.
You are so right but it won’t stop which is a sad testimony to the people on the these blogs.Periodically,someone with sense tries to encourage people to knock off the nastiness but invariably, it continues or gets worse. These are high school KIDS for God’s sake. Ridiculous!
This Bates kid from Regis must be filthy, and excited for his Freshman year.
A perennial top 25 program that was the #1 team in the nation in 2005, Tulane may be the strongest Division 1 program any player from this area has signed with this season; yes, I’m including St. John’s and BC in that statement.
Tulane has a solid combination of academics, fantastic facilities, a dedicated fanbase, cut-throat C-USA competition, and well New Orleans…
Hopefully this kid will thrive down there.
why would you want to be in new orleans..
Yes he wanted Tulane for the academics and thats great. It wasn’t for his pitching. he is filthy at 81 and yes Mr Bates he is tall
Harry- The strongest? I think Mr. Aviles will have something to say about that when he signs his NLI for the Florida Gators in November…
Strongest..thank you! Harry what exactly was your point? Why even say that Tulane is better than St. Johns or BC? Are you trying to start a debate that this Bates kid is better than say Brennan, Pennell, Green, Aviles and the Mamaroneck catcher and CF?
Who freaking cares whether Tulane is “better” All these kids had tons of options and chose schools they are comfortable with. Leave it at that.
I’ll go ahead and answer each comment made by my newfound fans:
“Ralphie”: While this has little to do with baseball, I’ll answer your question anyways. New Orleans is the best college town in America, hands down. I’ve gone down there for Mardi Gras and the Jazz Fest, and there’s no place like it in America. Let’s put it this way, going to Tulane and being in New Orleans provides a far better overall experience than going to school in Jamaica, Queens. It’s tough to argue that, whether you’re playing baseball down there or not.
“Strongest?” : I in fact forgot about Aviles potentially signing a NLI with the Gators. That’s quite impressive. Yes, they have a very formidable program, but they’ve made the exact same number of NCAA Tournament appearances this decade as Tulane has, and both have yet to win a CWS title; not to nitpick, but the Gators got smoked by the Green Wave in the 2009 NCAA’s. There’s a great chance that Aviles will become a prove a much better player than Bates, but if Florida indeed sports a stronger baseball program than Tulane’s, it’s not by much.
Lastly, to “Harry not so smart” (quite a creative nickname by the way…I’d love to discuss this with you in person), I Never intended to start a heated debate about “who’s better than who.” I was purely saying that Bates must have a very high ceiling since Tulane decided to take a chance on him. That was my only point…I’m not sure what you’re all riled up about, and no where in my comment do I even attempt to infer that Bates is better than any of the players you’re mentioning. Bates might ride the bench for all four years, and the players you’ve mentioned could start right away. I’ll stand by the statement that Tulane’s program is traditionally stronger than BC’s or St. John’s; ask most collegiate coaches and they’ll agree.
I played for Chap and have seen McGovern and Rosenfeld in person. They have the potential to be strong D1 players.
Never meant to compare players, and I’m not sure how one can read my previous comment, and conclude that.
All the other guys are going to school as top recruits at whichever program they have chosen. Bares is a kid of means $$ and of brains. He wanted to go to Tulane so they took him. The Gave him an academic package and offered him a roster spot. This is a great deal for him and them. The end. Does he have upside, yes he’s 6’4” and throws 81. Will he play? none of these kids know the answer to that. Is New Orleans a great place to send your kid to school. NO. It is still, other then Burbon St, decimated from Katrina. Tops in the US in crime.
Going there for Madi Gras and Jazz Fest is different then sending your 18yr old son down there. Tulane was always a top program but it has not been the same since 05’ fact.
does anyone know if it’s tru that Pennell turned down Tulane before Bates went after them?
Harry… let’s stop with the internet tough guy act. Trust me, I am not some small little punk. I was making a joke.
To respond… I do feel you were attempting to mock college choices for the kids like Brennan and McGovern. There is no need to question or critique where a kid wants to go. They have their reasons. And “challege” just blew you up. You are pounding your chest about this kid and he isn’t even going there on an athletic scholarship. So all your hype about Tulane isn’t exacty warranted. The other kids are going to the “lower level” schools because of baseball. That is a big difference.
This rebutal is not to take a thing away from the kid Bates. Receiving money for academics to Tulane with a chance to play is a great accomplishment. Harry he didn’t need you to promote Tulane. The kid is doing quite well on his own.
any official words on aa new mercy coach i would really like to see that program become good again like it was under coach wolff
represent for the chsaa bates. proving why the chsaa is the best baseball division in westchester and maybe new york, And that noone ever hears about it but its far better than section 1.
Tulane is an incredible DI baseball program and they are much better than St. Johns and Boston College. This kid Bates is a very good pitcher and pitched in the CHSAA which, what is regarded by anyone who knows baseball the most competitive league in NYS for baseball. If this kid was in the section one baseball leagues he wouldv’ve dominated easily and everyone would’ve been hailing him as the next savior of baseball like so many undeserved westchester section one inflated stats players have been.
chsaa-
Whatever you’re smokin must be pretty good. Enjoy.
New Orleans is the best college town in America just like the CHSAA is the best league in America ????
Fact: New Orleans is and always has been the cesspool of the United States. The whole city is full of transients , freaks, and low-lifes, and criminals.
CHSAA is the best…LOL! This isn’t football. I feel bad that this Bates kid has morons defending him.
And a kid throwing 81 isn’t dominating anything except little league. There is a difference between being a solid pitcher and a dominant one. Aviles is dominant, Bates is solid. Aviles is going to Florida on an athletic scholarship, Bates is getting academic money with a chance to make the team.
So lets stop making it seem like this kid is a step above the players who commited to Florida,BC, St, John’s, etc..
chsaa is the best
well clearly you dont know baseball because jamie moyer throws 81 and gets big league hitters out. Throwing 81 doesnt indicate whether or not how good you are. It has a lot to do with changing speeds locating, locating your secondary pitches and what not. Pitching is not just about how fast you throw. Second look in the past kids from the CHSAA have gone on to places like Boston College and St. John’s and schools with comparable programs to those. Last year John Jay was one of the top teams in section one baseball and Stepinac was one of the better teams of the CHSAA. Well, Stepinac beat John Jay despite Stepinac having to use wood bats and John Jay using metal bats.
The new Mercy College Head Coach is Bob Griener. He was at Concordia for years when the program was one of the best around. With the support of the school, he will bring a Top D2 program back to the area. Coach is a tremendous baseball talent and tireless recruiter. This is great for Mercy College and for the kids in the area.
Seriously, Josh you couldnt get a better picture of oleszcuk, like a hitting pic or a pic where he is atleast looking at the ball. Poor Job that is just pitiful. Congrats to the commitments.
Congrats to Coach Griener at Mercy he will turn that program into a powerhouse.
Coach Griener was the basketball coach at Valhalla H.S. did he step down from coaching hoops ?
This is his brother.
mercy stinks… i dont care if lou pinela waz their coach
there field is a dump.. and i mean dump… its worst than 90% of high schools fields around here. Maybe the coach will instill pride in his team and get them and the grounds crew to work o nthe field.
and that guy harry is crazy if he thinks new orleans is the best college town in america
huskydad—- harrison baseball stinks. there a big school but they always put out crappy teams, nevermind basketball. stick to football, is that even good there anymore?
The new Mercy College Head Coach is Bob Griener. He was at Concordia for years when the program was one of the best around. With the support of the school, he will bring a Top D2 program back to the area. Coach is a tremendous baseball talent and tireless recruiter. This is great for Mercy College and for the kids in the area.
Hey is it true that Bates is not going to Tulane? If so what’s the deal? He was getting the coveted roster spot. Where is he going now
Bates isn’t going to Tulane. A senior wanted to join the team, so Tulane gave him money and took it away from what they were offering their current recruits. Bates is most likely going to commit to Richmond, although he is looked at East Carolina too.