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Subscribe to our NewsletterRCBC IS LOOKING FOR ELITE PLAYERS
"Remember, if you are not playing your heart out, someone else is. And when you meet him, he will win."
Richmond County Baseball is looking for elite players on Staten
Island and in the entire tri-state area. If you are a standout
player whose age is 12-13-14-15-16-17 and whose eventual goal is to reach
the next level of college baseball.....then we want you. RCBC is a
proven and successful organization that has helped more than
140- players since 2004 get to a college to play baseball. The list of
schools include Big East programs such as Rutgers, Seton Hall, St.
John's and Villanova. Some of our players have also been drafted by
Major League teams. Richmond County is very fortunate to have a set of
coaches that range from pro-players to college coaches to high school
coaches to the most successful travel team coaches. Their knowledge of
baseball and their ability to teach and lead teenagers guarantee, that
your sons will make steady progress at the game en-route to reaching
the next level. RCBC only asks that our players give a 100% commitment
to hard work and the willingness to be coached. The reward is a vast
improvement at playing baseball,a successful high school career
and an eventual college scholarship. Our organization also monitors
players' academics. Interested parents and players should Click on the rotating mail-box and leave your information.
Island and in the entire tri-state area. If you are a standout
player whose age is 12-13-14-15-16-17 and whose eventual goal is to reach
the next level of college baseball.....then we want you. RCBC is a
proven and successful organization that has helped more than
140- players since 2004 get to a college to play baseball. The list of
schools include Big East programs such as Rutgers, Seton Hall, St.
John's and Villanova. Some of our players have also been drafted by
Major League teams. Richmond County is very fortunate to have a set of
coaches that range from pro-players to college coaches to high school
coaches to the most successful travel team coaches. Their knowledge of
baseball and their ability to teach and lead teenagers guarantee, that
your sons will make steady progress at the game en-route to reaching
the next level. RCBC only asks that our players give a 100% commitment
to hard work and the willingness to be coached. The reward is a vast
improvement at playing baseball,a successful high school career
and an eventual college scholarship. Our organization also monitors
players' academics. Interested parents and players should Click on the rotating mail-box and leave your information.
EACH YEAR MORE AND MORE RCBC PLAYERS HEAD TO COLLEGE BASEBALL
By Mike Lope
Since 2004, Richmond County Baseball Club has been developing its players to compete at the next level. More than 100 of the RCBC players have graduated the elite baseball program to advance to college baseball. This year is no different.
Three of its stars, come September, are the latest that will be playing on the collegiate level: Alex Amadeo, Rosario Gaggi and Joseph Santigate. All three play their high school baseball at St Joseph by the Sea, and are big reasons the Vikings will be one of the favorites to win the CHSAA. Amadeo will attend Wagner College; Gaggi is heading to St. Thomas Aquinas while Santigate will head to Wheaton College.
Since 2004, Richmond County Baseball Club has been developing its players to compete at the next level. More than 100 of the RCBC players have graduated the elite baseball program to advance to college baseball. This year is no different.
Three of its stars, come September, are the latest that will be playing on the collegiate level: Alex Amadeo, Rosario Gaggi and Joseph Santigate. All three play their high school baseball at St Joseph by the Sea, and are big reasons the Vikings will be one of the favorites to win the CHSAA. Amadeo will attend Wagner College; Gaggi is heading to St. Thomas Aquinas while Santigate will head to Wheaton College.
Amadeo is a lefthand pitcher, who has size, an excellent fastball and plenty of heart. Wagner College, of course is a Staten Island school that plays Division-One baseball in the Northeast Conference. Amadeo had to rebound from arm surgery, which can be discouraging to many teenagers. “Alex is an example of a player who never gives up, says RCBC Director Nick DeFendis. “He has an upside that could possibly make him draftable by his junior year. Amadeo says Wagner offers him everything he could possibly want from a college program. “Wagner is close to home and has an excellent academic reputation,” says the lefthander, who wants to major in Criminology or Criminal Justice. “I’m also happy that Head Coach Carone is a former pitcher (Monmouth) who also has coached at a Big East school like Villanova.” And Amadeo adds that pitching games at a minor league park at St George, where the Seahawks play, has to help him. Amadeo’s fastball has hit 87 mph and that also attracted attention from Adelphi and Felician. His school average is also 87, excellent for a tough school like Sea. “I’ve had to rebound from a serious injury, but I learned that hard work does pay off. My dream is to pitch in the NCAA tournament someday.” By the way, Amadeo becomes the tenth player Wagner College has gotten from the Richmond County baseball program. Last season freshmen Anthony Battaglia was the ace reliever for the Seahawks in just his freshmen season.
Gaggi is also a lefthanded pitcher. His specialty is pinpoint control and a variety of pitches, the classic finesse lefthander. Rosario is headed to Rockland County to play at Division-Two St. Thomas Aquinas. The school already has RCBC alumni Frank Muraca and Chris Goetz and the STAC plays its games at a brand new minor league ballpark right near the campus.
Gaggi says once he visited the school he knew that’s where he wanted to go. “It’s a small school where it’s involved with its students,” says Gaggi, who wants to major in either Accounting or Sports Management. “I’m also close enough to my home, but far enough where I’m away,” he laughed. And the lefty says the coaching staff at St Thomas was the best he saw in all the colleges he visited. Rosario didn’t get to pitch much during his junior high school season, but the southpaw had plenty of action with Richmond County last summer and fall to show off his skills. RCBC College Coordinator Mike Lopiparo says Gaggi is heading in the right direction. “When I recruited at St Francis College I always looked for lefthand pitchers who kept hitters off balanced and Gaggi will be very effective because his fastball is still gaining velocity.” Coach DeFendis says that Rosario’s improved mound presence and confidence will make him an excellent college pitcher.
Gaggi says once he visited the school he knew that’s where he wanted to go. “It’s a small school where it’s involved with its students,” says Gaggi, who wants to major in either Accounting or Sports Management. “I’m also close enough to my home, but far enough where I’m away,” he laughed. And the lefty says the coaching staff at St Thomas was the best he saw in all the colleges he visited. Rosario didn’t get to pitch much during his junior high school season, but the southpaw had plenty of action with Richmond County last summer and fall to show off his skills. RCBC College Coordinator Mike Lopiparo says Gaggi is heading in the right direction. “When I recruited at St Francis College I always looked for lefthand pitchers who kept hitters off balanced and Gaggi will be very effective because his fastball is still gaining velocity.” Coach DeFendis says that Rosario’s improved mound presence and confidence will make him an excellent college pitcher.
Santigate is a brilliant student, compiling a 95 overall average at St Joseph by the Sea. He is also one of the best catchers in the city. Last season Joe led all of Staten Island in hitting with a 432 average. So why Division-Three Wheaton College, located in Red Sox country outside of Boston??? “My top goal is academics,” says Santigate, who also happens to be a fan of Red Sox nation. “Wheaton is one of the top colleges in America and I couldn’t pass up the chance to study there.“ But Joseph, whose cousin RJ plays at D-1 Kansas State, and whose dad was also a high school baseball star, reminds us that Wheaton is also a baseball power. “The baseball team has won its conference in 13 of the past 14 seasons and has won a College World Series at the D-3 level. Santigate says he plans to major in biology in hopes of being an orthopedic surgeon someday. He chose Wheaton over another elite academic school…St Lawrence University in upstate New York. Coach DeFendis says Santigate is the type of person every baseball organization dreams about. “Joe is a nice and friendly person who is very coachable and gets along well with players. He is a top academic student who comes from a nice family.
Lopiparo says the upcoming season’s recruiting class at Richmond County will be a bonanza for colleges at all levels. “I look forward to having the recruiters see this year’s talented crop.”
