Bryant’s Rocco Rotondi is The Post’s All-Queens baseball Coach of the Year. (Christina Santucci)
The spring in Queens was about rebirth, programs like Archbishop Molloy and William Bryant enjoying postseason success, John Bowne winning its first title in over 40 years and St. Francis Prep and Cardozo continuing recent success.
There were just two titles, Bowne taking home the PSAL Class B crown and St. John’s Prep claiming the CHSAA Class A championship. But Bryant reached the quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion George Washington, and St. Francis Prep and Molloy both made it to the eight-team CHSAA Class AA championship tournament.
The borough was also home to stellar talents like St. Francis’ Chris Cannon, who is headed to Navy, Cardozo sophomore Adrian Castano, Molloy duo Jonathan Ramon and Dean Sadik and John Adams standout shortstop Jeffrey Valera.
All-Queens baseball Player of the Year: Chris Cannon, St. Francis Prep
He missed his junior year because of shoulder surgery and then broke his wrist in the fall, but Chris Cannon was completely healthy this spring and that was very bad news for St. Francis Prep’s opposition. The senior catcher hit .453 with nine doubles, four triples, six home runs and 30 RBIs and had 12 walks. But he was even better defensively.
Few teams even attempted to run on Cannon who, appropriately enough, has a cannon for an arm and although soft-spoken, the 6-foot-2 Cannon was a great leader and calming influence on the Terriers pitchers.
“He can catch and throw in the minors right now,” said one Major League scout.
Next year, Cannon will join his sister Virginia at the Naval Academy, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
“When I found out [I was accepted], it was one of my happiest days,” Cannon said. “It’s Division I baseball and I get to serve my country. I really wanted to go there.”
All-Queens baseball Coach of the Year: Rocco Rotondi, William Bryant
Bryant’s reputation for fast starts and slow finishes is history. Rotondi, the eighth-year coach and former Queens College star, led the Owls to the Queens A West division crown after a late-season sweep of rival John Adams, a runner-up finish in the prestigious Monroe Tournament and a quarterfinal berth in the PSAL Class A playoffs.
Expectations were low for the young club in March, but after the run in the Monroe Tournament, the Owls began to believe in themselves. That belief also came from Rotondi, who has always demanded excellence and hard work.
In previous years, his teams have run out of gas late, but not this spring. He deserves credit for reversing the trend. With so many returning players – from the Alvarez twins, Nick and Chris, to pitchers Darlyn Valdez and Lisandro Ayala – Bryant will be a citywide power next spring.
FIRST TEAM
P/OF Adrian Castano, Cardozo
When the discussion turns to top sophomores in the PSAL, it begins and ends with Cardozo’s ace, center fielder and leadoff hitter. Castano’s talent directly translated into eye-popping numbers – a 6-0 record on the mound, 69 strikeouts and 0.49 ERA in 49 innings and two saves and .373 batting average with 25 runs scored and 19 stolen bases – to help the Judges go undefeated in Queens A East and reach the second round of the PSAL Class A playoffs. Cardozo should not only own the borough next spring, it may be a city title contender as the gifted Castano returns.
SS Sal Ciccone, Archbishop Molloy
A two-year starter at shortstop for the Stanners, Ciccone was steady defensively and hit third in the Molloy lineup, a big reason for the Briarwood school’s deep playoff run. The senior was selected to the Mayor’s Cup all-star game and All-Diocese of Brooklyn second team by the league’s coaches.
P/OF Michael Gonzalez, Lane
One of the more versatile players in the PSAL, Gonzalez went 5-0 with 55 strikeouts and a 1.57 ERA in 40-2/3 innings pitched, he drove in 32 runs while batting .452 and also stole 18 bases. Lane’s four-win turnaround and second-round PSAL Class A berth was a credit to this group of seniors, which was led by the strong-armed and powerful Gonzalez.
SS Rob Mongiori, Monsignor McClancy
A three-year varsity player and captain of the Crusaders, Mongiori hit .385 and made every play in the field, helping McClancy reach the playoffs after a slow start. The undecided senior with great baseball instincts was named to the Mayor’s Cup all-star game and All Diocese of Brooklyn first team by the league’s coaches.
P Joe Mortillaro, Christ the King
Sidetracked by academic woes and a broken collarbone his sophomore and junior years, the Manhattan-bound senior made up for lost time this year. With a fastball that touches 90 mph and a loose arm, Mortillaro tossed a no-hitter against Holy Cross and closed his high school career with a one-hit shutout of St. Francis Prep. He also played in the Mayor’s Cup and earned all-league honors.
P Jonathan Ramon, Archbishop Molloy
Is he a star pitcher or a stud hitter? The answer is yes. The junior right-hander and cleanup hitter enjoyed a stellar second varsity season. On the mound he opened eyes, outdueling Mortillaro and All Hallows ace James Norwood. He allowed one run in 14 playoff innings and tossed a complete-game shutout against finalist All Hallows.
CF Dan Restrepo, Monsignor McClancy
One of the CHSAA’s best leadoff batters, the New York Tech-bound senior hit for power and average and had three leadoff home runs this year. Restrepo, who will major in engineering, moved from second base to center field this year. He was named to the Mayor’s Cup all-star game and All Diocese of Brooklyn first team by the league’s coaches.
P Dean Sadik, Archbishop Molloy
Another duel threat for the Stanners, Sadik is the prototypical Molloy player – an undersized sparkplug with a lot of heart. He tossed a two-hit shutout in a playoff win against Cardinal Spellman and hit a two-run home run in his final high school game, a 3-2 playoff loss against Xavier. The senior, who also competed in the Mayor’s Cup and earned all-league honors, will likely play at Fairfield next year.
C Edwin Saez, Long Island City
A promising season never materialized for the injury-riddled Bulldogs, but Saez made sure Long Island City still reached the postseason. The Queensborough-bound senior’s five home runs were second in the PSAL and he also drove in 21 runs and scored 16 times for a lineup that got better as the year progressed.
SS Jeffrey Valera, John Adams
One of the top hitters in the city, Valera packed a punch in the middle of the Spartans’ lineup. He did it with the long ball (four home runs), he hit for average (.474) and produced both runs with his bat (36 RBIs) and feet (21 runs scored). He also went 2-0 on the mound with a 2.92 ERA, showing his versatility and value to Adams.
HONORABLE MENTION
P Braylin Abreu, John Adams
2B Chris Alvarez, Bryant
P/CF Nick Alvarez, Bryant
P Mike Auriemmo, Archbishop Molloy
2B Jorge Barahona, John Adams
P/SS Frank Duffy, Forest Hills
1B J.P. Koulotouros, Bayside
SS Edgar LeBron, Martin Van Buren
P J.P. Lipovac, McClancy
SS Nicanor Luna, Cardozo
P Anthony Merchan, McClancy
CF Frank Pepperone, Archbishop Molloy
CF Jason Perrone, St. Francis Prep
P Taso Stathopoulos, St. Francis Prep
P Darlyn Valdez, Bryant
