The season started off in a way nobody could ever imagine with the loss of Anthony Pagano. He was a beloved young man that every player and coach on staff loved. The players came together and developed a special bond to play each and every game for Anthony.

Our season had many ups and downs. Multiple high points and occasional low points. Multiple injuries came into play for us losing a handful of players. At the end of the day the players worked hard each and everyday to prepare for each series. Multiple players rose to the occasion and carved a significant role for themselves to help the team compete at the best level they could.

At the end of the regular season we finished with a record of 9-8 earning the 4th seed in the playoffs. We finished the overall season 19-13 loosing in the semifinals round. However the season finishes we will miss the seniors moving onto college and wish them the best of luck on the next chapter of their lives. With a young team of juniors and sophomores returning we will look forward to the future of this program.

Head Coach John Phelan

Senior back in lineup this season after recovering from life-changing knee injuries in a game last year.

By Gregg Sarragregg.sarra@newsday.com 

It happened exactly a year to the day. And Jordan Rose had an awful thought: Could it happen again?

As the senior walked to the batter’s box in Tuesday’s game at St. Anthony’s High School, his thoughts brought him back to last year when one play ended his season and changed his life.

“I couldn’t help but think about the injury,” Rose said. “And then I thought, ‘That’s the past, move forward.’ I’m blessed by the grace of God to be back playing the game I love. It was a freak injury.”

On May 1, 2017, Rose suffered stress fractures in both knees while running through first base in a game against St. Dominic’s. He was transported to Huntington Hospital where he was fitted with immobilizing braces for both legs.

“I hit a grounder to second base and was trying to beat it out,” Rose said. “When I stepped on first base my right leg collapsed. And then I went to catch my balance and the left leg gave out. I just laid there because I couldn’t stand up.”

Rose fractured the growth plates in both knees. He was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease, which causes a painful bony bump on the shinbone just below the knee and often occurs in adolescents who experience growth spurts and play sports.

The repeated stress of jumping and running can cause the quadriceps muscle to pull on the growth plate where the tendon inserts into the top of the shinbone resulting in an injury.

“I was confined to a modified wheelchair because I had to keep my legs straight,” Rose said. “My whole world changed. Things that I took for granted, like standing or walking, I couldn’t do anymore. I couldn’t get into a car. I had to be home schooled. Everything changed.”

There was no surgery, but Rose was confined for six weeks as he healed. He spent time watching television with his parents, Christine and Michael. His mom would massage his feet to keep the blood flowing and his dad offered moral support.

“I missed the baseball season, school and summer, and mentally that was so hard,” Rose said. “I started physical therapy in June to help me get some range of motion and strength back in my legs. I was basically stuck in a wheelchair most of the summer.”

The first time Rose tried to stand, he fell. His legs had atrophied and he questioned his ability to walk again. “I had to learn how to walk again,” he said. “My feet felt funny and the muscle memory in my legs was gone.’’

He started to ride a stationary bike at the gym, intensified his physical therapy sessions and took his first steps in July.

“My faith really enabled me to get through some difficult moments,” Rose said. “My family, friends, physical therapists, and coaches were all there to support me.”

On the anniversary of his injury, Rose celebrated in a big way on Tuesday. He went 3-for-3 and drilled a three-run home run, his first varsity homer, in St. Anthony’s win over Chaminade.

When he finished rounding the bases the entire St. Anthony’s team greeted him.

“It’s all a blur now,” Rose said. “God is definitely looking over me and He is good. I appreciate everything in my life and take nothing for granted. I’ve learned it can all be taken away in a moment. I’ll choose to live the best way I can and live for every moment.”

St. Anthony’s baseball coach John Phelan said losing Rose last year left a huge void in the Friars outfield.

“There were signs early last season that he had a problem when he hurt his right knee scoring in a game against St. John the Baptist,” Phelan said. “He missed almost a month and in his first game back he went down. It was unbelievable.”

Phelan called Rose “an impact player.”

“He’s a very quiet, respectful young man,” Phelan said. “A guy everyone likes and roots for. It was a long road back and he’s worked so hard to be back on the field.”

The senior limits Chaminade to one hit and strikes out eight in five innings as the Friars take a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

By Gregg Sarra Newsday

Jared Restmeyer hopped off the mound and toward the St. Anthony’s dugout. His day was done. The senior had that hop in his step after limiting Chaminade to one hit and striking out eight in five innings of work as St. Anthony’s dumped the Flyers, 12-0, Tuesday in a CHSAA baseball game.

“I felt really good and we played great defense,” Restmeyer, who improved to 3-0, said. “My changeup was working but I felt like I let a few get away.”

Restmeyer ran into trouble in the fifth when St. Anthony’s wrapped two walks and a hit batter around two outs. With the bases loaded, Restmeyer caught Logan Koester looking at a 2-and-2 changeup for his eighth and final strikeout to end the threat.

“Jared looked great today,” St. Anthony’s coach John Phelan said. “And we jumped out to an early lead and that’s always a good thing. The pitching and defense fell right into place.”

Senior Brian Fitzpatrick, who recently committed to Rutgers, came on for the final two innings and retired all six batters, including five by strikeout.

“When he has that command, wow,” Phelan said of the 6-6 lefthander. “It was good to see him throw so well.”

The onslaught started early for St. Anthony’s. Leadoff man Jack Reardon and Jake Barrett opened the first frame with consecutive singles. Steven Rizzo launched a run-scoring double over the head of centerfielder Paul Orbon. The Friars would add two more runs as Cameron Dunn added an RBI single and Rizzo scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

The Friars (7-5) added three more runs in the third inning. Rizzo started the rally with a walk and stole second. He scored when Cameron Dunn crushed a double to rightfield to make it 4-0. Anthony D’Onofrio singled, stole second and a walk to Jordan Rose loaded the bases. Cameron Leary walked to force home a run and Logan Vallas dropped down a squeeze bunt for an RBI and the 6-0 lead.

St. Anthony’s blew the game open with a six-hit, six-run sixth. D’Onofrio keyed the inning with a two-run single and Rose drilled a three-run home run.

The Friars finished with 14 hits led by Barrett and Dunn, who had three hits each and Rizzo, Dunn and D’Onofrio, who finished with two RBIs apiece.

“Today, we put it all together,” Restmeyer said. “Everyone contributed.”

Come out Saturday 1pm at Duck Stadium and enjoy the Friars vs. The Wheatley School.

Free admission gates open at 12:30pm

All levels Saturday March 3rd 

Varsity and JV 11 am-2:00pm 

JVB 2:30-5:00pm

In the Student Center 

Be prepared to be inside or outside. Weather may allow us to work on the turf outside.

Bring sneakers to run inside on the track.