By Joseph Staszewski
The Archbishop Molloy baseball team is keeping former Coach Jack Curran in their hearts, on their jerseys and in their dugout as they get set to begin the program’s first season without him in 55 years.
The Stanners took the field at home last weekend for a scrimmage game with Iona Prep with his No. 5 on the back of all their practice jerseys and the bucket he used to sit on, vacant in front of the bench in memory of Curran, who died in his sleep March . A small black No. 5 will be worn on their game uniforms.
“It’s always a reminder that he is always watching us, he’s always there,” senior second baseman and pitcher Chris Piteo said of the bucket. “Always keep him in mind. You look there and you think that’s where coach would be.”
Just a few weeks ago the players expected the 82-year-old Curran, who earned more career wins than any baseball coach in the country, to be back with the team after rehabbing a broken kneecap. Instead, they had to tough through going to his funeral together. There is still a sense of shock around the program as they begin to focus on baseball.
“I’m still looking over my shoulder waiting for him to come out,” said acting head Coach Brad Lyons, who is also math teacher at the school. “I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet.”
The former Maryland standout was an assistant under Curran for the last two seasons. Former Stanners star Matt Rizzotti and longtime assistant Brother James Vagan join him. They have been running the team since Curran hurt himself in early March.
“We all like Lyons. We all like Rizzotti,” senior ace Greg Boyle said. “They both know what they are taking about.”
No one has been given the job permanently yet as Molloy must post the job opening and let them and others apply before naming a new coach. Rizzotti just finished a six-year career in the minor leagues and is happy to be back at his alma mater. They are only concerned with the present.
“We are just trying to do what we think is right in the footsteps of Coach,” Rizzotti said. “We aren’t worried about that. We just want to keep the kids on the right track.”
For this group of players, that means winning a city championship for Curran. The Stanners have the talent to do so, starting with a strong pitching staff anchored by Boyle, Piteo and Donovan Armas, who are headed to Hofstra, Maine and Villanova. Mike Fuchs, James McCleary and Karl Kaessin will also see time on the mound,
Michael Rodgers is back at catcher, Danny Giatan is at shortstop and John Young starts at first base. Liam Slattery will roam centerfield.
They are all fueled by the desire to make Curran proud and keep the program’s tradition of excellence alive.
“We just have the extra drive to win it all,” Boyle said. “We knew we had a good team this season. Now we have to do it for coach this year.”
