CSI goes to bat against cancer
Dolphins lose to Farmingdale, 9-8. but raise more than $5,000 for cancer research

Staten Island Advance - Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Good vibes abounded at chilly Dolphin Stadium last night in Willowbrook.

The visiting team, SUNY-Farmingdale, donated its meal money to the cause. Plate umpire Freddy DeJesus kicked in his game check.

And those generous gestures help paint the big picture at the fifth annual Grace Hillery Breast Cancer Awareness Night, which just so happened to feature a terrific baseball game with the Rams scoring a run in the top of the ninth for a 9-8 victory over the College of Staten Island.

"The response tonight was overwhelming," said former CSI team captain Anthony Hillery, whose mother died early in 2004 at the age of 54 of breast cancer. "I can't begin to thank people for making this night happen."

A record $5,124 was raised for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, nearly doubling the contributions of two years ago.

Hillery, now a teacher and coach at New Dorp High School, threw out the first pitch and addressed the crowd during the seventh-inning stretch, which was capped by a stirring taped rendition of the 1772 hymn "Amazing Grace" as both squads stood at formation outside their respective dugouts.

"I watched Anthony grow up and I watched the disease take his mother," said CSI assistant coach Neil Barbella, who was coaching at New Dorp when the 15-year-old freshman infielder was promoted to the varsity. "It's something that sticks with you, that's for sure. Everybody wants to make this night a success and it shows with all the work that's done."

The Dolphins went out and played a gritty game, with shortstop Anthony Piccirillo, first baseman Andrew Baio, centerfielder Ray Valerio and third baseman Devon DiCasoli all contributing highlight-film defensive plays during the course of the evening.

They almost pulled out a win, too.

Piccirillo's two-run single capped a three-run eighth inning that brought CSI into an 8-8 deadlock, before Farmingdale's Frank Ennis delivered the winning RBI single in the top of the ninth.

Farmingdale relief pitcher Billy Garofalo retired the Dolphin side in order in the bottom of the frame, recording two strikeouts with a lively fastball.

Piccirillo went 4 for 5 with two RBI, while DiCasoli drove in three runs for CSI, which outhit the Rams, 13-12.

Skyline Conference regular-season champion Farmingdale (23-13) rode freshman first baseman Kevin Curtis' four-RBI game, which included a two-run homer in the seventh that snapped a 5-5 tie. Steve Campbell and Ennis had three hits apiece.

NOTES: The CUNY Conference regular-season champion Dolphins (18-16) have a final tune-up before next week's conference tourney, hosting New Jersey City University in a 5 p.m. double-header Friday. They open the double-elimination CUNY tourney at home next Thursday at 4 against fourth-seeded Lehman, followed by a game between No. 2 Mitchell and No. 3 John Jay at 7 ... Farmingdale head coach Keith Osik spent seven seasons as a catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played seven other positions during his major-league career, including one season with Milwaukee. He finished his career with Baltimore in 2004.

 

By Jim Waggoner
Reprinted here with permission from the