Chiarella a Hit at Drew

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The Top Spot:

Chiarella Makes the Most of Opportunity

Michael Chiarella spent his career at Harrison High School as a member of three teams as he was a varsity athlete in football, basketball and baseball.

Now Chiarella is playing two sports for Drew University. During basketball season Chiarella battled injuries and scarcely cracked the team's rotation, but he did get in five of the team’s games. Baseball season has been much kinder to the freshman as he is making the most of his limited opportunities. 

In a 14-6 victory at Juniata earlier this month, Chiarella got the opportunity to pinch hit and play second base for the Rangers and he made it count. In his three at-bats Chiarella picked up two hits and two RBI in the team’s win.

Chiarella’s play has already earned him some more playing time. Over the weekend Drew took on Susquehanna in a Landmark Conference double-header and in both games the Rangers came from behind to beat their opponent by a run, the team won game one 5-4 and game two 7-6.

In the first game of the double-dip Chiarella was inserted in the bottom of the sixth inning as a pinch hitter and lined a single into right field that scored the game-tying run on the hit, and the go-ahead run on the outfielder’s error.

In the second game Chiarella started at second and went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

Currently the second basemen is hitting .235 in 17 at-bats with two runs and five RBI on the season. Drew will be back in action tomorrow as they head to Mahwah New Jersey to take on Ramapo College at 3:30 p.m.

Yesterday’s Results:

Sport: Softball

Game: Pearl River vs. Harrison

Score:

Highlights: After a rough ride on the way to Pearl River that delayed the game nearly an hour, things didn't get much better for Harrison after arriving in Rockland as the Huskies fell to the Pirates 13-0 Monday afternoon.

Mandy McCarthy and Caroline Kardashian combined for a two-hit shutout as McCarthy picked up the win and struck out four in five innings of work. Nicole Leote went 3-for-5 for Pearl River with three RBI and two runs scored. Harrison’s Alijah Webb collected both of the Husky hits in the loss.

Sport: Baseball

Game: Rye Neck vs. Harrison

Score: Harrison Won 3-1

Highlights: Max Bruckner pitched a complete game, giving up six hits and striking out 11. Steve DeLeo, Alex Beckett and Raffaele Macchia each scored for the Huskies as Cory Calcagni went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the win. Jakob Calvini scored the lone run for Rye Neck.

Sport: Girls Lacrosse

Game: Blind Brook vs. Harrison

Score: Harrison Won 17-4

Highlights: Christie Nannariello, Alexandra Misisco, and Cassidy Cohen each scored three times for Harrison in the win. Taylor Wolf had six saves for the Huskies. Vanessa Numme and Mackenzie Korpie each scored twice for the Trojans in the loss.

Today’s Schedule:

In boys lacrosse, Byram Hills heads to Harrison at 4:30 p.m.

In girls lacrosse, Harrison heads to White Plains at 4:30 p.m.

Other News:

Mets memories are made of this

Bud Harrelson, the former Mets shortstop, coach and manager, was in championship form Monday night, patiently signing copies of his book “Turning Two,” at Books and Greetings at Northvale (NJ) Plaza.

Harrelson, who owns the Long Island Ducks after serving one year as the team’s manager, was joined by the prolific author Phil Pepe of Englewood, NJ, and also eagerly answered questions from an interested crowd of Mets fans.

“I’ve been a Mets fan almost forever; I went to games on the IRT No. 7 when I lived in Queens, even before 1969,” said diehard follower Liz Vitacco of New City.

Former volunteer firefighter William Hicks of Piermont, standing in a long line of book buyers, said he’s been a fan of the Metsies for “almost as long as I’ve been alive.”

Harrelson, the only pro baseball player to have been born on D-Day (June 6, 1944), discussed many topics in the game, emphasizing that baseball is a much tougher game than anyone realizes, and that the mental aspect separates the men from the boys.

Derrel McKinley—he was called ‘Bubba’ by his older brother Dwayne, which morphed to Buddy, hence Bud—was asked about the current-day Mets.

“They’re going in the right direction—bring the kids up and let them play,” Buddy said.

Kenny Sarfin, owner of Books and Greetings, schedules regular book signings. Anyone interested in being put on his email list should contact him at kennys1407@aol.com.

College Sports Notebook:

• Award season has come early this year for the Manhattanville Valiants as three of the school’s elite athletes were named player of the week in their respective sports. Casandra Honovich was recognized as the Freedom Conference’s Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week, junior Nick Sica was named the Freedom Conference’s Golfer of the Week, and Dean Tahir was named Freedom Conference Tennis Player of the Week.

Weekly Sports Poll:

asks if you think the Florida Marlins should let manager Ozzie Guillen go after he made several controversial remarks in a TIME Magazine article.