Don Bosco Prep: No. 6 in Preseason Xcellent 25 Baseball Rankings

Don Bosco Prep has consistently fielded dominant baseball teams. But recently it's been an even greater challenge due to inconsistency at the head coaching position.

When rookie head coach Michael Rooney takes his seat in the Ironmen dugout this spring, he will be the fourth coach in the past four years to occupy it. He follows in the footsteps of Greg Butler, who resigned after the 2009 season to take an administrative position, former Yankees pitcher Mike Stanton, who coached the team in 2010 before taking a job in Texas, and Mark DeMenna, who was relieved of his duties once last season ended after leading the team to a 25-1 record and the Bergen County championship.

He also inherits a team that warrants being ranked No. 6 in the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings.

Despite the recent revolving door at the head coaching position, Don Bosco athletic director Brian McAleer is confident the private Catholic school's newest hire is the right man to lead the program well into the future.



"Mike has the character we are looking for moving forward with the baseball program," McAleer said. "His professional resume as well as the type of person he is can provide us with the stability for the program we are looking for."

Rooney spent the previous nine years as an assistant coach/pitching coach at Rockland Community College. He played in high school at North Rockland (N.Y.), where he was part of two straight state championship teams. He was drafted out of high school by the Seattle Mariners organization (1994), but instead chose to play at St. John's University. Rooney eventually reached the Triple-A level in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in 1998.

In other words, this guy knows baseball. He's coached several players who are currently on minor league or Division I rosters, including Michael Merganthaler (San Francisco Giants), Ryan Fasano (Rutgers) and Chris Bates (Richmond).

At Don Bosco, Rooney inherits a senior-laden team with a plethora of talent.

It starts on the mound, where the Ironmen must replace Red Sox draftee Jordan Gross (Tulane). Senior righthander Tom Burns (undecided) returns following a 9-0 season in which he struck out 62 and had a 1.53 ERA, not to mention being featured on MaxPreps for raising money for Strikeouts4Warriors. Senior Michael Gomez (committed to University of Maryland Baltimore County) also finished perfect last season with seven wins, 45 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA.

Don Bosco lost the likes of Zach Gross, Jason Vosler and Nick Bruno from its potent 2011 lineup, but this year's edition is powered by five seniors who all batted better than .300 last season and have already committed to college programs.



The Ironmen have a potent one-two punch at the top of the lineup with Villanova-bound centerfielder Michael Mecca (.315, .513 on-base percentage) leading off. Batting second is shortstop George Iskendarian (South Carolina), who hit .421 with 28 RBIs and a .470 OBP.

Once those two reach base, it will be up to Michigan-bound first baseman Matt Dacey (.461, 8 home runs, 33 RBIs), third baseman Grant Van Orden (West Point Military Academy, .375, 18 RBIs, .526 OBP), and right fielder Joe Purritano (Dartmouth, .373, 5 home runs, 35 RBIs) to knock them in.

Key newcomers include Carter Toth (outfield), Chris DiChiaro (second base), Chris Hutton (pitcher), and catchers Andrew Herrara and Joe Manganella.

Local look: "It will be interesting to see how these seniors do playing for their fourth head coach in four years, and if the new head coach feels pressure since his two predecessors lasted just one season."
- Brian Farrell, sports editor, North Jersey Media Group

{PAGEBREAK}School size: Non-Public Group A

Enrollment: 873 (all boys school)



2011 finish: 25-1

Head coach: Mike Rooney

Career record: 0-0 at Don Bosco Prep

Years at school: First year

Notable alumni:
C.J. Nitkowski (7 MLB teams, last with Washington in 2005)
Rob Gandolfo (AAA, drafted by Seattle)
Marquise Liverpool (AAA, drafted by Seattle)
Brandon Boykin (NCAA, Rutgers)
Brian Callahan (NCAA, Iona)
Anthony Gomez (NCAA, Vanderbilt)
Mike Dennhardt (NCAA, Boston College)

No. of starters returning: 6

Top Losses:
Jason Vosler
Nick Bruno
Zach Gross
Jordan Gross



Key returners:
P Tommy Burns, 9-0, 62 K, 1.53 ERA
P Michael Gomez, 7-0, 45 K, 2.70 ERA
OF Michael Mecca, .315
SS George Iskendarian, .421, 28 RBIs
1B Matt Dacey, .461, 8 HR, 33 RBIs
3B Grant Van Orden, .375
RF Joe Purritano, .373, 5 HR

Key newcomers:
OF Carter Toth
2B Chris Dichiaro
P Chris Hutton
C Andrew Herrara
C Joe Manganella

{PAGEBREAK}Toughest game: In addition to a rigorous regular schedule, Don Bosco will play in a tournament where it will face New York powers Tottenville (Staten Island) and George Washington High (New York City). Rooney says their strategy in those two games will be no different than any other.

Local outlook: The Ironmen don't begin play until March 1 and the first scheduled regular season game is not until April 2. Don Bosco Prep players likely have April 5 circled on their calendars, however, as that is the rematch with Bergen Catholic, the team that knocked the Ironmen out of the postseason last year after 25 straight victories.

Non-Public Group 4 figures to be a battle again this year with returning champion Pope John XXIII and Seton Hall Prep, last year's runner-up, both in the mix along with the Ironmen.

Overall outlook: Rooney is well aware of the pressure that he'll face coaching a big-time high school program.

"The pressure of coaching is no different than that of being an educator or a parent," he said. "We strive to create environments where student-athletes can pursue their goals while maintaining the strength of character that allows them to call themselves Don Bosco Ironmen."

Coach quote: "Our goal in every game is to compete on every pitch this season and to execute the game of baseball to the best of our ability.
- Mike Rooney

Jon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and on the broadcast team for the 1290AM The Ticket High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.