Don Bosco Prep players know all about success - and they know how to adjust to new coaching strategies, as this season marks the fourth-straight with a new coach.
Photo by John Meore
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.
Tommy Burns
Photo by John Meore
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
