Former Big Red Baseball Teammates Earn Accolades and Scholarships

Nassau County named former Big Red players and lifelong friends, Peter Cappiello and Richie Maccarone, as finalists for the most prestigious honors handed out to its high school baseball players for their hard work and outstanding efforts in 2010.

Cappiello was one of four in the running for the Doug Robbins Diamond Award, given to the best hurler, while Maccarone was one of four players in contention for the Don Lang Award, bestowed upon the best hitter.

"I was very honored to be recognized as a Diamond Award finalist," Maccarone, who also played football for Big Red, said. "It was very exciting."

Cappiello and Maccarone first met in nursery school, according to Maccarone's mother Kim. They solidified their relationship at eight-years-old and have since been inseparable.

They standout players have been teammates throughout their youth, including football and travel baseball (they both presently star for the Glen Cove Giants), leading all the way up to Glen Cove High School's baseball squad, where they enjoyed stellar careers.

Cappiello posted a A-1 league 4-4 record with a save, to go along with a sparking 1.98 ERA in 2010. The left-hander went 1-1 in the playoffs for Big Red, beating Clarke, but losing to Plainedge in the playoffs, which, he said, was disheartening.

"I threw a [one-hit] shutout against Plainedge during the season, so I thought we could beat them," the former captain of Glen Cove's football team lamented. "It was disappointing."

The postseason defeat, however, doesn't diminish his outstanding campaign. Cappiello fired four shutouts with 70 strikeouts and only 18 walks and 27 hits in 54 innings of work during the regular season, earning him a spot on the All-County squad.

Originally slated to go to Division II Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY, in the fall, Cappiello recently accepted a baseball scholarship to Division I Manhattan College in order to face better competition and its proximity to home, he said.

Maccarone, who will be attending Division II Long Island University C.W. Post Campus in September on a baseball scholarship as well, had an equally impressive year, slugging 16 extra base hits, including five home runs, eight doubles and five triples. He collected 35 overall hits and swiped 24 bases in 25 attempts, while starring at shortstop, only making two errors all year long.

As far as playing baseball at the collegiate level, Maccarone relishes the challenge. "I'm looking forward to playing baseball at CW Post," the Glen Cove Native said. "I know that it is going to be a lot of hard work, but it is something I've always wanted to do. I'm excited about the opportunity to play for the Pioneers."

In addition to the Diamond Award nomination, Maccarone is a two-time All-County selection, the NY State Sports Writers Association named him to the Class-A All-State 4th team and the Connie Mack All-Stars chose him to be on its squad.

This past season, after tearing the cover off the ball and performing well in the classroom, the sure-hander infielder earned Glen Cove Varsity baseball squad's co-MVP honor, along with Cappiello, and received the Glen Cove High School Athletic Achievement Award.

While they'll be at two different colleges in the autumn, Cappiello said their relationship will continue to flourish.

"Richie has been my best friend on and off the field for ten years," the 5-10, 175-pounder said. "Now, he can come to the [New York] City and visit. I know we will continue to be best friends."

And their friendship probably won't suffer, even if they have to face each other down the line—perhaps even at the professional ranks someday.