Mother Nature must be a fan of Seaford baseball. Despite a gloomy forecast and incessant rain in preceding days, the skies cleared and the sun came out just in time for the Eighth Annual Seaford Varsity Alumni Baseball game held earlier this summer. Before a big crowd of family, alumni, teachers, and friends at Seaman’s Neck Park, Seaford’s “old-timers” once again took the field against a group of recently graduated Vikings’ ballplayers, the “young guys.”
The Seaford Varsity Alumni Baseball Club, organized and managed by Perry Vitucci, class of 1982, consists of former Seaford High School varsity baseball players who come together each year for the event in order to raise money for the program they participated in years ago. Funds have been used to purchase an outfield homerun fence for the varsity field and have provided over $2,000 in scholarship awards for graduating seniors on the baseball team.
This year, the Alumni Baseball Scholarship was awarded to Michael Kalista. “We all had a great experience playing Seaford baseball, and we just want to give back,” said Vitucci. Seeking to avenge last year’s 19-2 thrashing by the young guys, the old-timers came out with a purpose this time. Perhaps inspired by the musical introductions of DJ Joe Iavorone (’84), the elder Vikings got some clutch hitting from John Specht (’83) and Eddie Reily (’85), along with solid defense by Billy Jackson (’86), Bruno Surace (’84), and Joe Luchiano (’85). Strong pitching from Mike Cohn (’99), Rich Hoffman (’84), and Mike Gianfrancesco (’83) kept the game close all afternoon.
With the score tied 6-6 after seven innings, the young guys, led by Ryan Gale (’05), Joe Zuccaro (’09), and assistant varsity coach, Jon Olsen (’06), eventually pulled out a tight victory, 10-7. “Win, lose or draw, this is a great day for everyone involved, and for Seaford. You have to remember, our team is full of 40-year-olds and we are playing hardball once a year against some college ballplayers,” said Anthony Sabia (’84).
The young alum’s hold a seven game to one edge. Present Seaford head coach Mike Milano said, “I was impressed with the old-timers this year, and their ability to keep up with our guys.” He added, “The interest they take in our program, and all they do to contribute to our success, it’s really amazing.” And Milano’s team was no stranger to success. Seaford upset the number one seed, W.T. Clarke, in the play-offs to finish the season on an exciting note before ultimately losing to undefeated Plainedge.
Vitucci created the non-profit, Seaford Varsity Alumni Baseball Club in 2004 after receiving a phone call from Sabia, who he hadn’t heard from in a decade. “After 10 years, he didn’t call to say hello, the first thing he said was, ‘Let’s have an alumni baseball game,’ Vitucci recalled. “It was a great idea, we just had to make it work,” Now, eight years later, over 50 alum’s have participated in the game, and the event has become a staple in the community. Vitucci expressed a special thank you to all the local merchants in Seaford who generously donate to the cause either monetarily or with items that are raffled between innings.
“Next year, we will be another year older, but it won’t stop us from taking the field once again,” Vitucci commented. “I am proud of both teams, and I’m proud to have been part of this community.”
