Registration Deadline Approaching for National Student Summit

The National Federation of State High School Associations will be holding its first online National Student Leadership Summit July 20-22.

The summit, which will focus on relevant and contemporary issues, will welcome high school students involved in various activities including athletics.

Deanna Singh, an author recognized as the nation’s Most Influential 40 under 40, and Julie Carrier, an Emmy-nominated television personality and senior leadership consultant to the Pentagon, are among the scheduled speakers.

There are 1,000 reserved online seats. Registration is free. Registration deadline is July 3.

Click here for more information.

High School Workouts on Hold

Does this make any sense?

Or do you think the governor is deeply considering not reopening schools in September after the the spike in coronavirus numbers in states like California, Arizona, Florida and Texas?

After thinking they could begin summer workouts at school as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s phase four of reopening the state, high school athletes will now wait for the governor to grant them permission to have off-season workouts on campus.

In the same announcement, the governor said schools were permitted to allow outside groups permission to use school facilities for such activities as summer camps.

“The NYSPHSAA was informed by the Governor’s office on June 25th schools are able to allow individuals or groups access to their fields and grounds. However, schools are still prohibited from any indoor activities, any in-person instruction (excluding special education), and any organized sports or recreational activities that are hosted/operated,” New York State Public High School Athletic Association Executive Director Robert Zayas said in his June 26 memo to NYPHSAA section executive directors and the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force.

In a Tweet on Saturday, Zayas said he was “looking forward” to the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force meeting on Tuesday as he continued “working on several contingency plans this weekend in an effort to prepare for the many ‘what if’ scenarios. May have to get creative. Student engagement & participation must be our focus!”

Albertus Magnus, Ursuline, Our Lady of Lourdes and John S. Burke are Catholic high schools in the archdiocese that are members of the NYSPHSAA. The remaining Catholic high schools in the archdiocese are members of the Catholic High School Athletic Association.

Santos Signs with Astros

Mount St. Michael Academy graduate Alex Santos signed with the Houston Astros over the weekend.

Santos told Catholic New York he was planning to sign after being selected with the 72nd overall pick and first pick for the Astros in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft.

The Houston Chronicle reported his signing bonus being $1.25 million, which is more than the $870,700 allotted by Major League Baseball for the 72nd pick of this year’s draft He will receive $100,000 of his bonus this year and the remainder of his bonus in 2021 and 2022.

The Bronx resident had signed a National Letter of Intent to pitch for the University of Maryland if he chose not to sign with the Astros.

Click here to read more stories on Santos from Catholic New York.

PHOTO BY LISA BENNETT/MOUNT ST. MICHAEL ACADEMY

 

CYO Basketball Drill Library

CYO New York has put together a basketball drill library with instruction for coaches to teach and players to learn the fundamentals of basketball.

Click here to watch the videos.

Astros Draft Santos

Mount St. Michael Academy pitcher Alex Santos was drafted with the final pick of the second round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros.

The Astros received the second-round compensation pick when the New York Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a free agent deal.

Santos, who lives in the Bronx, was ranked 56th in the Major League Baseball ratings entering the draft. He was one of the top high school seniors in the country and had signed a National Letter of Intent to play in 2020-2021 at the University of Maryland.

Click here to read more about Santos.

PHOTO: Alex Santos, center, stands in a photo with Mount St. Michael teammates. PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNT ST. MICHAEL ACADEMY

Former Farrell Coach Barrett Dies

Dennis Barrett, who coached Msgr. Farrell High School to 10 Staten Island and five Catholic conference championships, has died. He was 77.

Barrett compiled a record of 103-13-6 in 14 seasons at Msgr. Farrell, coaching six undefeated teams and guiding a program that won 33 consecutive games from 1968-1972.

Barrett later coached at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the Bronx, where he won 47 games over 10 seasons (1981-1990) and led the program to its first ECAC Bowl games in 1984 and 1985. Prior to his arrival at USMMA, the program won one game over two seasons.

 

Draft Night for Santos?

Mount St. Michael Academy senior pitcher Alex Santos is one of the top high school seniors in the nation and could be selected in the first five rounds of the draft.

The first round of the draft is tonight and the final four rounds is scheduled for Thursday. Last month, Major League Baseball announced its annual draft will consist of only five rounds in 2020 instead of 40 rounds in previous drafts.

Santos is projected in mock drafts and publications to be selected in this year’s draft in baseball publications and scouting reports. If he’s drafted, Santos has the option of signing a professional contract or playing baseball at the University of Maryland. If Santos is not drafted, he has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Maryland and will have to play three seasons in college before he’s eligible to be drafted again.

Click here to read more about Santos.

ABOVE: Alex Santos stands for a photo with Derek Jeter at a camp in Florida in 2019. COURTESY PHOTO

Paltridge Off to Penn State

John S. Burke Catholic High School’s Richie Paltridge signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Penn State.

Paltridge is a left-handed pitcher from Montgomery and ranks among the best pitchers in New York State, according to Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game.

Paltridge was selected a team captain for Burke’s 2020 season before it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kortright Signs with Quinnipiac

Luis Kortright of St. Raymond became the fourth member of Quinnipiac University’s 2020 signing class by recently signing a National Letter of Intent to play for the men’s basketball team, Quinnipiac head coach Baker Dunleavy announced this week.

Kortright earned first-team all-league and all-state honors after averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 2019-2020.

“Quinnipiac Basketball is very excited to have Luis Kortright and his family join our program,” Dunleavy said in a press release from the university. “Luis is an athletic guard that can rebound, push the tempo and score at a high level. He has been well-coached throughout his time at St. Raymond High School. Luis was one of the best players this season in the CHSAA, one of the best high school leagues in the country. His game will fit in well with our style of play, and our program can’t wait to welcome him to campus ahead of the 2020-21 season.”

Quinnipiac competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with programs including Iona and Manhattan colleges.

Instruction: Pitching Delivery

Are you looking to fine-tune your pitching delivery as you prepare for your next baseball season?

Baseball Miracles, which brings baseball to children in under-served communities in the United States and around the world, has put together a series of instructional baseball videos.

Brian Sweeney, bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians and instructor with Baseball Miracles, shares his thoughts on the pitching delivery.

Click here to see the video.