By S. Quinn DeJoy and J. Murrer

Apr. 13, 2016:  Bronco baseball is back on the diamond at Lower Scout Field, looking forward to a new season and a new coaching staff. The team dropped its first game to Tuckahoe, but in the season home opener against Woodlands on April 5, the Broncos took charge, shutting out the Falcons 13-0. Senior Tim Weir earned the win on the mound, and senior Joe Pepe went 2 for 2 with a triple.

The Broncos lost to Sleepy Hollow on Monday but return home on Friday to play Irvington. It is Fan Appreciation Day, and the team will hold a 50/50 raffle and a bake sale to benefit the Zoe B. Klimley Scholarship Fund at the Taft School.

The team finished 11-9 last year and lost eight starters to graduation, but new head coach Joe Ferraro is excited about the challenge of coaching the 94th baseball team in Bronxville School history.

"It didn't take long to see that all the necessary support was in place to build a winning program," noted Ferraro. "From a first-class athletic director, to supportive parents, to some of the best facilities in Section I, the foundation of infrastructure is here."

Bronxville baseball infrastructure could not be better. Thanks to Friends of Bronxville Baseball, a private fundraising organization, the facilities were upgraded two years ago with new dugouts, sod, a sprinkler system, and a scoreboard.

Ferraro is excited to have a lot of talent and experience on the roster. Pepe, a five-year starter and an All-League selection in 2015, and Weir, a first-year starting pitcher, will be leading the team as co-captains. Seniors John Seminara, Trevin Winston, and Gage Bellitto will play significant roles this season, as well as junior Brian DePaul, sophomore Jeff Sargent, and freshman Zip Malley, who will start at shortstop.

With only 14 boys on the roster and no JV team this year, one of Ferraro's goals is to expand and develop the baseball program. He has started helping coach the Tuckahoe Youth Association (TYA) baseball clinics on Sundays, which gives him an opportunity to get to know future Broncos, parents, and coaches.

Ferraro is also determined to create an environment that the players want to be a part of.

"Baseball is meant to be fun," commented Ferraro, "and I want it to be obvious that our players are enjoying the process. And, as much as we will look to win championships, success will always have more to do with living up to our core values and developing our student-athletes as people and players."

Go Broncos. 

Pictured here (rotating): The Bronxville varsity baseball team and seniors Gage Bellitto, Joe Pepe, Tim Weir, and John Seminara.

Photos by Fran Pepe