Tigers Open 2015 Baseball Season with Loss to Mahopac, Galligani Tossed from Game
Anyone who has attended White Plains High School baseball games for the past decade would admit that Tigers Head Coach Marcel Galligani has a flare for the dramatics. But of those same people, nobody would suggest that Galligani does not have the best interest of his student/athletes at heart and that he has an unwavering passion for the game of baseball.
Galligani began his 14th season as White Plains Varsity Head Baseball Coach, with the Tigers Home Opener against Mahopac High School, on Wednesday, April 1.
The Tigers lost a hard fought game to the Indians, 4-3, as catcher Andy Iglesias halted a seventh inning scoring opportunity by trying to take two bases on a sacrifice bunt with only one out.
The Tigers had not scored the entire game against Indians starter John Reda, who threw a three-hitter for five innings. However, White Plains did manage to get to reliever Cal Lawrence, who gave up three runs in the sixth inning, which included a two RBI-double to Tigers starting pitcher Daniel Lotito.
The game remained 4-3, after Lotito was relieved by freshman pitcher Spencer Lodes in the sixth inning. Lodes held the Indians scoreless for one and two-third innings with two strikeouts to end the top of the seventh inning.
With the score, 4-3, Tigers catcher Iglesias was hit-by-pitch to leadoff the bottom of the seventh inning. Tigers’ centerfielder Steven Rand laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt and the throw was a little high to first base, so Iglesias decided on his own, to try and take third base, after reaching second base with the tying run.
The physical posture and expression of Tigers Assistant Coach Brian Pirone, who was coaching Third Base at the time, indicated quite clearly that Iglesias was thrown-out at third base. What made this an even more crucial base running error was that on deck was senior Ricardo Mendez, who already doubled in the game. Mendez grounded out and the Tigers lost, 4-3.
“It was crazy. We just had to capitalize on that play with the runner getting to third base. We will regroup, learn from our mistakes and comeback next game,” stated Mendez.
One has to wonder if Iglesias, while representing the tying run with only one out in the last inning, would have even have thought about running, if Galligani had not been ejected from the game after the fifth inning and had remained at his usual position, as the Third Base Coach.
Not to take anything away from Pirone, who is a very qualified assistant coach. But Galligani’s presence alone on the diamond demands a lot of attention from his players.
Galligani was ejected from his own Home Opener by the field umpire between the fifth and sixth innings for discussing two hit-by-pitches, whereas his players did not get granted bases.
The ejection occurred when after the fifth inning ended; Galligani approached the field umpire to ask him about what seemed to be a hit-by-pitch that was not called on Iglesias. Galligani stated that he did not use any of the “magic words” when speaking with the umpire.
Furthermore, there was no apparent commotion whatsoever on the field. Also, the ejection-gesture was so nonchalant by the field umpire while speaking with Galligani that even the White Plains bench, including at least one of the coaches, were not aware immediately that Galligani was tossed from the game.
However, according to the veteran Head Coach the ejection was prompted by an earlier discussion with the same umpire. “I think it was the second or third inning, I went out for a conference with my pitcher. I was there for 15 or 20 seconds literally and the same umpire was rushing me off the mound,” revealed Galligani. “So I asked him why he was rushing me. I asked him how much time I had for a conference and he replied ‘a minute,’ so I said if I get a minute why are you rushing me off the mound. I think he felt disrespected by me saying that in front of the players on the mound and that is the reason he took it out at that junction of the game,” expressed Galligani.
It was a crucial time of the game and Galligani stated, “At that point all I said to both umpires was that I cannot believe that both of you missed that call, while discussing the second no-call on a hit-by-pitch. The umpire said what did you say and I asked him why he was coming at me controversial like a tough guy, and then he tossed me out of the game,” said Galligani.
Maybe Galligani should have let it go but he was losing 4-0 at that time and every base runner meant a chance to win. Also, he was discussing the play in a normal tone of voice between innings and not during the course of play.
Nonetheless, the Tigers young team has an entire season to right the course of events and make this year a winning season. They have a young team with four seniors, 10 juniors, one sophomore and freshman pitcher Lodes.
“I feel like everybody is going to come together and we are going to be good this season. I have a lot of faith in these young guys. This year we have a lot of young new players, give them a couple of games and we should be good,” commented Mendez.
