Article published August 07, 2009
Neighborhood friends share amateur baseball dream
By CHAUNCEY ALCORN
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Ohio Monarchs teammates Brett Howard, Jake Cappelletty, and Brian Bilius, will play this week for their second consecutive amateur league baseball world series title.
It marks the latest milestone for three friends who have been playing together, or as opponents, since they were in elementary school.
"From first to fourth grade, all three of us played [together] at St. Catherine's Elementary and in fifth grade we went on different teams," Bilius said. "I love it. We know each other's game style. We know what [the other guy's] gonna do pretty much every time we step onto the field."
In fact, Bilius and Cappelletty, both 20, play on the same team at Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. Howard, also 20, plays down the road at Bluffton College. When the trio tried out for amateur baseball during the summer last year, they were selected by the same coach.
"It's kind of ironic," said Monarchs head coach Ed Mouch, who also coaches Sylvania Southview High School's team.
"Being a high school coach I knew these guys and latched onto them as a nucleus of our team, knowing those three guys were three of the better guys in the area... [They] signed up to play the fall of their freshmen year in college. We just decided we wanted to put them together," Mouch said.The trio not only play together, they share a competitive spirit as well.
All three said they like playing with the same guys they grew up with, but playing against each other is a bit more fun.
"It's more competitive I'd say. I played against [Brian and Brett] in high school and it was just a great rivalry," Cappelletty said. "When you see them do good, it puts more pressure on you. You know after they do well, if you don't get a couple hits, they're going to come and talk trash to you."
Howard, a third basemen, said playing with the same guys he has known since childhood and hangs out with after hitting the showers definitely improves team chemistry.
"With Brian playing short, he's got great range," he said.
"Pretty much any ground ball, I don't really have to worry about making a perfect throw because I know he can pick me up if I make a bad throw."
Bilius said that chemistry is what helped them win a championship the year before and he hopes it will again.
"I think we have a good shot at winning it again this year. We just gotta go out and play our game," he said. "We're all used to going out and winning big games. We're good at playing under pressure."
The three boyhood friends who wear the same uniforms in the summer also share the same boyhood dream of playing in the major leagues some day, maybe for the same team.
"As long as [we're] playing baseball it's always going to be a dream," Howard said. Anything can happen. Go out everyday, play hard everyday, and hope for the best."
The defending champion Monarchs play their first game today at Owens Community College and their second tomorrow at Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee.
If they get past the semifinals, they will be in the finals on Sunday.
Contact Chauncey Alcorn at:
calcorn@theblade.com
or 419-724-6110.
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