Catholic New York

ON THE MOUND—Mount St. Michael Academy graduate Angelo Baez delivers a pitch for the Worcester Bravehearts of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. Baez, one of the league’s top pitchers, will begin his postgraduate studies at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill during the 2020-2021 school year after the NCAA granted him an additional year of baseball eligibility when the Covid-19 pandemic canceled STAC’s season after 14 games in March.

Return to Diamond Is Welcome for Local Baseball Players

Baseball’s return is bringing some normalcy to players like Billy Minett. The Yankees and Mets have finally started their 2020 Major League Baseball seasons, and many Catholic high school … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 7/29/20

OFF TO PROS—Mount St. Michael Academy graduate Alex Santos was selected by the Houston Astros with their first pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft June 11. In this photo, Santos celebrates his selection to the inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline League with family, friends and coaches at Mount St. Michael in 2019.

Mount St. Michael’s Santos Drafted by Astros

Alex Santos grew up in the Bronx as a Yankees fan but will likely return to Yankee Stadium as a member of an American League rival. The Houston Astros used their first pick in the 2020 Major … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 6/17/20

Sonia Citron Named State Player of the Year, Commits to Attend Notre Dame

The Ursuline School’s Sonia Citron was named the 2019-2020 New York State Class AA Girls Basketball Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association just days after she … more

5/20/20

Stepinac’s R.J. Davis Leads 19 All-State Basketball Honorees

R.J. Davis has added another postseason honor for the 2019-2020 season. The Archbishop Stepinac High School senior was named the 2019-2020 Class AA Co-Player of the Year by the New York State … more

5/6/20

Iowa guard Joe Toussaint, a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School, eludes a Maryland defender Jan. 30.

New York Catholic School Graduates Succeeding on College Courts

Maddy Siegrist’s freshman season ended better than it began. The graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie was named first team All-Big East Conference, earned a spot on the … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 4/8/20

Ursuline School junior Sonia Citron, shooting a layup in the FIBA U16 Americas Championship game in Chile last June, has received the 2019-2020 Gatorade New York State Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year Award.

Hoop Honors for Stepinac’s R.J. Davis and Ursuline School’s Sonia Citron

Two top Catholic high school players in the archdiocese have earned prestigious basketball honors. more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 3/25/20

Rick Pitino Named Head Basketball Coach at Iona College

Rick Pitino hopes to finish his basketball career where it began—in New York—after he was named head coach of the Iona College men’s basketball team March 14. Pitino, 67, takes … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 3/25/20

CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT—Members of the Fordham Prep boys’ basketball team pose with their championship plaques after their 60-49 victory over St. Edmund Prep in the CHSAA intersectional A championship game at Fordham University March 6.

Third-Quarter Runs Bring Salesian, Fordham Prep Intersectional Titles

A 12-2 run to start the second half lifted the Salesian High School boys’ basketball team to a 57-51 victory over Regis High School in the CHSAA intersectional B division championship game … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 3/11/20

Archdiocesan Runners Win State Track Titles

Pedro Bravo and Sierra Dinneen won state titles to lead Catholic students from the archdiocese at the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on … more

3/11/20

CALL TO HALL—Mike Breen, a 2020 winner of the Curt Gowdy Media Award for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., smiles at Rose Hill Gymnasium during a visit to his alma mater, Fordham University.

Mike Breen, Salesian and Fordham Grad, Gets Call for Basketball Hall

Being selected for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will give Mike Breen the opportunity to share the moment and thank everyone responsible for him becoming the broadcaster and person he … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 2/26/20

CYO Basketball Instructional Videos for Players, Coaches

Are you looking to learn or review a particular basketball skill, offense or defense? CYO New York has put together a CYO Basketball Drill Library with 24 videos to assist players and coaches in doing just that. Shootin' School … more

2/21/20

Shortstop Derek Jeter, shown diving for a ground ball, will be the second New York Yankee in as many years inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown July 26. Relief pitcher Mariano Rivera was inducted last year.

Hall of Famer Jeter Always Set Good Example for Young Athletes

Derek Jeter’s selection to the Hall of Fame Jan. 21 gave Mount St. Michael Academy senior Alex Santos the opportunity to remember his meeting with the New York Yankees legend last … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 1/29/20

There’s No Place Like Home Court for Bronx School

Elijah McGhee is shooting a basketball through a rim 10 feet above a gym floor instead of a garbage can sitting on a cafeteria floor now that Our Lady of Grace School in the Bronx has a gym to call … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 1/15/20

Cardinal Hayes senior Jalen Smith carries the football during his team’s 25-7 Catholic High School Football League AAA championship victory over Archbishop Stepinac at Mitchel Field in Uniondale Nov. 16.

Cardinal Hayes, Moore Catholic, Kennedy Catholic Win Football Titles

Cardinal Hayes is a win away from capturing the program’s first Catholic high school state football title after defeating Archbishop Stepinac 25-7 for the Catholic High School Football League’s … more

11/20/19

Vince Promunto tosses the coin before Mount St. Michael Academy played Holy Cross in the Bronx Sept. 21.

New Home Field

Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx played its first home game at the new Phyllis and Angelo Mozilo ’56 Sports Complex Sept. 21. more

9/27/19

Iona Prep’s Darius Wilson celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammate Scott Becker during the Gaels’ 41-21 victory over Pope John XXIII in the Battle for the Bridge Sept. 14 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Football Weekend to Remember for Cardinal Hayes, Iona Prep

Amazing and awesome were how coaches and players from two Catholic high schools in the archdiocese described their participation in the first “Battle for the Bridge” at MetLife Stadium in East … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 9/25/19

Cardinal Hayes, Iona Prep Playing at MetLife Stadium

Cardinal Hayes and Iona Preparatory will represent the archdiocese in the Battle for the Bridge matching Catholic high school football teams from New York and New Jersey at MetLife Stadium in East … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 9/11/19

Moran Brothers Share Historic Major League Moment

Iona Preparatory School graduates Brian and Colin Moran shared a historic moment. When Brian pitched to his younger brother Colin Sept. 3, it was the first time brothers met in a pitcher-batter … more

9/11/19

HAPPY HOMECOMING—New York Mets second baseman Joe Panik stands ready for a pitch at the plate at Citi Field. The Hopewell Junction resident joined the Mets Aug. 9 and hit .343 in his first 11 games.

Panik, a St. John’s All-American, Back in Queens for Mets’ Playoff Push

Joe Panik and his wife Brittany hosted a family summer barbecue at their Hopewell Junction home Aug. 19. It’s how they can enjoy an off day now with Joe commuting to work as a member of the New … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 9/3/19

Former Cardinal Hayes, Rice Coach Recalled as ‘Caring Person’

Floyd “Skip” Branch is being remembered as a caring basketball coach in the CHSAA and Harlem communities. Branch, a retired bus driver for the New York City Transit Authority, died in a … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 8/14/19