Valley Stream Colts & Hawks: Cooperstown Teams

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Coaches: M. Harloff, A. Bilello, T. Koebel
Brian Bilello
Scott Sabino
Tommy Koebel
Mike Milillo
Kevin Riveirio
Chris Gallo
James Araneo
Conner Barrett
Matt Leach
Matt Glass
Brian Schmidt
Keith Skinner
Kevin Baldessari

The experience this team shared together was nothing short of phenomenal. In the years to come the players will not remember scores of the games, the teams they played. BUT they will remember the friendships they nurtured over those 7 days in August.
There was a core group of boys that knew each other for years, they played in Malverne Little League and then together with the Hawks, but the greatest thing to me was the way they opened up and embraced the 5 new players and made them feel part of the team.

Here is an e-mail I received after I returned from Cooperstown; the highlighted part of the e-mail is what means the most to me as a coach:

“Hi Al, Keith and I ended up leaving before the closing ceremony after I spoke with some of the Dreams Park workers who said I probably wouldn't get out as early as I would have liked.  I just wasn't comfortable driving those roads in the dark.  But I did want to say a very sincere "thank you" to you for the wonderful way you treated Keith.If it were up to him, we would have a For Sale sign on the house and be moving to "EASTCOAST HAWKS" territory. 
Not only did Keith have a memorable baseball experience, he also felt very welcomed and comfortable with all the boys on the team.  That alone is quite remarkable.  They were a true team, no egos, always encouraging, very supportive and tons of fun”.

There were times these boys could have left with their parents to spend an evening for dinner or just be together, but not one of them wanted to leave the Baseball Village, the camaraderie they showed to each other was amazing...From pin trading… to Mike Milillo entertaining umpires, coaches, players and Cooperstown staff... to James Araneno’s nightly skits... It was all worth it, seeing Conner Barrett getting his 1^st hit and his reaction of jumping up and down on the base...
To the skills competition, where James Araneo placed in the top 5 of 96 boys in the Road Runner or Brian Bilello @ 11yrs. old, being 1 of 26 out of 96 to hit a homer in the King of Swat.  
These memories will forever be etched into their being as well as mine.
At times I’m not sure who had more fun….the kids or their parents…..from the Milillo’s leading the cheers… to Mo (Vic Sabino) leading Lucy (Marge) and Ethel (Kathy)… to Sue Koebel’s… “Where’s Las Vegas?”… to “Shorts” Riveiro…… and Rockette “Legs Riveiro”……  What would a baseball game be if poor Katie Barrett didn’t get hit with a baseball…. or Joe Araneo not playing golf…… to Barrett & Co. making all the Hawks signs to cheer on the team ….. I’m sure these memories will always be with them as well.

Then there is Mark Harloff… this man made it easy on all of us… his organization of all the paperwork and registration forms… securing all our uniforms…   taking care of all the teams’ laundry …  to making sure each and every player had equal playing time and at-bats throughout the tournament...TO GIVING HIS SPOT IN COOPERSTOWN TO OUR HAWKS TEAM!

What’s my take?  I have memories with my son and these boys that I’ll always cherish.  BUT… I’m the most fortunate, not only will this experience remain forever, I get to go back again next year with a new group and make new memories. Looking ahead to 2007, we have the nucleus and experience of returnees:
Brian Bilello
Mike Milillo
but also a new addition in Joe Finnerran.

To all the parents of all the players…..thank you for support and for making this experience come true for your sons. I’m sure everything was expensive…
But …Seeing your son in a Cooperstown uniform:
PRICELESS.
Sincerely,
Coach Bilello