by Chris Sacchi
After 22 years of coaching at Kellenberg Memorial High School, Chris Alfalla has handed down the reins to a former player of his, who is ready to continue the legacy.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Kellenburg head coach Pat Miles.
“As a 14-year-old kid going to baseball camp at Kellenberg, as an incoming freshman going into the year 2001, now coming full circle,” Miles said. “Being such a big part of my life, it’s certainly something that I want to continue with his philosophies and his connection to his players.”
After playing for Alfalla on the varsity level, Miles moved on to play college ball at Molloy following the 2005 season. Miles says he came on board to coach at Kellenberg “pretty much right away” after college, and the relationship has continued during the 13 years he and Alfalla spent together on staff.
While it is a changing of the guard for Kellenberg baseball, coach Miles learned a lot from his predecessor, particularly the side of coaching that isn’t always seen on the field.
“Alfalla was always big on making sure the players become good men. Keeping that level of attention outside of baseball alone,” Miles said. “Coach Alfalla always says to his players, that they’re his sons.”
Miles believes that personal connection, one that he felt as a player himself, goes a long way.
“That’s why he’s been such an important part, not just to this program or the school, but really to all of our alumni in the league as a whole,” said Miles. “He is bringing that extra element of, ‘I’m not just the baseball coach. I care about you.’”
“It’s more than about baseball, and that’s something I definitely try, to connect with my players.”
After eight years of coaching alongside Alfalla on the varsity level, Miles has spent the last five years at Kellenberg as the head coach of the “JV A” team. This has created an interesting dynamic, as this year’s varsity juniors and seniors were coached by Miles as JV freshmen and sophomores.
So while a cancelled 2020 season means there could be less familiarity for some coaches and their players this year, Miles has a roster of guys that he knows quite well.
“Other coaches in the league, we’re talking about it and understandably so, haven’t seen these kids in two years really,” coach Miles said. “A lot of these kids, they’re not familiar with them. Or, if they were familiar with them, I mean, who knows? Players can shoot up six, seven inches and gain a few pounds and become a totally different player.”
“So the last team I coached actually are these kids. And I was saying, ‘I actually know them, I coached these kids, I know exactly who is going to be trying out,’” Miles said. “So I’m in a kind of an interesting scenario, at least for this year. Going into this, it gives a big one up, not only taking over the program, but knowing the kids.”
Another fascinating caveat to this season is the team’s schedule, which according to coach Miles, will allow for more practice time.
“It looks like our schedule is going to pan out to be something like a weekday game, one game a week, and then we’ll have a double header on Saturday. So that actually kind of opens up a lot of opportunity for instruction for practice time,” Miles said.
“In a normal year, when you’re playing four or five games a week that take up weekdays, there isn’t as much practice time because you’re out there playing live baseball games, which is good. You need that also,” Miles said. “But this is really going to let us hone in, especially with the style that I want to bring in, where it’s really going to hone into the idea of the fundamental elements.”
Kellenberg’s Catholic League is a wood bat league, which not only stresses the importance of fundamental baseball, but Miles believes can bring out the best in his coaching, in his players, and in the games themselves.
“It’s such a pure game to watch,” Miles said. “If a kid has a little tweak in his swing, he can get away with it if he’s using an aluminum bat. With a wood bat, that thing’s getting sawed off, and you’re going to know pretty quick, ‘something’s going on with my swing.’”
“So that’s what’s nice about it. It really, really forces you to pay attention to more of the fundamentals, because we don’t have that extra pop in our bed that some of the other schools might have.”
Miles dove into a few specifics about what he wants to focus on with his players, during this extra practice time this season.
“When I teach base running. I’ll spend an hour and a half on base running. Literally an hour and a half, not them running just the technique. Like, what foot do you start with? How deep are you leading off? Things like that,” Miles said.
“That’s where my philosophy comes from as far as what I’m trying to implement here. The way that the kid leads off of a base, the way that the kid fields a ground ball, the way that a kid hustles second base to try and get out of a double play. That’s a Kellenberg kid,” Miles said “I really want to make sure that the players in my program, that when you go to a clinic or when you go to watch a summer game, you know that’s a Kellenberg kid.”
As for the specific players who will be receiving this coaching, Miles says there is a healthy amount of competition for spots. However, he does have some upperclassman he knows from JV A that he can rely upon.
On the mound, coach says he has “a lot of good juniors” who can provide solid innings.\
Right-hander Ryan Glupe is set to be “one of the stronger anchors of the staff” who is also described as a “top notch” student in the classroom.
“He’s a bulldog out there,” Miles said, while also adding, “he put a lot of work in the off season to his body… which is tough for high school kids to do. He looks great, and that shows certainly the seriousness of how he views himself.”
Uncommitted 6’6 LHP John Kwiatkowski (Kellenberg 2022) pic.twitter.com/jKqNdIkkzp
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 24, 2021
A pair of “really promising” lefties also add intriguing flexibility to the staff. Brendan McCann and John Kwiatkowski are two junior pitchers who Miles said he used primarily as relievers back on JV A. Kwiatkowski, who plays summer ball for Next Level, is listed at 6’6’’ and over 200 pounds.
Senior righty Jack Hughes is another player Miles is looking at as an “anchor,” while Nick Seminario figures to throw important innings as well, and who served as the closer on the JV A.
Jack Hughes (Kellenberg 2021) working 81-82 with a 71 MPH curve and 77 MPH slider pic.twitter.com/k7lECBkGvi
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 24, 2020
For all of these arms, Miles is excited for them to continue to learn under pitching coach Keith Couch.
“I’m very fortunate to have Keith. He’s a savior for the pitchers,” Miles said. “He’s one of the best pitching guys you’re going to find on the island.”
“So when he shows up to the field, I just direct those pitchers to him and I don’t see them for two hours,” Miles jokes. “Which is nice, it gives me the time for the attention to the fundamentals.”
On the offensive side, coach has two college commits to anchor the order, as well as key positions in the field.
Senior Joe Durso is a St. John’s commit, and a valuable piece as the team’s catcher.
“Catcher is the cornerstone of any team. You’re going to need one of those,” coach said. “And thankfully we have one of the best on the island.”
Another senior who is set to be a leader at a key position is Adelphi-commit CJ Picone. Picone is a high-level catcher himself, but his athleticism and instincts have made him into a player that coach calls “very versatile,” along with additional high praise.
“13 years in this program and outside of Chris Cappas (playing at Pittsburgh,) who was one of the best players to ever come into this league, CJ is right there,” Miles said.
“Not only that good of an athlete, but as far as an outfielder, I had opposition teams coming up to me and they’re like, ‘where did you get this kid? I have never seen this kid in the outfield before,’” Miles said. “The kid is unbelievable in the outfield.”
Junior Kenny Hirschfield has some pop in his bat and had a great summer for Next Level.
Catcher Kenny Hirschfeld (Kellenberg 2022) with a max exit velocity of 91.1 pic.twitter.com/I3PSPNZv5m
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 8, 2020
Senior Christian De Risi, committed to Concordia College, is another middle-of-the-order bat. He stands at 6’5’’ and is going to be a “big piece” for Kellenberg this season.
For new coach Pat Miles, there is a lot to be excited about. He has continuity with the roster from his previous position, lots of talented players, and he can take everything he’s learned from Chris Alfalla.
“He was unbelievable when he came to me and asked me to do this, because he’s such a legendary coach in his own right, in the league and the history,” Miles said. “And for him to trust me and take what he has built, with the multiple championships and the kids who have been drafted, the kids who have been playing professional baseball right now… he handed it all off to me with his full confidence. It’s pretty, it’s pretty amazing.”
Fittingly, Alfalla kept this in the family.
“He said, this is his words, he said that he feels like he’s leaving this off to like a son of his.”
