The top four NYC PSAL (Public School Athletic League) baseball teams got to play on a field of baseball players’ dreams. The New York Yankees once again welcomed the top NYC teams onto the field and the teams’ family and fans into the stands for this PSAL face-off double-header that would determine 2018’s champion. Two of these four high schools are in Williamsburg: the Cardinals from Harry Van Arsdale (257 N 6th St.) and the Wolves from Grand Street Campus (850 Grand St.)
The Cardinals played the Bathgate Bulldogs from the Bronx for the AA title. The Bulldogs won 6 to 1.
For the AAA championship, the Grand Street Campus Wolves were matched against a Bronx team also and 2017’s defending champions: the James Monroe Eagles. Elements of destiny animated this showdown. Turns out the Wolves’ head coach, Melvin Martinez, was mentored by Eagles’ head coach Mike Turo. Plus, the huge honor of playing on hallowed Yankee ground was matched with an extra special pep talk from an insider before the Wolves took to the field.
Former Wolf and current Yankee, Dellin Betances, offered them this encouragement, “I just want to say Congrats! This is the big stage and at the end of the day you’re playing at Yankee Stadium. It’s the same game, it’s just a bigger stadium, but it’s the same game. So no matter what, just go out there and have fun.”
The Eagles would go onto maintain their title as league champs, but that shouldn’t take away the Wolves’ experience of get-ting closer to a dream come true. “Being able to play in a PSAL Championship there are a lot of people watching. You never know maybe one of these kids gets a chance to play here,” said Betances.
The Greenline 