Forty-five years ago this week, a fair-haired boy from Long Island stepped onto the mound in New Haven, Conn., and won the most memorable pitching duel in college baseball history, often dubbed the greatest baseball game ever played.

On May 21, 1981, Chaminade High School grad Frank Viola and St. John’s University junior took the mound against Yale senior Ron Darling. While Darling’s 11 no-hit innings drew much of the spotlight, Viola threw 11 shutout innings for the win, earning St. John’s its second straight trip to the College World Series.

Darling and Viola were selected in the 1981 draft, along with Viola’s St. John’s teammate John Franco. Later, they were reunited in the big leagues with the New York Mets.

Next season, Chaminade senior Andrew Caramico hopes to forge a similar legacy for the Red Storm and, like Frankie-V, to use his time at St. John’s as a stepping stone toward a professional baseball career.

“Our goal at all times is going to be to keep the best players in New York and the Tri-State Area home,” said St. John’s pitching coach George Brown. “We want people who, when they put that logo, want to become part of this. They understand that it’s more than just a jersey… It’s tradition. There are a lot of things that go along with being a St. John’s baseball player …Andrew was pretty interested in being here, and we were interested in having him.”

“St. John’s is very close to home,” said Caramico. “I love all the coaches there. I met a bunch of the guys. It was honestly an easy decision for me.”

A long, lanky 6-foot-3 senior at Chaminade High School, Caramico has focused on pitching for only two years but has already evinced enough upside on the mound to earn a Division I scholarship.

“Pitching just came naturally to him. He’s got the body, he has the build, he has the mindset,” explained Chaminade Head Baseball Coach Patrick Kemp, who's been with the program for 15 years.

“I remember he asked me, ‘Where do you see me? What do you want me to try out for the outfield junior year?’ I said: ‘Nope, absolutely not. You’re gonna be a pitcher.’ We’re going to work with you on the mound, and he took to that in stride.”

After a solid initial season as a full-time pitcher, Caramico continued his development with an eye-opening travel campaign for Next Level Baseball. Travel baseball is the primary recruiting ground for college showcases, where college coaches see prospects like Caramico.

Source: LI Press