|
St. Francis Prep AD Once Aspired to Be an Umpire
BY BERNIE BEGLANE
Mother’s Day is almost upon us – it will be celebrated May 11 – and for Sal Fischetti it brings back memories.
Memories that date back to 1986 when he had aspirations of becoming an umpire in either the National or American League.
The St. Francis Prep graduate was, at that time, one of our students when we were an assistant dean and director of the sports management program at St. John’s University.
|
Sal Fischetti
Athletic Director
St. Francis Prep |
Having known Harry Wedelstedt, one of the top umpires in the majors at the time, we arranged for Sal to meet him.
The date? Mother’s Day when the New York Mets were home for a game at Shea Stadium.
Mother’s Day, however, was not why Fischetti had to change his plans. He was scheduled to umpire games in the Diocese of Brooklyn CYO League.
As they say, you do what you have to do, so Sal was at Shea Stadium to meet Harry and get his advice.
“Harry told me about the umpiring school he conducted in (Ormond Beach) Florida during the winter,” explained Fischetti.
“I decided to enroll, knowing that there would be about 200 attending and that only 25 or 30 would be selected for the minor leagues.”
Back Home
The disappointment of not advancing did not last long as Sal returned home determined to umpire high school and sandlot games.
And become a teacher. While at St. John’s, we advised Fischetti…and all our students…to make the most of their 18 free elective credits.
That amounted to enough for a minor, and since they could also take an additional 18 without an increase in tuition, the 36 credits would give them a second major.
Thus Sal had majors in athletic administration and education.
Which led him to be hired as a substitute teacher at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows.
And now he is in his 21st year at the Franciscan Brothers’ school, the last 10 as athletic director.
“St. Francis Prep has been great for me,” he continued. “I am an academic chairperson.
“There was no real disappointment over not becoming a professional umpire. I still umpire CHSAA and PSAL games and am a member of the North Shore Umpires Association.”
Father of Three Girls
Fischetti and his wife, Denise, also a St. Francis Prep graduate, are the parents of three daughters – Jessica, 11, Lauren, 10, and Victoria, 5.
“Teaching at St. Francis Prep is a new experience every year,” he concluded.
“There are new students…new faces…new styles. I love what I do.”
|
