|
 |
 Monte Marrocco Jr. did not commit an error during summer league play with the Webster Yankees. |
Aug. 23, 2010
For most, settling into a routine can be boring. For Monte Marrocco Jr., it's the only thing that allows him to focus.
And once he is focused, the 5-foot-5 infielder from Winchester is capable of just about anything. He proved that this summer, playing for the Webster Yankees of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
In the field, he was flawless. In 30 games at second base, he did not commit an error. And after hitting just .234 as a freshman at the University of Massachusetts Lowell last spring, he refined his swing and approach at the plate. The results were impressive: a shining .326 average with 22 runs scored. The Yankees were eliminated in the West Division semfinals by the Allegany County Nitros on Aug. 1, taking a 3-2 loss in the third and deciding game.
Marrocco's success in one of the most respected summer leagues in the country is both surprising and expected.
As a junior at Winchester High, he left school indefinitely. Diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and bipolar disorder, Marrocco did not feel like himself. His life was in disarray.
After some time off to focus on his life, he was able to return to high school. Marrocco graduated, then attended Bridgton Academy in Maine for a postgraduate year to improve his academics before he was accepted at UMass Lowell.
"In talking with him, I knew he had gone through some tough times in high school," said UMass Lowell coach Ken Harring. "But it was clear he had done everything in his power to get back, not only on the diamond, but in the classroom as well."
However, as a freshman, Marrocco could not find stability. He began the season as the starting shortstop, but he was benched because of his struggles at the plate. By the end of the season, he had only appeared in 21 of the River Hawks' 46 games.
"It was definitely an up-and-down season for me,'' he said.
Now, however, Marrocco is confident. After his solid play in the New York league, he has found a routine that suits him in the field and at the plate. He has found his focus.
"Lately I've just taken it day in and day out. If you come to the field every day with the same attitude, same work ethic, same approach, it's not your fault if you mess up,'' said Marrocco. "You just make sure your preparation is consistent and go into every game and play as hard as you can. You can't ask anything more.''
He is taking his new attitude into his sophomore season, where he hopes to win the starting job at second base. After facing teams he describes as "solid through each of the 30 men on the roster,'' he is confident he can hit over .300 this year and help Lowell contend for the Northeast-10 title.
"I'm always setting goals for each day and conquering them,'' he said. "It's not how you get knocked down, but how you get back up. I'm a firm believer in that.''
