Read about the History of GersHkoff Baseball
And the Vital Role and impact that Gershkoff Auto Body
continues to have on our program.
Addison Kopack
Played 4 years of Division 1 baseball at the University of Rhode Island and
currently plays professionally with the San Diego Padres Organization. At URI he
was able to make First Team All-Conference Honors, First-Team All New England,
All-Northeast, Pre-season All-American Honors, and being named a top 40 catcher
in the nation. At the same time, gaining a degree in Kinesiology, Addison has an
adept understanding of human movement, function, and biomechanics- hoping to
help advanced players reach a new level of understanding.
Joe Nicolace
Played for Nichols College Class of 2016 and played for the New Hampshire Wild
of the Empire League as well as the Northern Colorado Owls of the Pioneer
League Pitching Coach for Stonehill College 2022 season
Mike Webb
After URI, signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association of
Professional Baseball and was a starting RHP, his contract was in the process of
being bought but the Diamondbacks, and then got hurt and retired from pro ball.
Currently, plays for RR Sunset in the summer as a utility player winning three
championships. An American at Rhode Island College, and an All-Conference at URI.
Currently an ICU Registered Nurse at Providence VA.
Harrison Barlow
Currently Assistant Coach Salve University. Played at South Kingstown and then
URI. Has been coaching college baseball for 10 years 2 years at RIC and 8 years at
Salve Regina. Coached two years in the New England Collegiate Baseball League
for the Ocean State Waves.
Pete Clays
Currently Assistant Coach Salve University. Played at Narragansett High School
and then at Georgetown University. Coached several years at North and South
Kingstown High Schools. Has coached in the NECBL for 15 years with the Ocean
State Waves. Has been at Salve Regina for 4 years.
winter instruction
winter instruction
AT HOPS
AT HOPS
TRAINING
WINTER
WINTER
10 U
FRIDAY NIGHTS
6:30-8:30
January 10 - March 28
JR. LEGION
SUNDAYS & FRIDAYS
January 10 - March 28
2025 Baseball season Forms
Each player must complete the following forms :
*** All final payments are nonrefundable ***
TEAM
DATES
10U
Winter Workouts
EVERY Friday 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Funny 4 Funds
Perfect Game New Balance
League Starts
Firecracker Ocean State
Classic Tournament
Game & WooSox Night
Firecracker Memorial Bash
League Playoffs
League Championships
Beast of the East Tournament
Georgetown, Delaware
1/10 - 3/28
3/1
3/29
4/12 - 4/14
4/27
5/23 -5/26
5/31 - 6/1
6/7 - 6/8
8/16 - 8/17
1/10 - 3/28 Winter Workouts 6:30-8:30 pm
3/1 Funny 4 Funds
6/12 - 7/22 Potential Season Dates
6/13 - 6/16 Father’s Day Classic (Mystic, CT)
6/22 PBR Workouts @ Cranston Stadium
7/1 - 7/8 Fireworks at the Harbor
Tournament, San Diego, CA
7/18 -7/20 BT New England World Series,
Lynne, MA
7/24 - 7/25 First Round of Playoffs
7/28 - 8/1 Final Four State Championships
8/8 - 8/10 New England Junior American
Legion Regionals
8/16 - 8/17 Beast of the East Tournament
Georgetown, Delaware
8/30 - 9/2 Firecracker Labor Day Tournament
10/11 - 10/13 Firecracker Columbus Day
Tournament
GERSHKOFF
JUNIOR LEGION
IMPORTANT DATES 2025
American Legion Code of Sportsmanship
- I will:
- Keep the Rules;
- Keep Faith with my teammates;
- Keep my temper;
- Keep myself fit;
- Keep a Stout heart in defeat;
- Keep my pride under in victory;
- Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a Healthy body
PURPOSE & SCOPE of American Legion baseball
- To inculcate in youth a better understanding of the American way of life and to promote the principles of 100 percent Americanism.
- To instill in the nation’s youth a sincere desire to develop within themselves a feeling of citizenship, sportsmanship, loyalty and team spirit.
- To aid in the improvement and development of the physical fitness of our country’s youth.
- To build for the nation’s future through our youth.
- randystoloff@gmail.com
Randy Stoloff,
Assistant Coach
- Pitching Coach
19 U GERSHKOFF AUTO BODY / Elmwood sports
AUBURN POST 20 SENIOR AMERICAN LEGION
TOURNAMENT BASEBALL
For More Information contact
- jpizzuti27@gmail.com
JoE Pizzuti,
- Team Manager - Communications
- David Schiappa, HEAD Coach
CRAIG ZARELLA, Assistant Coach
Mike Schiappa, PITCHING coach
frank santo, assistant coach
miGuel nunez, assistant coach
- al GEorgio, assistant coach
- MIKE WEBB, ROVING PItCHING INStrUCTOR
Gershkoff autobody-TOP NOTCH RENTALS
junior american legion
baseball
17 U COACHES
GERSHKOFF AUTO BODY
TOP NOTCH RENTALS
LIGHTNING ELITE
10U STAFF
EDward tavarez, Head Coach
BRYAN LEVeillee, Assistant Coach
MATT MAZZOLA, Assistant Coach
Mike Orsini, Assistant Coach
ANDREA PICCIRILLO,
Team Manager - Communication
Gershkoff Baseball traveled to 27 states together, always bonding as a group building memories and creating lifelong friendships. Experiences that Gershkoff Baseball players had - include but are not limited to - visiting the Rocky Mountains, watching the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Whitesox, Washington Nationals, and Colorado Rockies from their home stadiums.
In addition, some players had the opportunity to watch their local Cranston star play for South Carolina in the finals of the College World Series.
From the Mall of America - to the Field of Dreams in Iowa - and from Disney's World Wide of Sports to encountering the wild moose of the Alaskan fields - these are monumental experiences that will never be forgotten.
Highlighted in Blue are all the states we have traveled .
We have many more adventures planned for our Gershkoff Baseball community.
My vision as the Gershkoff General Manager is to give youth all ages an opportunity to keep players together as one community where they play together and form friendships and bonds throughout the year. This includes winter, high school, fall, and summer seasons. Give families the opportunity to afford a program that believes in helping to make players good citizens first, students second, and players third. We can never make promises but we will help everyone with their purpose whether that be attend college/work/military and possibly play baseball in college. We can reach out to schools and coaches and also showcase players as best we can. Biggest motto is we are coaches for life and will always be there to help players throughout their life. Additionally, we are beginning to help the youth of our community by running clinics to support young players as they begin their journey. Ultimately we want to help all of our community to be the best we can be.
"With each and everyday we all can take one step forward to achieve our potential."
- David Schiappa
our program's vision
program Accomplishments
Steve Gershkoff has sponsored our program for the past 30 years. He has helped to develop the program into one of the most iconic baseball programs in the Northeast.
TEAM EXPERIENCE
an unforgettable
OMAHA, NE
JUNE 2023
0.0s
“Gershkoff Legion Baseball was not only great baseball but offered players experiences and opportunities on and off the field. The team brought together some of the best players throughout the community and represented Cranston in the state and country.”
-Tomas A. Barbieri, Former Parent
Past Principal Cranston High School West,
Current Principal Cranston High School East
Testimonials
“Playing on a legion baseball team affords players the opportunity to be on teams with players from different parts of their community, who they may not have the chance to play with on a regular basis. Legion teams also travel to different places for tournaments, which is also another great opportunity for the players."
-Jeannine-Nota Masse, Gershkoff Parent,
Cranston Public Schools Superintendent
- GERSHKOFF BASEBALL EXPERIENCES
-Tom Barbieri, Former Gershkoff Player,
Currently plays at Endicott College
“Throughout my three years playing for legion under Coach Schiappa I had many great experiences along with my teammates. I had the opportunity to play + compete with my “rivals” from Cranston East and travel to both Nashville and Alaska. The time together with my teammates and coaches not only made us more successful on the baseball field, but brought us together as a Cranston community.”
“David Schiappa runs a great organization with very organized tournaments and a team which is perpetually competitive in the leagues they play in!”
-Steve Minicucci, JD,
Former Gershkoff Parent
“Our family’s experience with Cranston’s legion baseball program, Gershkoff Auto Body, was instrumental in the development and advancement of our baseball careers. It was an honor to represent our hometown on a nightly basis and play alongside other great players from Cranston. Playing for Gershkoff Auto Body allowed us to improve our skills and compete at a high level. To this day, we still cherish the memories we made winning championships and playing against teams from all across the country. We wouldn’t have wanted to play anywhere else.”
Matt Pagano, Former Gershkoff player,
Played at Marist College
Anthony Pagano, Former Gershkoff player,
Played at Stonehill College
Mike Pagano, Former Gershkoff Parent,
Member-Association Baseball
Umpires of Rhode Island (AURI)
since 2019
“As a parent of two sons that played American Legion Baseball for Gershkoff Auto Body Post #20, I was always impressed with the quality of baseball played year in and year out! Both of my sons learned many lessons on the ball field about competing, succeeding, failing, Teamwork and never given up!”
“As parents my wife and I will always be grateful to Coach Dave S. for the time and commitment he has given to Legion Baseball!”
- Chris Hopkins, Former Gershkoff Parent and Assistant Coach,
Former Director of Special Olympics RI
“David runs a tremendous baseball program with Auburn Post 20. He is organized, enthusiastic & tries to create experiences for his players. To me, this is what American Legion Baseball is all about! It was a pleasure to have his team in Illinois & David's hospitality while we were Rhode Island was great. David's long-time commitment to American Legion Baseball & Rhode Island's youth is an example for other programs across the country to emulate.”
-Jim Zacharewicz
Moline, IL Post #246
“I have been a supporter of the Auburn Post 20 baseball program under the leadership of coach Dave Schiappa. Paying for equipment, uniforms and travel is not easy. The young men participating benefit in many ways from the program. My donation is a great return on investment to help the program continue to thrive and grow. I encourage you to consider giving at your level of comfort.”
-Mark Ross, Retired businessman, active supporter of nonprofit organizations
who help those in need of assistance.
“Coach Schiappa is one of the best when it comes to organizing. He brings in the correct people to push his players to the best of their abilities. Coach Schiappa strives to teach his players responsibility, respect, and discipline. If you want the best for your child, look no further than Coach Schiappa.”
-Scott Malloy, Former American Legion
Board of Directors and
league umpire assignor.
Former MLB umpire, current
collegiate and high school board
certified umpire.
“Playing for Coach Schiappa helped me grow as both a baseball player and a person. Thanks to Coach Schiappa’s efforts, I was fortunate enough to compete against the best talent in the state and travel to multiple states around the country to participate in various tournaments. Legion baseball provided me with memories and life skills that I will always carry with me, and it’s one of the reasons I decided to come back as a Coach in the league. I highly recommend any baseball player who loves and is committed to the game to play Legion Baseball.”
-Ryan Long, former Gershkoff Player
Current Portsmouth High School and
R and R Post 7 American Legion
Baseball Coach Newport, RI
“David is the ultimate competitor but with a sense of humor and respect in every aspect of his demeanor”
-Frank Devall Former Gershkoff Coach
Current Riverside Post 10 Junior
American Legion Assistant Coach,
Dean of Students Mount Hope High School
“Dave Schiappa is a husband, dad, son, and almost as importantly, a coach. A coach is a teacher of the basic fundamentals of the sport ( baseball ). His real job, and this is where Dave excels, is teaching young men and women that knowledge, respect and always learning is the path to being a productive adult. Dave sets examples as an educator and coach that will last his players a lifetime.”
-Steve Gershkoff, Former Parent and Manager
30-year Team Sponsor
To Coach Schiappa,
We would like to formally thank Coach Schiappa for first taking my son Alex Ceseretti into the Legion program for the last four years. Alex has been playing for coach Schiappa for several years now within the Gershkoff Baseball Club. We can honestly say that this is a highly competitive program from the training, regular season play and travel tournaments. Coach Schiappa has always had a high regard for my son Alex, as when he was a sophomore invited him to play Senior Legion that season, along with being invited to play in a travel game at Dobbs field in Connecticut. We would like this opportunity to thank the Gershkoff Baseball program, along with Coach Schiappa who has taken Alex under his wing, especially this last year in order to get him ready to play baseball at the next level...placing Alex on the right path with a pitching coach, strength and conditioning program at Hops, etc... We owe a big gratitude to Coach Schiappa for paving the way for Alex to continue his baseball career at the college level.
Thank you Coach!
Alex, Don & Nancy Ceseretti
- Featured is Matt Pagano on ESPN playing for Division I Marist College.
Check out our Gershkoff Alumni that went on to play college baseball
Thomas is currently a senior playing for Endicott College hits two home runs in one game.
- Click below to watch
ANother amazing Gershkoff Alumni Thomas Barbieri Jr.
Steve Gershkoff
Founder and Sponsor of Gershkoff Baseball
David Schiappa
General Manager and Director of Baseball Operations Gershkoff/Auburn Post 20 Baseball
Dennis Ratcliffe
Auburn Post 20 Commander
Marcel D'Auteuil
Auburn Post 20 Adjunct
Andrea Piccirillo Vlaun
Web Designer
2023
a
Contact David Schiappa
with any questions or to request
further information about the program
phone: 401 - 742-1135
Email: daveschiappa@gmail.com