Mercy and CCNY Commemorate Baseball Relationship
DOBBS FERRY, NY - On Tuesday, March 28, the Mercy College baseball team hosted The City College of New York (CCNY), in what both programs look forward to as the first of many non-conference games played for many years to come.
Thanks in large part to Mercy's own Professor Anthony Belli and Bobby Adler, a board member of the City College Fund, the two programs came to an agreement to play this year for the first time in recent memory. Belli is a Professional Associate in Mercy College's Business and Accounting Division. He is also a former CCNY baseball standout and is a member of the CCNY Athletics Hall of Fame. Adler will receive the Mark Asa Abbott Award from The City College Alumni Association for distinguished service to athletics. The duo was also instrumental in resurrecting the CCNY baseball program. CCNY will play at the Dobbs Ferry campus again on April 4, when they take on New York Maritime in a regular season contest.
"We are very excited about building and continuing our relationship with The City College of New York," said Kevin McGinniss, Mercy's Director of Athletics. "We are extremely appreciative of Professor Belli, of CCNY's efforts and we want them to know that they are always welcome at Mercy College."
To commemorate, recognize and show Mercy's support of this relationship, Mercy College President Dr. Louise H. Feroe threw out the honorary first pitch. Junior Roberto Martinez (Yonkers, NY) was selected to serve as catcher for Dr. Feroe.
The two teams went on to battle in a close contest early, but Mercy broke the game open in the eighth inning with four runs before closing out an 8-3 win. Following the contest, both teams, family, staff and members of the Mercy College community sat down together in the Hudson River Room at Mercy for a casual reception, hosted by Professor Belli.
"I am privileged to be associated with these two great institutions," said Belli. "I hope today's ballgame is the start of a great rivalry and tradition. Watching City and Mercy compete on the ball field was a great thrill for me. Throughout my career baseball has been a great catalyst for building special friendships and business opportunities. Sometimes the true value of sport is hidden in the box score only to reveal itself later in lessons learned."
