World Series hero visits Oceanside

Dozens of youth baseball players had the opportunity to learn from a former World Series hero in Oceanside this past weekend.

Jim Leyritz, whose game-tying three-run homer in game four of the 1996 World Series helped propel the Yankees to their first championship in 18 years, gave a hitting clinic at East Coast Sports Academy last Saturday. Leyritz, whose 11-year Major League Baseball career included seven seasons with the Yankees, also spoke to the youngsters about his experience reaching the top of his sport.

“I always like giving back to the kids, especially in the New York area,” said Leyritz, who now calls Southern California home but gets back to his old stomping grounds in Yankees territory around 90 days a year. “For me this is what it is all about.”

Mike Postilio, one of the East Coast Sports Academy owners and also Oceanside High School’s varsity baseball coach, said he first got in touch with Leyritz from one of his teammates at Hofstra, where he pitched in the mid-1990s. In getting to know Leyritz, he has been impressed by his commitment to make a difference in young people’s lives.

“It is always nice to learn from somebody who went that far,” Postilio said. “This was a great experience for them.”

Learning from a former Yankee was thrill for Oceanside baseball player Morgan McCarthy. The young Yankees fan has heard plenty about Leyritz’s clutch postseason at bats from his father. “It is cool that he hit one of the biggest home runs in World Series history and he is right in front of us,” said McCarthy, who plays for a travel team called Hank’s Yanks.

Oceanside father Chris Hayes was at the Leyritz clinic watching his son and was impressed how much time the ex-Yankee devoted with his instruction.

“He’s been there so he knows what you need to do to make it there,” said Hayes, a longtime Yankees fan. “He is giving his time to the kids which is great.”

Leyriitz, who won two World Series rings with the Yankees in 1996 and 1999, spoke to the more than 100 young baseball players in attendance about his rise to the Major Leagues after being undrafted out of the University of Kentucky before tossing baseballs in the batting cage and providing valuable hitting tips. He said he hopes his message was especially helpful to those players who are not superstars.

“I just let these kids to know that the game of baseball is not necessarily about having to be the best but being ready to contribute,” Leyritz said. “I spoke to them about what it took for somebody who was never drafted, was never a prospect, was never that number one guy, but I got to play 11 years in the big leagues.”