Central H.S. catcher's big hit wins a little boy's heart

The family of 6-year-old Valley Stream resident Daniel Vecchione, Jr. gathered around a small iPad screen in a doctor’s office in New York City in late December. They were tuning in to the International Power Showcase in Miami to watch Vito Friscia, senior and captain of the Central High School baseball team, compete in Daniel’s name.

Daniel suffers from congenital hepatic phybrosis, a serious genetic kidney disease that caused the young boy to undergo kidney and liver transplants just days before his fourth birthday. He and Friscia had become friends over a year ago, when Friscia’s mother, a teacher at Shaw Avenue Elementary School, had Daniel in her kindergarten class. The pair bonded over a mutual love of baseball and a friendship was born.

Friscia was invited to compete in the Showcase, which included the best high school sluggers from across the country and around the world, after committing to play baseball at Division I Hofstra University and attracting attention from major league scouts.

“They hold a home-run derby each year for the best hitters from all over,” Friscia said. “They ask participants to raise money for a cause that means a lot to them. As soon as I found out, Daniel’s name sprang right to my mind.”

He decided to compete to raise money for the American Kidney Fund in Daniel’s name. The boy’s father, Daniel Vecchione, Sr., said he was moved by Friscia’s gesture.

“I think it really is just such a great friendship for the both of them,” he said. “When he said he thought of my son right away I was really impressed and very excited…They really have a close bond.”

Friscia traveled to Miami to compete in the home-run derby, held at Marlins Park, home to major-league baseball franchise the Miami Marlins. When Friscia stepped to the plate, he said he felt his heart thump.

“I definitely had some butterflies at first,” he said. “But I just tried to clear my mind and do what comes naturally. Eventually I found a pitch that was right in my sweet spot, and I gave it my best swing, and put a drive into it.”

Friscia put so much into the swing that the pitch left the ballpark entirely, clearing the outfield wall, the bleachers and eventually landing on the street outside the park after traveling nearly 500 feet high.

He would knock eight other pitches over the wall during the competition and won the contest, earning a $1,000 donation in Daniel’s name to the American Kidney Fund. The Vecchione family followed the competition online even as Daniel met with his doctor.

“We turned on the competition right before Vito came to the plate,” said Daniel’s father. “We saw him hit that long home run. We were so excited, and when he ended up winning, well, Daniel hasn’t stopped talking about it for weeks.”

The Valley Stream Board of Trustees honored Friscia for the win at their Feb. 9 meeting. At the ceremony, he showed off the ball that left Marlins Park before giving it to his biggest fan.

“It’s all been very surreal,” Friscia said. “I was really glad to be able to do something to make Daniel and his family smile. They certainly would deserve it after all they’ve been through.”

After the meeting, Daniel proudly displayed the ball with a big grin.

“Vito really is a great kid and he’s been so good to my family,” Daniel’s father said. “It was so great to see him win, and giving Daniel his ball is going to make his day for a long, long time.”

“My friend Vito won!” Daniel exclaimed. “I was really happy when he hit the homerun…he’s my favorite baseball player.”