By: Chris Munzing
"When Billy came to the team as a sophomore, we immediately got better," said OHS assistant coach Richard Woods. "He was one of the big reasons we won the state championship. I love him, he's a great kid."
Weitzman, now a sophomore at Briarcliffe, said he had expected to be drafted, but he just didn't know when it would happen. While watching the draft live on the Internet, he saw the name he had been waiting to see on the screen, and realized that all the work he had put into becoming a pitcher had been worth it.
"I was excited for him. I was hoping he'd go high," said Woods.
"A father and mother couldn't be more proud of their son," said his father Bill. A member of the town zoning board and president of the Long Island carpenter's union. Weitzman Sr. remarked that the recent success of his son has made him and his wife, Kathy, a little more popular as well.
Though Billy has come far, he is aware that even more hard work will be needed to succeed on the next level. Already the possessor of a 92-miles-per-hour fastball, a pitch many major leaguers wished they had, Billy will spend much of the summer working with famed former-Mets junkballer, Bobby Ojeda.
Weitzman says he works on some part of his game every day, whether it be throwing off a mound, lifting weights, running or just playing catch with his father. Despite the fact that baseball has been a part of Billy's life for as long as he can remember, and that this is what he's been working for his entire life, professional baseball will have to wait at least one more year.
The nineteen-year-old flame-thrower has elected to return to Briarcliffe for the upcoming year instead of joining the Mets farm system right away. The Mets own the rights to Billy until June 1 of next year and if Billy has not signed a contract with the Mets by then, he will re-enter the draft.
His father credits the high school baseball team and Oceanside Little League with helping his son develop as a ballplayer and a person. And now, Billy can return the favor, showing young kids that dreams can come true. "He's an inspiration to the little leaguers and the high school kids," his father said.
Learning from the school of hard knocks
Weitzman's reputation suffered a bit recently when he surrendered to Nassau County police. A warrant had been issued for his arrest after he missed a court date stemming from a two-year-old incident. Weitzman had been arrested for driving while impaired, even though, according to Weitzman, he wasn't even driving.
According to Billy, he and a group of friends arrived at a party in West Hempstead two years ago, only to learn that the party they were planning to attend had been broken up by police. After observing Weitzman's car drive up, police officers investigated to make sure nobody was drinking and driving.
While walking towards the vehicle, the officers believed they saw Weitzman switch from the driver's seat to the front passenger seat, an allegation Weitzman completely denies. Police, however, refused to believe his claims and Weitzman was arrested for driving while impaired, a charge not nearly as severe as driving while intoxicated. This charge was later reduced to a mere speeding ticket.
Weitzman was required to surrender because he missed his original court date; he was participating in a baseball tournament in Las Vegas and was unable to return home in time. However, once he arrived home, he immediately made the necessary arrangements for a new court date. The incident has resulted in some unwanted attention, but Billy believes it has shown him that the path to stardom is best traveled distraction free. "I realized I've got to be careful. I don't even drink now," said Weitzman.
With this problem behind him, Weitzman can now focus on his childhood dream -- becoming a professional baseball player. Though a business major at school, Weitzman says baseball is what he's counting on.
Few players from even the first few rounds ever make it to the big leagues, but Weitzman's youthful idealism allows no room for doubts. His sights are set on the major leagues and whatever it takes to get there. What if he doesn't make it? "I'm not even thinking about that right now," he said.
Before writing Weitzman off as a dreamer, consider that current Mets superstar, Mike Piazza who is arguably the greatest hitting catcher of all time, wasn't drafted until the 62nd round.
Baseball has led to great recognition for Weitzman, along with a long list of impressive accomplishments. He hopes he can soon add professional baseball player to his already stellar resume.
