By Paul Gotham
Friends of Adam Perlo should take caution when trying to contact him for the next couple of months. Until the middle of August any phone calls to the former Webster Yankee catcher might incur international charges.
The Fairport, New York native adds overseas experience to his already impressive resume when the Italian Baseball Federation opens its season on April 11th. Perlo, a former Monroe Community College and Webster Yankee standout, signed to play the 2010 season with Ponte Di Piave of the Serie A-2 League in Italy.
Perlo takes with him plenty of experience.
In two years at MCC, he compiled a .327 average with five home runs and 49 RBI. MCC won a pair of regional and district championships with Perlo in the lineup, including the school’s first 40-win season in 2006. Perlo played a prominent role as the Tribunes advanced to the 2007 NJCAA World Series. The right-hander hit .347 as a sophomore and earned first team all-region selection.
Perlo finished his college career with Hofstra University of the Colonial Athletic Association. He hit .286 for the Pride and was nominated as CAA defensive player of the year in 2009. As a junior, Perlo hit .323 with a home run and nine RBI in just 31 at bats. He recorded back-to-back multi-RBI games against George Mason and New York Tech. Against NYT, Perlo’s pinch-hit double scored two runs. Off the field, he was awarded the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award.
Perlo made 63 starts (primarily at catcher) over three seasons for the Webster Yankees of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. He rapped 34 hits and collected 15 RBI. More importantly, Perlo maintained a fielding percentage of .950. The backstop was perfect in 2007 with 87 put outs and seven assists in his 94 chances.
Perlo played baseball and football for four years at Fairport High School. He earned all-county baseball selection for three years and an All-Greater Rochester selection for football.
Despite his accomplishments going to play in Italy was not easy. Teams in the Federation typically can have only two foreign players on their roster and often those spots go to former professional players from the United States. The Italian Baseball season runs until August 11th. Teams play forty games.
Ponte Di Piave is located just 45 minutes northeast of Venice.
The Webster Yankees open their 2010 home slate on Sunday, June sixth. First pitch is scheduled for 1p.m. at Basket Road Field.
Founded in 1978, the NYCBL is a summer wood-bat development league for professional baseball. Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the league’s annual budget. The league gives college players, who have not yet signed a professional contract, the opportunity to develop skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats and be evaluated by scouts. Current major leaguers, Brad Lidge, Dallas Braden, Tim Hudson and Hunter Pence all spent time playing in the NYCBL.
Congrats to Adam! Baseball in Italy? I had no idea, as silly as that sounds. The cool thing about playing professionally overseas has to be the exposure to sports cultures other than our own. Hopefully he takes some time to catch a little Serie A.
Rey – thanks for the read and comment. Adam will get your congratulations in a week or so. From what I get from him, internet access is less than great.