Baseball and Softball Return to Brooklyn, Calling American Legion Fields New Home

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Director of Athletics and Recreation James Lally, Head Baseball Coach Jerry Sidman and Head Softball Coach Danielle Fazzolare are proud to announce a partnership with the Youth Service League and American Legion to call Kings County American Legion Youth Recreational Athletic Facility the exclusive home for the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) baseball and softball teams beginning with the 2017 season.  

"I want to extend a sincere thank you to Mel Zitter of the Youth Service League, as well as all members of the American Legion team who work year-round to ensure the American Legion Fields are accessible and ready for play for the youth of Brooklyn, and for partnering with us to extend the opportunity to compete at their facility to our student-athletes," commented Lally. "We are excited and grateful to be able to call American Legion our home, as a main objective of our administration this year was to give all Bears teams a home in Brooklyn."

"We are thrilled to be partnering with St. Joseph's College, and providing a home for their baseball and softball teams," added Zitter, owner of Youth Service League. "The core value for American Legion and Youth Service is to provide recreational opportunities for our area, and extending our reach to include St. Joseph's College is exciting for all of us."

Both squads had previously played at Padavan-Preller Fields in Bellerose, N.Y. and have switched fields several times over the years. Securing a home field for both programs will allow the staff, coaches and student-athletes to continue to build a strong brand and represent St. Joseph's College in the borough of Brooklyn.

American Legion Fields are located in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn six miles from the Bears' Clinton Hill campus. Located just off exit 13 of the Belt Parkway, the complex has four baseball fields, two softball fields, batting cages, and a full-service concession stand. Parking is available for all spectators and visiting teams. The complex serves as home to the American Legion baseball league, as well as the Youth Service League, one of the oldest and most competitive travel baseball organizations in the country.

Through the partnership to renovate one baseball and one softball field to be ready for NCAA competition, the Bears will have use of the fields for practice and games and will be the sole collegiate program using the facility.

"After traveling all over the map for seven years it is great to be home in Brooklyn," said Sidman, who also played his collegiate baseball at American Legion Field with John Jay College. "We're thrilled to welcome friends and families of the baseball team to join us at our new home." 

"We are excited and grateful to begin the new season in Brooklyn," added Fazzolare. "Having our teams play on Brooklyn soil is just the beginning of great things to come for the Bears!"

Both teams will christen their new home field with non-conference doubleheaders on Sunday, March 12 starting at noon. Baseball opens a 17-game slate over 10 dates at American Legion hosting Lehman College while softball begins a 14-game schedule over seven doubleheaders hosting Baruch College.

Baseball rides five straight winning seasons and comes fresh off a third-place finish in their inaugural Skyline Conference Championships in 2016. The Bears will head to Delaware to launch their 2017 campaign on March 4th at Wesley College.

Softball also heads south to begin their second season under Fazzolare facing Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, March 2 before competing in the Virginia Beach Blast Tournament on March 3-4.

2017 Baseball Schedule
2017 Softball Schedule
Directions to American Legion Fields