IN PLAIN SIGHT
Greg Christodulu and Nick Kondo team up with other local ballplayers for ICBL summer season
Coming into the year, Greg Christodulu had been planning on managing a baseball team. He just didn’t think that team would be the Amsterdam Mohawks.
After high school spring sports were cancelled, the Shenendehowa Head Coach was looking forward to hopefully coaching the Mohawks, where he had been an assistant coach the past three seasons.
Even that had been up in the air.
“We weren’t sure if we’d be able to get this season in, but I’m really happy we were able to get started today. It’s nice to play with all these local guys too. There’s a lot of familiar faces and it’s a lot of fun. It’s like bringing back a lot of the high school vibes. It’s a lot of fun,” said Nick Kondo.
Until now, the Saratoga Springs and UAlbany graduate has always been in the opposite dugout as Christodulu. After playing for Glens Falls in previous summer seasons, Kondo joined the Amsterdam team as he prepares for his ex
tra year of eligibility, which he will be taking to Chapman University in Southern California.
While many of the faces are familiar to Kondo from across the field, Christodulu has been coaching some of his Mohawk players for a long time.
Andrew Pedone is a guy entering his fifth year at Saint Rose, after getting his senior season cut short. Ben Lavery, Brendan Disonell and Devin Disonell each missed their college freshman seasons. Jake Reinisch is a graduating senior and Joe Novenche missed his sophomore season. All were coached under Christodulu while at Shenendehowa.
Christodulu had been planning on helping out as an assistant coach, however due to travel restrictions, he had to take over the reigns as manager. Keith Griffin, the Mohawks leader for over ten years, was unable to return to New York from Florida, due to those restrictions.
Christodulu spoke about his outlook coming into a very unique summer season.
“We want them to play some real competitive, good baseball and eventually leave here healthy as well. The challenge we talked about before the first game was playing 14 innings of baseball after having so much time off. That wasn’t as much physically, as it was mentally. To be in the game, staying focused and getting opportunities to compete. Taking advantage of good counts and utilizing their skill sets,” he said.
“Tonight was a spring training game, to be honest. We just wanted to get them in the game, get them running around and to start the process. They’re all going to get at-bats, get in the field and get on the mound. I just want the guys to have a great experience and go back to their college programs as better baseball players and having built up their skill sets.”
Two of the league’s local players got off to a fast start. Kondo and Ballston Spa’s Luke Gold each hit home runs.
“I wasn’t really surprised. Luke Gold (Albany Dutch) is a hell of a player and Nick Kondo is a hell of a player too. I’ve seen them in the Suburban Council the last few years and they are some of the top-of-the-line talent that has come out of their programs the past few years,” Christodulu said.
“Nick got a good count, he got a good pitch and I’m not surprised at all. Luke Gold can go deep at any point. He’s a dangerous hitter.”
Kondo’s reaction to his clutch hitting was a bit different, as his approach coming into his first games in months was to simply shake off the rust.
“I was really surprised that I got a hold of one. In my first round of batting practice, I think I rolled over five balls in a row, so I’m glad I got some good swings in. I have no shame in realizing that I was going to be rusty, but it feels good to be able to make good contact and hopefully I’ll be able to continue to do that throughout the season,” Kondo said. He continued. “It feels great. It’s great to get back out here and get some reps. I think it’s super important to be able to see some live pitching off these arms, especially guys I competed against in high school. There’s a ton of familiar faces in both dugouts, which makes it a lot of fun. At the same time, we’re being competitive and getting our reps in. I’m really happy that we’re playing.”
Had 2020 turned out to be a normal year, Kondo admits that he would not be playing baseball right now.
“No, I wasn’t planning on playing summer ball before things got shut down. I’m really surprised that I’m playing baseball this summer, but I couldn’t be more thankful. I’m really grateful for an extra year. I think it’s a good opportunity and we’re just out here having fun and trying to make the most of it,” he said.
The ‘super-senior’ had an interesting moment late in the second game on Monday. After hitting a home run, he had to remind himself not to do any high-fives as he crossed the plate.
“I had to think about not high-fiving anyone after I hit the home run. It’s weird, but at the same time we have to follow the rules. I just think it’ll take a few games to get used to it.”
Christodulu talked about what it was like watching Kondo, this time from the same dugout.
“He was the spark-plug for us today. I’ve always admired him during his time at Saratoga and the last few summers when he played for
Glens Falls. We’re fortunate to have him. I like him on my team. He’s got a lot of skills and a lot of energy. He’s always asking questions and learning the game. It’s nice to have him on our side this time.”
One of the challenges of this ICBL season is going to be the positioning of umpires, who re going to be located in the middle of the field, behind the pitchers’ mound. Each game will only have one umpire as well. That presents opportunities for missed calls when it comes to checked swings, foul tips, balls down the lines and the strike zone, the latter of which Kondo mentioned as something he’s trying to work on over the next few weeks.
“I think the biggest thing I need to work on is discipline. That’s more so on myself, because with the one umpire in the middle of the field that’s going to be tough. I think the strike zone is going to expand because of that, but I just have to know the zone and swing at my pitches. Leaving ones that are out of the zone is something that I’m really working on this summer,” Kondo said.
“I can’t get down on myself if a ball that’s off the plate gets called, because I know that it’s tough for the umps too. They’re not perfect, but I have to work on staying in the zone myself.”
The Mohawks return to action on Thursday July 9, 2020 in Amsterdam, facing off in a double header against the Albany Athletics. The Albany Dutch will play two against the Glens Falls Independents on Wednesday July 8, 2020.