Three boys showed up to the Catalina Foothills baseball field for practice. Each one looked different, played a different position and possessed a different set of skills.
They shared three things: an appreciation for the sport, a home and, most importantly, a last name.
Foothills coach Jim Baldwin has thought about lining up seniors Anthony and Dom DeNiro along with freshman Dante DeNiro in the first three spots of his batting order. But the third-year skipper jokes he doesn’t want to cause their parents that much stress.
Baldwin has coached twin brothers Anthony and Dom from Little League to high school, but this is his first season with Dante.
“They all bring something different, they’re all three different players,” Baldwin said. “You’d assume they’re the same player because they’re brothers. One plays catcher, first base and outfield. Their speed, their power — they’re all completely different players. The one thing they do bring to the program is they bring the attitude and determination. … They love baseball.”
People are also reading…
The trio’s production has helped launch the Falcons to the No. 7 ranking in Division II. Foothills (19-7) is a lock to qualify for the state tournament, and will get a preview of the postseason this week with a game at third-ranked Canyon del Oro on Tuesday and then a home game against No. 13 Ironwood Ridge the following day.
Here’s a closer look at the each of the three DeNiro brothers heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Baseball Junkie
Who: Anthony DeNiro, senior
Position: Center fielder
By the numbers: Batting .380 with a team-leading 29 runs, six doubles and six stolen bases.
Role: The leadoff man and table setter for the Falcons. He’s also the biggest baseball fan in the family.
Coachspeak: “A.D. is probably the most determined kid I’ve ever coached. Every day, he never takes a play off. He’s the guy at batting practice throwing balls, shadowing them just to try to better himself.” — Baldwin
He said it: “Baseball means so much to me; I couldn’t imagine life without it. I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old. It’s weird to personify baseball, but it’s always been there for me. I never stop loving the game, even if it’s frustrating at times. ... I love it so much.” — Anthony DeNiro
The Funny Guy
Who: Dom DeNiro, senior
Position: Pitcher/first baseman
By the numbers: He’s 5-0 with 1.42 ERA on the mound this season. At the plate, Dom is hitting .400 with 17 RBIs.
Role: Always quick with a joke, Dom eases the tension in the dugout. He’s also the cleanup hitter.
Coachspeak: “He’s never that serious about what he does, but yet, when the lights come on, he competes. He pitches, he runs — he’s the fastest of all three of them — he’s probably the best athlete. He’s just a happy-go-lucky kid.” — Baldwin.
He said it: “They’re great players; I don’t really get nervous watching (my brothers) play. I see them as teammates in the sense of the game. But I also see them as brothers, because I look at it as we’re all brothers on this team.” — Dom DeNiro
The Prospect
Who: Dante DeNiro, freshman
Position: Catcher/pitcher
By the numbers: He has struck out 28 batters in 19⅔ innings of relief pitching and has a 1-2 record. Dante has a .329 batting average. He has also driven in 19 RBIs and smashed a team-high three home runs. He actually had a fourth homer, but it was negated because he didn’t touch home plate.
Role: The backup catcher, reliever and the No. 3 batter in the Falcons’ lineup. Two weeks into the season, college and professional scouts came calling.
Coachspeak: “He’s a unique individual. His demeanor — all the time on the field he’s giving 110 percent. He just performs and gets the job done. I really didn’t think he’d step up as a true freshman and perform as he has, but he’s stepped right into the role, and what he’s done this year has just been phenomenal.” — Baldwin.
He said it: “I always looked up to (my brothers); I wanted to be like them when I got older. I wanted to be as good as they were ... I know we’ll talk about this year the most, the memories we’ll create from this year.”
