In-Depth with our sports seniors
Anthony Bruno: Becoming a leader
Derek Gibbons, Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
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At the age of 4, Anthony Bruno found himself with his first love, a baseball. With a big smile and the will to learn, Bruno took the field ready to learn the game he would cherish forever.
His biggest influence in the game was his father. With three kids in the family, he was often running around helping out all three, but Bruno enjoyed his time he had with his father as a child.
"He would wake me up on Saturday or Sunday morning and take me to the field and just rip ground ball after ground ball," Bruno explained. "He didn't show any mercy. At one point I started to wear soccer shin-guards because of how hard he used to hit ground balls at me." Without the love and support of his parents, he believes he wouldn't be where he is today.
In high school Bruno excelled at baseball and was one of the best players around New York City. He was named to All-Queens third baseman and second team all NYC. He does not consider that his claim to fame though.
"My claim to fame though is that my friend, Matt Rizzotti, that I played summer ball with just got drafted last year," Bruno exclaimed. "He hit a game winning homerun off of Joba Chamberlain (New York Yankees) in college. In four years of high school, Rizzotti was 1-8 with three walks against me and that one hit being an infield single."
Growing up he had an abundance of memories, but one special one that came to mind was here at MCLA. In his first career start on the mound, he threw a complete game nine-inning shutout against Endicott.
Not even remembering how he had heard of MCLA, Bruno fell in love with the school when he visited and stayed over night at the college with former players here at the college.
"I got to spend a weekend with Bobby, Gary, Murph, Seamus, Bailey, Dumas, Bellz, and the list goes on. I still keep in touch with those guys all the time."
Over the past three years Bruno has learned how to become a leader. He had the privilege to play with one of MCLA's great, Bobby Howland, who influenced him on the baseball field. Howland was not a vocal captain, but left it all out on the field and that what was Bruno admired the most.
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