Marc My Words!

Marc Maturo’s official sports column

Kivlehan, Prosciaworking their way closer to Big Leagues

A star in the making — perhaps two — are Rockland County baseball standouts Pat Kivlehan of West Nyack and Steven Proscia of Suffern

Kivlehan, a former two-sport standout at Rutgers University who is playing in the Seattle Mariners organization, is reportedly murdering Double AA pitching for the Jackson (Tenn.) Generals in the Southern League, which is widely recognized as a pitcher’s league.

Proscia, a DonBosco Prep alum who then starred at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins out of high school, then was a seventh-round choice of the Mariners in 2011, directly out of college. He is now in the Dodgers organization, playing for Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the Class A Advanced California League.

Proscia is batting .249, with 14 home runs and 58 RBI, both third-best on the Quakes, who are in third place in the South Division.

Kivlehan, who starred on the gridiron for the Scarlet Knights before also playing on the diamond in his senior year and capturing Big East Player of the Year honors, has shown continued improvement every step of the way.

At every stop, including the High Desert Mavericks, Kivlehan has needed some time to adjust before becoming a big run producer.

This season, Kivlehan’s third in professional baseball, has taken the same course.

“I struggled at first, but once I got comfortable it got a lot easier. I’ve been going pretty good,” Kivlehan told the Rockland County Times. “We’re fighting for a playoff spot with about 20 games left; this is the home stretch.”

Kivlehan is quick to note that his success is not a one-man show.

“I’m been very fortunate, hitting in good situations with runners in scoring position,” he said, leaving unsaid the fact that he still has to come through.

Kivlehan has come through enough to compile a solid .312 batting average, with team-leading numbers in homers with 10 and RBI with 60. He also has nine stolen bases.

Fall ball possibilities will be determined within the next 10 days, and Kivlehan also entertains hopes of being invited to spring training with the big club in Peoria, Ariz., and perhaps one day being added to the 40-man roster.

“I’d love a shot,” he says. “It’s every player’s dream to get a shot.”

Playing for veteran manager Jim Horner, Kivlehan, always a power-hitting third baseman, has also been playing first base, left field and right field.

“They (the front office) want me to be as versatile as possible, and I have no problem with that,” Kivlehan notes. “I like them (positions) all. The outfield is actually more like my background in football (defensive back, linebacker), running balls down.”

If the past is any prelude to the future, both Kivlehan and Proscia should have many more years in pro ball.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS GO CAMPING: Part of the resurgence in field hockey at Nanuet High School has to do with preparation, as reflected by a host of players from both the JV and varsity teams who attended Competitors Edge FH camp at FDU-Madison in New Jersey.

The upper-level teams are fed by a modified program of seventh- and eighth-graders, led by sixth-year coach Tony Pinciaro of Nanuet.

The current senior class of Elena Pinciaro, Kiera Young, CarleyDavin, Vanessa Lachiana, Rachel Gold, Izzy Watts, Carlina Velez, SuzannahPanaro and Sandra Kola began playing as seventh-graders on modified in 2009.

“In 2008, there was no modified team because of a lack of interest,” Pinciaro notes. “I was able to recruit this group as sixth-graders and they started with me in 2009. This current group brought modified field hockey back to Nanuet. In 2009,we had 19 girls play and every year the numbers have increased.”

The varsity players who attended the FDU camp included Pinciaro, Lachiana, Corinne Berkery, Young, Davin, Gold, Jenna Conroy, Taylor Phelps and Julia Bartell. Young and Davin are team captains and four-year varsity starters. Pinciaro is a three-year varsity starter.

HONORED: Rockland Boulders centerfielderAntoneDeJesus was named the Pointstreak Player of the Week in the Can-Am League. In seven games in the marking period, DeJesus led the Boulders in almost every offensive category. On August 6, his sixth triple of the year broke Rockland’s single-season record of five, previously held by teammate Jerod Edmondson. The Boulders are at Provident Bank Park in Pomona on August 15 at 5 p.m. to open a three-game series against the Quebec Capitales. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Firefighter BoulderBirdBobblehead in honor of Volunteer Firefighter Appreciation Night. For tickets call the box office at (845) 364-0009 or accesswww.rocklandboulders.com.

QUICK HITTERS: The Mercy College men’s basketball, based in Dobbs Ferry, will travel across the Tappan Zee Bridge to open its season on November 14 against local rival Nyack College at 7 p.m. The Mavericks will also visit Rockland on January 20 for an 8 p.m. game against St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill. … The Pace University football team —  including North Rockland HS alum Gavin Maher, a freshman linebacker, and sophomore tight end Brenton Fitzgibbon of Nyack — will host a Fan Fest on August 24 at Pace Field in Pleasantville. The event begins at 1 p.m. with the DJ Henry Youth Football clinic for ages 12 and under. The Pace Football Fan Fest is a free event for all participants. Check -in for the event will begin at noon at a kiosk next to the field.
For information contact Matt Anthony, marketing coordinator at (914) 773-3265 or [email protected].  The Setters open the season with three home games, first against non-conference opponent Alderson Broaddus on September 6, followed by Northeast-10 Conference games against Merrimack and Southern Connecticut. The remainder of the home schedule features LIU Post on October 4, Stonehill on October 18 and New Haven for their final regular-season home contest on November 1. … The SUNY Cortland football team, led by 18th-year head coach Dan MacNeill, will begin the season on September 6 at Buffalo State at noon. Playing for the Red Dragons are defensive lineman Gabe Ostrow and linebacker Peter Smith, both of Nanuet; and defensive back Frank Tucek of New City. The Red Dragonsfinished 6-5 overall last fall and finished third in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) with a 5-2 record. Cortland qualified for the ECAC Division III North Central Bowl, losing at Alfred, 21-14.

THIS & THAT:The Cynopsis Sports Business Summit, will take place August 19-20 at the NY Athletic Club. Panelists include Learfield Sports’ Andy Rawlings, Daytona International Speedway’s Joie Chitwood III, CBS Radio’s Chris Oliviero, Home Team Sports’ Craig Sloan and AEG’s Scott Carliss.

For information access: www.cynopsis.com/event/women-of-action/.

United World Sports, based in White Plains, seeks a paid intern for the fall/winter 2014. The position will support all marketing initiatives for the 2015 USA 7’s, Varsity Cup and USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship including direct outreach, viral marketing and market research. Part- to full-Time, August 18 — March 1. Payment: $1,500 per month. Contact [email protected]. … Rugby Today, the leading and fastest growing source for thesport of Rugby in the U.S., is looking for writers to cover the professional, college and grassroots levels of the game on a freelance basis. For information contact:[email protected]

RIP: With the passing of the actor/comedian Robin Williams, sports fans might enjoy his rant about golf. The sportscaster Len Berman provided the clip, and assures us that it is epic.