CLASS OF 2025
Darrel Caneiro (NVCLL)
DARREL spent 15-years coaching both his sons, Chris and Joe, through every level of NVCLL program. He won four championships at various levels and managed four All-Star teams. After spending three years on the board, Darrel took over as president in 2017 where he made his biggest impact on our league.
For the next four years at the helm, he made some changes that proved to be for the betterment of the league and its players. Darrel literally changed the way we play little league in this community. He streamlined our house rules and brought in continuous batting orders and free substitutions designed to get more kids playing time which is now universally used within the district. The regular season was extended by two weeks to give players more games and playing opportunities. And he revamped the All-Star voting system giving all players an equal chance to make rosters. And most importantly, Darrel created the Angels Program designed to offer scholarship opportunities for low-income families within the community to give everyone a chance to play this great game of baseball.
When Covid threatened to cancel the 2020 little league season, Darrel’s calm demeanor and determination paved the way allowing the NVCC to play a full competitive season with playoffs. The only league in the county to do so. While this was going on, he was putting the finishing touches on a merger with Congers Little League, which began in 2018. This partnership ensured that programs survival and brought our three towns together as one.
In 2021, Darrel officially became the first NVCC president in history.
Nick Farese (CLL)
NICK coached for nearly a decade in the Congers Little League from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. The highlight came in 1981 when his Tigers team went 22-2, winning both halves of the season and dominating their way to a Senior League Championship. He was an All-Star manager multiple times before coaching the Congers big boy team as well as the Congers Blue Jays American Legion team.
He served as the assistant coach at Clarkstown North for five seasons before culminating his love of coaching with the OTB Pirates where he managed for 24 years winning nine New York State Titles. He was the ultimate teacher of the fundamentals. And is perhaps best known for his ability to communicate with his players and getting great joy when they executed what all us coaches call “the little things, right."
Ted Gilbart (NVCLL)
TED loved the game of baseball. In 1977, he volunteered to coach in the Nyack Valley Cottage Little League and began his 10+ year coaching career with his three boys (Tom, Chris and Dave). Ted captured two majors' championships in 1982 and 1983 with Chris and Dave, leading the ‘82 team to the Quarterfinals of the Tournament of Champions. The next season, after all of his boys aged out of the program, decided to manage a minors’ team and proceeded to guide those young ballplayers to a championship season. He later would coach his daughter Suzi with the Nyack Softball Indians for three years and finally his grandson Evan in 2001 at the age of 66, a fitting full-circle moment for a man who truly lived for the game. Ted also served as a board member and was Vice President for a time as well.
Quoting his son Tom “Our dad was a natural teacher, and it was evident in the way he guided young players. He didn’t just teach the game...he taught life lessons. The importance of fair play, perseverance, value of teamwork, how to be both a gracious winner and a humble loser. His approach was always gentle, kind and filled with humor. The joy he found in coaching was evident in his constant smile. Our dad was not just a coach but a pillar of the community and the impact he had on every child he worked with was immeasurable.”
Scott Nappi (NVCLL)
SCOTT has been a fixture in our little league community for well over 40 years as a player, coach, manager, board member and baseball memorabilia connoisseur. He excelled at every level in the NVCLL program throwing several no-hitters and led the majors with 16 home runs in 1988. To put that in perspective, there have been fewer than a dozen home runs hit in our entire majors' program in total over the past three seasons. Scott has been a baseball and softball coach for more than 20 years and helped at various school levels for parts of three seasons. A 5-time All-Star manager, Scott has been a fan favorite amongst players for many years.
As a board member, he began the Summer Sandlot program in 2017, where kids would have a blast learning the fundamentals and trying to hit his legendary “biscuit ball” to avoid the K Train. Scott always got the best out of his players and no matter how they performed, always left the field with a smile and a new packet of baseball cards. Scott has donated countless hours of his time over the years to help make this league a success and give back to the community. He would always say “I love baseball, I love coaching. This is where my friends are, so this is where I want to be.”
Scott joins his father, Ross Nappi, who was inducted as a member of the Class of 2023.
Bill Phillips (CLL)
BILL was a little league manager for a dozen years, from 1971 through 1983. He captured two minors' championships in 1971 and 1974 with his Pirates team before moving on to Majors in 1975. There he captured a majors' title in 1976 with the Giants.
Coach Phillips had an incredibly positive impact on hundreds of players and was well known for incorporating fun into his practices, while at the same time, fielding incredibly competitive teams. As one former player said, “regardless of a players skill level, he made everyone feel like a valued member of the team.” He influenced countless kids who went on to play and coach in the field of athletics as adults and remains one of the most beloved managers the Congers Little League ever had.
Artie Pisano (CLL)
ARTIE PISANO moved to Congers in 1971 and his impact on the little league was immediate. He was filled with charisma and a mountain of a man. Artie was known for his prodigious power when playing for fellow hall of fame manager, Tom Tesi, and later the Blue Jays Big Boy squad hitting numerous line drives off the firehouse roof. His legendary home plate encounters with Cosmo T. are the stuff of legend they say. Stories reserved for bar room chats and fathers reminiscing with their sons in the stands, saying “The big man barked...not this time baby!” Artie was loud and animated, intense and committed, respectful and compassionate. In 1977, he took over the Congers Athletics and captured the league championship. Then, he led the Congers All-Star squad, with coach Willie Kennelly, through the center field fence entrance at the New City Little League. Another story that lives in infamy amongst the Congers baseball community.
Later in life, Artie pursued and honed his umpiring career at the Rockland County Umpiring Association. He was known for his sharp baseball acumen and control on and off the field. He would go on to marry his wife Terri and they had two boys, Artie III and Anthony. The game of baseball, as you might have guessed, became a part of their lives too. The young men Artie Pisano Jr was able to impact over his playing, coaching and umpiring careers is immeasurable. His white painter’s pants and A’s jersey fit his immense body and soul perfectly. His clear, loud and precise voice directing pre-game or late-night practices helped to develop many boys in the Congers community to be successful men, fathers and professionals.
Mike Tasaro (CLL)
MIKE TASARO managed in Congers for eight years from 1975 to 1982, winning a minors’ title with the 1978 Phillies and later back-to-back majors’ championships with the Yankees in 1980 and 1981. The 1981 Yankee squad, with Mike at the helm, proved to be in many people's estimations the greatest little league team Congers ever assembled. Led by fellow hall of famer Dan Casey, they dominated the Tournament of Champions outscoring opponents 30-10, to become the first Congers team ever to win the Tournament.
Mike was affectionately known as Coach T and had a positive impact on numerous youths in the Little League program. Coach T consistently strived to get the best from his players and provided a fun environment for them to learn and flourish.
CLASS OF 2024
1974 Congers Senior League All-Star Team (CLL)
The first Congers team to win a district championship at any level. In a sports story straight out of the Hoosiers playbook, this small town team made up of 14 friends used solid pitching & timely hitting on their way to a championship showdown with a powerhouse Stony Point squad. Before the days of cell phones & the internet, a crowd of over 300 people turned out to watch the title game. Behind a complete game pitching performance by Jimmy Fitzgerald & a 3-hit, 3 RBI game by Tom Tesi, Jr. the Congers crew won 5-4, capturing the crown with Kieran Harris tracking down a deep flyball for the final out. They would go on to win two more sectional games against Orange and Dutchess county before losing to the Long Island champs. Even though the season ended on a loss, it was a magical summer for these guys and some of the best moments of their lives were created.
Tommy Howard (CLL)
After his involvement with the New City Little League, which saw him coach, manage all-star teams and served as its league president, Tom Howard moved to Congers in 1964 where he was instrumental in the formation of the Congers Little League in 1968. He was one of the original managers and won the majors championship in its inaugural season. He would go on to win two more league championships as a manager with the Yankees in 1969 and 1971. A lifelong baseball fan, Tommy spent many years on a ballfield serving as both a manager and umpire. He lived and breathed baseball and even met his wife on a little league baseball diamond.
Ned Meara (CLL)
Born on August 18th 1938, Ned Meara lived a life of dedication to the youth and the sports he loved. Over his 82 years, he left a mark on the community, particularly through his unwavering commitment to youth sports. For 10 little league seasons, he nurtured young talent serving as a coach for the Congers Dodgers. The Dodgers consistently stood as formidable contenders capturing Majors titles for 3 straight years from 1973 to 1975 and again in 1979. Ned was known for dedicating countless hours to coaching young ballplayers, instilling in them not only a love for the game but also the principles of sportsmanship, teamwork and integrity. After coaching, he transitioned into umpiring, finding joy in officiating games well into his retirement years in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
CLASS OF 2023
Daniel Casey (CLL)
Daniel cemented his legacy as one of Congers’ baseball GOATS with his legendary Tournament of Champions run in 1981, but he also lead his team to a Majors title the previous season in 1980. Daniel’s local legend would grow as he went on to earn all-league, all-county and all-section honors in three high school sports at Clarkstown North – baseball, football and basketball. After high school, Daniel continued his baseball career as a member of the varsity team at Columbia University, where he earned his undergraduate degree. Daniel, who once said, “Don’t dream dreams, live them, died unexpectedly in 1993. His untimely and premature death is the reason why Clarkstown North decided to create its own Hall of Fame.
Timmy Casey (CLL)
Timmy proudly followed in his brother’s enormous footsteps, winning a Majors title with his Pirates team, batting a cool .500 (!) while hitting 10 bombs. A classic, 5-tool centerfielder in the Julio Rodriguez mold, Timmy earned all-league and all-section honors. He finished his high school career in 1991 having toppled seven single season and career Clarkstown North baseball records, easily cementing his Hall of Fame status. Post-graduation, Timmy dominated the competition for Rockland Community College, taking home all-conference, all-region and all-american honors. Those accolades landed him a scholarship at Seton Hall, a school with a rich national baseball profile. As a senior with the Pirates, Timmy was named first team “All Big East.” Timmy passed away in 2022 at the age of 49.
John Clune (NVCLL)
Clune, one of Nyack Valley Cottage Little League’s most successful managers and leaders, helped engineer one of the great playoff runs in league history as well as the successful redevelopment of Liberty Field. Clune led his Angels squads to Majors titles in both 1985 & 1986. His 1986 team proved to be one of the league’s best of all time, cruising to the 12 & under District 18 title & then marching all to the Sectional Championship game before ultimately falling in the final. It remains the furthest any Nyack Valley Cottage team has ever reached in the Little League playoffs. Clune, who worked for years at the Clarkstown Highway Department, now lives in Florida with his wife.
Frank DeSimone (NVCLL)
DeSimone, who spent a solid decade molding young ballplayers and programs in the Nyack Valley Cottage Little League, managed the 1993 White Sox to a Majors championship and was assistant coach for two other title teams. But DeSimone might be best remembered for helping rejuvenate the league’s junior and senior programs in the mid-1990s. In addition to those contributions, the now retired associate court clerk also served on the league’s board as both secretary and Majors director. He lives in Valley Cottage with his wife, Peggy.
Ross Nappi (NVCLL)
Over the course of two decades, from 1983 to 1998, Nappi distinguished himself as one of District 18’s most respected umpires. While Nappi worked as NVC’s primary umpire, his reputation led him to be named head umpire for many of the Tournament of Champions and District 18 tournaments. In addition to umpiring, Nappi coached his son Scott for six NVC little league seasons. Nappi, who worked for the postal service after returning from the Korean War, passed away in 2016 at the age of 79.
Richard Salvati (CLL)
A graduate of North Clarkstown High School and long-time member of the Congers fire department, Salvati was a phenomenal little league coach, steering a series of great teams during a dominant run that stretched from the early 1990s into the new millennium. His three majors championships (1991, 1998 and 2000) as a manager are the most in the 55-year history of the league. His 1998 team of 10-year-olds covered the league in glory and is the last Congers team to win a district title. Salvati, a proud member of the Sons of Italy, coached or managed in the Congers little league for a cool quarter of a century and spent years tirelessly working the fields and organizing equipment as vice president of the league’s board. Salvati passed away in 2016 at the age of 61.