On a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, Frank DeNunzio sat in the bleachers and watched as his son Anthony prepared to bat for the MacArthur Generals. He closed his eyes for a second and was transported back in time to 1981, and for a brief moment he remembered that once-in-a-lifetime feeling of being a member of the Generals Nassau County Championship baseball team. Suddenly, the crack of the bat jolted his eyes open and he watched his son successfully rip his third hit of the game.
“Watching my son play on this field fills me with so many emotions,” said DeNunzio. “It seems like just yesterday I was with my own buddies battling in a playoff game.”
The father and son share more than a name and their love of baseball. Both also made a significant impact on the football field. The elder DeNunzio played receiver and lineman for the Generals during his tenure at MacArthur, and the junior DeNunzio recently completed his senior year as DL/OL and was named All Long Island 1st Team, MSG Varsity All Metro Team and Class AA All State 2nd Team. He will play dual sports at LIU Post this fall.
Many things have changed since DeNunzio took to the fields at MacArthur. There was no electronic scoreboard in the outfield or turf on the football field when he played, but the pride in wearing a MacArthur uniform remains the same. “The memories of bus rides and laughter that I have and watching my son go through the same thing are something I am so proud of,” said DeNunzio.
The Generals advanced to the semi-finals and are seeking their first County championship since 1994. Once a General, always a General.
