A little bit of rain on June 4 wasn’t going to wash away the ear-to-ear smile of former St. John’s University, Jamaica, basketball coach Lou Carnesecca.

St. John’s hosted the third-ever bi-annual Lou Carnesecca Golf Classic at the North Hempstead Country Club, Port Washington, L.I. Though the start of the golf outing was delayed one hour due to weather, it turned into a nice day on the links.

More than 130 golfers – most of whom are either alumni or supporters of St. John’s athletics – turned out to support the cause of raising money for student-athlete scholarships and the university’s athletic department.

Carnesecca is of course a local legend who led the Redmen (now Red Storm) basketball team to 24 straight post-season berths. He finished his coaching career with a program record 526 wins, and he continues to stay involved with the current team.

“We are proud of our tradition here at St. John’s,” Carnesecca said.

This year’s golf classic honored distinguished St. John’s trustee Richard Chapdelaine and long-time athletic director Jack Kaiser, both of whom have dedicated themselves to a lifetime of service to their alma mater.

“I’m very humbled and quite honored,” Kaiser said.

Carnesecca was thrilled that many of his former players attended the event. Now 87 years old, the prophetic coach still remembers every player he’s ever coached at any level, though he said it’s starting to become more difficult.

He was equally excited that his golf classic was able to honor two great men.
“Aside from all that they achieved, they are good people,” Carnesecca said. “They are the kind of people looking to help other people.”

Carnesecca called Kaiser and Chapdelaine “good pasta,” which is an old Italian phrase meaning “good people.”

“If you got good pasta, you can make something with it,” Carnesecca said.

Carnesecca and Kaiser were classmates and baseball teammates at St. John’s in the late 1940s. Kaiser started at third base and later center field, while Carnesecca served as a reserve infielder.

Kaiser, who now holds the title of St. John’s athletic director emeritus, fondly recalls Carnesecca soaking him and his teammates with a hose one day before practice. Kaiser called Carnesecca a “lovable mischief maker.”

“That’s what made it so much fun,” Kaiser said. “We really enjoyed each other’s company, and we loved baseball.”

In 1949, the St. John’s baseball squad became the first-ever team from the school to earn a berth to the College World Series, played that year in Wichita, Kan. Kaiser was the captain of the team, and he was named College Player of the Year by Varsity Magazine. He has been involved with St. John’s athletics for nearly 70 years.

“A gentleman is one that causes no pain, and Jack fills that to a tee,” Carnesecca said.
In addition to Carnesecca and Kaiser being linked, Kaiser and Chapdelaine were actually both at St. John’s Prep, when it was housed in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, at the same time – though they were not in the same academic class. Chapdelaine played tennis and basketball at the Prep, while Kaiser played football, basketball and baseball under legendary coach Herb Hess.

Chapdelaine earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Niagara University in 1949. He worked for over five decades in the securities industry, and during that time, he remained a supporter of St. John’s athletics.

He later served on the Board of Trustees for both Niagara and St. John’s. He was granted an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree from St. John’s in 1984, and he is now a trustee emeritus for the university.

“Everybody loves and respects him (Chapdelaine) because of the person he is,” Kaiser said. “To be on the same program as him, that’s a plus right there.”

The loyalty and camaraderie of the St. John’s alumni further strengthens the tradition of the school’s athletic program. Through events like the Carnesecca Golf Classic, alumni members can remain involved in the school’s happenings.

“The main thing is that the alumni and friends come and see each other and see what’s happening in the department and at the university,” Kaiser said.

And even so, not many people would turn down the chance to spend some time hearing the copious stories of “Sweet Louie Carnesecca.”

Five St. John’s Players Selected in MLB Draft

In keeping with the strong baseball tradition as exhibited by Carnesecca and Kaiser, five St. John’s baseball players were selected in this year’s June First-Year MLB Draft. Four of the five picks came within the top 201 overall picks out of 1,238 total picks.

Later this summer, The Tablet will profile these picks as they begin their professional baseball careers. Below are the five St. John’s draftees.

Jeremy Baltz, OF
Vestal, N.Y.
Selected second round (68th overall), San Diego Padres

Matt Wessinger, INF
Liverpool, N.Y.
Selected fifth round (168th overall), Colorado Rockies

Matt Carasiti, RHP
Berlin, Conn.
Selected sixth round (198th overall), Colorado Rockies

Kyle Hansen, RHP
Glen Cove, N.Y. (St. Dominic H.S., Oyster Bay)
Selected sixth round (201st overall), Chicago White Sox

Sean Hagan, LHP
Larchmont, N.Y.
Selected 29th round (880th overall), Minnesota Twins

Bishop Kearney H.S. Summer Sports Camps

Bishop Kearney H.S., Bensonhurst, invites young female athletes to its annual summer sports camps. Details listed below:
Volleyball Camp, July 9-12
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Girls from 5-8 grade
Participants will receive instruction in passing, serving, spiking, blocking, individual defense and team offensive and defensive concepts.
Fee: $125

Basketball Camp, July 16-21
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Girls from 5-8 grade
Participants will receive 20 hours of instruction in the fundamentals of shooting, ball handling, skills, rebounding, passing, defense and team play.  Fee: $175