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07/27/2018 12:00 AMIt’s been said that hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in sports. As a baseball player in Guilford, John Petonito faces this challenge by keeping a level head when he steps into the batter’s box. John’s approach is helping him rack up plenty of hits with the Guilford Senior American Legion baseball team this summer.
John, who is going into his junior year at Guilford High School, has been playing both second base and shortstop for the Post 48 Seniors. After helping the Indians win 16 games and reach the Class L state semifinals in the spring, John brought that momentum to the Legion circuit this summer. As of last week, John had a .462 batting average that helped him earn a spot in the Connecticut American Legion Futures Game for Guilford, which qualified for the State Tournament and then won its first two games of the draw.
“I just carried things right over from the high-school season. I hit the ball well during the high-school year, and I just started feeling relaxed at the plate and not getting ahead of myself,” says John, a left-handed hitter. “I just took things one pitch at a time and tried to make the most of one at-bat. I’ve developed a lot and learned from coaches and players. I feel I’ve gotten stronger. I’ve also practiced the game a lot and worked on my mechanics.”
John brings the same mindset to the diamond when he’s patrolling the middle infield. Feeding off the comfort of playing alongside several veterans, John keeps calm and thinks clearly when the pressure is on.
“It’s great playing around older guys on the team, and I learned a lot from them,” John says. “For me, it was just about applying what I learned from them. I also had a clear head out there and made sure I knew what to do when the ball was hit to me.”
John made the most of his appearance in the Futures Game by going 2-for-4 to help his team earn a convincing 17-2 victory. John says it was an honor for him to take the field among some of the best Legion players in the state.
“Playing there was a great experience. I got to play around the best players my age from the different zones,” he says. “I was just carrying over what had worked for me during the regular season. It was just a fun experience overall.”
Post 48 Head Coach Michael Yates praises John for how quickly he’s elevated his baseball IQ, along with the diligence and durability that John brings to his squad.
“John works hard and is a fast learner. He soaks up knowledge of the game like a sponge,” says Yates. “This, coupled with his work ethic, make him a tough out and valued member of the team.”
It’s been quite a thrill for John to contribute to a pair of great campaigns in Guilford. John has been a part of the baseball community in town for several years, and it means a lot to him that the sport is doing so well.
“For the high-school team, we started the year struggling, but then we realized we needed to relax, and then we saw more success. We did the same thing on the Legion team this year, and it helped a lot,” John says. “The Guilford baseball community is great. I’ve been treated nicely by the coaching staffs, which helps me have a lot of fun with the game. I started here with Little League and learned a lot over time.”