NEW CASTLE —
John Sansone celebrated a WPIAL baseball championship last week with his Neshannock High teammates.
Yesterday, Sansone had another cause for celebration with the team.
The Detroit Tigers selected Sansone, a senior shortstop for the Lancers, in the 39th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He was tabbed with the 1,204th overall pick.
The draft, which ended yesterday, lasted 40 rounds and a total of 1,238 players were selected.
“We were at practice, and I had no idea,” Sansone said of where he was when he got the news. “One of the coaches said it over the loud speaker and everyone was going crazy.
“I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it. I’m just so thankful it happened. I thought I would go a little higher, but I’m happy my name came up and I’m happy for the opportunity.”
Sansone said it was never a dull moment after hearing the news.
“There were a lot of highs. A lot of texts and a lot of calls,” he said.
GREAT NUMBERS
Sansone came into Monday’s PIAA Class A playoff opener batting .645, a bit of a dip from his .661 average last season. But he has 12 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 40 RBIs. He was 0 for 2 plus a walk in Neshannock’s 2-0 win over Bishop Guilfoyle on Monday in the openig round of the state playoffs.
Though Sansone has strong offensive numbers, he’s equally as effective at shortstop. He had a hand in all three of the Lancers’ double plays against Bishop Guilfoyle and he consistently makes the tough play look routine.
“He has some of the quickest hands I’ve ever seen,” Neshannock coach Mike Kirkwood said. “To be drafted in Major League Baseball as a position player is difficult. There’s a huge amount of work it takes to be as good as he is and it shows the character he has.
“It’s a great honor for a great person. He deserves everything he gets. Actually, he deserves more. It’s a childhood dream of every kid that picks up a baseball. And he got to live it.”
A DIAMOND TALENT
John Quahliero, an assistant coach/infield coach with the Lancers, noted Sansone’s ability.
“I can’t take any credit. He’s just...wow,” Quahliero said. “He’s just a character kid.
“I’ve never really seen anyone with quicker hands than him. His hands and feet are like no other. Without a doubt, that was one of the attributes that the scouts saw as one of his biggest upside.”
Bruce Tanner, a 1980 Neshannock graduate, was one of those scouts that noticed Sansone. Tanner is a Major League scout for the Tigers.
“Our amateur scouts had a better look at him than I did,” Tanner said. “I saw him play one game and work out before a game.
“He’s a very athletic kid with soft hands and a strong throwing arm. He’s an average runner when you project it out to the professional level. But he’s got some surprising power. Those are all great things.”
A PATTERN
Tanner and Sansone have some similarities. Tanner was drafted late, in the 33rd round by the Chicago Cubs. But he elected to attend Florida State University. Sansone signed a letter of intent to play at Florida State. Tanner was drafted again after his playing days with the Seminoles, in the fourth round by the White Sox.
“I have until July 15 to make a decision,” Sansone said. “It’s a huge dream. But FSU is a great program and it’s definitely my favorite school.”
Said Tanner, “It increased my draft status by going to Florida State and it was a huge positive. I don’t think either direction he chooses would be a bad one. He comes from a wonderful family and I’m sure the decision he makes will be the proper one.”
Tanner said the entire infield of the Seminoles got drafted and “they’ll be looking for a lot of guys to step in and fill the void.”
Neshannock (22-2) returns to action at noon today at White Township Park in Indiana to face Elk County Catholic (17-6) in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals. But yesterday’s draft joy doesn’t figure to be a distraction to the Lancers’ pursuit of state gold.
“Not at all. Everyone was very happy for me,” Sansone said of the team’s focus. “We’re all ready and we know what’s at stake.”
“He has to be riding a high right now,” Tanner said. “Hopefully it carries over to (today).”
Neshannock
Related Photos
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Neshannock High baseball star John Sansone has until July 15 to decide whether he'll sign a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers or play for Florida State University.
Discussion
Major League Moment: Neshannock’s Sansone drafted by Detroit Tigers
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