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Whitestone team taking local baseball to new level

By Everett Fell

Joey Depperman took a modest lead off of third. And just as the opposing pitcher started his motion, Depperman took off, scampering down the third base line and sliding into home safely, reminiscent of Jackie Robinson in game seven of the 1955 World Series.

But Depperman was not alive to see Robinson’s disputed swipe of home. Depperman was not even alive when Ricky Henderson passed Lou Brock as the all time leading base stealer in 1991.

Depperman is only 11 years old, the typical age of a boy who plays Little League. But this 11 year-old does not play in a typical Little League. Depperman plays for the 11-year-old Whitestone Wanderers, a local traveling baseball team.

“We play a whole new brand of ball,” John Massa, founder of the Whitestone Wanderers said.

While Little League prohibits any runner from leading off bases, the Whitestone Wanderers play in leagues where stealing is a major part of the game.

“These kids have learned what to watch for when a runner gets on base,” Massa said. “They know when a pitcher might be tipping his pitches. They know the intricacies of baseball and have learned to respect the game.”

Massa coaches the Wanderers, who are competing in the spring season of the National Junior Baseball League. The Wanderers also sport a 10-and-under team as well as a 12 year-old team.

Massa, a one-time assistant coach with the St. Luke’s baseball program, formed the Wanderers last summer. Prior to the Wanderers, Massa took some of the better players in the District 26 area and participated in summer tournaments around the metropolitan area.

“After the success we had in the tournaments our boys were interested in playing year round,” Massa said.

Once Massa had the idea the next step was to recruit. With the help of his son John Massa Jr., who plays on the 11-year-old team, Massa picked up players from the College Point Little League and the local Dwarf Giraffe, DAC and CYO baseball leagues. Massa’s scouting upset many in the neighborhood who thought he was stealing players away form the local leagues.

“If these kids went straight from these local leagues to high school, they would be bewildered,” Massa said. “We play kids who will have a legitimate shot at playing high school ball and beyond.”

Massa emphasizes that he does not teach these boys how to play baseball. Massa gives the boys a chance to showcase their talents.

“It’s similar to how parents want to send their gifted kids to a better high school,” Massa said. “These kids are special and they and their parents are serious about the game.”

Besides stealing bases, the Wanderers also play on a bigger diamond than local league teams. The Wanderers play on fields with bases 75 feet apart opposed to the 60 feet distances in other leagues.

“No Little League team in Queens can compete with us,” Massa said.

Massa, along with the parents, have to pack the kids into their cars and head out in search of a worthy opponent. Massa has appealed for a home field to play on.

“We’ve looked to play in either Flushing Memorial or College Point, but we’ve had no luck with the Parks Department,” Massa said.

Massa even told local leagues he would volunteer to fix the fields if the Wanderers could play there. The Wanderers’ majority of games are played in Long Island.

“We go out to Suffolk County, but some games are played as far as The Hamptons and we can’t make it there,” Massa said.

After the NJBL Spring season the Wanderers will compete in the Nassau County Youth Athletic Association Summer League, which begins after the July 4 weekend.

The Wanderers will also host a summer baseball camp for boys ages 8 to 14. The three-day mini-camp is to be held June 30 through July 2 with Holy Cross head baseball coach Doug Manfredonia appearing as a guest instructor, along with Massa.

“The camp will show these boys how a real high school team is run,” Massa said. “They’re going to focus and learn special things we have no time to teach during regular practices.”

Massa’s accelerated school of baseball shows the true dedication of young athletes.

“I want to put these kids in the right direction,” Massa said. “I’m 40 years old, but I’m having the time of my life watching these kids play.”