By Joe Aguilar Daily Herald StaffContact writerPublished: 11/22/2009 12:06 AM
Hard-throwing Matt Murphy stands 6 feet 3 and weighs a scant 160 pounds, which makes the Grayslake Central senior about as thick as a pitching rubber. "I'm a tall, skinny kid," Murphy said. "I have a high metabolism, so it's tough for me to put on weight. But I'm trying. I'm playing basketball (for the varsity) and lifting pretty hard, trying to get bigger."
Grayslake Central slugger Angelo Gargano is the opposite of Murphy. Gargano is a rock at 6-1 and 220 pounds. Together, the skinny and not-so-mini baseball teammates provided Grayslake Central huge news this week.
Both signed letters of intent to play Division I baseball. Murphy inked with Southern Illinois University, while hard-hitting first baseman Gargano gave a written commitment to Hofstra University.
"I am extremely happy for Angelo and Matt, and it is rare and a first for us to have two players sign D-1 offers (in the same year)," Rams coach Troy Whalen said. "However, it may not stop with just those two as we have a few other players - (outfielder/first baseman Mike) Gentile and (pitcher Kevin) DeRue - who I think have good chances of signing in the spring."
In helping lead Grayslake Central to a third-place finishes in the Class 3A state tournament last spring, the right-handed-hitting Gargano hit .381 with 7 homers and 51 RBI. At one point during the postseason, he went 9-for-9, including 2 home runs. He was named all-Fox Valley Conference and Daily Herald All-Area.
Gargano posted a 30 on his ACT and also excelled in football this fall, as the defensive tackle/offensive guard earned all-conference and academic all-state honors.
At Hofstra, which is located on Long Island, NY, Gargano will play for head coach Patrick Anderson.
"Angelo has worked extremely hard, both on the field and in the classroom and his efforts are being rewarded with this scholarship to an outstanding university." Whalen said. "He is a D-I hitter and Hofstra is getting an extremely hard worker."
The big guy is no stranger to the Big Apple. "I have family who live 20 minutes from the school on Long Island," Gargano said. "It's like a second home for me." Gargano said his parents, Stephen and Doreen, met and were married in New York, and both sides of the family have ties to the state. He visits once a year.
When he took a trip to Hoftstra last summer, wondering if the school would be right for him, the A student quickly discovered his answer.
It was a no-brainer. "It was just a great fit for me," said Gargano, who wants to study civil engineering. "Everything fell into place."
SIU head coach Dan Callahan was watching Snyder pitch in the state semifinals last spring when Murphy entered in relief. Murphy hit 87 mph on the radar gun and impressed Callahan with not only his velocity but also with what the Salukis skipper called a "loose and whippy" arm.
Murphy also caught the eye of Northern Illinois, UIC and Penn State. He gave a verbal commitment to the Salukis in August. "They have a very solid baseball program," Murphy said. "The field is really nice and the campus is really nice."
Murphy throws several pitches, including four- and two-seam fastballs, a curve and a cutter. "On the bump, Matt is an unbelievable competitor and he has great command of his fastball and off-speed pitches," Whalen said. "He possesses all the tools you consider when looking at a D-I pitcher - arm slot, movement, velocity, command and mound presence."
Murphy has aspirations of becoming an oral surgeon. He boast that he's never had braces. "I find teeth and surgery kind of interesting," he said.
A baseball scholarship secured, he has reason to flash a toothy smile.