Biography
By Jim Hague
Three years ago, when he was a senior at Hasbrouck Heights High School, Anthony Yeswita was faced with a major decision.
The multi-talented athlete had a choice to attend Western Connecticut State to play football and baseball or stay close to home and go to Rutgers-Newark to play baseball.
Yeswita was a standout in both sports for the Aviators, playing defensive end and offensive tackle on the gridiron while re-writing the school’s record books in baseball, especially by hitting the long ball.
Yeswita’s legend at Hasbrouck Heights grew when as a senior, he slugged 10 homers, including three in a game against a good Secaucus team and hit one homer that year that went clear out of Depken Field and into the traffic on Route 17, striking a truck that was passing by.
So when the time came to choose a college, Yeswita was forced to make a tough choice.
“I loved playing football and I knew I would miss it, but I love playing baseball more,” Yeswita said. “I knew a lot of guys from Bergen County went to Rutgers-Newark to play baseball and I liked Coach (Mark) Rizzi a lot. I think he was the one who talked me into it.”
Rizzi said that he began the recruiting process with Yeswita pretty late into Yeswita’s senior year at Hasbrouck Heights. At first, Rizzi was sure that Yeswita was heading off to play college football.
“I went to see him play that year and I never saw him before,” Rizzi said. “He hit the ball to right field with such power. It was incredible. I went back to see him again the next game and he did it again, hitting the ball just as hard. That’s what impressed me the most.”
In fact, Yeswita, a right-handed batter, is blessed with unique power to right field, seen very rarely. One player who comes to mind with that special gift to go to the opposite field with authority is former Mets All-Star catcher Mike Piazza.
“You don’t find kids who can do that,” Rizzi said. “For Anthony to hit the ball so hard to the opposite field, well, it stood out in my mind.”
Yeswita decided to head to R-N and he’s been bashing the ball ever since, steadily improving his game each year.
As a freshman, Yeswita hit .317 with 17 RBI, seeing action in 18 games. Last year as a sophomore, Yeswita hit .320 with 38 RBI.
This season, Yeswita has been downright mashing the baseball, hitting a team-best .383 with 10 homers, 42 RBI and 54 hits. He was recently named to the All-New Jersey Athletic Conference second team with teammate Ryan Williams.
“He has improved in every facet of the game,” Rizzi said. “He’s even improved his play in the outfield. He’s worked hard on his defense, but his hitting is so much better. He’s developed into a very good college hitter. He used to struggle a little, swinging at bad pitches, but he’s now more in control.”
Yeswita credits the off-season work he did with Scarlet Raiders’ hitting coach Joel Burgos.
“He’s worked with me a lot on my swing, making me feel more comfortable at the plate,” Yeswita said. “He’s also taught me to wait on my pitch, not swing at a pitcher’s pitch. I’m seeing the ball a lot better as well. Experience has also helped me.”
Yeswita had a day to remember this season. On April 18 against NJAC foe Rowan, Yeswita belted three homers and just missed a fourth, blasting one high off the right field fence at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium for a double. Teammate Joe Furnaguera also hit three homers that day, but the Scarlet Raiders still lost, 20-17. Yeswita had five hits in the game, scored four runs and had six RBI.
“To be honest, the fourth ball I hit was the best one I hit,” Yeswita said. “It just didn’t go out. I thought it would when I hit it. It was a great day. The ball looked like a beach ball that day. I was seeing it well. I’ll always remember that game. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
“I think a lot of what Anthony has done this year has to do with confidence,” Rizzi said. “I really think he’s among the top five hitters in our conference. He can change an entire game with one swing. When we’re playing conference teams, they all know him and they don’t give him a lot of pitches to hit, so it’s really remarkable what he’s been able to do.”
Rizzi also loves Yeswita’s work ethic.
“I hope it would set a good example to the others, because Anthony works hard every day,” Rizzi said. “He’s in the weight room every day, like it’s a religion to him. He could have rested on his laurels on what he did last year, but he came back this year and worked hard to improve his entire game.”
Yeswita is a criminal justice major at R-N. He isn’t sure what line of work he would want to pursue after he graduates next year, but he’s certain of one thing.
“I want to play baseball after college,” Yeswita said. “I’m going to give it a shot and see if I can play.”
For now, Yeswita just wants to lead the Scarlet Raiders into the ECAC Division III tournament, which begins this weekend. Rutgers-Newark is the top seed in the bracket.
“It was a little disappointing that we didn’t make the (NJAC) playoffs, but we still have something to play for,” Yeswita said. “It’s been a little tough not being able to play for the last week or so, but we had fun (Thursday), going out in the rain and mud to practice.”
Yeswita is a young man of very few words.
“He’s very quiet and very soft spoken,” Rizzi said. “He’s not a rah-rah guy. He doesn’t say much. He also doesn’t like to talk about himself much and that’s very different. He’s just a very good kid.”
And not to mention, a very good hitter.
“I concentrate on my hitting, because that’s what they need me for,” Yeswita said. “I love being here at Rutgers. I’ve made a lot of good friends here and I’ve had a great time. I’m very pleased with the way I’ve played this year. My average is up and I feel like I’m a better player. Things are pretty good.”
Much better than being a football player in a school in Connecticut.
