Strike Out ALS fundraiser supports RCSD Athletic Director Joe LaPietra

HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y. (WROC) — Ten schools got together in less-than-stellar weather to play baseball for a more-than-worthy cause on Saturday.

Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School hosted the inaugural Strike Out ALS Baseball Classic, the first of its kind in Rochester. Syracuse has hosted such an event for 15 years.

“The goal with events like this is to get community support to ultimately raise money for ALS,” said ALS Association Development Manager Nicholas Morciglio. “We want to make ALS liveable by 2030.”

The event raised awareness for the disease and supported those fighting it in the Rochester area, including RCSD Atheltic Director Joe LaPietra.

LaPietra has been an athletic director for 21 years and won two soccer state titles as a coach at Aquinas. He was diagnosed with ALS two years ago.

All ten schools that played in the event have a connection with LaPietra, with the event featuring city, suburban, and private schools.

“It was really easy to organize because as soon as I suggested it, I had easily ten teams who said yes, let’s do it,” said Donna Enright, athletic director at World of Inquiry. “The best part of it is we’re raising money for ALS and it stays in the Rochester area and supports everyone who has ALS and is struggling every day with this horrible disease.”

“If you ever have a conversation with Joe, you’re his best friend. So whoever he’s talking to at the moment, that person is his best friend,” said Honeoye Falls-Lima Athletic Director Brian Donohue. “He’s a connector. To have the various schools that are here and the willingness for those ADs and coaches to be a part of this, it just speaks to how they feel about Joe and his impact on them.”

“All of us call him a close friend, but really, the community is his friend and that’s how Joe is,” Donohue added. “He’s been a successful coach, a successful AD, he’s a great family man, he’s done tons of stuff for the community, and he’s just brought us together.”

LaPietra spoke to the East High baseball team before their matchup, with the Eagles wearing special jerseys for the event.

“Be thankful for everything that you have, because you never know someday,” said LaPietra. “Work your butts off and do well in school, that’s number one. We know we love baseball, we love sports with everything in our hearts, but school is the most important.”

Part of the proceeds from the event are going to LaPietra’s family to help purchase a wheelchair-accessible van to help Joe in his day-to-day life.

“If you know Joe, if the shoe was on the foot, he’d be out there every day fundraising for somebody else,” said Enright.

“We’re to tell our friend Joe we love you, we’re here for you to support you,” said Donohue.

Those wishing to support the cause can do so on the online fundraising page .

Checks can be mailed to:
The ALS Association
Attn: Strikeout ALS/Nicholas Morciglio
135 Old Cove Rd., Suite 213
Liverpool, NY 13090

You can also help raise funds at the Rochester Red Wings game on Saturday, June 2nd for ALS Awareness Day.

In the event, Eastridge beat HF-L 1-0, Sutherland took down Mendon 3-1, and East defeated Bishop Kearney 13-2, with Wilson playing School of the Arts and Aquinas battling McQuaid in the final two games of the day.

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