Basketball, Baseball
Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter
Favorite team: Philadelphia sports teams
Favorite memory competing in sports: Being a part of the best basketball team in Pennridge High School history 2014-15.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Ripping my baseball pants after sliding.
Music on iPod: Any
Future plans: Attend Monmouth University
Words to live by: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13
One goal before turning 30: Be successful in my future career.
One thing people don’t know about me: I am afraid of heights.
By GORDON GLANTZ
It would seem that Pennridge senior Danny Long has found the winning formula.
“He is the ultimate team player and competitor,” Rams’ basketball coach Dean Behrens said. “He is a winner. He has made every team he has been on better.
“If there is a game to be played and you are picking teams, my advice would be to pick Dan Long.”
One man’s opinion? Hardly. To coach Danny Long, is to love Danny Long and his will to win.
“When I think of Danny, I think of the fierce competitor that he is,” said Pennridge baseball coach Tom Nuneviller. “He has the desire to win and will do what it takes to succeed on the baseball field or basketball court. Competition means something to Danny. If his team is not successful, he takes it personally and will find ways to make the entire team better.”
For the baseball and basketball squads, both of which he will be an incoming three-year starter who wants the ball in his hands, as he is a point guard on the hardwood and a shortstop/reliever on the diamond.
“Anytime I put on a uniform or a jersey, or lace up sneakers or cleats, I want to go out there and win,” said Long, who will serve as team captain of both teams.
And when it comes to being a leader, he trusts his desire to score more runs or points than the opposition will rub off on his teammates.
He sees the value of being vocal, but would rather lead by example.
“Both are important,” he explained. “But I like being able to lead more by example. That is what really motivates others.”
When it comes to looking up the definition of the ultimate team captain, all the boxes are checked under Long’s name.
“As a coach, you look at your players and see if anyone on your team has leadership qualities and you see how they conduct themselves,” said Nuneviller. “Danny has the qualities that you look for in an athlete to be that leader. It also is very important for the team and easier for the coach if your best player is also the hardest worker.”
Long’s commitment to both sports was evident during the process of selecting a school to continue his baseball career, and to do so before his senior year commenced.
“That was pretty important,” said Long, who thanked his family (parents Tom and Maria and older brother Tommy), as well as his coaches, for their support and inspiration. “The deadline was the end of the summer. I wanted to have it out of the way.”
The idea of giving up basketball his senior year was off the table, a non-negotiable item.
“I was fortunate that all the coaches I talked to were okay with me still playing basketball,” he said.
Long narrowed his list of finalists to La Salle, Millersville and Monmouth and chose the latter for multiple reasons.
While his cousin, Joe Molettiere, was already there, it was not enough to seal the deal.
“I knew he was going to be there, which is an added bonus, but I didn’t want it to be the only reason,” said Long. “I visited and I fell in love. The coaches were all great.”
And?
“And it is close to the beach,” he added of its campus in West Long Branch, N.J.
Long was frustrated by the way last baseball season went for the Rams, who fell short of expectations with a senior-dominated squad that barely reached the District One playoffs and lost in the first round.
“We had a good amount of seniors,” he said. “We had a talented team, but we were just never able to put it all together and make that run that we needed.”
While determined to turn it around this spring, Long has much to play for – individually and, more importantly, team-wise for the basketball team.
First-team all-league last year and second-team as sophomore, he entered this past week’s action with 918 career points for a team that was off to a 4-0 start.
A season ago, he led the Rams to new program heights, as they reached the state playoffs.
Should there be a similar run in the 2015-2016 season, Long could easily eclipse the school’s all-time scoring mark set by Tim Abruzzo, who is now manning the backcourt at Navy after re-writing the record books at Pennridge just a few years ago.
For a guy who just wanted to out on the floor and run the offense and help his team win games, it is a bit overwhelming.
“I never thought something like that would happen,” admitted Long, who added that he has stayed in touch with Abruzzo.
Down the road, the school’s athletic department will have easy time retiring No. 4 but a hard time deciding who gets the honor.
“I wear the same number, No. 4, that he wore,” said Long. “It’s kind of cool, having the same type of success.”
One major difference between the two is that Abruzzo is 6-3 while Long is 5-11. Beyond height, he played baseball from a young age and it was always his first love.
“You can say that,” he said. “I started playing baseball when I was really young, for as long as I can remember.
“I put in a lot of time with both sports. I love both sports, but it has always been a dream of mine to play baseball at the next level.”
Long made that quest much easier with his work in the classroom, as his name can regularly be found on Pennridge’s distinguished honor roll.
“It gives you a lot more options,” said Long, who will go in as an undecided major but believes the ultimate choice will be between education and business. “I’ve always been a good student, but it was an added incentive, knowing it would help me in the long run.”
He was given no clear picture where he will fit in at Monmouth, but Long hopes to do what he always does – be a winner.
“Hopefully, I’ll be somewhere in the infield,” he said, adding that he was told he may be asked to do some relief pitching. “Whenever I get onto the field, I’ll do whatever I can do to help the team.”
