For the first time since 1948, the Flushing High School baseball team went undefeated this season, while taking home the PSAL championship title.
On Friday, June 24, New York City Councilwoman Sandra Ung presented the team with certificates in recognition of their accomplishment.
To commemorate the occasion, Ung also announced that she secured $500,000 in funding from the adopted $101 billion city budget to renovate Leavitt Field, where the team practices and plays its home games.
“I don’t remember us having much athletic success when I was a student, so I am going to have to claim this title partially as my own,” Ung, a former graduate of Flushing High School herself, said jokingly. “I want to congratulate the Flushing team on this history-making undefeated season.”
During the ceremony, Ung presented certificates to coaches Joe Gerloven and Antonio Bausone, in addition to the rest of the coaching staff and the players.
Leavitt Field, where the ceremony took place, is used by several athletic teams comprised of students from Flushing High School, Veritas Academy, and Queens High School for Language Studies. All three schools are housed in the Flushing High School building on Northern Boulevard.
It is also used regularly by local athletic leagues and to host community events. The $500,000 in funding will go to help repair the turf fields, fix several sink holes, address ponding issues, and replace portions of the fence.
“I am happy I was able to fulfill the request of school officials and allocate money for this project,” Ung said. “Hopefully when all of the work is done, we will have a sports field worthy of this title-winning team.”
Gerloven said the last time there were any major renovations done at the complex at 32nd Avenue and 137th Street was back in 2010. Since then, the Flushing High School athletic teams have taken the initiative to host several fundraisers to raise money to make minor repairs.
“I’m incredibly appreciative of all this,” Coach Gerloven said. “This will benefit not just the current players, but every group of students after them.”
