Leejay Pollacci, Mike Allen and Scott Hladik (photo from MySpace)
These same three boys led the Saratoga Springs High School Blue Streaks to one of their best seasons in years. Scott Hladik, Mike Allen, and LeeJay Pollacchi, last season, took Saratoga Springs High School to the Class AA sectional playoffs, where they beat Shenendehowa for the first time in more than 20 years.
After making the Class AA semifinals, they lost to Columbia. The three golden boys didn’t let this faze them in any way. They took it all in stride like real pros.
Leejay Pollacchi has chosen to stay and play here in the capital district by going to Skidmore College. Skidmore head coach Ron Plourde called Leejay, and he was amazed with his ability in the outfield along with his speed.
Because Pollacchi is a two-sport player -- football and baseball -- the decision to play was a little hard for him to make. Skidmore was his first choice for education.
“Skidmore was one of my top choices when I started out,” said Pollacchi, “but I started looking at RPI when I got wait-listed at Skidmore. I was going to play both football and baseball there, but then Skidmore took me off of the waiting list and that’s really where I wanted to go.
“It haunted me for a while,” said Pollacchi of not playing football. “I thought about it. I’m going to miss it, definitely, but I’m glad to be playing at least one.”
Coach (Plourde) told me that their interests were in outfield and speed, “I’m looking forward to filling some gaps.”
Pollacchi, a 5-foot-9, 171-pound senior, was named the Player of the Year in football for the Empire Division in 2008.
Asked prior to the start of the season what he was expecting from his team this season, Pollacchi responded, "Better team. Better record. You should be scared of Saratoga football.” Friday night, in a game against Shenendehowa, Leejay scored three rushing touchdowns, then capped a brilliant all-around performance with an interception in the final 30 seconds as the Blue Streaks produced a 30-21 victory over Shenendehowa in Class AA Empire Division play.
"Our guys did great today," Pollacchi said. "We came out strong in the second half."
Mike Allen has chosen to stay and play at Siena.. It was a bit of surprise for him when he got a call to meet with Siena head coach Tony Rossi.
“I never expected to go (to a D-I college) but it just happened,” said Allen. “I was expecting to go D-III to Endicott and it just worked out.”
Siena was in need of middle infield help and decided to give the chance to Mike.
Scott Hladik will stay and play at The College of Saint Rose. He chose to become a Golden Knight this past winter.
“When I got all my colleges back I decided that (Saint Rose) was the right choice for me and I signed to go there mid-winter,” said Hladik, who also considered UAlbany. “I’m looking to play a little more outfield and DH so I can get a good amount of at-bats in.”
“There are a lot of guys here who are going to be playing locally and I think it says a lot about the talent in the area,” said Hladik. “There is a lot of talent here and people are starting to recognize us.
”“The thing with staying local is that it keeps all the people who have been following us in our careers to be able to keep watching us,” said Pollacchi. “I know colleges like getting local kids. They love local talent and love kids that they can follow in the area.”
To watch three local boys go to great schools is a fantastic lift up to other young athletes.
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