April 23, 2008
Mark and Greg Angelo have come a long way since the days when they used to pretend they were John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra or Chipper Jones while playing Wiffle ball against each other in their backyard in Quakertown.
Mark, a senior first baseman, has overcome being cut as a freshman to become a Bucknell University captain and one of the top hitters in the Patriot League this spring with a .345 average, a .409 on-base percentage and 31 RBIs.
Greg, a sophomore pitcher for Lehigh, has held foes to a .197 batting average and is 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA in eight games.
Each credits those backyard showdowns and the patience, love and commitment of their dad, Ed, for the development of their baseball skills.
"The two things he loves in this world are his family and baseball,'' Mark said ''Put those two together, it's a deadly combination. He's taught us both so much over the years."
Mark was 7 and Greg 5 when they became hooked on baseball by watching the exploits of the 1993 Phillies with their dad.
Ed Angelo surprised and confused his kids one day when he brought home a bag of plastic golf balls and told them to use them in their backyard games.
For the complete story from Don Bostrom of the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call click here
