KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's teammates honored at Yankee Stadium
KC Ndefo, who grew up in Elmont, of the Saint Peter's University basketball team throws the ceremonial first pitch Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Jim McIsaac
From the playgrounds of Elmont to the court at Saint Peter’s to the sweet embrace of the Elite Eight to, finally, this — the mound at Yankee Stadium.
KC Ndefo could hardly believe any of it.
Flanked by the rest of the basketball team that stunned America, the Saint Peter’s big man threw out the first pitch before the Yankees-Red Sox series finale on Sunday night. Naturally, the senior threw a strike.
The team also was honored in a pregame ceremony.
“It’s amazing — it’s unbelievable, unbelievable,” Ndefo said. “It’s something I never thought I’d be doing in my life — being on the baseball field at Yankee Stadium. Growing up in New York, watching the Yankees, it was always a great team. I’m a big Yankee fan.”
Of course, there was a lot about this year that Ndefo didn’t expect. The Peacocks became the first No. 15 seed in the history of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament to advance to the Elite Eight, and all the while, Ndefo, who played three years at Elmont Memorial High School, captured the attention of millions. He led the country in blocked shots and was named the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year.
This while playing for the only school that offered him a scholarship after his senior year of high school.
“I really didn’t expect it,” he said. “Just knowing the core group that we have, it’s awesome. We had high expectations, but to have this outcome, you just thank God, thank God every day.”
Rortvedt progressing
A recent MRI on Ben Rortvedt’s strained right oblique came back clean, and he’s set to begin ramping up activity, Aaron Boone said. The 24-year-old catcher is expected to play in rehab games soon.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
