This past July, the New York State Sports Writers came out with their 1999 All New York State baseball team. Division Avenue High School was well represented. Sophomore catcher Eric Fierro was named to the sixth team. Despite being just a sophomore, Fierro displayed outstanding defensive catching skills that enabled him to handle a top flight pitching staff.

Division finished the season 28-2 and in those 30 games only had 12 bases stolen against them all season. The pitchers, Ryan Darcy, Dan Cronin and P.J. Antoniato, deserve a lot of credit for holding the runners close, but Fierro deserves a lot of credit for getting the ball to second to prevent the other teams from stealing. Ironically, one player, Dan Abrahams, of Great Neck South, had five of the stolen bases. This makes Fierro's accomplishment that much more credible. Abrahams was the fastest player on the Long Island Empire team, and was the starting centerfielder, as well as lead-off batter until he pulled a leg muscle and could no longer play.

Fierro's baseball accomplishments do not end with his defense. He was also the clean-up hitter for the Dragons all season long, and wound up the season as the team's leading hitter with a .469 batting average.

On top of Fierro's baseball ability he is also a very strong student and finished the school year with a B+ average. Eric hopes to follow his older brother's footsteps and play Division One college baseball. This summer, Fierro caught for the Long Island Tiger junior team. This Tiger team went to the National Championship in Michigan and lost in the championship game by a score of 9-8.