Brandon Extends Moccia Family's Athletic Talents to Baseball

His talent may be inherited, but Lake Forest American Legion infielder success goes beyond bloodlines and genes. 

Athletic success is abundant through generations of the Moccia family but parents Sharon — a native Lake Forester — and Michael Moccia stress maximizing potential for success across all spectrums whether athletic or academic. 

“We want them to have a goal,” Michael Moccia said. “They should have fun and work as hard as they can to reach their goal.” 

As a hockey player at Connecticut College from 1985 to 1989, Michael Moccia became the all-time assists leader in NCAA Division III hockey. The record still stands, and he remains among the top five scorers in NCAA Division III history. His father, Ron Moccia, played AAA baseball. 

Not to be undone, in 1981 and 1982 before becoming a diver and earning a scholarship to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. 

Their daughter, , helped lead the Scouts to their most successful gymnastics season in school history — second place in the State Meet — and continues to pursue that goal. There is no sibling rivalry in the Moccia home, just support. 

“She’s had more success than I have,” Brandon said of his sister’s achievements. “She spends four hours a day in the gym working very hard."

For his part, Brandon has been trying to help the American Legion Titans earn a District 10 playoff berth. Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Titans are in the running but need a win  against Libertyville on Tuesday (July 12) after knocking off Gurnee, 11-10, on Monday.

Moccia’s improvement, flexibility and willingness to listen are key components to the team’s postseason potential. 

After hitting .333 during the high school campaign for Lake Forest, Brandon has raised his average to .370 with the Titans while developing power. In a game against Deerfield on June 21, he drove a home run over the left field fence and onto the football field. 

“It was the longest ball I’ve seen this year. He has one of our top slugging percentages,” Titan coach Tyler Lowell said. “He is very coachable.”

Brandon’s effort to reach his goal of playing college baseball is intertwined with his effort to assist the Titans. Lowell has helped him become a more patient and powerful hitter.

“We worked with him to keep off the high fastball and get a hitters count,” Lowell said.

Lowell also had Brandon Moccia adjust his batting stance to start with more weight on his rear foot.

“We went to work on the back side to accelerate his hitting," Lowell said. "It’s about how quickly you clear your hips through the hitting zone. Hands alone is no way for power.” 

Brandon, who also plays on the offensive and defensive lines for the Scout football team, recognizes how patience has helped his performance at the plate.

“They (Lowell and Scout coach Ray Del Fava) tell me I have fast hands so I should hold back,” Brandon Moccia said. “Tyler (Lowell) helped me stay back. Thanks to them I make less mistakes.” 

Starting out as a catcher until the 2011 high school season began, Brandon became an infielder when Del Fava wanted his bat in the lineup and already had a standup backstop in Charley Gould. With the Titans, Rhodes College’s handles duties behind the plate.

Brandon was the Scouts second baseman, and has played second and third for the Titans. That versatility may be the key to playing at the next level, according to Lowell. 

“It makes him so much more attractive to college coaches,” Lowell said. “I’m going to use my contacts to get people to come out and take a look at him.” 

Brandon is considering the study of political science and history in college with a possible goal of being an ambassador or an elected official. 

“He reads books you would not expect a kid to read like David McCullough’s 1776,” Michael Moccia said. “We try to keep their (academic) focus on enjoying school to learn.” 

As the new school year begins, Brandon will be focused on football, college choices and then baseball. Brittany will be trying to take her gymnastics to higher levels for her and the Scouts. 

Their younger brother, Brett, who plays Falcon hockey coached by his father as well as competing on the Lake Forest under-12 travel baseball team, is an open book starting to make his own way, according to Michael.