Leiter shares his pitching expertise

One day, you'll find him in a press box, assessing Derek Jeter's leadership and Joba Chamberlain's future for a millions-deep, New York-based television audience.

The next? Try an ivy-covered baseball field in Fort Lauderdale, or maybe an everyday batting cage, teaching whomever will listen -- high schoolers, middle schoolers, even grade schoolers -- about the finer points of the fastball, or the art of the mental game, or anything baseball-related.

That's the double-life of Al Leiter, the former Marlins ace, author of a no-hitter and winner of a World Series -- and now, the newest member of the Pine Crest baseball coaching staff.

Of course, he's not just another coach out there.

Senior pitcher John Blohm: ``[He's] someone you know who's got a really good background, obviously. You've seen him on TV. You've seen him in the World Series. The guy knows what he's talking about.''

Junior pitcher/third baseman Kyle Francis: ``It's definitely brought a new life to the team. He's a very intense guy.''

Even coach Glen Pierson: ``The first day we introduced him to the team, it was in my classroom, and he spoke for over two hours about the game . . . Attention spans for kids can be as short as five minutes. He had them for 2 ½ hours, truthfully, totally locked in.''

But let's back up a bit. Leiter addresses rabid Yankees' TV viewers as a part-time commentator for the Yankees Sports and Entertainment Network. His inquisitive nature from his playing days easily could help land him a college or professional job somewhere.

So how did he end up at Pine Crest, of all places?

For starters, his children all are in the Pine Crest system -- one in second grade, another in fifth and the other in seventh, each commuting from the Weston home the New Jersey-born pitcher and his Plantation-native wife bought in 1990.

Still, there had to be an opening -- and it came last year, when the Chicago White Sox organization hired then-pitching coach Brian Drahman to the same position with the Single-A Winston-Salem (N.C.) Warthogs.

Pierson and athletic director Jim Foster saw an opportunity. So they jumped on it.

The result: not an everyday job, with Leiter's many duties -- he'll call about 50 games for YES this year -- limiting him to an average of one or two practices a week with the Panthers.

But when he's there . . .

''Everyone gets up,'' senior pitcher Adam Hardy said. ``[We're] all real excited to have someone of his status here. We're all trying to impress and play better.''

Think Leiter's just a name, a figurehead, a local hero without much to offer? Not even close.

Pierson and his squad have seen the hands-on Leiter address everything in his new job, which began in January.

Some days he'll work on delivery and mechanics, others on their mentality. Sometimes he talks fielding, or uses his pitcher's perspective to help Pine Crest's hitters. He talks about confidence, about approach, about having a purpose in every practice.

Leiter now has a chance to see baseball at another level. Oh, and it's aiding the Panthers, who are a surprising 9-4.

''This is the best starting record we've ever had [since I've been here],'' the fourth-year Blohm said, ``and he's definitely helped out on that path. There's no question about that.''

Leiter said that's only going to increase as his kids get older, and ''you bet I hope my presence'' will help bring academics-and-athletics-minded baseball players to Pine Crest, whose baseball program currently rests in the shadows of powerhouse American Heritage.

But he's not giving up broadcasting anytime soon. He likes that double-life.

''The broadcasting has given me an opportunity to be in the sport that I love so much,'' Leiter said, ``. . .and still have a life.''