Former Sachem Baseball MVP Making Impact as Local Doctor

How good does someone have to be to win team MVP after missing three-quarters of the season?  It’s unheard of, but former Sachem first baseman Dan Laieta (Class of 1989) knows because his clutch and power hitting helped him do that his senior year. 

Dan played two years of varsity baseball for the Flaming Arrows. He didn’t play as much as he desired his is junior year, so he worked extra hard to succeed as a senior.

Right before league play commenced, he broke his ankle and was sidelined until the last two series of the season. After missing so much time he came back hitting as if he never got hurt. At the time of the injury, he was fifth in the county in hitting with a .400 batting average.

Laieta said his skill was, ""instinctive with power to all fields."

He admitted to wondering what might have been if he didn't miss so much time, but he partially attributes his current successes to his senior year injury. 

At the time of his injury, he was being heavily recruited to play college baseball. The injury forced Dan Laieta to focus on academics when picking his college. He chose to attend Boston College and graduated in 1993 with a degree in finance.  After a year toiling in the trenches of the finance world, he realized this wasn't the life for him. 

At his core, he always knew he needed to help others so he decided to become a doctor. After years of studying, volunteering, internships and residencies he made his goal a reality. His finance background helps him with the business aspects of being a doctor. This financial foundation he has has actually helped him mentor other doctors who struggle with the business aspects of medicine. 

Eventually, Laieta came back to the Sachem community.  His paperless practice is located in Holbrook and is in the same building as his father's podiatry office.  

He still has a strong affection for his roots and Sachem baseball. Current Sachem North coach, Tom Gambino, is one of his best friends so when he has time he stops by practices and gives the kids hitting tips. He followed their impressive postseason run this year and was there when Sachem North beat Commack in the Suffolk County final. 

He is happily married with two sons. The demands of being a doctor force him to work unorthodox hours, but he loves throwing the ball around with his kids and spending time with his wife.

“Bottom line is I’m just extremely committed to whatever I’m doing," he said.  

Sachem first got a glimpse of this in the 1980s by seeing him work hard on the field and even harder in the classroom, but now Sachem is even more fortunate to see this each day as he practices internal medicine in Holbrook helping friends, neighbors, and family members to get or stay healthy.