Kin-do player

When Gabe Natale took the basketball court last Thursday afternoon, he knew his two biggest fans — parents Frank and Kathy Natale — wouldn’t be in the stands.

It’s rare for the couple to skip one of their son’s games at Girard Academic Music Program. As it turned out, they missed a classic.

While the Natales were in New Orleans celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, the GAMP Pioneers were reveling in their thrilling 61-57 double-overtime victory over Human Services Charter.

"My dad will be mad that he didn’t make it to the game," said the 17-year-old guard, who scored 15 points in the victory.

However, Frank and Kathy will be able to enjoy the home version.

"I have to get the game tape and show it to him," said Gabe, of the 1800 block of South Juniper Street.

Reviewing tapes is nothing new to Frank Natale, a longtime high-school coach and former athlete.

A 1971 graduate of West Catholic, Frank was an All-Catholic offensive guard for the school football team and the starting catcher for the baseball squad.

As head coach of the Bartram football team for seven years, he often took son Gabe to games.

Frank Natale compiled a 45-30 record in his seven years, which included a trip to the 2001 Public League semifinals.

Natale is now an assistant football coach at Bok under Tom DeFelice.

Since GAMP doesn’t have a football team, Gabe has to settle for participating in just one of his father’s favorite sports — baseball. He is a starting outfielder for the Pioneers squad.

"He always loved baseball. He wanted to make me a baseball player," Gabe said of his father, but added, "He supports me in whatever I do."

Gabe Natale’s well-rounded career began at an early age. He grew up playing baseball with the Delaware Valley Youth Athletic Association.

He also played on St. Monica’s Catholic Youth Organization squad, during which time he suffered a season-ending broken right leg.

Natale continued with football as a freshman at Central High, where he was a member of the junior-varsity team. A year later, though, he transferred to GAMP so he could attend school with his neighborhood friends.

The performing-arts school allows individual students to shine, but Natale said he leaves the solos to the better singers.

"The school choir is the most I sing," he said.

Nor does Natale seek the spotlight at the Pastaria at Franco and Luigi’s, 13th and Tasker streets, where opera singing adds to the dining ambiance.

"They pay me not to sing," the busboy said with a chuckle.

But Natale has no problem performing the lead for the 4-5 Pioneers. He is one of two seniors on a very young roster that includes five freshmen and five sophomores. Paul Vanderzee is the other senior.

Natale jump-started the Pioneers’ offense in last Thursday’s win by scoring five of his team’s eight first-quarter points. GAMP didn’t make its first basket until almost three minutes into the game.

The young squad’s slow starts are expected, but Natale is doing what he can to help his teammates adjust.

"A lot of times we are hurrying and rushing, but the game slows down for us," he said.

Against first-year squad Human Services, the Pioneers had many open looks at the basket, but failed to establish a lead. GAMP trailed 22-14 at halftime, then managed to build a 33-26 advantage in the third quarter.

The true test came in the second overtime after the Pioneers’ two seniors fouled out. Natale picked up his fifth foul with 2:30 remaining in the second overtime, leaving it all up to his younger teammates.

"I have a lot of faith in them," said the player, who is averaging 7.8 points per game for the Pioneers.

A 360-degree lay-up by freshman Anthony Venafro and two foul shots by sophomore Eric Funaro were the clinchers in the 61-57 victory.

Winning is a nice change of pace for the Pioneers, who were victory-free last season.

"This year, we got a lot younger and the players are pretty athletic," Natale said.

GAMP has enough confidence to hope for one of four playoff spots. That would be a remarkable accomplishment for the team, which plays in classification A of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Unlike baseball, in which the Pioneers are postseason regulars, the basketball program has made the cut only once.

Natale is pacing himself, much like he does on the court.

"We have to take it one game at a time," he said. "If we make the playoffs, it would be a bonus."

Spoken like a true coach’s son.