By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

Boston will be back to a one Castiglione town later this week as Duke Castiglione, the son of Red Sox voice, Joe Castiglione, winds down his freelance assignemnt with Boston’s NBC7 sports department.

Castiglione, 33, who has been filling in since August 1 at the local NBC affiliate, confirmed to Shots on Monday night that he has accepted another freelance position in New York City with FOX5, to anchor Friday, Saturday and Sunday sports for one of his former NYC bosses, Lew Leone, FOX5 and MY9’s Vice President/General Manager.

Leone held the same title until October of 2005 at WCBS in NYC, where Castiglione was on his roster.

“I had a blast in Boston,” said Castiglione, late Monday night munching a Rice Krispies treat as he drove home to Wilbraham on a snowy Mass Pike, after working the evening newscasts for NBC7 (and WB56). “It was a real good time and there are really nice people there. I made some new friends and met some new people.”

Castiglione was brought on at NBC7 (with the blessing of his long-time friend, 7’s Joe Amorosino), to help offset the loss of Wendi Nix to ESPN. Castiglione filled in quite capably at all levels, both in-studio and in the field. He brought a bit of the “New York attitude” to his assignments and tirelessly worked sources and connections, transitioning smoothly from baseball, to hoops to football and more. In short, Castiglione distinguished himself over his five-plus months of Boston fill-in work.

Last week’s debut of NBC7’s new third man, Larry Ridley, meant the affiliate is back to a full three-person sports staff (along with Dave Briggs) and Castiglione’s services are no longer needed. That doesn’t necessarily it’s the last we’ll see of Castiglione in these parts, however.

Asked if he’d like to get back to the Boston market at some point, Castiglione said, “I’d say there’s probably a pretty good chance of that happening.”

But, as Castiglione surely recognizes, there’s not a lot of movement in the market - witness the aging, entreched staffs of both CBS4 and ABC5. “I’m always available for anything Joe and (NBC7) needs during the week.”

(Note to NBC7: It never hurts to have a bona fide New York reporter on call, especially during baseball season.)

At FOX5 in Manhattan, Castiglione replaces Newton native John Discepolo who was not renewed by WNYW and finished his contract last week. Discepolo was a former punter at Hofstra University and ex-teammate of Wayne Chrebet’s.

Castiglione joins a department that features Reischea Canidate as the other on-air sports talent.

Castiglione, who expects to continue his freelance association with ESPN during baseball season, said he’d like to be in the mix for the full-time position at FOX5. And, the Marshfield native and Stonehill College grad, also admitted he’ll miss having regular sit-downs with his Pops, Joe.

“I think one of the best parts of being in Boston was having dinner with my dad every night at Fenway,” he sadi. “But I see him a lot when I’m in New York, too.”

Castiglione should finish up at NBC7 in a couple of days and begin at FOX5 this weekend.

. . . FOX5 is also home to ex-Boston pretty face, Jodi Applegate and long-time New York staple, Ernie Anastos.