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BPM 2010 High School Baseball Preview

01/01/2010, 11:50am (EDT)

By Brandon Kurz

The Long Island High School baseball season is a favorite of many, and BPM is expecting a 2010 season that will keep the players and fans on the edge of their seats. With so many talented teams, players and coaches it was hard to choose which schools to preview for the season, so BPM took the two teams from each division that played for their respective titles.

Massapequa High School

(L to R) Rob Veltre, Joe Lipari, and Mark Pagano

CONFERENCE AA-1
2009 DOUBLE A CHAMPIONS

This time of year the Massapequa faithful have a lot to look forward to because the Massapequa baseball team is almost ready to take the field. The team is led by seven year head coach (15th year at Massapequa) and Assistant coaches Chris Cafiero, Rob Cafiero, and Steve Castellani. Strong coaching has led to strong preparation. Whether they are hitting in the cages, conditioning for the season, or waking up for morning workouts (before school), the team is busy working towards defending their fourth championship in four years

"The goal of our program is to build strong team values and give each player a chance to play past high school. We work towards improving our skills every day and we've built a positive atmosphere. However, it is also our hope for each of our individual players that they continue to play through college and hopefully beyond," said Coach Sheedy. The Massapequa team works out each morning before school. The team is committed to winning as shown by their recent history. With three returning starting players and talented returning players, the Massapequa team is stacked with talent as always.

The Massapequa team is returning three starters from last year's championship team including 2009 All State Pitcher Joe Lipari, All League first baseman Rob Veltre, and speedy leadoff hitter/centerfielder Mark Pagano. The rest of the team will make the difference as to whether or not the Massapequa team will take home a 5th Championship in a row.

Last year, the Massapequa team won the Long Island Championship beating North Babylon by a score of 8-3. This year the Massapequa boys are hard at work in an effort to match their 2009 campaign.

North Babylon High School

LEAGUE IV
2009 CLASS A RUNNER UP
The 2010 season will be one of change for the North Babylon High School Baseball Team. The defending Suffolk County Class AA (Large School) Champions graduated all nine of their starters and their top reserves off the bench. The top six pitchers all went the way of graduation as well. The Bulldogs are undaunted by this and have already begun preparations for the upcoming season. Head Coach Jim Mango and Assistant Coach Bill Munro are counting on a small group of returning seniors and a young, but talented group of underclassmen. Multiple players will be competing for starting jobs at each position. Some positions will have up to five players competing for the same starting job. Returning Seniors hoping to crack the starting line-up or the pitching rotation for the Bulldogs include Ryan Belanger (P-IF), Nick DeMarchis (P-OF), Nick Forde (P), and Andrew Wroblewski (C-DH).

How the underclassmen perform, however, will be the key to the season for the Bulldogs. The underclassmen are lead by juniors, Mike Lyon (P-IF), Mike Manning (P-IF), Luke Noone (P-OF), Anthony Caruso (1B-DH), Nick Domnisch (C), and Nate Trashansky (OF-DH). Sophomores Kevin Boyle and Greg Carrick will also push for one of the open starting positions.

The Bulldogs have been to the playoffs for a school record of six seasons. They have 92 wins that they have accumulated in that time period, highlighted by the League IV Championship in 2006 and the school's first ever County Baseball Championship in 2009. Two players from that 2009 group - Kyle Olsen (P-CF) and Kevin Primm (C) - were voted to the All New York State Baseball Team, 2nd and 3rd team, respectively.

Although they got off to a slow start in 2009 (4-6), they won 15 of their last 16 games, including coming from behind in all five games of

the Suffolk County Playoffs. The playoffs were highlighted by a (6-5) ten inning victory over Longwood High School, in which the Bulldogs came from behind twice, including a three run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning. North Babylon eventually won the game and the first County Championship for the school when Kevin Primm drove in winning pitcher Anthony Repetto, with the game winning single. The 2009 season was a tribute to the hard work, sacrifice and discipline of a group of players with a tremendous desire to win. Although the 2009 players will be missed, the 2010 Bulldogs show great promise and want to continue their predecessor's success.

Clarke High School

Connor McCarthy

CONFERENCE A-1
2009 CLASS A CHAMPIONS

The Clarke H.S. Rams are looking to add to their rich tradition and defend their Long Island Championship title. Clarke's legendary coach, Tom Abruscotto, fully expects to be in the thick of things within his conference and within the county. With five returning starters and 11 returning players from last year's varsity team, the Rams are primed and ready to repeat last year's success.

Clarke returns three senior outfielders. John Chodkowski will patrol centerfield, while Ryan Sloane & Tom Fusco will man right & left respectively. Hofstra bound Connor McCarthy returns to anchor a pitching staff that will also include senior lefty Sean Stewart. Sean missed most of 2009 after suffering a knee injury that required surgery.

The offense should be supplied by the returning outfield core as well as returning clean up hitter and first baseman John Radice.

The Rams are working out diligently to defend their Long Island Championship throughout the winter months. It's coach Abruscotto's presence and expectations, that help lead Clarke to year in and year out success.

Islip High School

Eddie Macaluso

LEAGUE V

2009 CLASS A RUNNER UP

The Islip High School baseball program has a strong history under fabled head coach Fred Biangardi. He retired with over 500 wins and two former Carl Yastrzemski award winners, given to the best player in Suffolk County (Victor Nicotra and Tom Veryzer), but over the past three seasons the Islip Buccaneers have reached new heights. The Bucs have reached the Class A New York State Championship Game twice (winning the State Championship in 2007 and losing in the finals in 2008) and then winning their third consecutive Suffolk County Championship in 2009 before losing to Clarke High School in the Long Island Championship. They head into the 2010 season with high expectations once again and Head Coach Peter Blumenauer credits his player's hard work and dedication for the success of the program.

One common staple Blumenauer cited for the success of the program has been excellent pitching during their run, with four alumni currently pitching in Division 1 programs and this years' team he feels is no different. Blumenauer credited pitching instructor Neal Heaton for a lot of the team's success on the mound and helping to instill an aggressive approach for each pitcher to take to the mound. This season's pitching staff is built around senior lefthander Ed Macaluso, who was selected All-State in 2009 and will be pitching in his fourth season on the Varsity level in 2010. “As a freshman, in 2007 Eddie was put in the rotation at mid-season and helped spark our team to a long winning streak which concluded in a State Championship. He has played a huge part in our success over the last three years” said Blumenauer. Macaluso was the team's most valuable player last season and will be counted on once again to help carry the team this year. Joining Macaluso on the mound this year will be fellow left-handed senior and 4-year starter Matt Espinal and an exchange student from Lithuania, right-hander Edvardas Matusevicius, who has already drawn interest from many MLB scouts. They both possess strong 3-pitch repertories, with Espinal as the crafty lefty and Matusevicius the power righty.

At the plate, the team's line-up will be lead by junior infielder R.J. Going and senior catcher Stephen Provenzano, both of whom are three-year starters and were honored as All-league players last season. Provenzano is a power-hitting righty who led the line-up in almost all offensive categories last season and will be inserted into the clean-up spot this season. The line-up will be relying on a mix of youth in players such as sophomore designated hitter Wilfredo Vega and first-time starters junior outfielder Tyler Murphy and junior infielder Jacob Seymour. Blumenauer also expects Matuscevicius to be a dangerous weapon in the lineup as he possesses excellent speed and power.

The Bucs will be attempting to make Suffolk County baseball history in 2010 as they try to become the first team in class C or higher to win four consecutive county titles.

Southampton High School

Ricky Wesnofske

LEAGUE VII
2009 CLASS B CHAMPIONS

Last season, Southampton had waited more than a decade for a playoff win and more than three decades for a Class B County and Long Island Championship before reeling in both during their magical run to the state quarterfinals. A year later, with the lineup still stacked and their ace back on the mound, the Mariners will be far less patient.

“I think now they're probably feeling like they're the big men on campus, but I hope they work like it,” head coach Ike Birdsall said. “It seems like they're coming into the season with level heads. I have high aspirations.”

Pitching, sound defense and aggressiveness on the bases carried Southampton. Head coach Ike Birdsall will count on that formula once again, particularly on the mound. Two-thirds of Southampton's starting rotation graduated, but the Mariners are left with arguably their most consistent performer last year - RHP Chris Pike. The senior comes off a dazzling year that was punctuated by an 11-strikeout no-hitter against Class C title winner Pierson in the B-C-D game. “He's definitely going to be a force this year in our league and our county, and probably be one of the top players in the state,” Birdsall said.

Ricky Wesnofske, a spot reliever a year ago, takes on a full load as one of Birdsall's starters. The third spot will likely go to Conal Wood or Colin Buoniello. This year's staff will again throw to senior catcher Jeb Schmidt, who heads into his third year behind the plate.

It's Wesnofske, Pike and Buoniello on whom Birdsall will count on for much of the team's power and run production. Buoniello returns to the offense to which he gave a jolt late last season after getting the call from JV; he'll hit behind Wesnofske and Pike. Other everyday starters returning include Schmidt and 3B/SS Sean Johnson.

Wheatley High School

CONFERENCE B-C
2009 CLASS B RUNNER UP

In 2009 Coach Paino led Wheatley to it's first Nassau County Championship in 21 years. Wheatley met up with north shore rival, Cold Spring Harbor. Wheatley won the best of three series in the rubber match to erase the memory of two failed County Championships in 1996 & 1997.

The Wheatley 2009 team was built on great leadership, and are hoping for the same in 2010. The incoming seniors are going to have their hands full in replacing the senior leadership from last year's team. Chris Gould should lead the team back to the playoffs both on the mound and with his bat. Gould regularly strikes out double digit batters per game and helped his team all the way to the Long Island Championship with clutch hitting and pitching performances.

When Gould met Southampton in the championship game, he unfortunately ran into Chris Pike, who won the battle that day. However, Gould looks forward to a possible rematch of that game and will be a force to be reckoned with come May.

Pierson High School

LEAGUE VIII

2009 CLASS C CHAMPIONS

A season ago, Pierson knocked off its nemesis Port Jefferson in a best-of-three series for its first county championship since 2006. Under new head coach Jonathan Tortorella, a solid nucleus returns with the same expectations this spring - put another banner on the wall.

Tortorella replaces Sean Crowley, who spent 22 years at the helm of the Whalers. As the Whalers' junior varsity coach for four years, he's familiar with the personnel he'll work with this spring.

“I have high expectations for these boys and have coached most of them on the JV level, so I know there is some talent there,” Tortorella said.

The Whalers' ace, Kyle McGowin, will toe the rubber for a third season at the varsity level. Brandon Kruel, who will pitch at C.W. Post next spring, has earned a starting spot as has another senior, Ed Schall, whose clutch relief performance in game one of the county championship series helped seal the win.

Anchoring the Pierson attack at the plate is Tyler Gilbride, who as a sophomore stepped right into the third spot behind Casey Crowley and Ryan Miller, as well as McGowin hitting clean-up. The Whalers also get a lift from seniors Joe Dowling, Dane Riva, T.J. Arreguin, Mark Mahoney, and junior Gavin Kudlak. The catching duties, assumed by Crowley the last three seasons, will be split between Schall and McGowin this year.

“We've got some good players back at pitcher and hopefully some other guys will step up,” Tortorella said. “If we can pitch well and play defense consistently, we will give ourselves a chance every game.”

Oyster Bay High School

Jake Robinson

CONFERENCE BC

2009 CLASS C RUNNER UP

Oyster Bay High School is considered a very small school located in the hamlet of Oyster Bay on the north shore of Long Island.

Our success can be based on factors such as the tenure of head coach Jay Davis who is beginning his 23rd year at Oyster Bay. With 299 wins, he is looking forward to pass the 300 win milestone this season. He shares and credits his success to his dedicated and loyal coaching staff; Scott Lineman who is entering his 9th season as his varsity assistant and Ron Scudder who is entering his 15th season as the J.V. coach.

They have been able to stay competitive because they built a program focusing on good work ethic and pride in playing small ball. Their dedication has paid off. In the last three years, they were able to win three County Championships, (two in class B, one in class C) and two Long Island Championships, a Southeast Regional Championship, which resulted in their first trip to the state final four. Oyster Bay lost that game in extra innings to Maple Hill High School who went on to win the State Championship.

We have been fortunate that for the last three seasons to have players that along with playing small ball, could hit for average and hit extra base hits including the long ball. Alex Hudak, Jared Frydman, and Marc Douglas are three graduates that contributed to our success and are now playing college ball.

This coming season we are competing in Class B, due to enrollment and we will be counting on our returning players. Leading the team are our two starting pitchers, All County senior pitcher, Jake Robinson, (overall record 10-2, 70 K’s, 2.19 ERA) and All Conference junior, Chris Kelly, (overall record 8-3, 35 K, 2.97 ERA). Jake has 5 different pitches and throws all of them with great command. One of his best pitches is his knuckle drop, which could help him become one of the elite pitchers in Nassau County. Chris Kelly is a big strong pitcher who throws great off speed pitches and his best pitch is his change up. The hitting void left by the graduates will be filled by senior catcher, Dan Roland, (career batting average .435, 8 HR, 56 RBI), senior outfielder/3rd baseman, Joe Carbone (BA .367, 25 RBI) and senior 2nd baseman Alex LoRusso (BA .359, 22 Runs). Dan was All County 2 years ago, but an unfortunate knee injury kept him out of most of the 2009 season. Jake Robinson and Dan Roland, both 4-year starters must lead the team who lost a lot of experience. Jake leads off (BA .392, 32, RBI’s, 40 Runs) and plays shortstop (when he’s not pitching).

The team is looking forward to this coming season where we expect another competitive year. We will be counting on our other returning players, Tom Treiber, Dario Mastrogiacomo, and Preston Meyer.

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