The bad news for the three Suburban Council class A teams Averill Park, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and Mohonasen is that the league will be as competitive as ever this year.
`Throughout the league, there’s a lot of balance,` said BH-BL coach Paul Deluca. `It’s going to be tough for the single As, as it always is.`
The good news for the class A teams is that they won’t need a .500 or better league record to make the Section II playoffs. The Suburban Council is switching to a point system where a league victory over a team from a different class is worth two points and a win against a team from the same class is worth one point. Seven points will get a Suburban Council class A team into Sectionals.
`I think it’s tremendous,` said Averill Park coach Mike Conroy. `There’s two points now for a quality win over a double A team, which would solidify our playoff position. Anything that allows us to receive recognition for our quality wins is a good thing.`
While the competition between the three class A teams to reach seven standings points will be keen, the competition between the class AA teams to get the best league record will be tougher. Several teams have a chance to reach that goal including defending class AA champion Guilderland, defending Blue Division champion Colonie and perennial powers Shenendehowa, Columbia and Shaker.
`I think it’s going to be very competitive,` said Guilderland coach Doug LaValley. `I can see five or six teams that can compete for the overall league title.`
Here is a closer look at the Suburban Council.
Blue Division
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Greg Lanni
Key veterans: Joe Poleto (centerfielder), Nick Carnevale (pitcher), Derek Zielinski (pitcher/outfielder), Matt June (shortstop), Andy Carucci (outfielder/pitcher), Ron Notar (first baseman), Adam Herman (pitcher/third baseman), Kevin Smith (catcher), Chris Smith (pitcher), Matt Weinman (second baseman), William Keegan (first baseman/outfielder/pitcher)
Key newcomers: A.J. Monin (catcher), Matt Vetrone (second baseman), Colin Mooney (outfielder), Dan Bardaro (third baseman), Eric Birdsall (catcher/pitcher), James DeVoe (pitcher)
Outlook: The Garnet Raiders are armed for another shot at the Blue Division title and the No. 1 seed for Sectionals.
`We have a solid group of returning players, and we have depth on the (pitcher’s) mound,` said Lanni. `Hopefully the bats will really come around, and we can be competitive in every game.`
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach: Rich Lofink
Key veterans: Brad Elliott (infielder), Drew Jeffreys (infielder), Ryan White (pitcher), Colby Hudson (pitcher), Mike Allen (third baseman), Scott Hladik (catcher), Joe House (pitcher)
Key newcomers: Ford Plowman, Matt Coleman, Erich Lange, Paul Dreyer, Will Dreyer
Outlook: Lofink said he believes his team can move up in the division standings this year.
`We have a great mix of experience and youth,` said Lofink. `With a solid three starters (in the pitching rotation), we should be competitive in the Suburban Council.`
Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Pete Mravlja
Key veterans: Mike Casey (catcher/pitcher), Thomas McDonald (infielder/pitcher), Blaise Agnew (third baseman), Casey Haydock (second baseman), Mike Skroupa (infielder), Sean Fruscio (outfielder), Eric Breton (outfielder), Brian Cary (pitcher/outfielder), Mike Petilli (designated hitter)
Outlook: Mravlja is hoping his team gives him a better season than his varsity coaching debut in 2007.
`I think we’ve improved a lot since last year,` he said. `We learned a lot from last year ` what we did well, and what we didn’t do well. We’ll be a very good baseball team if we remain focused, play together and cut down on our mistakes.`
Shenendehowa Plainsmen
Head coach: James Carrese
Key veterans: Jon Shippee (pitcher), Jeff Carter (pitcher), Bryan Marotta (catcher), Sam Rosenzweig (first baseman), David Balsalmo (shortstop), Chris Howard (centerfielder), Tim Jones (outfielder/catcher)
Outlook: After losing eight games by one run and missing the playoffs for the first time in several years, the Plainsmen are looking to their veterans to lead them back to the top of the division.
`This is probably my favorite group (of players) to work with,` said Carrese. `They work very hard, and they get along with each other well.`
Gold Division
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: Dave Sunkes
Key veterans: Kyle Baldani (catcher), Jim Tino (shortstop), Chris Schaefer (outfielder), Jordan Kaplan (outfielder/pitcher), Chris Curcio (outfielder/pitcher)
Outlook: Pitcher Zach Hartman is gone, but most of the Scotties’ rotation remains intact for what Sunkes hopes is a good season.
`These guys know what to expect on a day-in, day-out basis. They know they won’t have a day off in this league,` said Sunkes.
Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: Rob Helm
Key veterans: Will DeRuve (shortstop), Mike Bellizzi (second baseman), Matt Nash (pitcher/third baseman), Alex Sobiecki (outfielder)
Outlook: The Eagles are hoping to build on last year’s push into the class AA quarterfinals.
`We gained some confidence (in late March) in New Jersey because we did well against Guilderland in a scrimmage,` said Helm. `It was only a scrimmage, but we did well.`
Helm said he expects Nash and Sobiecki to anchor Bethlehem’s offense this season. `We’ve got some guys who can hit, so hopefully we’ll do that,` he said.
Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Chris Dedrick
Key veterans: Tyler Rose (third baseman), Austin Chase (pitcher), Matt Montross (pitcher/shortstop), Patrick Puentes (outfielder/first baseman), Bobby Peluso (catcher), Nolan Gaige (pitcher/leftfielder), Tyler Kinzelmann (outfielder/designated hitter)
Outlook: Dedrick replaces long-time Columbia coach George Czerno, who guided the Blue Devils to several Sectional finals. `I have some big shoes to fill,` said Dedrick, who played for Czerno in 1989.
The Blue Devils should have one of the better offenses this season with the return of Rose, Montross and Gaige, and the pitching staff features three aces in Montross, Chase and Gaige.
`We definitely have some veteran leadership and we have some pitching depth,` said Dedrick.
Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Doug LaValley
Key veterans: Steve Anderson (first baseman/designated hitter), Jake Colavito (third baseman), Nick Ranalli (outfielder), Andrew Simpson (pitcher/outfielder/first baseman), C.J. Sohl (pitcher)
Outlook: The defending class AA champions are well aware that they will be the targets of every Suburban Council team this season.
`It’s different to be the hunted, rather than being the hunter,` said LaValley. `No matter what, the game is still the same. We have to take care of business.`
Sohl, Simpson and Kyle LaValley are the primary holdovers from last year’s pitching staff.
`I think we should do pretty good (on the mound). We’ve got some kids who can throw,` said coach LaValley.
White Division
Averill Park Warriors
Head coach: Mike Conroy
Key veterans: Ben Fil (pitcher/utility), Mike Bermas (infielder), Chris Dobert (pitcher/outfielder)
Key newcomers: Tim Murdick (pitcher/utility), Mike Beliveau (catcher/infielder)
Outlook: The Warriors are starting from scratch as they graduated six starters from last year’s 13-10 team including four All-Suburban Council players.
`We are rebuilding after the loss of a very deep pitching staff the last two seasons,` said Conroy. `We are very young with just four returning players, but this group has versatility and has been working hard in the preseason.`
BH-BL Spartans
Head coach: Paul Deluca
Key veterans: Steve Childs (pitcher/outfielder), Dave Fischer (pitcher/infielder), Drew Slocum (pitcher/infielder)
Key newcomers: Bret Dennis (infielder), Keaton Flint (outfielder/pitcher), Justin Bariteau (pitcher/infielder), Mike Fischer (catcher), Matt Pucunas (pitcher/infielder), Aaron Pennings (infielder)
Outlook: The Spartans are also in the midst of a rebuilding year, as Deluca asks a group of six underclassmen (two freshmen and four sophomores) to be starters.
`I’m going to have a young team this year,` Deluca said.
Mohonasen Mighty Warriors
Head coach: Jim Huggins
Key veterans: C.J. Fonda (shortstop), Pat Herrington (catcher), Ben Gatchell (pitcher), Alex Massaroni (rightfielder), Robert Tedesco (pitcher), Dave Hondro (pitcher), Scott Lindsey (third baseman)
Key newcomers: Dominick Bianchi (pitcher/infielder), Jacob Papa (outfielder/catcher/pitcher), Andrew Regan (utility)
Outlook: With a veteran core leading the way, the Mighty Warriors are hoping to improve on last year’s 10-12 record, which included a 4-10 league mark.
`I think these kids are ready for the challenge,` said Huggins. `We have almost our whole team back, except that they now have a whole year under their belts.`
Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Head coach: John Furey
Key veterans: Danny Peters (third baseman), Ryan Kenealy (pitcher/first baseman), Chris Okonski (outfielder), Joe Privitera (infielder), Aaron Staudinger (outfielder), Seth Wyngowski (catcher), Adrian Mitchell (pitcher/outfielder), John Moore (infielder)
Outlook: Despite the presence of seven seniors, the amount of actual varsity playing experience is limited.
`We have about two innings of varsity experience for our whole pitching staff, so we’re really inexperienced there,` said Furey. `We are strong at the plate and solid in the field.“