This year’s theme for the Suburban Council’s 12 baseball teams is reloading.
Nearly every team has to replace multiple starters including defending Section II Class AA champion Columbia and Class A champion Mohonasen.
We have some solid pitching depth and we’ve filled in quite well [with the position players], said Columbia coach Chris Dedrick. `The kids are working really hard.`
Dedrick and the other Suburban Council South Division coaches ceded that Colonie is the odds-on favorite to finish first, though Garnet Raiders’ skipper Kevin Halburian isn’t so certain.
`Columbia is always strong at the JV level, so they always replenish themselves well,` said Halburian.
In the North Division, Shenendehowa is aiming for more than just another first-place finish. The Plainsmen are also hoping to break a 14-year Sectional title drought.
`I’ve got as good of an offense and a defense as I’ve ever had in the last 10 to 15 years,` said Shen coach James Carrese. `The question is if I can get some pitchers who can throw to contact [opposing bats] and let our defense do the work.`
Here is a closer look at the 2010 Suburban Council field.
South Division
Averill Park Warriors
Coach: Mike Conroy
Key players: Nick Cioffi (junior P/IF), Tyler Listing (junior P/IF), Andrew Fasoldt (junior IF), Josh Sprague (senior UT), Scott Sharpley (senior P/OF), Brian Handy (junior C/IF), Dylan Sprague (sophomore UT), Greg Hotaling (freshman P/UT)
Outlook: The Warriors have a good mix of veterans and young talent. The question is, can they play seven solid innings a game?
`If we play good, fundamental baseball, I’m not worried about who we play,` said Conroy. `I think we can play with anybody. We have some pitchers who can throw strikes, and we have some speed [on the basepaths]. If we can get on base and move the runners around, we’ll score some runs.`
Bethlehem Eagles
Coach: Rob Helm
Key players: John Morrill (senior P), Mike Wollner (senior P), Matt Cahill (junior 3B/SS), Alex Bellizzi (sophomore P), Andrew Lennox (junior OF)
Outlook: Not much is left of the 18-8 Eagles squad that reached the Section II Class AA semifinals following the graduation of 12 seniors last year.
`I’ll be teaching a lot,` said Helm. `I have a freshman shortstop, two sophomore catchers and a sophomore pitcher.`
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Coach: Kevin Halburian
Key players: Mike Branche (senior), Mike Chieleweski (senior), Kenny Curcione (senior), Jaime June (junior), Chris Kalica (junior)
Outlook: Everybody’s favorite to win the South Division title is already off to a good start with non-league victories over Troy and Bishop Maginn.
`I think we have potential,` said Haburian. `We have a number of returning players who are decent, and we have a good JV [junior varsity] group coming up. We should be in the thick of it.`
Columbia Blue Devils
Coach: Chris Dedrick
Key players; Matt Kasper (senior C), Christian Brown (junior SS), Nick Keefe (senior 2B/P), Shawn Gibson (junior OF), Stephen Proper (senior P), Matt Raymond (junior P)
Outlook: No one in the Suburban Council is going to feel sorry for the Blue Devils following the graduation of several seniors from last year’s Class AA Sectional championship team.
`One thing I’ve learned while coaching at Columbia is that we’ve had the bull’s eye for a long time,` said Dedrick. `That’s what makes it fun.`
Guilderland Dutchmen
Coach: Doug LaValley
Key players: Zack Caplan (senior P), Mike Drislane (senior OF), Sean Geisel (senior 2B), Eddy Pierce (senior P), Jimmy Quinn (senior SS), Luke Stark (senior P/OF), Vinny Tamburello (junior P/OF), Jeremy Tobin (senior C), Matt Zanotta (senior 1B/C/OF)
Outlook: The Dutchmen are coming off a strong preseason that included a successful trip to a multi-team scrimmage in New Jersey at the end of March.
`I thought we did some good things down there,` said LaValley. `We played pretty good defense, and we scored some runs.`
Mohonasen Mighty Warriors
Coach: Jim Huggins
Key players: Luke Flood (senior P), George Beaudoin (senior C), Joe Korszun (junior P), Ben Dalton (junior 1B), Josh Giordano (sophomore CF), Vinny Struffolino (sophomore 2B), Mike Lyons (sophomore P), Anthony DeNofio (sophomore 2B)
Outlook: There isn’t a lot left over from last year’s Sectional champion team, so Huggins will have to rely on a large group of juniors and sophomores, especially on the pitcher’s mound.
`We have a lot more pitchers,` said Huggins. `It’s untested, so until you get against some competition, that’s when you’ll know what your staff is like.`
North Division
Ballston Spa Scotties
Coach: Kevin Sheremeta
Key players: Brian Guilder (senior IF/P), Brendon Shannon (senior IF), Cooper McGowan (senior P)
Outlook: Year two of the Sheremeta era at Ballston Spa will feature a much younger roster than his first year. Twelve seniors graduated from last year’s team.
`We’d just like to compete,` said Sheremeta. `We have a young team, but it’s a talented team and a hungry team.`
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Spartans
Coach: Paul DeLuca
Key players: Mike Fischer (senior C), Corey Parks (junior P), Keaton Flint (junior CF), Bret Dennis (junior SS), Justin Bariteau (senior P), Tom Seefeld (senior P), Devin Stark (junior P)
Outlook: The Spartans may be junior heavy (14 juniors on a 19-player roster), but they don’t lack for varsity experience.
`I’m pretty optimistic,` said DeLuca. `We have 10 returning players. We showed a lot of improvement last year, especially over the second half of the year, and I expect that to continue this year.`
Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Coach: John Furey
Key players: Nick Valletta (junior), Ethan Kelly (senior), Eric Auspurger (senior), Aaron Wyngowski (senior), Drew Steele (senior), Brandon LaMar (senior)
Outlook: With Valletta and Kelly being the primary returning offensive weapons, the Silver Warriors will need their younger players to step up right away.
`The rest of the team is young and relatively inexperienced; however, this is a strong baseball group,` said Furey.
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Coach: Dean Bailey
Key players: Matt Coleman (senior P/1B), Kyle Willmott (junior OF), Ford Plowman (senior P/2B), Joe Moore (senior P/OF), Luke Fauler (junior P/2B), Chris Davis (senior 3B), Ryan Vaughn (junior 3B), Alex Lushkevich (junior SS), Brandon Krawczuk (junior 1B), Zach Forbes (sophomore C)
Outlook: Bailey moves into the head coaching post after assisting Rich Lofink, who remains as an assistant coach.
`It’s a good thing for me because it gives the program stability,` said Bailey. `I’m also fortunate to have Ron Ravena back as my assistant coach.`
Adding to the Blue Streaks’ stability is the return of six players from last year’s team, which reached the Section II Class AA semifinals.
`I think we’re looking to build on those things this year and be successful again,` said Bailey.
Shaker Blue Bison
Coach: Pete Mravlja
Key players: Derek Gardella (senior DH), Mike Nowak (senior P), Jeff Hoffman (junior P), Bryan Egan (junior C)
Outlook: For the Blue Bison to supplant Shen atop the North Division standings, they will need Nowak and Hoffman to anchor the pitching staff.
`The biggest difference maker is to find that 1-2 punch` those top two pitchers who can win two out of three games every week for you,` said Mravlja. `If you can find that, you’re going to do well.`
Shenendehowa Plainsmen
Coach: James Carrese
Key players: Brandon Cogswell (junior SS/RHP), Andrew Kalish (senior 3B/RHP), Dan Lenney (senior 2B), David Wixted (senior 1B), Mike Williams (senior LF), Brandon Galluppi (senior C), Scott Buniak (senior CF)
Outlook: Carrese said he likes the make-up of his team. `This is the most cohesive group I’ve had in the last 10 years plus,` he said. `These guys just love playing together.`
The Plainsmen should put up some runs again with an offense led by Cogswell (.494 batting average, .595 BA with runners in scoring position, .592 on-base percentage).“
