How good is the Suburban Council when it comes to baseball?
So good that last year’s Section II Class AA final featured the third-place South Division team (Guilderland) and the third-place North Division team (Saratoga Springs).
So good that a sub-.500 team (Averill Park) made it to the Class A championship game before losing to Patroon Conference champion Ichabod Crane.
So good that the league has had more state final four teams than any other league in New York.
There is no question that this is some of the best baseball we see in New York state, said Saratoga Springs coach Dean Bailey. `What I tell these kids is I want to see their best effort every day.`
`The league, from top to bottom, is solid,` said Guilderland coach Doug LaValley, whose team went to the state finals last year. `I think it’s what prepares us for the playoffs.`
What will make the Suburban Council tougher this year is that some teams that had success last year ` Shenendehowa, Guilderland and Saratoga ` graduated key players, while several others ` Colonie, Averill Park, Shaker, Niskayuna and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake ` remain largely intact.
`Every day should be a fight, but I think we’ll be in the thick of it this year,` said BH-BL senior outfielder Keaton Flint.
`Everyone is going to be tough competition this year,` added Shen senior pitcher John Prendergast.
Here is a closer look at the 2011 Suburban Council:
North Division
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: Kevin Sheremeta
Returning players: Dalton Wheeler (P/3B), Blake Jones (1B/OF/P), Ryan McVaigh (OF/P), Kris Baldanni (2B, C), Aaron Tybursky (UTIL), Ethan Beaudoin (C/OF), Jimmy Markiewicz (P/3B), Andrew Staniczky (P)
Newcomers: Chris Bradt (P), John Mueller (C/P)
Outlook: Sheremeta is hoping for a better showing out of his Scotties this season after they finished last in the North Division in 2010.
`We have a lot more depth this year,` said Sheremeta. `Last year after our front five or six, we didn’t have a lot of depth.`
The Scotties also have more experience on their roster this year, but injuries have already taken a toll on the pitching staff.
`We’ve been a little snake bitten, so we’ll see who steps up for us,` said Sheremeta.
Burnt Hills Spartans
Head coach: Paul DeLuca
Returning players: Keaton Flint (CF), Bret Dennis (SS), Corey Parks (P), Dan Buff (OF), Mike Brienza (OF)
Outlook: With a lineup that features four players that batted .338 or better and a pitching rotation that features a healthy Parks, the Spartans are looking to contend in the North Division.
`The experience will help us where we were like deer in headlights last year,` said Dennis, who batted .358, stole 10 bases and drove in 20 runs.
`We definitely can turn it around,` said DeLuca. `We were 8-8 [in the league] last year, which was our most wins we’ve had in years, and there were a couple of games that we definitely could have turned around.`
The key will be developing a pitching staff around Parks, who missed part of last year with an injury after being the ace the previous two seasons.
`The only realy question is our rotation after Parks,` said DeLuca. `We have some talented players, but we have to see who steps up.`
Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Head coach: John Furey
Returning players: Austin Clock (P), David Hoffman (C), Nick Valletta (OF), Peyton Houghtaling (P), Alex Melius (3B), John Scisci (P), Taylor Clock (1B), Jake Syed (P)
Newcomers: Zach Zebrowski (SS), Josh Callahan (SS)
Outlook: The Silver Warriors enter the 2011 season with their pitching rotation intact and a pair of three-year veterans in Valletta and Syed.
`I think we’re a very solid hitting team,` said Furey. `Nick [Valletta] was one of our leading hitters last year, and our younger guys did well at the junior varsity level last year.`
Moving up the North Division ranks may be difficult with Shen and Shaker returning several key players, but Niskayuna is ready for the challenge.
`The division is tough, but we’re a good quality baseball team,` said Furey.
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach Dean Bailey
Returning players: Kyle Willmott (OF), Luke Fauler (P/OF), Alex Lushkevich (SS), Andrew Brink (2B), Brandon Krawczuk (1B), Zach Forbes (C)
Newcomers: Brett Merriman (P/SS), Kris Muller (OF)
Outlook: The Blue Streaks graduated three key players from last year’s team that reached the Class AA Sectional final against Guilderland including pitcher Matt Coleman, but their lineup is still formidable with Willmott and Lushkevich leading the way.
`It’s easy to look at that last game and think about what we couldn’t do last year, but we’d rather look ahead at what we can do,` said Willmott.
Fauler will be Saratoga’s No. 1 starting pitcher, with seniors Ryan Vaughn and Billy Johnson also contributing to the rotation.
`I feel good about the work they put in,` Bailey said of his pitchers. `We have some potential there, and we’ll see how that potential pans out.`
Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Steve Frank
Returning players: Derek Gardella (3B/P/C), Jeff Hoffman (P/OF), Bryan Egan (C), Drew Lasky (1B/P), Zach Breen (P/1B), Jeremy Fink (2B), Bob Derico (SS), Gabe Casillo (OF), Joey Bilynski (OF), Evan Alexanian (OF)
Newcomers: Stephen Boldish (INF), Jason Callacchi (3B/P), James Holmes (P), Casey Hall (P)
Outlook: New coach Frank inherits one of the stronger North Division programs from Pete Mralvja. The Blue Bison finished second to Shen in last year’s standings with a 13-3 record and lost to Guilderland 7-4 in the Sectional quarterfinals.
`Coming off last year, we have several guys who were underclassmen and started last year,` said Frank.
Gardella and Hoffman both earned first team all-league mentions last year. Gardella batted .440, while Hoffman compiled a 7-0 record and helped his own cause with a .327 batting average and 18 runs batted in.
`We have a senior-lead team with some new pitchers coming in ` because you can never have too much depth when it comes to pitching,` said Frank.
Shenendehowa Plainsmen
Head coach: James Carrese
Returning players: Branden Cogswell (SS), John Craig (1B), John Prendergast (P), Colin Grande (CF)
Outlook: The Plainsmen are looking to reverse the trend they’ve had in the playoffs the last three years, where they’ve lost their first Sectional game.
`We’ve got to stay hot,` said Cogswell. `We have to come together and be a team late in the season, and hopefully our bats get hot in the first round of the playoffs.`
Carrese is more philosophical about his team’s playoff woes. `When you look at the history of the Section II playoffs if you’re one of the dominant programs, you’ve won a title once every 10 years,` he said. `CBA has won six titles [in 45 years], Columbia and Bethlehem have won five and we’ve won four.`
Once again, Cogswell should be the one Shen hitter opponents will try to avoid. The Virginia-bound shortstop was walked 25 times last year as part of a season in which he also hit .424 with 35 runs scored and 27 runs batted in.
`Branden is a special talent and a young man with a great work ethic,` said Carrese.
South Division
Averill Park Warriors
Head coach: Mike Conroy
Returning players: Nick Cioffi (P/INF), Tyler Listing (P/INF), Andrew Fasoldt (INF), Dylan Sprague (INF/P), Greg Hotaling (P/OF), Ryan Macari (OF), Brian Hardy (1B), Christian Thibeault (C)
Newcomers: Josh Schumaker (P/OF), Joe Marino (P/UTIL)
Outlook: With a lineup loaded with veterans who reached the Section II Class A finals last year, the Warriors are hoping for more success in the Suburban Council.
`I think it’s going to help a ton,` said Conroy. `We had a young group last year that really gelled at the right time and made it to the Sectional final.`
Cioffi ` the league’s 2010 pitcher of the year ` headlines a rotation that has experience but lacked consistency last year.
`If we can get consistency from our No. 2 and 3 starters to support our No. 1 [Cioffi], we should be competitive every day,` said Conroy.
Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: Robert Helm
Returning players: Matt Cahill (P/SS), Stephen Drew (P), David Egan (2B), Justin Blalock (P), Nick Hodum (P), Eric Mueller (SS)
Outlook: The Eagles are hoping to move back into contention for the South Division title after undergoing a youth movement last year.
`We’re going to be sneaky,` said Helm. `A lot of teams will have to play us hard to beat us.`
Bethlehem’s strength is its pitching staff. Cahill and Drew hurled for the Adirondack region team at last year’s Empire State Games, while Blalock and Hodum offer varsity experience.
`We will be better than last year,` said Helm. `We were around the plate [at a March 19 scrimmage in New Jersey], and we were consistent.`
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Kevin Halburian
Returning players: Chris Kalica, Jamie June, Joe Schupp, Matt Snyder, Brian O’Keefe, Jake Mullen, David Mann, Chris Kearney, Zach Longo
Newcomers: David Monin, Brendon DiLello, Jeremy Hoffman, Trevor Taranto
Outlook: The Garnet Raiders have their sights set very high after reaching the Sectional semifinals in Class AA last year.
`With everyone coming back, we should be right up there again,` said Halburian.
Colonie might have one of the best batteries in the South Division with Kalica throwing and O’Keefe calling the pitches behind the plate.
`I’ve been with him for four years,` said Kalica, who will be playing for Fairfield next year. `When I get on the mound, I’m confident that he knows what to do with me. Brian definitely knows what pitches to call.`
`It’s very important to know what to [call] before the batter gets up there,` said O’Keefe, who signed to catch for St. Joseph’s next spring.
Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Chris Dedrick
Returning players: Christian Brown (SS), Erik Martin (3B/P), John Stanley (OF), Connor Ramon (P), Matt Raymond (P), Tyler Hart (P)
Outlook: The Blue Devils are hoping to rebound from a 10-11 season in 2010 that included a first-round loss to Christian Brothers Academy in the Class AA playoffs.
`The Suburban Council will be very competitive this year,` said Dedrick. `There are some outstanding pitchers in the league, which will be fun to watch. We are working hard as a team trying to develop our young pitchers into a productive varsity staff. We have a chance to be good at the end of the season.`
Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Doug LaValley
Returning players: Harry Brodsky (CF), Andrew Faragon (C), Dominic Litz (OF), Nick Mastrianni (DH/1B), Vinny Tamburello (P/OF/1B), Mike Valletta (P), Conor Hurley (3B/OF), John Walsh (OF)
Outlook: The Dutchmen will be a different offensive team following the graduation of Section II home run king Matt Zanotta.
`We’re not going to look for the three-run home run like last year, but we will use our speed to get the job done,` said LaValley.
Tamburello headlines a pitching staff that includes seniors Valletta, Tyler Warchol, Brett MacNeil and Chris Gareau.
`I think [our pitchers are] going to keep us in games,` said LaValley. `We have some guys who are special.`
Mohonasen Mighty Warriors
Head coach: Jim Huggins
Returning players: Ben Dalton (P), Joe Korszun (P), Dan Hanson (3B), Anthony DeNofio (2B), Josh Giordano (CF), Vinny Struffolino (P), Matt Wyanski (P)
Newcomers: Garrett Sisson (1B), Cameron McDermott (SS), Jordan Galvin (C)
Outlook: Like Averill Park and Bethlehem, Mohonasen has a veteran lineup returning this season. But with most of the roster made up of juniors, Huggins said this is still a relatively young group.
`They came in [to the preseason] more ready to play,` said Huggins. `I think last year, they didn’t think they would be on varsity that soon. They were like deer in headlights, and the Suburban Council isn’t a very forgiving league.`
If Mohonasen can get more competitive within the Suburban Council this season (the Mighty Warriors were winless in 2010), it could set the team up for a run at the Class A title, which would give Dalton and Sisson a chance to claim both the baseball and basketball Sectional championships in the same year.
`We’ve got to show up for baseball and play hard every day,` said Dalton. `It was great making that run [in basketball], but now we have to shift our focus to baseball.“