Tom Reinisch has coached many collegiate baseball players.
High school players are another matter.
Reinisch is Christian Brothers Academy’s coach, and the former Hudson Valley Community College manager said he is nervous.
This is the first time I’ve coached at the high school level, said Reinisch. `This is a whole new situation for me, so I’m learning every day. I just hope I don’t mess it up.`
Reinisch took over for Dave Doemel, who resigned from coaching the baseball team after last season due to health concerns. Since then, Reinisch has been busy familiarizing himself with his new players and the Big 10.
`I would expect us to compete for the [league] title, but I’ve got to plead ignorance,` said Reinisch. `I haven’t seen all of the teams yet. I would think Troy is going to have a good team, I would think LaSalle is going to have a good team and I think Schenectady is going to be competitive. And from the three innings that I saw of Catholic Central, I think they’re going to give every team a game.`
Reinisch hasn’t been able to see everything that his players can do because some of them are dealing with some preseason injuries ` mainly among the pitchers.
`We’ve had to put some guys down [on the bench],` said Reinisch. `We really have to hang on until we get all of our pitchers healthy because we’re not healthy right now.`
One pitcher who is healthy is Steve Basile, who will also be counted on to provide some offense along with Brandon Dalcol and Peter Rustowicz.
`Those guys are going to help us swing the bats because we need some help there,` Reinisch said of his top three returning hitters.
CBA begins its first season under Reinisch next Monday when it travels to Schenectady to face Bishop Gibbons in a Big 10 game. The Brothers’ home debut isn’t until April 15 when they host Bishop Maginn.“