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| Photo Credit: Harris Rappel |
From 1990-’93 the Buffalo Bills set a dubious record by losing four consecutive Super Bowls. While it has not occured on the national spotlight, Old Westbury has made a similar habit of falling just shy at the finish line.
Each year since 2010, they have been defeated by Farmingdale State in the championship of the Skyline Conference.
Head Coach Rod Stephan is optimistic, however, that this will be the year that they turn the tables.
“We’re as good or better than Farmingdale,” claims the fifth year Head Coach.
“It’s just been a matter of a play or two. We have the talent. We just need to go out and have fun,” he added.
Stephan may have a case. He noted that he has three returning outfielders that have been All-Region players–not many teams inthe region can make that claim.
These players are Jon Pagan, Jacob Coners and Nick Yip.
“Two years ago Pagan was out for the entire tournament. He could’ve been the difference,” he added.
Pagan was All-Region in 2013 when he hit .371 with 20 SBs, 23 RBI and 27 R. Last season, his production only dipped slightly–.336 AVG, 29 of 31 SBs, 26 RBI and 33 R.
He will be joined by senior Jacob Coners. The Newfield graduate is coming off a dynamic season in which he hit .353 with 19 of 23 SBs, 27 RBI and 32 R.
The third of the triumvirate is Nick Yip. He originally began his collegiate career at NYIT in 2006. After a seven year hiatus he is back to mashing in the middle of the lineup. He was named All-Region after knocking eight home runs while adding six doubles and five triples.
That group could be the difference this year in putting them over the top.
Stephan is excited about his shortstop Tommy Zeigen, whom he calls the “best shortstop around.” He went as far to say that there is “no comparison”. He admitted that he needed work offensively as a freshman, but he made significant improvements in the offseason.
The team will be returning the reigning Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year in Tim Ingram. After last season, he padded his resume with a 7-0 summer season with the Southampton Breakers. He led them to the championship and was named Pitcher of the League there as well.
Stephan calls him the best pitcher in the region.
Beyond him, however, the rotation is a question mark. Stephan noted that there are quality arms all over the place but they have yet to establish roles. He is confident in guys like Caleb Olsen, Chris Vitale, transfer Kevin Specht, two-time All County Nick Schoen and Tyler Kapela.
He will be relying on two other freshman– 6’6″ Justin Mize and the hard-throwing Vinny Bienieck to have tremendous impacts on the mound as well. The latter will enter the season as the closer.
The team will have a tough task in replacing two departed seniors–pitcher Arismendy Nunez and infielder John Angelino. They were two of the best players on the team last year and Stephan stated that Nunez was a “90-91 MPH thrower with good control and the heart of a lion.”
The Panthers will start their season on February 20th in North Carolina. They will look to take over the Skyline Conference.
I think they will.
