by Danny Gatta
After defeating the seven-time Skyline Conference champion Farmingdale State Rams, the Old Westbury Panthers are finally on top. The Panthers took down perennial champion Farmingdale State, ending their reign of dominance over the Skyline Conference. As the beginning of the season looms, the Panthers look to continue their success and remain atop the Skyline conference for years to come.
The Panthers finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 26-13 (10-4 in conference). They graduated six seniors, including captains Brandon Stein, Christian Faust, and Nick Yip. Replacing the leadership and production of All-Long Islander Yip will be challenging. Yip was among the conference leaders in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, doubles and hits, while leading the conference in RBIs and home runs.
They return sophomore All-Long Island SS Tommy Ziegen, who led the team in hits last season and was third in the conference in RBI’s with 29. Also returning is sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Dorcean, who pitched 45 innings for the Panthers last season, striking out 50.
Old Westbury has two new additions they expect to have a big impact. Centerfielder Kevin Lao, a transfer from Nassau Community College, and infielder Jesse Russo, a transfer from Hofstra University. Lao is a five-tool player, and will likely bat cleanup for the Panthers. Russo is expected to have a big offensive impact and be the lead off hitter for the Panthers.
When asked about his team’s biggest strength for the upcoming season, coach Rod Stephan had high praise for his pitching staff.
“Our biggest strength is pitching. I think we are loaded.”
The Panthers will have a plethora of quality pitchers, including transfers Jeremy Charles from Hartford, Vincent Caputo from Binghamton, and Dan D’Onofrio from Adelphi.
Charles, a right-hander, finished the year at Hartford with a record of 4-2 and an ERA of 2.47. Division-I transfer Caputo had an up and down year for Binghamton, but possesses swing-and-miss stuff. D’Onofrio, a Patchogue native, looks to have a good year and hopes to contribute to this crowded Panthers pitching staff.
“I think our pitching will be under the radar.” Acknowledging the fact that their pitching is being underestimated among the other teams in the conference, Coach Stephan thinks they can surprise a lot of people, and potentially have the best staff in the Skyline Conference.
Coming off the conference title, expectations are high for this Panthers team. When asked about whether winning the conference a year ago will encourage his team to play with the same fire and replicate the success, Stephan said “It always does. You know, it’s harder to win that first one than it is to win the next one. The conference championship and the regional atmosphere were great.”
The Panthers will open their season on the road, February 20, as they take on the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Their first in-conference match up will be March 26, as they take on St. Joseph’s College at home. Although they’re graduating some of their core guys, they’re returning underclassman, along with a handful of skilled transfer players, who are coming together to form a very formidable roster. The Panthers are primed to have another successful spring and attempt to repeat as Skyline Conference champs.
