by Vinny Messana
Losing to MacArhur in the playoffs is nothing to be ashamed of. Many talented teams have had their title hopes dashed by the Generals in the past.
The 2016 Calhoun team had a very successful campaign that ended with a 5-1 loss in the quarterfinals to MacArthur.
June 5 at Dowling
Despite losing Luke Scoggins and cleanup hitter Joe Grossane, the team has much to be excited about in 2016.
For starters, the team will be led by an all-senior pitching rotation.
“The pitching staff will be the crux of the team,” said second year Head Coach Art Canestro.
6’4″ RHP Dylan Hughes will lead the rotation.
“He underachieved as a junior,” said Canestro. “But he could be one of the best pitchers on the island. He had some lapses in location and command, but we expect him to be more mature this season,” he added.
No. 2 starter Rob Backus is coming off a “terrific year,” according to Canestro.”He was the only pitcher to defeat MacArthur in the playoffs and he’s throwing the ball even better right now,” he added.
Behind him will be LHP Jake Gargiulo. He was All-County last season as a pitcher and first baseman.
“He’s a crafty lefty. He’s not going to blow the ball by you but he’s sneaky fast and he has a great change up,” said Canestro.
He noted that the program preaches change ups to all their pitchers from a young age, so they can work off that pitch.
“We want them to get confidence in it so they can throw it in the games. We want them to hone in on it,” he said.
All three of those players will also play critical roles in the offense.
They will open up league play against MacArthur, which will provide a difficult early test.
“They keep you on your toes. You can’t beat yourself with errors or they will make you pay. It’ll be interesting,” he added.
If they can survive the early test, they will certainly be a team to make noise once again in Nassau County.
