by Vinny Messana
If there’s one caveat to having three terrific seniors leading your rotation, it’s that they won’t be around to try and build on it the next year.
Last year’s Smithtown East team went 20-4, before losing to Connetquot on a walk-off single by Aaron Gagliano, and they were led by an unbelievable rotation.
Pat LaGravinese (1.93 ERA), Dominic Savino (3-2, 1.18 ERA), Ryan Ingarozza (4-0, 0.59 ERA) and Greg Maitles (4-0, 0.52 ERA) accounted for ALL 20 of the team’s wins and compiling an other-worldly 1.08 ERA. They threw six shutouts, including three consecutive from April 7-11.
The first two are playing at the University at Albany, Ingarozza is at SUNY Brockport to play baseball and basketball while Maitles chose to focus on his studies at Binghamton University.
Replacing them will be no easy task.
“That’s going to be the big challenge,” said seventh year Head Coach Ken Klee. “We are returning only four of last year’s 149 total innings,” he added.
They will count on Mike Ruggiero to “fill in for Pat”, according to Klee. He noted that due to LaGravinese’s presence last year, he was not able to see much time aside from when LaGravinese pitched.
He will play SS and pitch the third game of every series to preserve his arm for the field.
The rest of the rotation will be rounded out by pitchers that did not log any innings last year or played on JV.
Fortunately, the offense will lead the way.
Klee spoke glowingly of returning All-State CF Shawn Kelly.
“He’s an unbelievable offensive player,” he said. “He’s going to be hitting in the middle-of-the-order but he’s a leadoff guy in an ideal lineup,” he added.
He batted .440 last year (40-for-90) with 11 stole bases. He will be headed to Cortland after the season.
Also leading the charge will be catcher Ryan Kuzkowski. The big 6’4″ slugger is committed to NYIT and he’ll be a middle-of-the-order hitter.
Klee also noted that third baseman John Marti, LF Dylan Vetter and infielder Nick Rizzo will play key roles for the squad.
They will open up the season against rival Smithtown West. Klee stated that the teams have generated quite a rivalry in recent years due to the success of both team.
It has been East that has won four league titles in the past six years.
