by Mike Guido
2016 Record: 25-6 (Region XV Champs)
Key Additions: Sean Blasburgh (Middle Infielder), Michael Bobenzi (P), Christopher Rowe (P), Jared Prebete (P).
Key Subtractions: Kristopher Killackey (P), Nicholas Von Ohlen (1B), Joe Deland (OF), Tom Bashen (OF), Dominick Damon (3B), Sean Boyle (P), Angel Rodriguez (2B), Rob Sciarrotta (P)
In many ways, 2016 was a banner year for Suffolk CC. They won a thrilling game over Nassau in the regionals with a three-run ninth inning to advance to the Junior College World Series. Coach Eric Brown came away with the Region XV Coach of the Year award along with Kristopher Killackey bringing home the 2016 Baseball on the Island Cy Young.
In 2017, a change of scenery is expected for a sophomore-oriented club as the Sharks were last season. Killackey, who posted a 9-0 record with a surreal 1.03 ERA which 71 strikeouts in 52.1 innings pitched, is taking his talents to Stony Brook University to compete with the Seawolves as well as Nicholas Von Ohlen, who hit .481 with seven homeruns, is taking a semester to return to full health. Two of Suffolk’s starting outfielders, Joe Deland and Tom Bashen, and third baseman, Dominick Damon, have also left the club to play at Plattsburgh University along with Rob Sciarrotta, who was an academic All-American, heading to Adelphi University.
Suffolk has a knack for planting new seeds into their program after key pieces move on. That alone has made Suffolk one of the most successful programs in the region. With the contributions of the club’s returning players along with new additions, the team is expected to be a force once again.
They will be returning shortstop, Jason Conti, as well as outfielders Ron Linsalato and Matt Stepnoski. Also returning is left-handed pitcher, Joe Montero, who is expected to be a key contributor on the mound.
As far as the new additions are concerned, Christopher Rowe–who thrived at Monroe College last season–will be a key cog in the lineup. Sean Blasburgh, Michael Bobenzi, and Jared Prebete to name a few are also going to be finding themselves in contributing roles throughout the season.
The trouble that most community college programs face is finding a consistent identity. With turnaround and transfer rates that are twice as short as a traditional college program, coaches are forced to handle this dilemma. That is why a team that boasted a 25-6 record last season with a record of 22-1 within the region is still not guaranteed to carry that success into the next year. Coach Brown has done as good of a job as anyone at filling roster spots with key players across the board and always putting a competitive team on the field especially when needing to play teams such as Nassau Community College, ASA, Queensborough, Bronx, etc., multiple times per year. The Sharks are expected to do nothing less than what they have done in recent years.
Once success comes, it’s hard to expect anything less.
