(From left to right: Bowes, Miller, McGurk)
Four class of 2022 standouts have been raising eyebrows all over Long Island this summer. Matt McGurk (Commack), Cody Miller (Rocky Point), Tyler John (Ward Melville) and Liam Bowes (Shoreham-Wading River) have united under the flag of East Coast Lumberjacks.
The organization was founded by Ryan Pembroke, who coaches the older teams, but the younger guys are led by former professional ball player Eric Strovink. This experienced guidance and coaching has led to all four players earning selections to Junior Team USA. Their commitment on-and-off the field is impressive and this can be credited to the committed coaches and mentors in the Lumberjacks’ organization.
“We’re constantly trying to improve and we believe in that 10,000 hour rule,” said Strovink. “So in that you’re not really taking days off, you’re doing something to get better every day. It takes a lot of work, it would be much easier to sit on a bucket and write a lineup, but I feel like everyone involved would be getting cheated.”
The quartet shined at the BCS Perfect Game 13U Tournament in Fort Myers, Florida. Bowes took home the honor of Elite Hitter after he finished with 12 hits and five doubles, finishing with a .667 average for the tournament.
(Liam Bowes)
Bowes has the kind of power that has parents spectating games on other fields ooohing and ahhing in amazement every time he steps into the box, and they are often left in shock when they learn that he is playing in the 13u division. He considers himself a true catcher but has been learning the ropes at first base because of the Lumberjacks’ versatile roster that contains three to four catchers at any given time.
“I love any pitch in the zone but I like hitting hanging curves because if you just barrel it up it’s going a long way ,” Bowes said. “I credit my power to my bat speed, which I get by hitting everyday and working out.”
On the opposite end, the Lumberjacks have a bona-fide ace in John. The 6’3 right hander has tossed two no-hitters this summer, a one-hitter, and two two-hitters. His best performance of the summer was against the Long Island Titans. John threw a two-hit shutout with no walks to earn a win.
“When I’m on the mound my mentality is to just hit the spots that I’m assigned,” John said. “My favorite pitch is my four seam fastball.”
(Tyler John)
He towers over his competition making him an intimidating presence on the mound, but it’s his control and command that ultimately is his bread and butter.
Cody Miller is a Rocky Point legacy who looks up to his brother, Trey. Trey, an incoming senior outfielder and pitcher, ran a 6.65 60-yard dash at PG USA, and Strovink thinks that Cody has the potential to be even faster. Like his older brother, Cody is versatile in that he can play multiple positions, including pitcher.
The young utility man can even be thrown behind the dish and ultimately is the next best defensive catcher on the team behind Bowes. He finished the summer batting .474, slugging .737, with an OBP of .524.
“I think [being close with Trey] has helped a lot,” Miller said. “We are always working to help each other and when we were younger we used to play baseball against each other non-stop.”
Arguably, the most upside is possessed by McGurk. He finished the tournament batting .571, earning all-tournament hitter. The 6’1 right handed batter has the ability to not only stay back on breaking balls and off-speed pitches but drive them into the outfield; the ball explodes off his bat. Additionally, the large incoming freshman can play third, pitch and play corner outfield.
“I credit my success at the plate to my approach,” McGurk said. “I like to go up to the plate very relaxed and I think that helps a lot.”
Strovink himself has an incredible baseball history, as he learned from and looked up to a couple of Shoreham-Wading River legends. Emil Martinez and Steve Osik were the first Division-I baseball players in SWR’s history. Strovink grew up down the road from them and idolized them as a young ball player.
“[Martinez] was my hero growing up,” Strovink said. “He had five years on me, so he would take me down to the ball field and throw some BP to me, I would try to reciprocate but never could; there was no L-screens back then, so I wasn’t able to throw strikes from second base.”
These impressive results are the fruition of extreme commitment and hard work. McGurk has the potential to be one of the premier football players in Suffolk County, and he makes the trip to Rocky Point to hit in the cage in-between his two-a-days football practices at Commack. Strovink worked with this young team six days a week (when they don’t have any games) this summer wether it was hitting, fielding or just conditioning. He says they have two weeks off now, but once the fall roster is finalized they’ll be playing and working out until Halloween.
