(Photo Credit: Michelle Malone)
Southampton has enjoyed a fair amount of success in the past decade winning two New York State Class B Championships and regularly qualifying for the postseason. Now they enter a new decade with a new challenge of moving up to Class A (League 7) and doing so with a new Head Coach.
Zach Epley, who is a Southampton graduate and spent four of the past six years as the JV coach was promoted to varsity this season when Scott Johnson stepped down after a successful tenure.
When discussing the season, Epley noted that pitching will be “pretty strong.” They will be returning three starting pitchers with experience at the varsity level.
Sam Schneider, who impressed at our showcase back in January with a fastball that sat 79-80 MPH with a great 12-6 breaking ball, will anchor the staff. The uncommitted senior is currently weighing his options for college which could come soon.
“He’s a third-year varsity start, he’s been there and pitched in playoff games. He’s got the experience under his belt and I’m looking forward to him being one of the leaders,” said Epley.
He will be joined by junior Ethan Walker and fellow classmate Steven Kraszewski, who are both returning varsity players.
The offense will be led by Queens College-commit Andrew Smith. He will play the outfield and depending on how his arm feels, could see some time on the mound. His fastball has been clocked as high as 89 MPH but had endured some arm troubles in the past.
“He’s got a good swing – definitely some power. We’re hoping he can pitch too. We’ll take it easy and maybe use him in relief. He’ll play either center or right depending on who’s pitching but we need his bat in the lineup.”
James Malone is another critical piece to the team. He is a third-year varsity player and Epley described him as a “utility player that will play multiple positions.” Epley said he thinks the “bats will be pretty good. We have a solid top five or six in the lineup, but catching is the question mark since we graduated both catchers from last year.”
In regards to the league, Epley said, “it’s going to be a tough league this year with teams like Bayport-Blue Point and Mount Sinai. I’m looking forward to the competition – it will be different from the past few years where we played the smaller schools on Long Island.”
They will play a non-league game against East Hampton on March 23 before opening up league play on March 30 against Bayport-Blue Point.
