It has been 10 years since Centereach‘s last postseason berth. They have come tantalizingly close the past two seasons, as they came up just one win shy of the mandatory 10 victories to clinch a berth.
“Two years in a row we’ve needed to win just one game and I think about it everyday,” said Head Coach Pete Cammarata, who is entering his third year at the helm. He was previously the assistant since 2004. “I’m always thinking what kind of change or tweak we need to make to win one more game. That’s in my thought process all the time,” he added.
One aspect of the team that he feels is upgraded is the team’s defense – which was their undoing the previous two seasons.
“Defensively we will be a good team – we will catch the ball. Last year, the problem was in the field which cost us in the end. We had a very good offense but had a tough time in the field. We shouldn’t have those problems this year,” he said.
They will have to replace four All-League players from 2019. Their lone All-County player, SS Ryan Decoursey batted .376, All-League 2B Robby Maina batted .340 and All-League 3B Ryan Mahnke batted .350. That offense will be tough to replace but he is confident in the returning players.
Center fielder Liam Webber, a senior, was called “one of the best athletes on the team” by Cammarata. He is known for his terrific defense in center and will likely be in the rotation as well.
Junior 3B Anthony Gangi will be replacing Mahnke. Cammarata noted that he is a “smooth, stable and reliable infielder” who will man the hot corner.
First baseman Joe LaPorta is another junior that will be a critical piece to their team this season.
They will also need to replace ace Eddie Bassett, who did a nice job for them the past couple seasons. Stepping up to fill that void is senior Hunter Foss.
“He’ll be our main guy on the mound – he’s a leader and he knows how to get it done,” said Cammarata, who acknowledged that he would’ve liked to get him more innings last season.
Behind him will be sophomore Dom Persichilli, a hard-throwing RHP that plays on Body Armor in the summer.
“He will be important, he said. “He’s a big kid that has played upper-level travel ball in the summer,” he added.
Just as important to their pitching staff will be their starting catcher, Alex Goldberg, who recently committed to St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn. Cammarata said he is a “gritty, tough kid and he will be a staple behind the plate. He can throw with the best of them. I don’t think I will have to worry about him.”
The Cougars will compete in League III once again this season. They got a bit of a break with Smithtown East moving down to League IV, but they still have to face some familiar foes in Smithtown West, Hills East, Northport, Huntington and Newfield. They will have two non-league games against Lindenhurst.
They open up the season on April 6 when they host Smithtown West. Additionally, Cammarata noted that he purposely scheduled a late scrimmage against Longwood on May 9 as a way to prepare his team for the playoffs.
“I think we will be in the playoff hunt. If we don’t make big mistakes, we will be competitive. We will be gritty,” he added.
