by Zevan Shuster
Heading into the 2020 season, Islip head coach RJ Going expects a much improved team from the campaign prior.
“Last year, I thought we were just going to take off. We had a bunch of seniors, we had a few kids going to college (to play baseball), but we had to deal with a few injuries early in the season, including to one of our better pitchers,” Going said.
Out of the 20 games Going’s club played last year, a staggering 16 were a one or two run game heading into the sixth. Clearly, the margin for error is small, and the need for execution is extraordinarily high.
Islip wound up compiling a record of 4-16.
“The expectations for us this year is to just win those one or two-run games. We have to flip the script,” said Going. “This year, we set up seven scrimmages before we play a non-league game. We just want to get out there and go against competition as much as we can, to see what we really have.”
“I should know how we’re going to fair against the other teams after the scrimmages.”
The keys to winning close games may just come down to some of the younger guys gaining experience, but the execution on the field will have to come along for the ride.
“The real key for us is going to be timely hitting. Last year, we would get runners on base, but we would never get them in. We had lots of runners left on base, and we didn’t hit in the clutch. Hitting better with runners in scoring position will be key,” said Going.
Several things should be able to contribute to that improvement. Both returnees, stability, and perhaps most importantly, leadership.
“We had three All-League guys last year, but only one of them was a senior. One was a junior, and one was a sophomore. We have a really, really good sophomore class. We are a little bit thinner in the senior class this year, but that means our leadership is going to come from other places, like our starting shortstop, Connor Ruland,” said the head coach.
The upcoming season will be Ruland’s fourth year on varsity, and he can be trusted to play anywhere; he is expected to catch in college, yet that is not the position he will primarily play for his team this upcoming season. Ruland has been on varsity since eight grade, and will certainly have to be a cornerstone for Going’s teams to take a major step forward.
As for any designated leadership roles, Going does not appoint captains, but rather, he believes in letting leadership come naturally, and in a presence being felt, instead of a label being assigned.
“You can give someone a title, but it matters more to have that presence. With this being Connor’s fourth year on varsity, even though he’s only a junior when he walks into the gym, you feel the presence with him being there,” said Going.
Beyond leadership being an intangible that could have been better, stability was not in place in order for that leadership to be able to be effective. Going was Islip’s 4th coach in four years, so for those many seniors, they had a new voice in their ear every year of their high school career.
Needless to say, it is very difficult to gain momentum, and to build a cohesive unit that can build and improve from year to year if the infrastructure and the leadership of the team isn’t reliable, nor consistent.
“This is the first time in five years that a coach is going in for a second season,” said Going.
Citing the contrast in stability and consistency between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, Going felt as if that was parallel with the team’s success, or lack thereof, in the last several years.
With stability, leadership, and cohesion, more wins should come. In the outfield, Going will rely on Greg Warnokowski, who made the all-league team in center field last year, and junior Matt Flood in left field, to heavily produce, and make plays to keep their team in games, and eventually help them win them. The right field spot is entirely up for grabs.
Even though, “we don’t have anyone who can throw 86 (miles an hour),” Going has tremendous confidence in pitcher Brandon Schaller to lead the way on the mound.
The middle infield will be counted on heavily as well. Ruland, who Going calls “his utility player,” is the team’s best shortstop, and will likely play there, while Jack McDonald will be his double play partner over at second base.
Going’s optimism comes not only from confidence in his players, but also from confidence in himself. He is competitive, and energetic, but he is also accountable. The second year coach will have to step up his own game, in order for his club to follow suit.
“I’ve always been told, losing one and two runs games comes down to coaching. So, I have to do a little bit better myself, and that starts in practice,” he said.
As for this club’s makeup and intangibles?
“I feel like this year we just have much better chemistry than we had last year,” said the second year coach.
Going’s hope, is that leadership, execution, and accountability, are what will lead to a season full of victories.
