by Zevan Shuster
If Mineola is to have a bounce back season in 2020, it will have to come from within.
“We have ten players returning from a roster in which we won four games,” Mineola head coach Helms Bohringer said.
“We graduated our best players, but we’ve got a lot of players who were sophomores last year, who should develop as juniors this year. They will need to step up and be significant for us so we can be successful,” said Bohringer.
The top of the lineup production, and the leadership is indeed gone from last season, and will need to be replaced for this upcoming season. Bohringer, with just a week to go before the season gets underway, isn’t sure where his most reliable productivity is going to come from. High-level execution will be paramount, and though dominance is unlikely, high baseball IQ and situational excellence is what Bohringer sees as his squad’s best, most realistic path to victories in 2020.
“Our team’s strength is going to be on the offensive side of the ball. I think I’ve got a bunch of players that are coming back who can hit the ball well, and do the small things, like bunt, and hit behind the runners,” said the head coach.
The Bronx Bombers, this team is not.
“Well, we have guys that should be making contact, and who are going to put the ball in play, which puts pressure on the defense. And with that, I’ve always been a big believer using our legs to our advantage, whether it’s the hit and run, or bunting, or stealing to put ourselves into scoring position,” said Mineola’s headman.
Bohringer is a baseball lifer, having been both a player and a coach in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, not to mention the fact that he’s been Mineola’s varsity baseball coach for 23 years (this year will be his 24th). The players will have someone who’s been coaching their team since well before any of them were born; so it’s safe to say coaching experience will not be an issue.
“Prior to my 24 years at Mineola, I was the middle school coach for three years, and before that, I was lucky enough to coach and play in the Dodger farm system,” said Bohringer.
“I’m hoping that my experience as a professional baseball player will help my athletes maximize their full potential, along with learning to play the game the right way. I’m hoping to teach them the fundamentals; how to back up bases, how to do the small things that will hopefully make us a successful team,” he said.
As for who will come to the forefront, and who will take on the biggest leadership role, Bohringer is not sure how that will take place. Rather, he is intent to let that work itself out organically.
“We usually have captains, but right now we don’t have any that I’ve thought about,” said Bohringer.
“My biggest belief is that if everybody feels like they’re an owner, then there should really be no need for a captain.”
As for who he expects to contribute, Bohringer is hopeful that senior Jimmy Tighe (SUNY Maritime-commit) will have a very productive season, along with fellow senior Andrew Lewis (Farmingdale State-commit), both of whom will split time between the infield and the pitcher’s mound.
“I’m hoping for them to have big senior years,” says Bohringer.
Zachary Buongiovanni and Nick Ramos round out the four big pieces that Bohringer knows he will need to count on in order for this season to be a success.
While Lewis and Tighe will carry much of the burden on the mound, Bohringer and his coaching staff know they will have to find a third starter, which is high on the priority list for this upcoming season.
“We might have to take a look at some of the JV guys during the first couple weeks of scrimmages,” said Bohringer.
“All in all, the guys that I mentioned are the guys that I’m hoping for big seasons from.”
