Joe Wolf (Division 2017) will be counted on as one of the weekend starters pic.twitter.com/vlLICujQ15
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 19, 2020
Covid impacted every team in some way, but for Farmingdale State, it was especially cruel.
The Rams, – who entered the 2020 season as the reigning Skyline Conference champs – had only gotten to play five games on the season. They had flown down to Auburndale, FLA for their annual spring training trip with their sites set on repeating as champs.
“We were in Florida when we got the call from our Athletic Director,” said Head Coach Keith Osik. “We had just gotten to the condos and I told the kids to go to the pool and relax. I was with Anthony Zitaglio and that was when Rudy Gobert tested positive and they paused the NBA season.”
That set a series of events in motion that nobody has ever seen. Every major sporting event was cancelled and NCAA pulled the plug on the NCAA Tournament and ultimately, the entire season.
(Tom) Azzarra told me to come home. It was pretty wild. Luckily the travel agent worked with us. It was heartbreaking saying goodbye to the seniors knowing that you wouldn’t see them again. They didn’t get a senior year,” he added. They didn’t get to play one game on that trip.
“Hopefully everything is a go and they will get their senior day – I told them all we will make sure they get a senior day,” he added.
The 2020 team was loaded and had a legitimate shot to repeat. Unfortunately, all of the seniors opted to graduate and not return despite given the option by the NCAA. Players like Steven Burke, Tyler Schrimpf and Cam Alfano all would’ve been critical pieces of the roster. This does impact their team, but Osik’s assistant coaches (Anthony Zitaglio, Randy Caden, Mike McCabe) seem to have done a great job at rebuilding the roster.
They brought in 10 players. Some of the interesting ones include RHPs Declan Quinn (Deer Park), Giancarlo Giacometti (St. John the Baptist), Will Corda (Archbiship Molloy), Mike Schock (Plainedge),OF Peter Delgais (Wantagh), SS Ricky Russo (Wantagh), LHP Jordan Lambert (Plainview JFK) and C Aidan Hutchins (Shoreham-Wading River).
Osik also mentioned that he’s really thrilled with the addition of Bridgeport-transfer OF Bobby Pollack (Longwood 2018). Watching him take BP, it’s pretty evident that he will be a middle of the order hitter. He will likely be joined by OF Vin Napolitano and OF Mike Iacobellis as the middle-of-the-order hitters.
The middle infield will likely consist of returners Nolan White (Miller Place) and Phil Gerard (Pat-Med). Another returner is Jack Altieri (West Islip), an infielder who Osik is hoping will contribute.
Louis Annunziata (Churchill School) and Ryan DePalma (Mineola) will likely see time behind the plate and can provide some pop in the lineup.
The pitching staff is returning Thomas Messina (New Hyde Park), who allowed just one ER over 27.0 IP (0.33) in 2019. Osik also mentioned LHP Joe Marino (East Islip), Joe Wolf (Division) and Tyler Loft (Smithtown East) as impact arms. They also got a transfer from Felician College, Jake Thomas.
“This has been a nightmare. You can’t even decide a lineup. Usually kids surprise you in the fall. You’re just going to have to lean on the returning players and kids you trust. It will be difficult for a freshman. It just hasn’t been an ideal fall.”
The schedule also remains uncertain. Osik said it’s “still up in the air.” He noted that during the fall, they are using this as a time to “get a look at some of the freshmen” but the situation is not ideal.
Yesterday’s practice looked nothing like what you typically see at Farmingdale. Osik is usually focusing on 1st & 3rd plays and bunt defenses, but they have been limited to taking BP and throwing bullpens.
“It’s been like high school practice,” he said jokingly, “the kids probably love it.”
