by Anthony Frascogna
Suffolk Baseball Coaches Association, President
Let me start by saying that I still love coaching baseball, it’s getting close to 30 years overall, most times the practices even more than the games. In fact, my first varsity practice included snow shovels and boots instead of bats and balls. Intentionally crazy I admit, but those were different times. Today, as I left my house, passed the remaining snow that was piled by a street plow and got hit by the wind as I passed the shelter the house was providing, my first thought was, “We don’t have practice outside today!” honestly, it was a happy thought.
The circumstances that have led to the delay of the Suffolk HS Baseball season, a world-wide pandemic, are nothing short of horrific. All disturbances that have occurred pale in comparison to the lives dramatically altered and even lost to this virus. Sports tend to be an escape from reality, let that be the case here.
Out of these dire circumstances, perhaps great things can be born, if not out of common sense, then out of necessity. Because of the pandemic, there will not be a state tournament following our regular season games and county playoffs. To this end I say, “Finally!” While I am all for competition and offering kids a chance to vie for championships, allow me to speak to the reality of what the state tournament means to Suffolk baseball.
The state breaks down the schools into classifications. AA, A, B, C and D. Large schools to small schools. State wide, each county averages nine schools per class. Nine. Theoretically, a 1 in 9 chance of being a county champ. In Suffolk, we have nearly 50 teams in AA and A combined. There are eleven sections in New York State, Nassau and Suffolk are two of the eleven. However, combined we make up over one third of the teams in the AA and A classifications in the entire state. There are approximately a total of ten teams in Suffolk that represent the B, C and D classifications. Numbers wise, those teams generally have a higher probability of being county champs then they do league champs.
Here is where it becomes problematic.
Because we are not restricted by the state tournament, this year we have divided the county into equal portions. Because we are not so top heavy with teams, we were able to trim the playoffs and add weeks to the regular season so that even in a shortened season we are scheduled to play the normal amount of regular season games. Games will start in May and playoffs will conclude in mid-June.
In order to participate in the state tournament, we must start in March and end in early May so that we can have enough time to have playoffs to determine which team from each class from Long Island can go to the state tournament.
The season starts in the snow and ends when the weather gets nice so that, in the AA and A classification, 2 teams out of 100, can go to the State Tournament.
Nassau and Suffolk have come close to putting a plan together a few times, to forgo the tournament and have the season culminate with a Long Island championship. Similar to how Football is organized and similar to how the county is divided this year. Even going as far as securing a prominent venue for the event. Plans fell through in the eleventh hour. The two counties would have aligned in conferences, the season could start and end later and more teams would be able to play meaningful baseball in May and June. The championship would have a tremendous crowd and coverage relative to High School baseball games.
Before the explosion of travel baseball, the idea of traveling to play a tournament, like the state tournament, was something of a novel experience. As it stands now, most high school players have spent multiple years traveling to play baseball in high quality facilities. There is a real possibility that, even if you are one of the lucky 2 of 100, that you will travel to sub-par facilities in equally sub-par accommodations with little to no fan-fare.
In all honesty, the support for this idea is not universal, there are many that are looking out for their own situation, which is their prerogative. However, it is not mine. I think the greater good is what is important (check out this year’s before and after schedule for evidence of that). And the greater good is hard to debate here. Giving each team in the county the same chance to be a county champ, numbers wise, would be for the greater good.
It is high time to re-imagine what could be best for Long Island baseball. Let the tragedy of this last year be the catalyst for something truly great for all of our teams. With that being said, I am so looking forward to getting back out there with our players, my fellow coaches, opponents, umpires, parents, reporters, photographers and all those associated with the game in the late spring of 2021. The interactions and relationships with each of those groups are certainly special and unique to the baseball world. I hope everyone remains safe and smart and we all have a memorable 2021 season.
