by Chris Sacchi
John Givargidze‘s Plainview JFK baseball team, just like many across the island, is heading into the 2021 season with new challenges.
Yet, while Plainview has the talent to overcome, they will have to adapt to a couple of unique circumstances. First, during preseason preparation, Givardgize says his team had seven practice/workout sessions cancelled due to COVID-19 issues.
“The offseason has been kind of weird,”Givardgize said. “A lot of guesswork on a lot of it.”
Yet, coach is choosing to look on the bright (and sunny) side.
“I’m trying to see a bright spot in all this. Usually our preseason stuff is done in January, February, in the gym,” coach said. “So we’ve been lucky enough to be able to get outside, on the baseball field, and do a lot of our workouts with our pitchers and catches, infield work, outfield work.”
“So guys are getting live reps, rather than just balls in the gym or the little fly balls we can give them inside of a gym. So I think in that sense, we’ll be a little bit more ready for the season,” coach said.
Another interesting change this season: Plainview is moving from the AA-2 league, which the team won in 2017 and 2018, to League 1, which includes teams that have had epic playoff series with Givargidze’s squad in the past.
“We know Massapequa pretty well,” Givy said. “In 2017, we lost to Massapequa in the County finals in three games. And then we lost to Massapequa in the semifinals in 2018.”
“We lost to Oceanside back in my first year, 2014, we lost to them in the semifinals,” Givy said. “We saw Hicksville a couple of years ago. Saw Baldwin a couple of years ago.”
Coach saves the best playoff series for last.
“We had a crazy, crazy playoff series against Port Washington in 2018. We had rain, and one of the games literally took three days to finish,” he said.
“They came to us, and we went to them, and the rain stopped. It was craziness. They ended up coming to us, and in like 10 minutes, we hit a home run. The game was over and that game took three days to finish.”
“It was probably the craziest game, you know, experience I’ve ever had in my life.”
Givargidze understands that this league move means his team will need to bring it every game.
“Every game we’re going to play this year is going to be a dog fight… We know we’re in a tough battle everyday,” Givargidze said. “We’re hoping that when we go out and play, when we compete hard, the teams that we play say the same thing about us; ‘they play hard, until the last pitch.’”
Leading the way for Plainview on the field is junior Dylan Banner.
“I think Dylan’s going to have an amazing year,” Givargidze said.
“He’s probably one of the top players in the county, if not on Long Island,” coach said. “He’s been putting in the work… I’m looking for really big things from him on the mound, and also at the plate.”
Not only does Banner, who was with Givargidze’s varsity team as a freshman, provide a great presence on the field, but according to coach, he has stepped up as a leader during this uncertain time.
“He’s a leader. Sometimes vocal, but sometimes, those quiet leaders, it’s just with their actions,” Givy said. “So we’re definitely looking forward to seeing him progressing, developing, and I know his teammates listen to him as a leader.”
Coach also said that Dylan as well as senior Sam Saltzman led the way when it came to setting up Friday night hitting sessions throughout the offseason.
Saltzman is the youngest of three brothers who have all played for Givargidze at Plainview.
“It’s funny. This is my eighth year coaching. I think out of my eight years, six or seven out of those eight years, I’ve had a Saltzman in the outfield,” Givy said. “Jake went to Malloy. Ryan is a junior at Mercyhurst now.”
Sam is heading to SUNY Purchase to continue his career after this season, and plays with Next Level during the summer.
“Sam Salzman’s probably going to be one of our mainstays in the outfield,” Givy said.
Another senior looking to contribute and lead on-and-off the field is Gavin Weinstock, who is currently the team’s only southpaw on the mound. Coach says he can also “really hit the baseball” and can play first base.
Fellow seniors Michael DeAngelis and Tyler Ciulla, along with Banner, are returning from the disappointing 2019 season, which Givy says can give the team added motivation.
“I think they also feel like there’s a little chip on their shoulder, a little something to prove, because that’s not how our program has been for the last seven or eight years.”
Coach says he’s excited to see DeAngelis’ progress since that season, as he figures to be a bat that can contend for first base. Ciulla “threw really well for us as a freshman” and will factor into the rotation.
Other seniors include Charlie Knoll and Sid Mantravadi, who will get some key innings this year. Mantravadi is part of a crew that will force “tough choices” at the first base position.
Juniors at key positions include Sal Vazquez, who coach calls a “great athlete,” a catcher that can also play the outfield, and is currently playing football.
Because the football season is ending right before baseball starts, Givy pointed out that he may have to take it easier with Vazquez, especially with his workload behind the plate, at the start of the year.
According to coach, junior Josh Indeck has “really good hands at short and second.”
Coach Givy also says he has a great mix of depth as well as a good balance of upperclassman and young players who are ready to make a varsity impact.
Freshman Sebastian Lippman is a high-end prospect who coach believes is prepared.
“I think he will play a tremendous role on the team this year,” Givy said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete, a fierce competitor… He might play the outfield for us, might pitch for us, might play some infield for us. So we’re looking for big things from him.”
“He’s only a freshman, obviously, so there will be some growing pains. But I think his athleticism can make up for some of the lack of experience that he might bring to the table for us. He brings up a whole lot that he can do.”
Givy says he has been following Lippman ever since he and his team made a run towards to the Little League World Series in Williamsport in 2017.
Also on that team was sophomore pitcher Nate Sica, as well as sophomore Andrew Lenski, who is a versatile player that can catch, play the outfield, as well as second base and third base.
“I’ve been following Sebastian and his teammates since they were 11 years old, making that bid for Williamsport. So I’ve been looking forward to having them in our Hawks uniforms.”
Freshman Mike D’Ambrosio is another underclassmen who can contribute on the mound. Coach is happy to have all of this depth, because in this uncertain year, you neve know who will be needed to step up.
“Just because you’re not a starter on day one, doesn’t mean you can’t be a starter on day 16,” Givargidze said.
Coach also pointed out that with COVID-19, as we’ve seen in other sports, there could be multiple players out at a time, forcing other players into the mix.
While there are some challenges ahead, coach John Givargidze understands that even playing baseball at all is a gift this year, especially when thinking about the people that have lost their jobs, lives, or family members.
Coach says the team is dedicating their season to longtime district security guard and baseball supervisor Tony Monaco, who passed away in December due to COVID-19.
“His smile, kindness, and love for baseball will be greatly missed,” Givy said.
