Pete Cammarata Excited to Compete in 2021

by Ben Diamond

There is a lot of confidence coming out of Centereach baseball for this coming season. Centereach head coach Pete Cammarata, entering his fourth season, expects that his team will be competitive this season. They are looking to break a postseason drought which spans a decade, but have come tantalizing close in 2018 and 2019 – as they needed just one more win to qualify each year. 

“We are going to be a competitive baseball team. I think we are going to match up with the best of them,” Cammarata said. “I do think that when teams come play us this year they are going to realize we are competitive.” Cammarata was the assistant coach during Centereach’s last two postseason trips in 2009-2010, when they were League III Champs. This season, they will play in Conference III which will feature:

• Newfield
• Smithtown West
• Bellport
• West Islip
• Deer Park
• West Babylon
• Eastport-South Manor
• Comsewogue
• Hauppauge

Like many other teams, Centereach lost some important senior players due to the cancellation of last season. Catcher Alex Goldberg, center fielder Liam Webber and starting third baseman Hunter Foss are some notable players that left the Centereach squad last year. Fortunately for Cammarata, they are in good hands, being replaced by Joe Laporta at catcher, and Anthony Gangi who Cammarata stated has a “strong glove”.

In regards to Laporta, he said, “he’s got some power and he is also going to be our catcher – he is as solid as it gets, he’s going to command the game and he’s got a great arm to second base,” added.

The pitching staff will likely be anchored by hard-throwing Dom Persichilli, who has been clocked as high as 88 MPH recently and was slated to be a key cog in the rotation last season. He has played high-level ball for the past few summers.

Some clips from Live AB’s today #uncommited pic.twitter.com/KogoN1JQbD

— Dom Persichilli (@npersichilli22) March 15, 2021

Another important player filling in the holes made by departures is pitcher/catcher combo player, Burke Sheehan. With the addition of these players, Cammarata feels the hole left by his former players isn’t as big as it could’ve been.

“We have some very big shoes to fill, so the seniors this year are going to have to step up and fill an important role,” Cammarata said. “Our seniors this year, I think they are capable, I think they are ready, I think they are hungry, like any senior out there.”

It has been difficult during this weird time to get teams together to practice and get ready for the season together, but Cammarata says that his team has been preparing, and that they will be ready to go when the time comes. Cammarata and his team have been practicing a couple of times a week so far, but as time goes on, Cammarata and his teams practices will increase in the amount of time per week. It’s also important to note that he has been able to get his pitchers and catchers throwing, as the earlier they can start, the more ready they will be.

“We are preparing as best as we can following the protocols that are needed,” Cammarata said. “And I think that if we keep preparing the way we are, I think we will get the team as ready as best as we can.”

With the season just a few weeks away, Cammarata has high expectations, and faith that his team won’t back down to anyone. His high confidence can make anyone excited to see what this year’s Centereach team will do this season.

“Like everyone else this season it comes down to pitching and we’re going to have to find some pitching,” he added.

They will open up the season against Hauppauge on May 8 under the lights at Diamond in the Pines, in what is believed to be the first night opening day game in Suffolk history.