by Chris Sacchi
After a 2019 that saw Sachem East lose to the eventual champion Connetquot, head coach Kevin Schnupp and company were looking forward to a big 2020 season.
Instead, just like many coaches across the country, Schnupp is hoping the impact of his 2020 seniors can still be felt, even though they never played their final high school games.
“We had a lot of really talented kids that laid the foundation for this group this year,” Schnupp said. “Don Wille, one of our catchers, he went off to Monroe, you have Ryan Micheli, who went off to Stony Brook, another catcher. You have Max Weinstein playing at Mount St. Vincent’s, and you have a lot of other guys that were returning starters. We had 12 seniors on that team.”
Despite losing them for the season, Schnupp was able to coach that senior class in the town of Brookhaven tournament in the summer.
“It was just so much fun. We got back to normal a bit, and really, I felt like a player. You’re just more excited to get out there,” Schnupp said.
As for this group, coach is hoping the foundation that was laid last season and in the tournament will carry over to a group that is already chomping at the bit.
“With this group, they’re young, they’re hungry and they’re obviously excited. I don’t know if it’s because of missing last season, or if it’s just because of the type of group that they are,” coach said. “They’re just an exciting group, they’re high energy, they’re fast, and they like each other. There’s good chemistry there. They’re just passionate guys, and there are some spots that are open, which is exciting.”
That last part is the key; for many rosters across the country, there are players that as coach said, “didn’t have one minute on varsity, which is tough.”
Despite the competition on this year’s Sachem East roster, there are some top players leading the way that coach can lean on and pencil in.
You’re probably surprised to not have read Rafe Schlesinger’s name yet. The senior southpaw U Miami commit is one of the most talented players on the island, but coach is even more impressed with his leadership.
Rafe Schlesinger (Sachem East 2021) looks ready for Opening Day pic.twitter.com/prz2TtKuou
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 30, 2021
“He has grown up so much over the past two years,” Schnupp said. “We run a fall season through our booster club and Rafe, just the whole entire fall, volunteered with the middle school teams. He volunteered to coach, just because wanted to be around the game and give back.”
“And it was funny, like halfway through I asked the middle school players, ‘guys, do you know where Rafe’s going to college?’ They said ‘no, why is that important?’ He’s just a great kid doing some really positive stuff,” coach said. “We’re definitely going to rely on him. He’s got a great mindset about it. He realizes all the eyes are on him, but he’s excited about it. He’s circled some big match ups.”
Another senior with varsity experience that coach will lean on his shortstop senior shortstop and Preseason All-Long Island player Ty Acker, who is committed to George Washington.
George Washington-commit Ty Acker (Sachem East 2021) taking BP down in South Carolina pic.twitter.com/2odlLBQa91
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 25, 2021
Regarding his two leaders, coach says, “they’re really good friends, and they’re both just tireless workers,” coach said. “During off-season programs, it was great, they go to the trainers, they’re constantly hitting and pitching. They did everything they can to get themselves in the best shape possible.”
“So between the two of them, and all the other seniors as well, they really are great leaders.”
While both of these guys are committed to high-end programs, coaches says there isn’t a hierarchy issue on the team.
“A lot of times, when you’re involved with a team, you have a couple of kids at that level, Ty, Rafe, they’re going to some high-end Division-I programs, it’s like a gap,” coach said.
“But they’re just, the chemistry is great. They’re all kind of together on this. It is awesome, you don’t see that separation. They’re just so excited to play together for their senior year.”
Another senior impact presence is Evan Fisher, who is committed to Coker College.
Evan Fisher (Sachem East 2021) commits to Div-II Coker College in South Carolina pic.twitter.com/thbAvAgCoz
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) December 10, 2020
“He’s a guy with a big stick,” coach said. “We could either see him playing first base, or third base for us. He played for Team Beast, had a big year for them over the summer. He’s gonna provide some good leadership for us.”
Coach is also quite excited about his junior class.
Outfielder and corner infielder Richie Heyder is committed to the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and coach sees him as a key bat whenever he winds up.
Meanwhile, Ty Margolis is a toolsy player who “flies around the outfield.”
Josh Anderchuck, whose older brothers played in the program, is “just a throwback kind of kid,” according to Schnupp. “I feel like he’s dirty even before we get out there for infield-outfield. He can play anywhere.”
On the mound, juniors Anthony Bulla, Rob Garcia and Matt Guido, a southpaw, as well as senior Nick Cortez, will be leaned upon to throw significant innings in an unusual season.
“I think the way the season’s going to pan out, with the warm weather, it should help a little bit, but the way the games are, and the rain-out possibilities, everything else, I think it’s just going to be almost like a little bit the MLB, where you just have to kind of piece it together,” Schnupp said.
“Obviously we are lucky to have Rafe, and hopefully he’s going to be able to eat up six or seven innings every week, but after that, it will be fascinating to see who steps up.”
A great example of the “next man up” mentality when it comes to the arms this year comes from Fischer.
“Evan Fisher has been getting out of the bump a little. When he said it to me early in the year at one of our fall practices, ‘coach I can throw a little bit,’ I was looking at him funny, and so half-joking, I’m like, ‘Oh, let’s get out there and let’s see it.””
Coach was pleasantly surprised. “He looked pretty good! So like Evan, we need to see some guys just step it up in different spots.”
Other players who will be keys this season for Sachem East are a pair of talented sophomores. Ty’s brother, Jake Acker, who is looking to “take most of the catching duties for us this year.”
Jake Acker (Sachem East 2023) pic.twitter.com/VbAEu7diff
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 1, 2021
Jake was featured on an Axcess Baseball clip over the winter, catching in a blizzard.
“Everyone thought it was a joke. I said ‘not at all. He’s just trying to get his work in.’ He’s just that type of kid who works hard.”
Fellow sophomore Joe Richetti is yet another outfielder with great speed.
“He just flies. He’s ran over the off-season. I want to say he’s at 6.6 60,” coach said, while adding that Joe has “tremendous bad speed.”
Richetti along with the aforementioned outfielders, among others, will contribute to the strengths of the team.
“Our strengths this year are going to be hitting and team speed. I think we’re going to be a faster team,” coach said. “We’re going to be a little different. I don’t know if we’re gonna have the power numbers that we’ve had in the past, but I think speed is one of the things that we’re going to look to build on and go from there.” Coach Schnupp has a lot to look forward to this season, with a talented roster with what he says is good chemistry and great leadership.
“I think it’s going to be a little bit more fun this year for guys, because there are so many games and it’s going to be a little chaotic, plus, missing last year. I think it’s just more fun for all of them to get back to the high school setup.”
They will open up on May 7 against Ward Melville at Moiches Complex at 5pm
