Wantagh Taking On a New Look in 2021

From 2016-2018, Wantagh was the epitome of a team.

Each year they went into the postseason with detractors, and each time they came out as the last team standing – not just in the loaded Nassau Class A, but on Long Island. They even captured the State Championship in 2016.

Things didn’t go that way in 2019 – after they graduated five All-State players in a three-year span, they featured a much less experienced roster and it showed in the first-round of the playoffs in a 3-2 loss to Mepham.

They entered 2020 with a chip on their shoulder and Sachs described it as a “loaded team” with nine players that are now playing in college with three Division-II players in Nick O’Connor (St. Thomas Aquinas), JJ Devito (Anderson) and Matt Saborio (Molloy).

With the season cancelled, Sachs said “he feels terrible for those kids” as most of them waited for their chance to play during the three-year run of championships only to have the rug pulled from underneath.

During the summer, Sachs did something that he never does and that’s coach summer ball. Typically he takes time away until the high school football season started but with the prestigious summer leagues around the country cancelling their seasons, the Blue Chip Collegiate League had an influx of local Division-I talent. He led the HDMH team to a championship and was able to reunite with his former star players Anthony Fontana and Anthony D’Onofrio in the process along with other players he was familiar with such as Mark Faello and Brian Morrisey. He stated that he had a good time and that the players all bought in. He noted that the coaching needing to be individualized since they weren’t able to practice.

Practice is a big part of what makes the Wantagh program work. Sachs said that “we pride ourselves on being able to win close games,” and they do that by learning to execute on the little things – bunts, bunt defenses, 1st & 3rd rundowns, hit & runs, and plenty of defensive work.

“This year is going to be interesting,” he said. As is the case with everyone, there is little-to-no preparation for the baseball season as a cohesive unit. That statement is amplified even more for their program since he is not only the football coach, but they are in the playoffs and most of his baseball team plays football. So they haven’t practiced as a team much at all. Additionally, if they win the championship, “which we plan on doing”, there would be an overlap of more than 10 days which would crossover with tryouts, scrimmages and Opening Day.

He doesn’t plan on that stopping his commitment to the baseball team.

“I promised the guys I would be there,” he said. “So if that means having tryouts from 3-5 and football at night or having football 3-5 and tryouts at night then we’ll do it. I’ll coordinate with the lacrosse coach so it doesn’t interfere. But it’s a lot. The weather will be a plus, but not having scrimmages is horrible and not having intersquads is too.”

As for the actual team, he admits he doesn’t know much about the players because none of them have played varsity.

“Every hit, every inning we pitch will be our first on varsity,” he said. You may recognize a couple last names, and those are players that may very well be contributing.

1B Joe Fontana, younger brother to three-time Long Island Champ Anthony Fontana will likely play first. He is also a captain on the football team. He’s about 6’3 270 lbs and plays offensive line and defensive line. “He’s very coordinated. He’ll play first base and bat in the middle of the order,” said Sachs.

RHP Shaun Joyce, younger brother of three-time Long Island Champ Jimmy Joyce will compete for a rotation spot. Sachs stated “he’s got a nice live arm” but stressed he hasn’t done it on varsity yet.

LHP Matt McCartin is a senior that would’ve likely been the No. 2 starter last year, according to Sachs, and we named him Preseason All-Long Island.

Beyond that, he doesn’t really know. There’s a chance they call up a freshman to varsity.

“We’ve only done it twice here in 30 years, but this is the year to do it – there’s nobody blocking him at his position,” but he declined to say who the player was.

Someone typically comes out of nowhere to dominate for the Warriors, and Sachs said “that’s gonna have to happen” for them this year.

One thing they have working in their favor is that they have the bye for the first two days, “which gives us more time to get ready,” before opening up on May 7 against Lynbrook.

Sachs also stated that the regular season matters this year, as opposed to previous years where they could do just enough to qualify for the postseason before turning it on. He said they just had to make sure they were playing their best at the right time.

“Our goals never change – if we teach them well enough, we’ll be playing our best ball when it matters.”