Jack Halloran (Westhampton Beach 2021) with his fifth home run of the summer pic.twitter.com/qIYfNKEv1a
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 18, 2020
Westhampton Beach has established themselves as a strong football program in recent years and that’s no different this year as they face Sayville on Friday in the Conference III Championship. Their baseball team, though, will make some noise this season.
They enter the 2021 season with three players that were named to Axcess Baseball’s Preseason All-Long Island team including a first-team and second-team member. Head Coach Asa Grunenwald, who took over the program in 2019, is looking forward to this season which kicks off in just over two weeks.
They have the good fortune of having two dynamic bats in the middle of the order, SS Jack Halloran and RF Frankie Noto. Both are exceptional hitters that will do plenty of damage this summer.
When speaking of Emory-commit Jack Halloran, Gruenenwald said, “He works so hard that with him, we are worried about overuse. He’s out there on the field every day, dragging guys along. He’s just a stud, and he’s strong academically. He was under recruited and as he matured, Covid and rosters kind of jammed him up. But he’ll go to Emory and he’ll play right away and he’ll do well. I’m sure the day before Thanksgiving he’ll be back from break taking swings on the field,” he said jokingly.
Halloran has had a rapid ascension into becoming one of the top power hitters on Long Island. Last summer playing for the East End Aviators, he was other-worldly. He batted .554 with 12 HR and 46 RBI. Perfect Game recently named him to their 1st team All-American for hitters. So he’s not just a one-hit wonder, he did it all season and expect him to put up some massive numbers this year. We named him Preseason first-team All-Long Island.
Uncommitted Frankie Noto (Westhampton Beach 2022) showing off his incredible power to left center. High follow pic.twitter.com/0BZQmDInv9
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 27, 2020
Joining him in the lineup with RF/RHP Frankie Noto. He’s a star tight end for the football team so he has been preparing for their big game against Sayville on Friday. On the diamond, he has prodigious power to all fields. Noto was called up to varsity as a freshman and held his own. Now he’s a second-team Preseason All-Long Island player.
“He has advanced hitting ability,” said Grunenwald. “He’s going to hit for power and he’s made great strides on the mound – which is an added weapon for him. It will be interesting to see which route he goes for college. He can pursue being a two-way guy or go down one path,” he added that he will be playing right field for them.
At second base, Grunenwald spoke highly of senior second baseman Grant Skala – who is an all-county wrestler. “He’s a great kid, he’s tough and he will be one of the guys that makes our team go. The stats might not jump off the page but he has great character,” he added.
The pitching staff will be equally dangerous. Anchoring the staff is LHP Ryan Miller. He was All-League for them as a sophomore and has since added velocity. While he can get it in the mid 80s, Grunenwald stressed that velocity is not his game.
Uncommitted LHP Ryan Miller (Westhampton Beach 2021). Fastball 80-82 T84 pic.twitter.com/iLHa4BZtEe
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 12, 2020
“He threw live the other day and looked great. He hides the ball well. His velocity plays faster than the gun reads because of it. He’ll pitch in the low 80s but his fastball is not straight – the ball dives and he hides the ball well.” Miller will give them a chance to stay in every game he pitches and has the ability to shut some high-powered teams down.
Believe it or not, Miller is just one of five lefties on WHB’s pitching staff. They actually have just two righties, which is highly unusual at any level. Joining him in the staff is fellow southpaw and Southern New Hampshire-commit Brandon Erbis. The senior had suffered an injury earlier in his high school career so he hasn’t pitched at this level but is back healthy and Grunenwald likes his potential.
“His fastball dips, his changeup dips and his curveball drops at an angle not a long of people see,” he added.
This year’s team has 10 seniors, but Grunenwald called it interesting because only three of them had appeared at this level. Fortunately, most of the players have been working out in their cohorts since the fall and staying sharp.
They will open up on May 8 against Sayville, which should be interesting following this weekend’s football match up. They will also face Islip, East Hampton, Miller Place, Hills West, Harborfields, Kings Park, Rocky Point and East Islip.
