Mike Herbst wants to go out with a bang.
The longtime Bay Shore head coach notified his athletic director today that 2021 would be his final season at the helm. He has been with the program since 2005 and the head coach since 2010. He stated that this is a special group and this is the one he wants to go out with.
Last season had the makings of a deep postseason run as well. Their seniors included OF Ryan Brewer (Johns Hopkins), 6’4 Jayden Colon who opted to go into the military and LHP Ryan Smerechniak (Ithaca). Brewer hit .429 with 20 RBI, 12 runs scored and .571 OBP in 2019 and was set to bat in the middle of the order. All three of those players were difference makers and Herbst feels that they would’ve been a really special group.
They wound up playing in the Boys of Summer Varsity Division and all they did was win the Long Island Championship over Plainedge at Baseball Heaven. Obviously, it was not a sanctioned event by Section XI or Section VIII but it was vindication that their program was legit.
Entering 2021, there is still plenty of reason for optimism.
Jason Ambos crushes a bases clearing triple in the second inning and it’s 3-0 Bay Shore as they still bat pic.twitter.com/hToO2tqQfh
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 18, 2020
Their most high-profile player is University of Central Florida-commit Jason Ambos. In my estimation, he is one of the early favorites for the Yaz Award – he’s that dangerous at the plate. He was up with them as a freshman and Herbst noted that they knew they had something right away.
“We called him up towards the end of 2018 for the playoffs and he played against Bellport – he went off, smacked a couple doubles and made a diving catch and we knew he was something special. He needed to mature a little physically – which he did. He’s developed over the years and committed to UCF which is pretty darn impressive for a northeast kid. He’s going to play center and bat towards the top of the order. He might even close for us – he throws straight over the top and has a natural 12-6 curveball. Obviously, we don’t want to take him out of center but we are pretty deep in the outfield,” he added.
Another Division-I player they have is Seton Hall-commit Coltrane Calloway. He is another sweet-swinging lefty hitter that throws gas on the mound.
“He’s got a ferocious lefty swing and has power to all fields. He’s very fast, he’s a fantastic outfielder and he’s got a two-seam fastball that just ties people up,” said Herbst.
Chris Rouleau is a 6’6 RHP that has generated a ton of interest from schools but has maintained his commitment to Springfield College in Massachusetts to play volleyball – which is his passion. Rouleau is an absolute workhorse and showcased his ability in the Long Island Championship game last summer against Plainedge. He sits in the mid 80s, but with his tempo, strike throwing ability and heavy sinker, he is a tough customer. “He throws a true power sinker, something hitters don’t see much anymore,” said Herbst. His brother, Matt, will catch and also get time at first base.
Chris Rouleau works around a leadoff walk to Anthony Labita in the first pic.twitter.com/6yyfXoPrKN
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 18, 2020
Sophomore Ty Panariello is somebody that flew under the radar in 2019 with a 3-1 record and 2.77 ERA as an 8th grader on varsity. Herbst noted that they only intended to have him up as a defensive replacement but during an intersquad he asked to pitch an inning and was carving hitters up. “He throws three pitches for strikes and works quick,” he added. He will also be in the rotation.
An X-Factor for them is Darnell Guerrero. He is the nephew of Vladimir Guerrero and “has a big-time stick.” Herbst added that “he was sort of late to the recruiting process and is certainly at the very least a Division-II player, and he will round out the rotation.”
Herbst said that barring injury or COVID-related issues, these four starters will likely take up the bulk of their innings with Ambos closing the games as-needed.
They will open up against Walt Whitman on May 7. They also face Copiague, Lindenhurst, Smithtown East, Connetquot, Huntington, Northport, North Babylon and Hills East.
Keep an eye on them as one of the top teams in the county.
