by Daniel Lopes
After losing the 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic, players and coaches on Long Island took on the 2021 season with even more importance. This was no different for Eastport-South Manor and head coach Jim McGowan, who went 10-8 and lost to Newfield in the playoffs.
“Having a school season after losing 2020 made the season itself special and we had a special group of kids that gave us everything they had,” said McGowan. “We lost six games by one run or in the last inning, so we had to deal with adversity and injuries, but the group responded every time, which is a credit to them.”
Despite returning 15 players from last years team, Eastport-South Manor still lost contributors on each side of the ball to graduation. On the mound, Connor Marcello had a phenomenal year, posting a 1.42 ERA and never giving up more than one earned run in a regular season start. In the lineup, they lost a key member in Peter DeVito, who had a record-breaking season in 2021, posting a .538 On-Base Percentage.
“Peter brought great leadership, work ethic, and commitment to the program each and every day. His performance on the field was paramount to our team success last year.” said McGowan.
One player that hasn’t graduated yet that McGowan has high expectations for is pitcher/shortstop Jake Deslauriers, a Hofstra commit.
Uncommitted 2022 RHP Jake Deslauriers (Eastport-South Manor) sitting in the mid 80s pic.twitter.com/hEyZoRGWRO
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 8, 2021
“Jake is a unique talent. He is a D1 pitcher who also bats third for us and plays a premium defensive position for us at shortstop,” said McGowan. “We need Jake to have a big senior season. For us to have a great year, we need Jake to be at his best.”
Deslauriers isn’t the only senior that McGowan will lean on during the season. Joining him is third baseman/shortstop/second baseman Derek Masino (St. Josephs), center fielder Rich Stanya, pitcher Joe Condon, second baseman Nick Pompei, and right fielder/pitcher Danny Tiedemann.
Tiedemann is one of the players whose career has been significantly affected by injuries and COVID. After losing out on the 2020 season, he missed all of 2021 with injury, making his senior season his first official one with the varsity team. McGowan plans to use him as a rotation piece and middle-of-the-lineup bat.
Another player looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2021 season is junior outfielder Anthony Sanguedolce, who missed 12 games last season. When available, the leadoff hitter hit .484 with six doubles and two home runs.
He joins a list of underclassmen contributors that include first baseman Tristan Gatchalian, catcher Drew McGowan, third baseman Luca Occhiogrosso, and freshman outfielder/pitcher Ayden Deslauriers.
Luca Occhiogrosso (ESM 2024) pounding the zone, 79-80 FB, 72-73 SL pic.twitter.com/861U0EJHr0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 7, 2021
Eastport-South Manor kept fresh during the offseason the same way they did before last season: by participating in tournaments in the fall. According to McGowan, the team played in four tournaments during the fall.
“We were able to get some of the younger players in the program an opportunity to play up and give our returning guys a significant number of at-bats,” said McGowan. “Being together on the field is always a benefit in building your team and program.”
While McGowan has high hopes for this upcoming year, he understands that in his league, success is earned, not given.
“This league is a great league and we will have to earn our way back to the playoffs,” said McGowan. “Six of the seven teams in the league were playoff teams last year.”
They also have plenty of tests on the schedule, including back-to-back series against reigning Conference IV champions East Islip and Rocky Point, who went 16-2 last year.
They’ll begin their season on March 28th on the road against Westhampton High School.
