By Michael Malaszczyk
Coach Kevin Schnupp is ready for the 2022 season, and while proud of his team’s 2021 season, isn’t going to settle for second best.
Sachem East had a great year in 2021, coming off of a season cut short in 2020. They finished with a 16-4 overall record and came just short of glory against Commack in the Suffolk County Championship.
“Obviously we were disappointed that we didn’t finish what one of our preseason goals was,” said Schnupp. “But all in all it was a great season and the boys performed really well in a tough league. We faced several top pitching prospects throughout the year.
To look back on 2021 positively, Schnupp feels that what led his team to success last year was its blend of upperclassmen and rookies.
Evan Fisher with his second HR of the game for Sachem East pic.twitter.com/t8pE1wCwOF
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 17, 2021
“We had a great senior and underclassmen mix to help guide us to such a successful season,” Schnupp said. “We had three very talented seniors that had great seasons but our underclassman stepped up to help us make it so far and win a League I Championship alongside Commack.”
Coach Schnupp had nothing but great things to say about those seniors who graduated last year. They are Rafe Schlesinger (University of Miami), Ty Acker (George Washington University), and Evan Fisher (Coker College).
Final: Sachem East 5, Ward Melville 0
WP: Rafe Schlesinger (CG, 14 Ks) pic.twitter.com/S0lWf2c23m— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2021
“Rafe Schlesinger was a three-year starter on the bump and will obviously be very difficult to replace. He was the Paul Gibson award winner, which is the first time in Sachem East baseball History,” said Schnupp. “Ty Acker was a two-year starter and is now playing Division-I. He had a great career with us and did a tremendous job in 2021. Evan Fisher had a great year at the plate with great power numbers and a great RBI.” Schnupp feels all three are irreplaceable.
On the bright side for Sachem East, much of this year’s team played with Schlesinger, Acker, and Fisher last year and gained experience alongside them.
“This year we return 10 seniors and 4 underclassmen,” said Schnupp. “Of these returners 7 of them started all of the games on the field. We need to Replace Ty Acker and Evan Fisher defensively and obviously offensively.”
The seniors this year will include Rich Heyder (All-League player and Golden Glove recipient), Nick Oelcher (All-League player), Matt Guido, Anthony Bulla, Rob Garcia, Brian Moir, Mike Ragona (All-League player), Ty Margolis, and Josh Andrechuk.
All of these players played in Sachem East’s successful 2021 season.
“Heyder and Oelcher were two of our more consistent hitters throughout the year,” said Schnupp. “Matt Guido pitched great throughout 2021. Anthony Bulla, Rob Garcia, and Brian Moir are gritty seniors who grabbed many quality innings last year. Mike Ragona and Ty Margolis will round out our team this year. Josh Andrechuk will be a strong two-way player this year.”
Much like this year’s seniors gained experience under last year’s, there is no shortage of underclassmen at Sachem East who will go through that same experience. Some of them played last year as well.
Among the younger players, Schnupp says to look out for pitcher/outfielder Patrick Krempasky (‘23), All-League catcher Jake Acker (‘23), outfielder Joe Richetti (‘23), and Alex Apicella (‘24).
When it comes to his team’s strengths, Schnupp is confident that Sachem East is, overall, a well-rounded team.
“Our team’s strengths are our bats, speed, outfield defense, and pitching depth. As well as having a lot of varsity game experience,” said Schnupp.
It’s a fact that Sachem East will be a highly experienced team this year, composed of both seniors and juniors who played in their fantastic 2021 season.
Coach Schnupp was eager to discuss his overall passion for the game of baseball.
“This is my 22nd year at Sachem and my 17th year as the varsity head coach if you count the COVID year of 2020,” said Schnupp. “I guess you can say baseball is life in the Schnupp household. I am very fortunate to be able to coach my son (2024 grad Comsewogue) over the summer and we spend a tremendous amount of time training with the Sachem Team throughout the Fall, Winter and Spring Season. The players throughout my coaching career have become an extended family and they leave it all out there for the program. I am very fortunate to have played for the great coaches of the Sachem baseball program and now my coaching staff and I try to instill the same values that the Sachem staff and my father (who coached me my whole life, and whom I still call for advice) have instilled in me. It also helps to have a wife who is all in and supportive. She was a competitive athlete in college and coach in high school. So she has now adopted the baseball grind.”
Important to note is that in addition to leading Sachem East to a great comeback year in 2021, Coach Schnupp won the County Championship with Sachem East in his first season with them all the way back in 2005.
If anyone knows how to lead a baseball team to success, it’s Coach Kevin Schnupp. Add that together with Sachem East players’ vast experience at the varsity level, and you have a recipe for success. Sachem East has a great chance of winning the Suffolk County Championship in 2022.
Sachem East opens on March 28th. They will be playing against Longwood in a non-league game.
