By Thomas Cregan
Despite the loss of many key players from 2021 Westhampton Beach coach Asa Grunenwald is looking for another strong season out of his group in 2022.
Westhampton posted a 9-9 regular season record in 2021 which propelled them to the playoffs. They would lose to Hills West 1-0 which coach Grunenwald called a heartbreaking way to end the season. However, he said that overall, it was a good year in which his team kept themselves in many close games and even their losses were close and always thrilling. The 2021 team was driven both offensively and on the mound by seniors and this year coach Grunenwald is looking to his group to step up and fill in the production that was provided by those players that graduated.
Grunenwald mentioned four major contributors from the previous year that are moving on to the collegiate level. Shortstop Jack Halloran (Emory University) he said will be the most missed as he had been one of their biggest impact players during his time at Westhampton Beach. Along with him were 3 prominent members of their pitching staff including Brandon Erbis (Southern New Hampshire), Ryan Miller (Norwich), and Andrew Moran (Bridgeport). Grunenwald stated “It will be tough to replace the offense that Jack was always able to give us and the innings that those three guys gave us last year.”
When discussing their current impact players coach Grunenwald mentioned senior outfielder/pitcher Frankie Noto and junior CF/pitcher Ryan Knieriemen. Grunenwald said of Noto “He is an excellent baseball player and without a doubt is our best overall player offensively and on the mound.” Noto posted an impressive .367 batting average during the summer of 2021. Regarding Knieriemen he stated, “He’s a great player who I am looking to this year to step up big time.” He also said, “This year we have a lot of seniors that are great role players, who can really slot in almost anywhere in our lineup.”
Frankie Noto (Westhampton Beach 2022) showing some impressive 100 mph exit velocity pic.twitter.com/Vz5Blhyz2h
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 16, 2020
Grunenwald made mention of one newcomer to the team that he is excited to see take the next step this year that being sophomore shortstop/pitcher Kevin Smith.
When asked about his team’s biggest strength coming into the 2022 season Grunenwald stated “The ability to get guys on base and drive them in, I’m not expecting many homeruns, but I am confident in our ability to get guys on base and then drive those runners in.”
Westhampton Beach competes in a challenging league in which coach Grunenwald mentioned Rocky Point and East Islip as their biggest competition “those are always big games and ones we need to win in order to make the playoffs.” Also mentioning Eastport-South Manor and Kings Park, Grunenwald said “We have a very competitive and challenging league and reading up on other teams at times can make you nervous coming into a new season, but I am always exited to get this group back out there and compete in another full year, and really anything can happen.”
Westhampton Beach will open their season against Eastport- South Manor on March 28th.
