By Thomas Cregan
Final: Lindenhurst 6, North Babylon 4 pic.twitter.com/WxxO6iOY7j
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 8, 2021
Lindenhurst head coach Rob Moore is looking for a bounce back season and a return to playoff contention this year in 2022.
2021 was a tough year for Coach Moore and the Lindenhurst Bulldogs, the team posted a 5-15 overall record missing the playoffs. However, Coach Moore is looking for a bounce back year out of his group and is confident that with the players he has that they will see an improvement this season. He will be looking to his strong group of Junior year players to provide his team with the offense and pitching that they need in order to compete for a playoff spot this year.
The Bulldogs lost two key players that were a part of the graduating class in 2021. Middle infielder/pitcher Jack Kelly who has moved on to play at St Joseph’s College. Along with third baseman Louis Peluso who is now playing at SUNY Old Westbury. Coach Moore will be looking to his group of returning players to replace the contributions of those that graduated.
Thomas Charlwood (Lindenhurst 2023) with command of a 68 MPH curve . Fastball low 80s pic.twitter.com/iGToEbmrbT
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 7, 2021
In 2022 the Bulldogs will have a strong core group of juniors on their roster that coach Moore has high expectations for. Starting off with outfielder/first baseman Chris Carson. Carson was All-League in 2021 and given the team’s MVP award and has committed to Stony Brook University. Another key junior is pitcher Thomas Walker who posted a 3.25 ERA while also contributing with his bat posting a batting average of .300. Junior pitcher Thomas Charlwood, who Moore said pitched in their rotation last year and has worked out ferociously in the off season, recently topping out at 86 MPH off the mound. Junior catcher Max Frank who, unfortunately, suffered an injury last year but is however on a 6-day per week workout plan and Moore is looking for him to provide them with a boost at the catcher position this year. Coach Moore said that he sees true love for the game when Max is out on the field. A final junior Donald Whalen who also unfortunately suffered an injury in the previous season, was able to contribute with his bat when he returned for the final two series in 2021.
To go along with their group of outstanding juniors Moore will also be looking to his senior group for contributions that he hopes will aid them in returning to the playoffs in 2022. Senior Brandon Reybok (SUNY Purchase) who was named All-League in 2021 batting .301 while contributing at both shortstop and on the mound. Also looking for contributions out of seniors Devin Lanzer (Mt. Saint. Mary’s College), Aidan Ryan and Kevin Conway.
When asked about his team’s biggest strengths coming into the 2022 season coach Moore cited both their offensive consistency and their pitching. He stated “I like our arms this year more than any other year, but I’m also excited about our lineup. We have some big bats, and they should be able to produce consistently throughout the lineup.”
Lindenhurst is in what coach Moore described as an extremely difficult conference. The Bulldogs will face off against Commack, Bay Shore, Ward Melville, Sachem North, Northport, and Walt Whitman in what will be a highly competitive conference in 2022.
The Lindenhurst Bulldogs will open their season against Ward Melville on March 29th.
