By Michael Malaszczyk
Cole Lindquist loaded the bases with nobody out and proceeded to struck out the next three batters to avoid any damage
End of 1: Center Moriches 0, John Glenn 0 pic.twitter.com/CyC78ugrcy
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 11, 2021
Coach Matt Rocchio of John Glenn High School is looking forward to another year of baseball.
John Glenn had a successful season in 2021 despite the loss of the 2020 season. They made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 before losing to Mattituck in the extra innings 2-1. Coach Rocchio gave a special shoutout to John Glenn’s class of 2021 in an interview with Axcess Baseball.
“We had a good mix last year but our seniors really carried us,” said Rocchio. “Joe Patane batted over 500. Ryan Desmond pitched to under a 1.00 ERA. They were the top two hitters in the lineup as well. I hope the taste of the playoffs last year makes this team come back even hungrier this season. Joe Patane played the second half of the year with a fractured kneecap but still was a fierce leader. He has certainly rubbed off now on these seniors, based on the workouts we’ve had, I see a little Joe in them now.”
Patane and Desmond should both be proud of the legacies they left behind when they graduated. They aren’t done playing baseball, either; Joe Patane is now playing at SUNY New Paltz and Ryan Desmond is now playing for Dean College.
Coach Rocchio particularly feels their influences will be felt on players Michael Zeis (‘22), Cole Lindquist (‘22), and Anthony Schieble (‘22); these are the players to look out for at John Glenn this year.
“Michael Zeis had the breakout year [in 2021] that we were expecting in 2020,” said Rocchio. “He batted over .350 and played a fantastic game behind the dish. Cole Lindquist was injured during the year and just couldn’t get into a groove – but showed his potential before his injury derailed him. Anthony Schieble earned All-League with his play as a first baseman and pitcher.”
With Lindquist now hopefully being injury-free, these players should have a fantastic 2022. All three of them are committed to colleges as well; Cole Lindquist and Michael Zeis are both committed to St. Thomas Aquinas, while Anthony Schieble is committed to DeSales College.
John Glenn will have a mix of juniors and seniors this year. Coach Rocchio hopes that the experience carried by the current seniors will wash away the lack of playing time in the junior class (because of the pandemic).
“Only one junior had experience on the varsity level last year; Connor Moran,” said Coach Rocchio. “So I hope the now-seniors will take what they experienced last year and help the juniors with their lack of varsity playing time. Last year we had competition in every practice, and I think that helped with game pressure and team camaraderie.”
Coach Rocchio feels that his team’s biggest strength will be in its pitching, as they are returning two out of three starting pitchers from their stellar 2021 season. He added that while ace pitcher Ryan Desmond’s graduation would be felt, someone will step up to fill his shoes.
“It will be interesting to see who comes out and wins that spot,” said Rocchio. “We have a bunch of competition at many positions.”
Coach Rocchio feels every team he faces will be a dangerous opponent. “These split leagues are always super competitive,” he said. “Six out of the seven teams in our league this year made the playoffs last year. So I expect every game to be competitive.”
He particularly looks forward to playing against a friendly rival in Center Moriches. “They always have a top-notch program,” said Rocchio. “Their coach, Paul Gibson, coaches with me at Beast and we always like to trash talk each other in the off season. We split our series last year with them.”
Coach Rocchio should have no trouble at all leading a younger team to success, since he has been head varsity coach at John Glenn for six years.
“Baseball is my main passion,” he said. “The lifelong relationships with former players and teammates I’ve gained is the greatest gift baseball gives me.”
With an experienced coach and a good mix of playoff-experienced seniors and young, hungry juniors, John Glenn will make a strong play for a county championship in 2022.
John Glenn’s opening day is set for March 28th. They will be playing against Babylon.
