By Daniel Lopes
Baltimore Orioles prospect Kyle Martin (Oceanside 2016) pic.twitter.com/udoJab78CZ
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 27, 2021
After a 2021 season that saw Oceanside make a surprise run in the playoffs with an inexperienced roster, head coach Mike Postilio is ready to build on the progress of that run.
“It wasn’t what I hoped for or expected, but at the end, we found a way to get in the playoffs and then make it back to the final four with a team that was under .500 for the first time since I’ve been coaching there,” Postilio said. “I was super proud of the kids and the senior group. We had great leadership.” They were eliminated in the semifinals against Massapequa in a best-of-three series.
Multiple seniors from last year’s team have since graduated, but the duo of shortstop/pitcher Tyler Cinamon (SUNY Cobleskill) and center fielder/pitcher Zach Ducorsky (SUNY Cobleskill) left a significant impact, which led to them getting the opportunity to play at the college level. Ducorsky finished fifth on the team in batting average, hitting .288. Cinamon was one of the team’s leaders on the mound, winning two games, striking out 14 batters and pitching to a 3.19 ERA in 15.1 innings. Ducorsky also made an impact on the mound, starting in four games and pitching 24.2 innings with 27 strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA. While they may not stand out as uber-prospects, Postilio says it’s their intangibles that allowed them to succeed.
“If you looked at them, you wouldn’t even pick them out and say they’re a stud athlete, but they were both just smart baseball players who would give you everything they had on any day,” said Postilio. “They’d do anything to win.”
Other impact seniors to graduate include first baseman Mario DePasquale, catcher Zach Horowitz and pitcher Jack Dolger. DePasquale was an important part of the lineup, as he finished second on the team in batting average, hitting .350. Dolger led the team in innings pitched with 31.1, starting six games and striking out 30 batters with an ERA of 2.90.
Leading the incoming senior class for Oceanside is catcher Justin Delgado. He hopes to bounce back from a tough junior season where he hit .242, and Postilio will count on him not only as a player, but as a leader.
As the catcher, he’ll have to control a new-look pitching staff, as Oceanside looks to replace their top three pitchers in terms of innings pitched from last season. As far as incoming seniors, outfielder/pitcher Kevin Klein (Siena) and pitcher George LaRosa hope to lead the rotation. Klein did not make an appearance in 2021, but Postilio has high hopes for him.
“He’s a lefty bat, center fielder who can pitch a little and is really fast. We’re relying on him as a senior.” Postilio said.
LaRosa struggled in nine innings pitched last season with a 10.11 ERA, but he also struck out 12 batters. Postilio is hoping for a bounce back year for the senior.
The team will also lean on the junior class of third baseman/pitcher Peter Davies, third baseman/pitcher Mike Furst, catcher/first baseman Ryan McFall and second baseman Jack Schulz, who were all called up and got some experience at the varsity level as sophomores. They all faced some growing pains in their seasons, but could be primed for a breakout junior year after getting the opportunity to face a higher level of competition as a sophomore.
“Those four sophomores; their last school game [before 2021] was as an eighth grader. They played eighth grade baseball, they lost their ninth grade season, and then I brought them up as a tenth grader,” said Postilio. “They went from playing middle school baseball to being in the final four against Massapequa, which is great.”
Heading into this season, Postilio hopes that regardless of record, his team continues to compete and be a tough opponent to face.
“Our record will never indicate what the outcome could be and I think last years season is a perfect indication of why our program is one of the better ones.” said Postilio
Oceanside will start their season of league games on April 11th against Farmingdale.
