By Daniel Lopes
Phillies prospect Ben Brown (Ward Melville 2017) getting some work in. Fastball back up to 95. The 6’6 RHP has a minor league career ERA of 3.41 pic.twitter.com/zZOpsd4UDD
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 30, 2022
After a 13-5 season in 2021, head coach Lou Petrucci and his Ward Melville squad are ready to enter a new era of the program, as they will play in League II for the first time of Petrucci’s career with the program.
“I’m going to miss all of my friends in League I,” said Petrucci. “But I’ll try to make new friends in League II.”
As they make this transition, they will be without two key players and leaders who have since graduated in Luke Gacovino and Mikey Mortilla. Petrucci praised Gacovino’s ability to lead the team even during an uncertain season due to ongoing complications with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Luke did a great job. Luke was very energetic, and he kept the kids upbeat,” Petrucci said. “[We’re] going to miss his leadership, for sure.”
On the field, Mortilla was a major contributor for Ward Melville. The center fielder played high quality defense throughout the whole season, on top of clutch hitting and power at the plate.
“A lot of times, Mikey carried the team on his back,” Petrucci said. “He had a great season for us. He’s a kid we’re going to miss dearly.”
Despite these departures, Ward Melville will still retain much of its core from last season. They played multiple underclassmen in their starting lineup last season, allowing much of the lineup to return with an added year of experience. Taking up the senior roles left by Gacovino and Mortilla will be outfielder Jordan Goddard and catcher Tommy Ribaudo. Ribaudo in particular is coming off of an impressive junior season in which he led the team in home runs and earned All-County honors.
They also retain most of their infield, as third baseman Aaron Robertson, shortstop Jack Friend (Maine), and second baseman Robbie Looney are all returning. Looney and Friend will be entering their second year on the team as juniors, as they earned a spot on the roster in their sophomore years. Other returning players include Nick Carnovale, a sophomore outfielder, and their left-handed ace pitcher Charlie West (UConn).
Sharp 12-6 curve from Charles West (Ward Melville 2023) pic.twitter.com/ST2V6p8ayg
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 2, 2021
One thing that Ward Melville has taken advantage of with the ability to gather normally in the offseason is the reinstitution of their winter clinics. Multiple alumni have come back to help the team with these clinics, including Anthony Kay (Toronto Blue Jays), Carl Yastrzemski Award winner A.J. Nunziato, Joe Flynn and Ben Brown (Philadelphia Phillies). Additionally, a unique opportunity that Ward Melville provides is that the players on the team get the opportunity to teach younger players during these clinics as well. Petrucci believes that this opportunity is integral to his players’ development.
“My firm belief as an educator is that kids learn by watching, and they learn by listening, but the way they learn the most is by teaching,” said Petrucci. “When I have our seniors, juniors and sophomores work with the younger little league kids, they’re learning the fundamentals and techniques that make them better baseball players. That’s tantamount to the success of our program, is how well they teach baseball to the younger kids.”
As far as expectations for the season go, Petrucci is mostly focused on taking it one game at a time.
“I just hope we play a good game on March 29th against Lindenhurst,” said Petrucci. “We just want to play hard the first time in the season and try to build off of that.”
They will also face Sachem North, Walt Whitman, Commack, Bay Shore, Lindenhurst and Northport.
