By Thomas Cregan
Uncommitted RHP Michael Gatti (Oyster Bay 2022) pic.twitter.com/xURsr5xYHn
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 29, 2021
Oyster Bay head coach Jeff Schiereck is looking to his team of mostly returning players to make another run at the County Championship in 2022.
Oyster Bay finished the regular season in 2021 with a 5-11 record in a combined league composed of A and B schools. Coach Shiereck said 6 of their losses were against the A schools who they do not usually go up against, though they were losses, he said they were in every game and put up a good fight against the competition. Despite their record, Oyster Bay went on a terrific run in the post season all the way to the County Finals. They were ultimately defeated in the finals by Wheatley on a walk-off sacrifice fly. Shiereck was pleased with his team’s overall performance during a unique season and is confident in the group of players that will be returning to his team this season in 2022.
Schiereck did not have any significant graduates to mention though he reiterated that “we have a whole lot of returning players and I know that they are all hungry to come back this year and make another run at the County Championship. Last year, playing those higher-level teams was a good test and these guys showed me that they were ready to go out and compete every night.”
When discussing their current impact players Schiereck was quick to mention senior right-handed pitcher/outfielder Michael Gatti (New Haven). Gatti, who Schiereck says is his team’s best all-around player was an All-County selection last season posting 71 strikeouts in 38 innings and a batting average of .350 along with an on base percentage of .481. He also mentioned pitchers Dominic Carleo who is a sophomore and senior Nathaniel Yee. Along with junior catcher Colin Rainey and junior utility infielder/ pitcher Johnathan Goldschmitt. Schiereck is very confident in his team for the upcoming 2022 season stating, “We have a really solid group this year, might be our best team since we last won the County Championship in 2016. But we have some steep competition in our league, and we need to be ready to play in every game.”
In regard to newcomers to the Oyster Bay team he mentioned twins Tommy Rizzuto (P/OF) and Gianni Rizzuto (SS), both are sophomores. Also mentioning sophomore P/1B/OF Brendan O’Brien.
Schiereck says his team’s biggest strength for 2022 will be their pitching staff. He said, “We have a really strong group of returning pitchers on our staff and we have a great catcher in Colin Rainey to work with them. I also think we have improved defensively and are going to be able to back up our pitching staff with that defense.
Oyster bay will be returning to their usual competition against teams like Cold Spring Harbor, Locust Valley, Friends Academy, Carle Place, East Rockaway, and Wheatley. Shiereck stated “Anything can happen in this league, there are a lot of good teams with some very talented players, but I am confident in our group and the experience they gained from last season. Overall, I am very excited to get started again and be back on the field with them.”
Oyster Bay will open their season on March 28th against Carle Place.
