by Brian Honka
Plainedge 7, Island Trees 6
WP: Dom PannittiWalk-off hit by Ben Ellenport pic.twitter.com/X2YtARi5vR
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 10, 2022
Plainedge is looking to have another great season coming off a playoff appearance in which the team went 13-9 and made it to the quarterfinals where they were eliminated by eventual county champs, Calhoun.
They will come into the season without 2 of the team’s starting pitchers from last year. Team ace Tyler Kregeloh was named to the All-Long Island second Team after a 5-2 record with a 1.09 ERA and a .88 WHIP. Ben Ellenport who now pitches at Farmingdale will also be missed. Ellenport notched a 2.40 ERA and won 2 games.
Other players the team will be without this year will be Troy Emmanual (Old Westbury) and Pat Reyes (Purchase). Emmanuel is an outstanding defensive player and he also took his offensive game to another level last season crushing 3 HRs, driving in 16 runs and stealing 15 bases. Reyes had 18 hits, drove in 16 runs and stole 15 bases.
Fortunately, the program has a successful pipeline of talent and that is no different this year.
The team will have a deep pitching staff this year as they will ask for last year’s go-to guy out of the bullpen Dominick Pannitti (Barry) to make to move to a starter and become the ace of the staff this season. Marcelo Licata will also play a role in the pitching staff along with playing third base. The team will also look for production on the mound from Nick Andersen (27 innings, 19 strikeouts) and Matt Rosenberg.
Anthony DiChiara (FDU-Florham) will be a versatile player and a big bat in the middle of the team’s lineup.
Catcher and third-year varsity junior Zach Rosenzweig will be a big part of leading the team offensively and defensively. Rosenzweig possesses tremendous physical traits and has Division-I potential. It will be his 3rd year on varsity and he had 17 hits and 1 HR as a sophomore. Look for him to have a big season.
Zach Rosenzweig (Plainedge 2024) hitting some missiles pic.twitter.com/adNhjHYZ0G
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) December 13, 2022
Junior first baseman Nick Gerardi will also look to help the team on both sides of the ball. He compiled an impressive .470 OBP and hit one home run as a sophomore.
Coach Fratrik said that the team will be opening up on March 27 at North Shore.
