by Aaron Diaz
(Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.)
Valley Stream North 10
Floral Park: 0WP: Chris Manzi (PERFECT GAME, 10 K)
Joe Gisonda was 2-2 with a 2-run HR and 4 runs. pic.twitter.com/SRoiofKZFM
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 29, 2019
After missing the playoffs in 2023, the Valley Stream North Spartans look to rebound with a full pitching staff to get back to their program success.
“Last year was a difficult year for us,” said Valley Stream North head coach Phil Sanfilippo. “We got off to a poor start against some excellent teams and we dug ourselves a massive hole and missed the playoffs.”
Now looking onward to 2024 in his 14th year, Sanfilippo and the assistant coaches James Casella and Daniel Lodato return a not-so-different team from 2023, to bring their team over the top this season.
“We’re going to focus this year a lot more on the fundamentals,” Sanfilippo said. “We want to play the game with more confidence and mental toughness under pressure.”
With a team full of young sophomores and juniors, Valley Stream only lost one player from last season, pitcher Thomas Santo. Santo now plays at SUNY Canton after an impressive year in the pitching rotation and lineup for the Spartans.
Without Santos, their staff is relatively the same. Valley Stream is returning five of their six arms from last year, the staff will be led by two-time All-Conference pitcher Jimmy Stroehlein. “Jimmy always wants the ball,” Sanfilippo said. “He has the stuff to get any hitter out.” Jimmy has played on varsity for four years as a starter and has committed to play at Old Westbury next year.
Junior Nicholas Lang will also be a key player in the rotation and the lineup. Lang entered the pitching rotation midway through the season in 2023 and the team never looked back. “He has a very high upside on the mound,” Sanfilippo said. “He’s a guy we feel really good about as an important two-way player for us.” Lang also contributed a .378 average on his days in the lineup.
From the batter’s box, senior Nicholas Naumov will be a key contributor with the ability to play in many different positions on the field. “Nick unselfishly played four different positions for us last year, including shortstop and catcher, and is our best base runner, he’s a do-it-all player for us,” Sanfilippo said. Naumov will now play the season in center field for the Spartans.
Farmingdale commit, senior Anthony Rivera will also be significant in the lineup and on the mound for Valley Stream. Rivera led the team in RBIs last season, which will put him in the middle of the lineup for the Spartans. Rivera also saw time on the mound which puts him as a duel threat in the league. “North will need him to drive in runs and get good hitters out when pitching,” Sanfilippo said.
One familiar player will make his way back to the lineup for the Spartans. Junior catcher Michael Pagano will add dynamic power to the lineup after playing with the Kellenberg Firebirds for the last two seasons. Pagano played in the Valley Stream system in Middle School. “Michael is a good receiver behind the plate and can also play first base,” Sanfilippo said. “We are excited to have him back and confident he will make us a more talented baseball team.”
Daniel Banach, Aaron Sibblies and Gavin Ferreira will make noise as significant juniors on the team. All three got an impressive amount of playing time last season and those minutes will be a key difference in the Spartan’s offense from last year. “They all have the potential to make a significant contribution this season,” Sanfilippo said.
With a relatively young team, Sanfilippo and his staff will have a new focus on the season. “The focus this year will be on defensive fundamentals and making the routine plays look routine,” Sanfilippo explained. “We need to play with more confidence and mental toughness under pressure. If we can do that, I’m confident we can make a return to the postseason in 2024 and be the type of team that can make noise in the playoffs.”
That new focus will give Sanfilippo and his staff a new future to look forward to in the 2024 season. “2024 is a new beginning for us,” Sanfilippo said. “We will debut a new turf field next month and will enter into a new league after the state changed the classification for baseball. We will be competing against some different but high-caliber baseball programs.”
The Spartans will start their season in a non-league game at Mepham on March 26 and debut the new field on April 1 against Locust Valley.
