by Max Edelman
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
Jack Turner (Suffolk CC) sitting in the low 90s with his slider in the low 80s. Entered today with 34 strikeouts in 6 appearances which is 2nd in the HCBL. pic.twitter.com/6pcaXtjeb0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 23, 2023
After spending the last seven years as head coach at St. Joseph’s in Brooklyn, Pete Blumenauer left the school in order to pursue a new opportunity coaching with the Suffolk County Community College Sharks. Blumenauer has a long career of coaching not just in the area, but on Long Island as well. Prior to coaching at St. Joseph’s, Blumenauer has had coaching tenures at Islip, Adelphi, and even a previous tenure at SCCC as an assistant coach. Blumenauer spoke on what drew him back to the Island.
“My one year at Suffolk was a really good experience.” Blumenauer said. “I stayed close to one of the coaches who eventually became the athletic director. So we had talked about it before and when the job opened up. He gave me a call to see if I was interested. It seemed like a good opportunity to come back.”
Blumenauer will be relying on a group of players that was there last year in order to be successful in his first year with the Sharks. One of those players is sophomore pitcher Jack Turner.
“He’s probably our best pitcher.” Blumenauer said. “He’s our number one. He sits between 91 and 93 with a really good slider. So he’ll be the big arm on the mound.”
Joseph Streng, an All-Region second baseman in 2023, is returning for his sophomore season with the Sharks. Last year, Streng shined at the plate. Hitting .364 with 11 RBIs, scoring 27 runs, and stealing 19 bases in 24 games played. In the middle of the order will be returning first baseman Dominic LaFroscia. Much like Streng, LaFroscia had a stellar 2023, Hitting .424 with 30 RBIs, scoring 26 runs, and stealing five bases across 27 appearances for the Sharks last year.
Here’s the go-ahead HR by Longwood senior Preston Gerena yesterday pic.twitter.com/J4DbVWfBQK
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 4, 2022
The Sharks also picked up transfer Jacob Galaz. Galaz, who transferred to SCCC from St. Thomas Aquinas, will also be in the rotation. Much like Turner, Galaz also sits in the lower 90s with his fastball. Another transfer for the Sharks includes Preston Gerena, who transferred from USC Sumter. Also new to the team is George Trimigliozzi, who is a freshman from Islip.
6’3 RHP Jacob Galaz (Newfield 2022) takes the mound pic.twitter.com/1EscfMwIML
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 29, 2021
Joseph Lomonaco, a freshman from William Floyd, will likely be the team’s leadoff hitter this year.
“He had a really good fall.” Blumenauer said. “He’ll likely start in left field and bat leadoff.”
Being the head coach of a four-year college is much different from a two-year school like Suffolk. Especially in recruiting. As opposed to having players for four years, and being able to fully see out a player’s development, community college coaches don’t have that luxury.
“It used to be a reason why I didn’t want to coach a team like Suffolk.” Blumenauer said. “But four-year schools have become the same way now. At St. Joseph’s, I was bringing in some kids, they were having good freshman years and then they were looking to go elsewhere with the transfer portal. At least at Suffolk, I know beforehand that kids are going to come here for a year or two, then try to go somewhere else. And helping them find school’s is a new challenge I’m really liking so far.”
Last year, Suffolk finished first in their league but struggled in the playoffs. Blumenauer believes that his pitching has what it takes to make another run for the top in 2024.
“On paper, our pitching is really strong.” Blumenauer said. “I think pitching is going to be our strength and I feel like any time you have strong pitching you give yourself a chance.”
The Sharks will open their season this weekend against Surry Community College with a four-game set.
