by Max Edelman
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
East Meadow 10, Carle Place 3
WP: Danny Ratkewitch (3 IP, 0 R)Brandon Tauber: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs
Joe Lanza & Devin McQuillan: 2 RBIs each pic.twitter.com/g7A2DjshoO— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 31, 2023
The 2023 season was a year of ups and downs for the East Meadow Jets. Vinny Mascia, who is entering his third year as head coach of the Jets, led his very young team to a .500 season.
“Last year we were a very average 11-11.” Mascia said. “We were very young, and we got knocked out in the first round against Plainview.”
Being a young team, East Meadow was not a group that was made up of very many seniors, as only five of the Jets last season graduated at the end of the year. Of those seniors, three of them are now playing college baseball. One of them is Brandon Tauber, who is now playing at Ramapo, Devon Lake, who is at St. Joseph’s in Brooklyn, and Danny Ratkewitch who is at Old Westbury.
Brandon Tauber (East Meadow 2023) commits to Ramapo College pic.twitter.com/WL0FpzJs7g
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 14, 2023
The main advantage of having a young core of players is their development. To improve on last season, it will be up to the younger guys to step into bigger roles and produce for the Jets to soar to new heights. Leading the charge for East Meadow will be senior Kevin Canto. He was an All-Conference player for the Jets a year ago, played second base and shortstop last year and will be called upon to replicate much of the success he enjoyed last season.
“He’s a very good athlete.” Masica said. “He was my quarterback in football. He is an excellent base runner, good contact hitter, batted .330 last year, scored 21 runs, scored 21 runs, drove in 13, and is a very solid middle infielder. He’s going to be a top of the order guy for me, and hopefully set the table.”
Another major plus for East Meadow is the fact that they are returning their entire pitching staff from last year, including all three of their starting pitchers. Senior Christian Brennan, and juniors Alec Coelho and Spencer Kemler were the Jets starters last year and will look to be impact pieces of the rotation once again in 2024.
“I’m hoping they made that one year leap.” Mascia said. “They did a nice job last year, I’m hoping they improved and we can be really solid in our starting rotation once again this year.”
Much like the rotation, the position players on the Jets carry plenty of varsity experience into this season. The team’s catcher, Joe Lanza, is entering his third season with the varsity team. Owen Smith, who played third base last year as a sophomore, will be moving over to first base for his junior season. Last season, Smith batted .347 with 17 RBIs and scored 16 runs.
East Meadow will also be welcoming a transfer from Kellenberg in the form of Tommy Stein. Mascia is very excited to have Stein back with East Meadow.
“When he was in middle school he was probably my best player.” Mascia said. “And then he went to Kellenberg, but now he’s coming back. He’s probably going to be our shortstop and a middle of the order hitter.”
Masica is also excited to welcome two new players from the JV team. Trevor Smith will be called up from JV to be the team’s new third baseman. And Eric Garcia, who will find time in center field for East Meadow in 2024.
With a strong middle infield, a good core of returning arms, and a very experienced catcher, Mascia believes that his team’s strength up the middle is the biggest advantage his team has this year.
“We’re very strong up the middle.” Mascia said. “Defensively at catcher and center field we’re excellent. And our middle infield is very good, and we have the three starting pitchers returning with some other arms ready. So I think the old baseball saying about being strong up the middle is something we definitely have.”
The East Meadow Jets will open their season on March 25 against Farmingdale.
