By Mike Merolle
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
Westhampton Beach 5, Hills West 4
WP: Ryan KnieriemenRyan Knieriemen: 2 for 4, RBI single
Frankie Noto: 1 for 3, RBI single Reilly Miller: 1 for 2 pic.twitter.com/6ppG0UZjlT— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 12, 2022
It was a tough season for Westhampton Beach in 2023, finishing the season with a record of 2-18. Sixth-year head coach Asa Grunenwald believes the team’s biggest struggle was finding consistency on the mound. After seasons of development, Grunenwald is excited for the talent this year’s Westhampton Beach brings.
Grunenwald has a group of seniors that has been a part of the program for six years. Riley Miller, Nick Rizzo, Kevin Smith, Ethan Seltzer, and Dayne Isola have all been putting in work this offseason and are expected to perform in the upcoming season. Grunenwald says the group is athletic and will occupy the middle of the field so it is vital that they have good seasons.
In terms of Westhampton Beach’s developing players, Grunenwald is set for many to play quality innings. Junior Liam Anthony leads off the batting order and plays center field. Grunenwald feels that Anthony has the ability to play at the next level and he anticipates a great season from him. Sophomores Pat Fay, Lucas Hefter, Jacob Permakoff, Jude Allen, and Cooper Daniels are more pieces on the radar. One player that really performed well at our showcase back in January was Thomas Machin, a switch hitter with big-time pop. This group carries their own level of talent and will compete for innings around the infield and on the mound.
Grunenwald’s biggest concern for this year’s team is the youth’s consistency. This Westhampton Beach team includes many underclassmen that Grunenwald knows can succeed but he’s curious if they can do it on a regular basis. Westhampton Beach’s schedule this season consists of 21 games including scrimmages and non-league games.
The team’s strengths are spread across the field. Grunenwald believes this is a well-balanced team. He thinks their pitching and defense will be factors that will keep them in games.
Westhampton Beach will open their 2024 league schedule at home against East Hampton on March 25. Grunenwald is looking forward to the early-season matchup. “Vinny [Alversa] does a great job over there. They are always well-coached and the series has been well-played the last few years. Our league is very tough this year so we can’t afford to look ahead. We are going to go week by week,” he said.
