by Max Edelman
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
After serving the previous two years as an assistant coach of the Valley Stream Central Eagles, new head coach Tino Muscatelli is set to step into the head role for his first year. With a new head coach, and in a new conference, Muscatelli looked back on what was a successful season for his squad last year, and why his team will be joining a new league this year.
“Our program was in the county wide last year.” Muscatelli said. “We had success last year, we went 15-4-1. But this year, we’re out of the county wide, back into our regular scheduled league. I’m looking forward to playing against some good teams, and trying to build the program from the bottom up.”
Seven starters on the Eagles last year were seniors. Ryan Foerst, one of the seniors last year, is continuing his baseball career at Baruch College. Steven Kolm, while not playing in college, was All-League last year, and will be a big loss for Valley Stream Central.
Although not the head coach, Muscatelli has been part of the Eagles program for several years, which has allowed him to gain familiarity with the program. Muscatelli pointed out a group of players that will not only be called upon to replace many of the players that have left, but also be the catalysts for the Eagles’ success this year. Leon Roopnarine is a senior who is entering his fourth season on varsity.
“[Roopnarine] has been starting on varsity since ninth grade.” Muscatelli said. “He’s going to be the ace of our pitching staff.”
Also, a returning starter is Zion Phillips. Although only a junior, Phillips started on varsity as a sophomore. Muscatelli believes that after having a strong winter, junior Justin Owolabi, Owolabi came into the winter camps and shined, which caught the attention of his head coach.
“He surprised me in the winter.” Muscatelli said. “He had a good clinic, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he does for us.”
Roopnarine and Phillips will be the one-two punch in the Eagles rotation, while the third starting spot is up for grabs. In terms of the lineup, Muscatelli mentioned a pair of sophomores who, like Owolabi, made the most of the team’s winter workouts. Justin Camacaro and Jayden Garica. Both Camacaro and Garcia played junior varsity as eighth graders, and after two seasons at the JV level, are poised to take the step up to the Eagles varsity squad.
Stepping into a new league comes with unknowns. But Muscatelli believes his squad is ready to face them head-on.
“We’re going to be seeing some good pitching.” Muscatelli said. “In the county wide, the pitching was between 60-65 mile per hour fastballs. Now the pitching will be 80-85 mile per hour fastballs. So the pitching is going to be the biggest adjustment for our group. Our fielding needs to be ready as well for some hard hit grounders.”
Muscatelli points to his team’s hitting as their biggest strength, which he believes will be able to compete with the challenging pitching of his team’s new league.
“We have more depth hitting then we’ve had in years past.” Muscatelli said. “Bottom of the lineup has been an issue, but I don’t think it will be this year like it has been in years past.”
The Eagles will open their season with a scrimmage against Valley Stream North on March. 22.
