Matt Pelcher
Mike Pokorny’s Big Offensive Day Leads Calhoun to Victory over East Meadow
Mike Pokorny on the 4-2 victory for Calhoun pic.twitter.com/WFSUDXYqGR — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 11, 2018 With Calhoun leading 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning, Tyler Patterson stepped to the plate as the potential go-ahead run. He drove one to deep left and the Calhoun dugout collectively gasped. The ball was caught at the warning track by Jake Edwards to retire the side and also allowed their dugout to breathe a sigh of relief. The game was a match up of two talented pitchers. Charlie Cucchiara, named to our Preseason All-Long Island list, is coming off an All-County season as a sophomore for East Meadow against Mike Porcelli, who was an All-League starter last season. Porcelli allowed consecutive singles to start the game but worked out of the jam unscathed. Ca...
Calhoun Season Preview
They’ve knocked on the door the past two seasons, losing in the semifinals each time. Last season was particularly cruel, as they led Plainview-JFK 2-1 in the seventh inning in consecutive games but failed to close the door each time. “I think we were just young, a little inexperienced last year,” said Head Coach Art Canestro, who is entering his fifth season at the helm. They graduated only two seniors, relying primarily on underclassman and juniors to get them to 15 wins. This year, they will have eight seniors, with about four of them expected to be starters. Canestro noted that the strength of the team is in his pitching staff, calling it a “strange year” that he has “legitimately eight pitchers”. “It’s a good problem to have when y...
Recap of Week 5 of the New York Baseball Academy at Hofstra
The New York Baseball Academy has been home to some of the top young talent in the northeast over the past 40 years. That–combined with a coaching staff that features former professional players and some of the most recognizable and respected baseball minds–has allowed the NYBA to be named one of the top five baseball camps in the country. In addition to learning a great deal, many of the players had awards bestowed upon them. More important than the skill-based awards were those who were honored for their ability to actively listen and incorporate that into the games. These individuals also gave their 100 percent effort all week and never failed to hustle. Below are the winners of the “Super Hustler” Award. Also pictured is 15-year-old Matt Pelcher who was the recipient of the fourth Mr.A...
Who is Matt Pelcher?
by Vinny Messana, Editor Usually when you hear baseball fans rave about an 8th grader you take it with a grain of salt. He’s good for his age? Big deal. Every once in a while, however, the hype is warranted. The hyperbole is not overstated. When it comes to Calhoun’s Matt Pelcher–there might not be enough endearing terms. “As a player for his age he’s just a freak,” said his summer coach. “Probably the best catcher in his age group.” And it’s probably not close. Pelcher hit .286 and threw out 40 percent of base stealers on varsity as an eighth grader for a playoff team that won 15 games and had an All-Long Island pitcher in Dylan Hughes and a 5-game winner in Jake Garguilo. It is no small task to put up strong offensive numbers while al...
