High School Baseball Preview: Monroe County Division II

MONROE COUNTY Division II

CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SAINTS (Class AA)
Last season: Finished 3-17 and lost to Rush-Henrietta, 3-2 in the opening round of Class AA.
Coach: Guy Puglia (first season).
Top Returners: Mike Mule (Sr. OF), Ryan Demitrovic (Sr. P), Jake Carrol (Jr. OF), Ethan Putney (Jr. 2B), Amaury Samalot (Jr. C) and Wes Colucci (Jr. SS).
Top Newcomers: Joey Puglia (So. P, 1B) and John Bagley (So. C, 2B).
First Game: April 3rd vs. Honoye Falls-Lima.
Outlook – A young Churchville-Chili squad will look to improve on last season and be competitive again.

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GREECE ARCADIA TITANS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 11-11 and lost to Canandaigua, 5-1 in the Class A1 finals.
Coach: Chris Ruggieri (20th season/244-186).
Top Returners: Justin Augustine (Sr. C), Ben Bell (Jr. OF), Ray Mineo (Sr. P), Nathan Yantz (Jr. Utility) and Isaac Yorkey (Sr.).
First Game: Thursday April 5th vs. Aquinas.
Outlook: Augustine is among the best catchers in Section V. The senior will be called upon to guide a young  staff as the Titans look for a second straight trip to the sectional finals.

IRONDEQUOIT EAGLES (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 8-10 and lost 7-1 in the Class A1 quarterfinals to Brighton.
Coach: Tim Mabb (200-236/22^nd season).
Top returners:  Chad Gartland (Jr. SS, P  Injured all of 2017/ Hit .270 as a freshman on varsity in 2016/  Second Team All-County 2016), Jackson DeJohn (Jr. C  .286/ Honorable Mention All-County), Nick Serce (Jr. 1B,P .280/ 2-2/1 save/Second Team All-County), Chris Butler (Sr. 3B,P .341/ Honorable Mention All-County) and Will Porter (Sr. OF 12 SB).
Top newcomers: Jimmy Weaver (Sr. OF) and Johnny Fernandes (Sr. 2B).
First game:  April 2nd vs. Canandaigua.
Outlook: With Gartland returning to the lineup along with DeJohn behind the plate and Serce at first base, Irondequoit has a solid defensive core that should keep the Eagles competitive in the division.

SPENCERPORT RANGERS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 10-12 and lost to eventual champion Canandaigua, 8-0 in the A1 quarterfinals.
Coach:  Larry Frisa (30-56/fifth season).
Top Returners:  Raymond Richards (Sr. P 2-2/30IP), Joey Carroll (Sr. SS), Chris Carroll (Sr. CF .308) and Joe Moschettieri (Sr. C).
Top Newcomers: Scotty Berry (Sr. P, INF, OF – football standout who did not play last year due to a wrist injury) and Jason Nau (Jr. C, P).
First game:  Friday, March 30th vs. Wheeling HS (Ill.) at the Walt Disney World ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Outlook: Spencerport graduated 10 players from last year’s team.  The Rangers will rely on Richards to lead a staff which will face a schedule including 13 games against Class AA schools.  Richards hurled a team-high 30 innings last season. His two losses came to Penfield and Fairport – a pair of two-run setbacks. Co-captain Chris Carroll returns to the lead off spot. Co-captain Joey Carroll hit .400 over the second half of last season. Berry is the grandson of former Rochester Red Wing great Bobby Bonner. First-year juniors Colton VanBrederode, Nathan Hueber, Mike LoPresti, Nick LoPresti, Kiernan Crowley, and Sean Bracken as well as sophomores Gino Pellett and Greg Ranieri will be counted upon to contribute.

 

WEBSTER SCHROEDER WARRIORS (Class AA)

Last season: Finished 19-2 (Monroe County Division II Champions) and fell to Victor, 3-2 in the Class AA quarterfinals.
Coach: Matt Knight (219 – 150/ 18th season).
Top returners: Tommy Baxter (Sr. SS .323/21R/15 RBI/3-2B/2-3B/18 BB/ 5 SB/Second Team All-County), Michael Masucci (Sr. OF .429/13R/ 9 RBI/5 SB/ Second Team All-County), Nick Vogt (Jr. 1B, P .290/9R/10 RBI/2-2B/3-3B) and Tommy Winn (Jr. 2B .300/17R/1-2B/2-3B/5 RBI).
Top newcomers: Peter Smith (Jr. P, 1B), Alex Vogt (Jr. OF, P) and Jack Willard (Jr. P, 3B).
First game:  Tuesday, April 10th vs. Spencerport.
Outlook: A season removed from a run to the NYS Class AA finals, Schroeder looks to reload with Baxter and Masucci leading the way. Smith is an exciting prospect on the mound.

 

WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS (Class AA)

Last season: Finished 13-6 and lost in the AA quarterfinals to McQuaid, 3-2.
Coach:  Kevin Neenan (51-32/fifth season).
Top returners: Ryan Hill  (Sr. SS, P .298/13 RBI/17R/15 BB/6 SB/great defensive SS/First Team All-County), Damian Wright (Sr. C .355/ 19R/9 RBI/6 extra-base hits/ Second Team All-County), Justin LaLoggia (Sr. P,1B 2-0/ 1.75 ERA), Devin Mulcahy (Jr. P, 1B, OF .466/17 RBI/12R/6 extra-base hits/ 2-1/1.87 ERA/ First Team All-County), Steve Minardo (Sr. OF/P), Ethan Maltman (Sr. OF .262/15R. 7 SB), Jim Marasco (Jr. P, INF 1-0/ 0.00 ERA), Derek Ogi (Sr. OF, P, 1B) and Ryan Ogi (Sr. C, OF – injured last year).
Top newcomers: Caden Hahn  (Jr. 3B, P), Sam DeGrace (Jr. C, OF), Matt Stuewe (Jr. 1B, OF), Jake Canfield (Jr. P, OF), Jadon Masucci (Jr. P, INF) and Ethan Hagan (Jr. 2B).
First game:  Wednesday April 4^th vs. Brighton.
Outlook: Thomas returns nine players (seven seniors and two juniors) including third-year varsity players Hill and Wright. The Titans finished 13-6 a year ago and came within one run of eventual NYS Class AA semifinalist, McQuaid. Neenan graduated his top two starters. Someone will need to step into those roles. Combining experience with talented JV players, the Titans should compete for the divisional title.