High School Baseball Preview: Monroe County Division I

FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (Class AA)

Last season: 13-7, lost to Webster Schroeder in quarterfinals.

Coach: Brian Reed (65-40/sixth year).

Top returners: Tyler Holmes (Sr. C – .379 batting average and two home runs in 2018, Second Team All-County, Hartford University commit), Anthony Roides (Sr. P/1B – 3.63 ERA with 14 strike outs in 17 innings in 2018, Alfred State commit), Josh Van Bramer (Sr. P/1B – 0.98 ERA with 20 strike outs in 14 innings in 2018, Alfred State commit).

First game: Friday, April 5th at Canandaigua.

Outlook: Fairport returns 11 players, including two third-year players (Holmes and Roides), after graduating 14 seniors. With the amount of time the seniors played last year, Fairport is relatively inexperienced. However, they have depth on the mound and many players that can play multiple positions. Will the Red Raiders versatility and senior leadership push them to be a top contender?

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HILTON CADETS (Class AA)

Last season: 9-13, lost to eventual NYS Class AA semifinalist Victor in quarters.

Coach: Jeff Murphy (191-101-1/15th year).

Top returners: Drew HerrNeckar (Sr. – Second Team All-County), Gavin Moore (Sr. OF/P), Collin Nelson (Jr. C/INF/P), Alex Noto (Sr. OF/INF), Josh Battaglia (Sr. OF).

Top newcomers: Tyler Cerame (So. SS), Carter Clark (Fr. 1B/P).

First game: Friday, April 5th vs. Webster Thomas at Basket Road.

Outlook: The Cadets have a great mix of young talent and returners who are scrappy, work hard, and are tight knit. Will Hilton be a top contender in a winning division?

PENFIELD PATRIOTS (Class AA)

Last season: 15-7, lost to McQuaid in sectional semifinals.

Coach: Nick Marcin (56-31/fifth year).

Top returners: Gage Ziehl (So. 3B/P – .375 batting average, 20 runs, 24 RBI, nine extra-base hits; 3-3, 1.12 ERA, 47 strikeouts, First Team All-County, University of Miami commit and Member of Team USA 15U), Brendan Miller (Jr. SS/P – .344 batting average, 24 runs, six extra-base hits; 2-1, 2.00 ERA, First Team All-County), Bobby Bradley (Sr. 1B/3B – .333 batting average, 14 RBI, seven extra-base hits, Second Team All-County), Danny Stapleton (Jr. 2B/P – 5-1, 2.25 ERA with 22 strikeouts, Second Team All-County), Connor Stuewe (Sr. OF – .352 batting average, 22 runs, 14 RBI, seven extra-base hits).

Top newcomers: Nick Ianniello (So. 1B/3B/P), Collin Pichany (Jr. OF), Peyton Pace (So. 2B/3B/P), Jack Josephson (So. P).

First game: Friday, April 5th vs. Gates-Chili.

Outlook: Penfield is a relatively young team, but the returners gained valuable big-game experience last season. With the core of last year’s pitching staff returning and the addition of new young arms, can the Patriots make an immediate impact?

RUSH-HENRIETTA ROYAL COMETS (Class AA)

Last season: 12-9, lost to McQuaid in the quarterfinals.

Coach: Bill Rasmussen (15th year).

Top returners: Pat Sherron (Jr. P – 2.32 ERA with 30 strikeouts; .397 batting average, 15 RBI as a sophomore), Andrew Sanchez (Sr. C – .328 with 13 extra base hits in 2018), Chris Sleeper (So. P – averaged about one strikeout per inning as a mid-season call-up last year), Frank McCabe (OF), Grant Rodriguez (1B), Michael Contini (P).

Top newcomers: Bobby Sellers, Walker Wright, and Cliff Genge.

First game: Friday, April 5th at Churchville-Chili.

Outlook: The Comets have a squad of 14 juniors and one sophomore. The young talent is coming off a strong JV season and will likely provide an immediate impact as first-year varsity players. With that, Rush-Henrietta has more depth defensively, on the mound, and in the lineup than in recent years. Will the young team compete for the league championship?

VICTOR BLUE DEVILS (Class AA)

Last season: 19-6, league champions, Class AA Sectional champions, Far West Regional champions.

Coach: Sean Rucker (421-142/24th year).

Top returners: Santino Rosso (Sr. SS – All-County select, .354 average with 28 hits, three doubles, one triple, two home runs, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases, Hofstra University commit), Ryan Lukas (Sr. 3B – .371 batting average, 26 hits, five doubles, three triples, 13 RBI, seven stolen bases, Saint Anselm commit), Sam DiGiacomo (Sr. C/OF – .324 average, 23 hits, three doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBI, four stolen bases), Drew Delaney (Sr. P/1B – 6-0, 36 strikeouts and a 2.65 ERA in 10 games, Slippery Rock University commit).

Top newcomers: Hudson Alread (Sr. OF), CJ Williams (Sr. DH/P/1B), Matt Leonardo (sr. OF/P), Dale Turner (Sr. OF), Hudson Pavia (Sr. 1B), Jared Signorelli (Sr. INF), Carson Rucker (Sr. 2B), Jake Chittenden (Jr. P), Timmy Keohane (Jr. OF/P)

First game: Friday, April 5th at Spencerport.

Outlook: The defending league and sectional champions lost ten seniors, six starting position players and four pitchers, to graduation. With three returning position players and one returning starting pitcher, can Victor make a push to be in the mix in Division I?

WEBSTER SCHROEDER WARRIORS (Class AA)

Last season: 15-8, lost in sectional semifinals.

Coach: Matt Knight (234-158/19th year).

Top returners: Jack Willard (Sr. P/3B – First Team All-County, .406 batting average, 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA), Alex Vogt (Sr. P/OF – First Team All-County, .296 average, 17 runs scored, 14 RBI; 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA), Nick Vogt (Sr. P/1B – Second Team All-County, .390 average, 17 runs scored, 13 RBI), Tommy Winn (Sr. 2B – Second Team All-County, .340 average, 13 runs scored, 15 RBI), Robby Merkov (Sr. OF – .435 average, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI).

Top newcomers: Jack Hoctor (Jr. OF), Jack vonAhnen (Jr. OF), Liam Bell (So. P), Ryan Merkov (So. P)

First game: Friday, April 5th at Irondequoit.

Outlook: Schroeder makes the jump from Division II with a corps of returning players logged plenty of innings last season. The Warriors’ infield is amongst the best defensive groups in Section V. Can they make a run at the divisional title and more?