High School Baseball Preview: Monroe County Division III

BRIGHTON BARONS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 10-11 and lost to eventual NYS semi-finalist, Canandaigua 1-0 in the Class A1 quarterfinals.

Coach: John Feltes (first season/ assistant coach for Brighton during the 2011, 2012 and 2018 seasons).

Top returners: Trent Wasserman (Sr. LHP, 1.34 ERA, .400 average, First Team All-County, Niagara County Community College commit), Ryan Watson (Sr. CF, .381, Second Team All-County, St. Lawrence commit), Jack Falter (Sr. P, MIF, .320), Sam O’Hora (Jr. .373).

Top newcomers: Nick Stodgell (Jr. OF).

First game: Friday, April 5th at Greece Odyssey, 4:30 PM.

 

BROCKPORT BLUE DEVILS (Class A1)

Last season: 15-8, lost to 4-1 Canandaigua in sectional finals.

Coach: Matt Davis (59-49/sixth year).

Top returners: Sam Velletri (Jr. – First Team All-County with a .405 batting average and 18 RBI), Nick Nealon (Jr. – hit .385 with 16 RBI).

Top newcomers: Nick Johnson (So. – 6-foot-3, 170 lbs), Devin Scheidt (So. – 5-foot-8, 135 lbs).

First game: Friday, April 5th vs. Honeoye Falls-Lima

Outlook: Brockport lost 12 seniors from last year’s sectional finalist team, leaving the younger talent to catch up with the returning four that saw time last season. Once they do, will the Blue Devils make some noise in Division III?

 

GREECE ARCADIA TITANS (Class A1)

Last season: 5-16, lost to Pittsford Mendon 4-2 in quarterfinals.

Coach: Chris Ruggieri (249-203/22nd year).

Top returners: Drew Southcott (Sr. SS – First Team All-County, third-year starter), Nathan Yantz (Sr. C – third-year starter), Kyle Blum (Sr. P/2B – First Team All-County, third-year starter), Ben Bell (Sr. CF), Evan Caufield (Sr. 3B), Traverse MacNeal (Jr. P).

First game: Friday, April 5th at 4:30 p.m. at Eastridge

Outlook: Will the Titans’ veteran team improve on last season to make a run in the division and postseason?

 

GREECE ATHENA TROJANS (Class A1)

Last season: 13-9, lost to Canandaigua 6-4 in semifinals.

Coach: Jason Bunting (321-198/23rd year).

Top returners: Jorge Oropeza (Sr. P/3B/C/1B – batted .327 with 13 RBI last season, Alfred State commit), Casey Saucke II (So. SS/P – hit .413 with 18 RBI, five doubles, three triples, and one homer, University of Virginia commit), Tyler Curtis (Jr. P/OF – batted . 411 with 15 RBI), Jagger Nucci (Jr. P/INF), Jayson Russell (Sr. P/1B – .328 batting average with 14 RBI and 1 home run), Brandon Smith (Sr. P).

Top newcomers: Zach Geist (Jr. P/OF/INF – 5-foot-10 175 lbs), Lucas Sulimowicz (C – 6-foot-1, 185 lbs).

First game: Monday, April 8th against Brockport.

Outlook: Athena lost some key contributors to graduation. However, a lot of solid talent in back on the field, including solid pitching depth and an experienced infield. After coming up two runs short in sectional semifinals last season, will the Trojans come back hungry?

 

PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (Class A1)

Last season: 15-7, lost in the semifinals to Brockport.

Coach: Jeff Amoroso (74-56/seventh year).

Top returners: Hudson Bockmier (Sr. LHP/OF – First Team All-County, finished with a 3-1 record and 2.43 ERA with three saves; hit .364 last season with two homers and 30 RBI).

Top newcomers: Karthik Mathew-Malik (Jr. LHP/OF), Kyle Hennessey (Jr. C), Tyler Procious (So. 3B).

First game: Monday, April 8th vs. Pittsford Sutherland

Outlook: Despite losing 13 to graduation, can the Vikings’ returning talent and the up-and-comers build on recent success?

 

PITTSFORD SUTHERLAND KNIGHTS (Class A2)

Last season: 11-9, lost to Brockport in quarterfinals.

Coach: Brandon DeRosa (27-19/third year).

Top returners: Connor Fitzsimmons (Sr. C/P – Second Team All-County, .340 batting average with 20 RBI), Keeghan Cummings (So. INF – hit .340 last season and marked a .407 on-base percentage), Tyler Depaolis (Sr. P/INF – recorded a 3.00 ERA and three wins).

Top newcomers: Torin Wilcox (Jr. C/INF – 5-foot-11, 190 lbs), Nick Provenzale (So. P/INF – 5-foot-11, 165 lbs).

First game: Monday, April 1 vs. McQuaid at 4:30 p.m. at MCC

Outlook: Sutherland starts the 2019 season with many new faces in the lineup, ready to step up and lead the Knights to a bounce-back season. What names will become known at the head of the young Sutherland squad?