The 2024 Section V Baseball season opened this week. Here are the team previews for Pittsford Mendon, Eastridge, Pittsford Sutherland, Honeoye Falls-Lima, and Batavia.
BATAVIA BLUE DEVILS (Class A)
Last season: Finished 9-11, lost in Class B1 quarterfinals to Hornell
Coach: Michael Sputore (19th season as coach, First at Batavia)
Top returners: Cole Grazioplene Sr. CF (committed to SUNY Brockport); Dane Dombrowski Sr. SS; Mekhi Fortes Sr. C/UTIL; Bronx Buchholz Jr.
Top newcomers: Maggio Buchholz So. C/UTIL
First game: Tuesday, April 2nd, at Webster Thomas
EASTRIDGE LANCERS (Class A)
Last season: Finished 9-13, lost in A2 quarterfinals to Pittsford Sutherland
Coach: Chris Taylor (Fourth season)
Top returners: Brennen Russo Sr. (.474 BA, 11 2B, 6 HR, First team All-County selection, committed to Mercyhurst University); Evan Bishop Jr. (.364 BA, 1 HR, 3.04 ERA, Second team All-County selection); Xzavier Hughey So. (.418 BA, 35 H, 3.13 ERA)
Top newcomers: Aaden Bishop So. P
First game: Tuesday, April 2nd, at Greece Olympia/Odyssey
HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS (Class A)
Last season: Finished 16-10, won Section V Class A title, beat Greece Athena in Class A state qualifier before losing to Williamsville East (VI) in NYS Far West Regional
Coach: Dan Hoyt (three sectional titles as coach, 13th season)
Top returners: Landon Hammond Sr. 3B (First team All-County selection); Aidan Neenan Sr. SS/C (Second team All-County selection); Connor Finn Jr. C/P (Second team All-County selection); Matt Meacham Sr. OF; Andrew Wanzenried Sr. OF; Mitch Martini Jr. P
Top newcomers: Jack Farabell Jr. P; Jacob Weber So. 2B/P
Next game: Wednesday, 10th, vs. Pittsford Sutherland
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (Class AA)
Last season: Finished 8-15, lost in Class A2 semi-finals to Honeoye Falls-Lima
Coach: Shaun Caveny (8-15 career record, 2nd season)
Top returners: Colden Forney Jr. SS (.368 BA, .482 OBP, 25 H, 10 SB, First team All-County selection, committed to Fordham University); Aidan Lerner-Morelle Jr. C (.386 BA, 22 H, 13 RBI, Second team All-County selection); Jack Albanese Jr. INF (.319 BA, 22 H, 9 RBI); Cameron Barbulean Jr. OF/P (.301 BA, 22 H, 16 RBI, 4 2B, 2 3B, 22 IP, 27 K); Jaden Singer Jr. OF/P (.302 BA, 19 H, 14 SB); Ishan Strivastava Jr. P (11.1 IP, 11 K)
Top newcomers: Nate Markevicz So. OF/P; Sam George So. INF; Josiah Martin So. INF; Ronan Paul Fr. INF; Jackson Forney Fr. INF
First game: Saturday, March 30th, vs. Highland (KY) at Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
PITTSFORD SUTHERLAND KNIGHTS (Class A)
Last season; Finished 16-7, lost in Class A2 finals to Honeoye Falls-Lima
Coach: Brandon DeRosa (86-48 career record, 7th season)
Top returners: Paul Byrne Sr. P/INF (5-0, 1.46 ERA, 66 K, 43 IP, All-Greater Rochester selection, Class A2 Player of the Year, First team All-County selection, committed to SUNY Cortland); Max Vorrasi Sr. C (.322 BA, .512 OBP, 6 2B, First team All-County selection, committed to UMass Boston); Andrew Holvey Sr. (.333 BA, 21 H, 14 RBI, Second team All-County selection); Colin MacLean Sr. P/INF (3-1, 1.12 ERA)
Top newcomers: Tyler Allen So.; Jaxon Bernas So.; Samuel Byrne So.; Chase Dermody So.; Aidan Kress So.; Lucas Martin Jr.; Ryan Munzinger So.; Owen Osborne Jr.; Drew Ricketts Jr.; Logan Tomeny Jr.
First game: Saturday, March 30th, vs. Tallmadge (OH) at Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
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