A full slate of games this week with all five RCAC teams in action. Season previews for the squads of East, Edison, Padilla, School of the Arts and Wilson/Early College to get fans ready…
EAST EAGLES
Last season: Finished 13-8, undefeated in league play and won City Cup; lost to NYS champion Mendon in Class A semifinals.
Coach: Kyle Crandall (343-146, 24th season)
Top returners: Carlos Gaston Sr. SS (.286 BA, .474 OBP, 10 R, 6 RBI, 4 SB/ Second Team All-RCAC); Eric Jones Sr. P/1B (.302 BA, .444 OBP, 2 D, 1 T, 1 HR, 20 RBI; 4-0, 4 CG, 26 IP, 35 K 1.62 ERA/ First Team All-RCAC); Yandiel Lopez Jr. P/3B/OF (.328 BA, .384 OBP, 16 R, 4 D, 1 T, 12 RBI; 2-2, 24 IP, 30 K, 4.89 ERA/ Second Team All-RCAC); Kyle Markham Sr. C (.380 BA, .551 OBP, 3 D, 1 HR, 19 RBI/ First Team All-RCAC; Section V Class A Team, Mount St. Mary’s University commit); Mitchell Nieves Sr. P/OF (.409 BA, .506 OBP, 25 R, 4 D, 16 RBI; 3-2, 28 IP, 41 K, 3.91 ERA/ First Team All-RCAC, RCAC Player of the Year, Section V Class A Team); Justus Robinson Sr. OF (.322 BA, .449 OBP, 27 R, 4 D, 1 T, 11 RBI, 24 SB/First Team All-RCAC); Luis Sanchez Jr. INF (.240 BA, .296 OBP, 11 R, 2 D, 11 RBI; 4-1, 1 CG, 2.15 ERA); Jadiel Santiago Jr. P/2B (1-1, 1 CG, 17 IP, 24 K, 2.83 ERA).
Top newcomers: Caleb Diaz Jr. P/Utility.
Next game: Wednesday, April 8th at Irondequoit.
Outlook: East is playing a modified league schedule for the fourth year in a row. This excludes them from being able to earn an RCAC title or participate in the RCAC Tournament. However, it allows the Eagles to play their toughest schedule in decades with games against Greece Athena, Irondequoit, Webster Thomas, Pittsford Mendon, Pittsford Sutherland, Pal-Mac, Livonia, and Bishop Ludden in a two-game tournament in Cortland, along with two games in Baltimore, MD. East returns eight starters and hopes to overcome some pre-season injuries to be battle-tested for sectionals. The success and development of the pitching staff will likely determine if East can be the first City school to win a sectional title in baseball since 1980.
VIEW MORE PHOTO FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
EDISON TECH INVENTORS
Last season: Finished 6-13, lost to Webster Thomas in Class AA first round.
Coach: Diego Ortiz, 40-40, fifth season.
Top returners: Miguel Vargas Sr. OF/P; Felix Vazquez Sr. INF/P and Dariel Ponce Sr. INF/P
Top newcomers: Adriel Martinez So. P/INF.
Next game: Tuesday, April 7th vs. Padilla/World of Inquiry
Outlook: Edison comes into the year with five seniors to lead the newcomers to hopefully another city championship and continue to develop the baseball program to be able to compete with area suburban schools.
PADILLA/WORLD OF INQUIRY BULLDOGS
Last season: Finished 3-12.
Coach: Eddie Lee (176-375/38th season).
Top newcomers: Darrell Potter Ninth-grade P/INF; Ashton Worth Eighth-grade OF; Gerson Garcia Jr. INF; Ty’Shaun Martino Jr. OF.
First game: April 7th at Edison Tech.
Outlook: Padilla’s biggest challenge this year will be to foster and encourage young talent.
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS SILVERHAWKS
Last season: Finished 11-10 (7-1 in RCAC league play and won a second straight RCAC title), lost to Geneva in Class A first round.
Coach: Cameron Scharf (46-34, fifth season).
Top returners: Henry Hawkinson Sr.C/P/1B (.431 BA, .564 OBP, 26 R, 25 H, 12 RBI, 3 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, SB/ 48 K, 2 PO, 2.94 ERA/16 CS/RCAC Tournament MVP); Bennie Laver Sr.3B/1B/ OF (.411 BA, .463 OBP, 18 R, 30 H, 12 RBI, 21 SB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 K in 73 AB, 10 SB); Paul Stevens Sr. CF/P/SS, (.302 BA, .373 OBP, 16 R, 16 H, 10 RBI, 5 SB, 1 2B, 3 3B, and 2 HR); Bruce Newton Sr. SS/P (.281 BA, .373 OBP, 21 R, 18 H 11 RBI, 9 SB, 3 2B; James Laver Ninth-gradeP/ UTIL (.262, .343 OBP, 19 R, 16 H, 9 RBI, 1 2B, 12 SB/ 0.86 ERA, 25 K/ 20 PO, 13 assists, 2 DP, 0 E).
Top newcomers: Max Walsh 6-foot-1So. 1B/P/OF; Finn Walsh 5-foot-119th-grade 1B/ C/OF; Austin Petsche 8th-grade 2B/SS/P);
Next game: Thursday, April 9th vs. Edison Tech.
Outlook: School of the Arts is looking to put together one its strongest seasons in the past five years. SOTA will lean on senior leadership, team chemistry, and new talents to boost the Silverhawks to their strongest season under head coach Cameron Scharf.
WILSON/EARLY COLLEGE WILDCATS
Last season: Finished 10-9, lost to Hilton in second round of Class AA.
Coach: J.J. Johnson (First season; seven seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Rochester).
Top returners: Eudi Martinez Sr. OF / P; Kaisel Cuevas Sr. P / INF; Yhadiel Perez Jr. C / P; Jose Maldonado Jr. INF /P.
Top newcomers: Jhoandry Yamarte Sr. INF/P/ C; Kar’Marrie Robinson Ninth-grade INF/OF/C.
First game: Monday, April 6th at Greece Arcadia
Outlook: Coming off a season with a winning record (10-9), Wilson Baseball looks to put together back-to-back campaigns above .500. The returning upper classmen have really done a great job of leading our team amid a coaching change for this year. The attention to detail in all facets is something that has been a key focus for our team. Skill acquisition in all phases of our team is another thing that has been constant since the first day of practice. With the new hire of Coach J.J. Johnson, there has been a new sense of urgency and a different focus on becoming a mental tougher team and becoming better people off the field as well. We are excited for the upcoming season and look forward to the new challenges ahead.
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