Ward Melville is favorite among Suffolk coaches

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April 01, 2009 | 02:01 PM
With an 11-4 beat-down of Bay Shore on March 26, the Patriots baseball team launched their home nonleague schedule on a high note. Senior Thomas Spero hit a three-run double in the bottom of the first inning to build an early 6-3 lead the Patriots never surrendered.

Senior pitcher Steve Presepane got the season's first win for the Patriots and senior shortstop Jeremy Delgado went 2-3 with a walk and four stolen bases. Against Connetquot at Dowling College on March 28 the Patriots dropped back to .500 as they fell 4-2 before a large crowd that include 17 professional scouts.

There are a lot of familiar faces on this year's team. Some were key players in the 2007 playoff run. Many were also on the 2008 team that lost seven one-run games and missed the playoffs. This year a talented senior class hopes to lead the top-seeded Patriots back into contention.

Senior Steve Matz will pitch and play first base. Matz is 6-4, 195 pounds and throws in the mid-90s. That's not a misprint. "Matz will put Ward Melville baseball on the national map in June during the professional baseball draft," said head coach Lou Petrucci. "He's that good. Along with Yastremski Award winner AJ Nunziato, Steve's among the greatest Ward Melville players ever, with a work ethic that comes from playing two years beside AJ. This is a kid who runs and lifts weights after our ball games. He has God-given talent and a God-given heart."

The speedy Delgado already has six stolen bases in two games. "Jeremy played well in front of the pro scouts at Dowling," said Petrucci. "There's a long list of guys who were seen in a favorable light while the scout was there to watch someone else. Jeremy is a force to be reckoned with when he's focused on the job."

Senior catcher Chris Bozza returns behind the plate and provides power and timely hitting to the middle of the batting order. Senior Mike Maurer has done a great job in the outfield, according to Petrucci. "And Steve Presepane will be a big surprise to people in Suffolk this year," Petrucci said. "He has developed a great change-up."

Senior Pete Gelsomino will again play third base, pitch, provide clutch hitting, and do anything else the Patriots need.

Juniors TJ Spero, Pat Rodgers and Matt La Rocca will also fill key roles in 2009. "Spero has great speed in center field, Rodgers is a key hitter for us in the six-hole and La Rocca is a big strong country boy who throws hard," Petrucci said.

He continued, "We have a good bench and many good young players on the team but there is still a lot of pressure on Pete and Chris and the other seniors this year to produce. We can't make errors. We have to make the routine plays. We don't want to go 7-14 again. When you don't make the routine plays, negative things happen. "

The other Suffolk County baseball coaches don't think Ward Melville will go 7-14 again. They voted the Patriots the number-one seed. "I don't necessarily agree with that seeding," said Petrucci, "but it's good for Ward Melville baseball and we don't mind a target on our backs."

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