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Optimism high for Williamsville East baseball
Coach Jerry Gasz returns 10 players from the Flames' 2005 team, which went 25-4 and appeared in the New York State Class "A" Tournament, and from last year's 17-8 team, which beat Class "A" state finalist, Williamsville South, twice. Gasz said his team has plenty of experience but must find replacements for Dave Convertini, Steve Kanutsu, Steve Kaiser and John Quartironi, who were all ECIC Division II first-team selections. Kaiser also was an All-Western New York Honorable Mention pick; Quartironi made the first team. Here is a breakdown by position of this year's team. Pitching Gasz has 12 kids who can pitch but will rely mainly on juniors Mark Guenther (ECIC Division II second team), Jordan Karnath and Josh DiMarco. Seniors Zach Miller, Nick Kanutsu (ECIC II second team) and Justin Andreozzi can also throw. This group accounted for nine victories last year. Miller and Kanutsu are two of three East captains. Filling in when needed will be Mike Zeoli (ECIC II second team), Eric Charlton, Nick Weigel, Gary Styn, Carl Lew and the team's only left-handed pitcher, Dominic Missana. Catching Mike Terryberry, Kyle Smith and DiMarco will battle for the starting catching duties. Terryberry was the backup a year ago. Smith, whom Gasz said can play anywhere, hit .304. DiMarco hit .340 on JV. "All three have good defensive skills and are savvy enough to be the field general behind the plate," Gasz said. Styn, primarily an infielder, can catch as well, he said. Infield Probably his team's area of greatest depth, Gasz returns four-year player and captain Mike Ferguson at first base and three-year players Kanutsu (.338, 28 RBIs) at second base, slick fielding shortstop Chris Schiumo (.354, 24 RBIs) and Miller at third. Andreozzi will start at first. Charlton, a versatile player, will push for a starting job somewhere, said Gasz. Andrew Steel and Mike Toscano move up from JV, as well as Missana. Outfield Zeoli (.390, 17 RBIs), a senior who has started since the last seven games of his freshman year, anchors the Flames' centerfield. Also in the outfield are Guenther (.273, nine RBIs), Matt Graci (.304, eight RBIs), Wiegel (.439 on JV), Dan Tyx (.364 on JV), Lew (.333 on JV) and Karnath. Utility Gasz said this is the first time in East history that he has five players who can fill in at many positions and play them well. Charlton, Kyle Smith, DiMarco, Styn and Karnath give Gasz plenty of options. Outlook Gasz thinks ECIC Division II - Lake Shore, Amherst, South, Hamburg, Iroquois and West Seneca East - will be competitive from top to bottom. "We'll rely on our experience, but Mark Guenther (ECIC II second team), Nick Kanutsu (second team), Chris Schiumo (honorable mention), Zach Miller (honorable mention) and Mike Zeoli (second team) must elevate their games along with everyone else to have a shot," said Gasz. Gasz said to circle May 11, as it is the last scheduled league game this season between East and South. "It could have a significant bearing on the conference standings," said Gasz. East opened its season on Friday with a 7-1 win over West Seneca West. Karnath, Miller, Andreozzi, Kanutsu and Guenther limited the Indians to three hits. Miller got credit for the win, pitching three innings of one-hit ball and striking out four. He also scored a run, stole three bases and had two hits. Ferguson chipped in with two hits and Guenther doubled as the Flames had seven hits. East actually trailed 1-0 in the top of the fifth but went to the bunt game and scored seven times. Terryberry handled the Flames staff superbly and played an outstanding defensive game. East improved to 2-0 after beating Iroquois, 6-5, on Monday in their home opener at the Pepsi Center. The Flames had to play at the Pepsi Center due to the collapse of their backstop from the October storm and because East's field is not playable yet. The Flames jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first as Zeoli, Schiumo, and Guenther all had hits. The lead increased to 4-1 but the Chiefs battled back to make it 4-3 and finally took the lead, 5-4, in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half of the seventh, Karnath walked with two outs and was lifted for pinch runner Styn. Styn stole second with two strikes on leadoff batter Zeoli. Zeoli reached first on an error with Styn coming to third. With no count on Kanutsu, Zeoli stole second. The three-year veteran Kanutsu, with a one-ball, two-strike count, drilled a single to left, scoring Styn and then Zeoli for the winning run.
Karnath got the win in relief. Iroquois' Matt Jimenz picked up the loss. |
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