New Tigers' baseball coach familiar with team
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Brian Davis is the new Amherst Central varsity baseball coach but he knows the team pretty well.

Davis, a former player and coach at Fairport High School in Rochester and Niagara University, coached six of the 11 juniors on modified 'A' and attended a bunch of Tigers' varsity games last year.

Davis' coaching philosophy puts working together as a team a top priority, which is why he will not name an official captain.

"I think everyone can be a leader, junior or senior," said Davis, who said he is also making sure the basic fundamentals are being taught from the modified and up. The strong thing about the team is we have two or three kids who can play many positions who all push each other."

Davis said in past years, players were kept regardless if they had baseball skills. That's not the case this season.

"We really have baseball players now," said Davis. "I know in the past we had to keep guys simply because we didn't have enough (to compete)."

There are seven seniors on the roster - Russell Zolonowski, Will Gowen, Andrew Gibson, Shaun Garus, Chris Eyeington, James Russell and Alex Kuttesch. Zolonowski is vying with junior Mike Yanity for the No. 1 pitching duties. Both are left-handed pitchers. Zolonowski and Yanity can also play first base, with Yanity having the edge to start. Gowen, who can throw right and hit left, is penciled in as the starting shortstop. Gibson should start in the outfield with juniors Zach Willett and Geoff Gallson. Eyeington will split time as catcher with junior D.J. Filer. Garus (relief pitching, third base), Russell (outfield) and Kuttesch (infield, second base) provide depth.

Junior Andrew Hays will start at third base and classmate Alex Dusenberry is the front runner at second.

Juniors Phil Cultrara (infield), Derek Duke (pitcher), Ben Gaughan (infield), and Brandon Jeffords (left-handed pitcher), and sophomore Tom Ponticelli (pitcher, infield), round out the roster. Junior Mike Gruttadauria is on medical leave but once cleared to play, will be worked into the lineup at first.

Davis thinks the team is really deep on the mound.

"As of right now, we have eight guys who can throw strikes with three or four who are pretty strong," said Davis.

He also thinks his team should play well defensively.

Davis does not know any of the competition but says if his team hustles and does the little things well, they will be all right.

Amherst played West Seneca East on Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. The Tigers host Hamburg at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
          Amherst Central
            2007 Schedule
4-4 Hamburg................. 4:45 p.m.

4-10 at Grand Island ........ 1 p.m.
4-12 Wilson .......................... noon
4-16 at East .................. 4:30 p.m.
4-18 Lake Shore........... 4:30 p.m.
4-19 Ken. West ............. 4:30 p.m.
4-23 South..................... 4:30 p.m.
4-25 at Iroquois............ 4:30 p.m.
4-27 at W.S. East.......... 4:30 p.m.
4-30 at Hamburg .......... 4:30 p.m.
5-2 East ......................... 4:30 p.m.
5-4 at Lake Shore ........ 4:30 p.m.
5-7 at Newfane.................... noon
5-9 at South .................. 4:30 p.m.
5-11 Iroquois................. 4:30 p.m.
5-14 at Depew .............. 4:30 p.m.
5-15 at Tonawanda ...... 4:30 p.m.
5-16 Depew................... 4:30 p.m.
5-18 at Ken. West......... 4:30 p.m.
5-19 at Alden ................... 10 a.m.
5-21 W.S. West................... 5 p.m.
5-22 at Niagara-Wheatfield.. 4:30
p.m.
5-23 Alden..................... 4:30 p.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com