Season Preview: John Jay Baseball

This is going to be a unique year for the John Jay High School baseball team. But that could be said about every Class A baseball team.

The Indians – who finished 14-7 a year ago – have graduated their whole outfield and the majority of the infield.

But they're not alone.

The two-time defending state champion Mamaroneck Tigers – who eliminated John Jay in the sectional semifinals a year ago – also graduated a number of its top players.

"There may be a lot of parity in the class this season," John Jay coach Geoff Curtis said. "The best teams lost a number of their best players, so there are a bunch of unknowns. You don't know who's going to rise to the top."

At least the Indians have the top of their rotation set with senior captains Steve Green and Jared Hirschberg taking over the No. 1 and No. 2 positions on the pitching staff.

Dean Lambert will also be counted on to pitch some innings. The senior is also one of the top offensive threats for the Indians.

 But with so many new starters on the team, it makes for an uncertain future for John Jay.

 "There are a lot of baby steps that need to take place before you get to the end of the season," Curtis said. "But our goal is still – at the end of the season – to head to the sectional tournament. Right now we have to wait and see who steps up."

Curtis and the rest of his John Jay players realize that even though the majority of teams lost a lot of talent last year, the road to a Class A title will almost surely go through Mamaroneck, the two-time defending state champions.

 "You don't just accidentally win back-to-back state titles," Curtis said. "(Mamaroneck) has a lot of kids that can play – they're still going to be in contention. Having a team like that where everybody is gunning for them and wants to beat them, it makes baseball in our section even better."

 If the Indians do hope to make it back to the sectional tournament, their biggest hurdle will be to try and find replacements for the seven offensive players they lost. This will be unchartered territory for John Jay as the team has routinely had one of the most potent offenses in the section.

 "Right now, we're most comfortable with our pitching," Curtis said. "Our defense and offense are the great unknowns. We've had a great offense the last three or four seasons. We've had a number of power-hitters and base-stealers who have all graduated. And right now, I'm not sure of our capabilities."