2011 Kennedy Baseball and Softball Preview

Softball

2010 Record: 14-2 (Lost in the first round to MacArthur)

Head Coach: Katie Speiss (Fourth season)

2011 Class: AA-II

Top Players: Carly Thea (CF), Gabriella Calia (P/3B), Sam Finkel (P/3B), Brittany Venezia (SS), Heather Hulkower (1B) and Stephanie Bauman (C)

Thea, who has already committed to play softball at the University of Pittsburgh, will be looked upon to lead on the field and at the plate.

"Carly, because she plays inside and outside of school, is a phenomenal athlete," Speiss said. "[She is] an awesome leader and a great center fielder."

"Some I need defensively and others really come through with the bat," Speiss added.

Expectations: After lead MacArthur 3-0 late in last year's first-round matchup, the Lady Cougars could not hold on and fell by a score of 6-4. However, with seven returning starters, the team hasn't lost much and are ready for another playoff run. 

"As long as everyone stays healthy and things stay positive, I think we will be back where we were last year, if not farther."

Speiss thinks the competition will be much tougher this year, but said the girls are more than capable of rising to the challenge.

"As long as we stick to the game of softball and are there for each other, I think we are going to have a really good season," she said.

Big Games: April 1 vs. Hicksville, 4:30 p.m.; April 28 @ Hicksville, 4:30 p.m; April 16 @ MacArthur, 10 a.m.; March 31 @ Oceanside, 4:30 p.m.; April 14 vs. Oceanside, 4:30 p.m.

News & Notes: There are only 12 players on the Kennedy softball roster this season, but Speiss said that's more than enough to get the job done.

"Small team, great unity, because a majority of them are returning," Speiss said. "... By working hard and playing together, you come out on top, and I think that we really did that last year."

Baseball

2010 Record: 11-9 (Lost to MacArthur in semifinals)

Head Coach: Eric Passman (40th season)

2011 Class: AA-III

Top Players: Justin Harrison (RF), Noah Shulman (SS) and Andrew Wood (P/3B).

Expectations: The Cougars swept the defending Long Island Champion Massapequa Chiefs in the quarterfinals last season, only to be swept by the MacArthur Generals in the following round.

The possibility of the Cougars returning to the county semifinals again this season is very good, but they'll have to get through a tough schedule to do it.

"Our expectations are to do even better than we did last year, although we understand that it's a very tough league this year," Passman said.

Big Games: April 25 @ Calhoun, 10:30 a.m.; April 26 vs. Calhoun, 10:30 a.m.; April 28 @ Calhoun, 4:30 p.m.; May 2 @ Mepham, May 3 vs. Mepham, May 5 @ Mepham, all games at 4:30 p.m.; May 9 vs. Carey, 4:45 p.m.; May 10 @ Carey, 4:30 p.m.; May 11 vs. Carey 4:45 p.m.

News & Notes: Kennedy lost two of its starting pitchers in Kevin Archbold and Rob Stalzer. But taking the dynamic duo out of the rotation isn't as detrimental to the team as one might think ... especially since the rest of the team is returning.

"The rest of the team is intact," Passman said. "We have basically everybody back. We look very good so far, but everybody looks good in the spring."

The Calhoun Colts are the defending county champions and will present a big test for the Cougars when they square off in a three-game series in the middle of the season.