Hewlett Bulldogs Baseball Prepare for Title Run

Senior Alex Bernstein, a four-year varsity player, and the Bulldogs Baseball team are looking to come back strong in 2011 after missing out on the Class A playoffs last season.

“I expect that we will play hard and compete because we have a better mindset than last year,” Bernstein said. “We have the mindset that everyone on this team wants to be the star player, so everyone has been working hard.”

Hewlett finished last season with an 8-10 overall record in Conference A-II and will look to overcome the graduation of seven seniors, including three All-County players in Dillon Pastor, Mike Eckerle and Dino Tomassitti. The Bulldogs are under the guidance of second-year head coach Andy DeBernardo.

“We are looking to hang with some of the top teams in Nassau County,” DeBernardo said. “We started working out in December with weights and hitting in the cage two to three times a week so we’ve been on it for a while.”

Bernstein will be a key element to not only provide a bulk of the offense at the top of the batting order, but also to control a young pitching staff as the starting catcher for Hewlett.

“We have just been working well as a team so far," he said. "We've also been focusing with fielding and situational practice because we could definitely use the new turf as an advantage at home.”

Senior Ross Kleinrock will also be looked at to provide a solid bat and control of the outfield as the starting center-fielder. Kleinrock has been on the varsity team since his sophomore year. Junior Brandam Martinez and senior George Josiah will also play key elements for Hewlett this year.

“We want to focus on doing the small things right this year and hopefully make the playoffs,” Kleinrock said. “I want to get on base as much as possible and just help the team, be a leader, make sure we are always doing the right thing and help everyone on being focused.”

The Bulldog pitching staff is headlined by senior right-handed pitcher Spencer Prusak. The rest of the rotation will be filled out by senior Mike Piri, sophomore Luciano Morello, junior Ed Zaloba and freshman newcomer Zach Benaharon.

“Prusak is a returning starter who throws very hard and has got some good pitches. We are going to see what he’s really got this year,” DeBernardo said. “We are hoping to get some good innings out of Piri as well. Morello is a sophomore who also throws very hard and we are looking to get some good stuff out of him.”

Hewlett, playing out of Class B this year, is matched up in their division with Levittown Division, Southside and Roslyn. They will also play crossover games with the likes of Garden City, New Hyde Park, Jericho and a tough Wantagh team.

Hewlett will get their season underway at home with a non-league game against Plainedge on Saturday at 11 a.m. followed by a two-game series against Wantagh starting on Monday at home with a 4:30 p.m. start time.

All Hewlett Bulldogs home baseball games are played at the Hewlett Elementary School field.