Lobel Makes Early Impact For Huskies

This year Harrison Head Coach Marco DiRuocco had the unenviable task of rebuilding a Husky pitching staff that reached the section championship a year ago.

Key players like Goh Ogura and Zach Eklund graduated, leaving holes in the Harrison rotation centered around junior Max Bruckner. One of the saving graces for Harrison this year has been Brian Lobel.

Lobel may seem to have come out of nowhere to people outside of the program, but the senior has plenty of experience in the maroon and white. Last year Lobel missed most of the season due do an arm injury that forced the right-hander to sit out until summer ball.

“I had very bad tendinitis in my elbow and shoulder,” said Lobel. “I got it because I have a different pitching motion that causes me to put more pressure on my elbow, also I was overthrowing early on in the season.”

But things have changed this year, Lobel’s self described “different” pitch delivery has now become part of what has made him so effective. He says it started back during his little league days when his coaches advised him to make some changes to his delivery.

“I used to throw submarine back in little league and I was told if I continued with that I would get hurt, so I changed it as much as possible,” said Lobel. “I still short-arm the ball a little bit, but it's more over the top now. Other coaches have said it is hard to pick up especially when I change speeds."

With only three pitches and a fastball that tops out in the low 80s, the senior needs to rely on experience, pitch placement and sometimes trickery to get batters out. This season it his been working well for the Huskies as Lobel is 1-0 with 11 strikeouts in 12+ innings of work. He also may have pitched in one of the more appealing games of the young season.

While on spring break Florida, coach DiRuocco gave Lobel the ball in the team’s first game at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World. The 10-5 victory took place against Bryam Hills at the same park that houses the Atlanta Braves spring training every year. Lobel gave up a few runs, but pitched well enough to get the win.

“That was the greatest moment of my baseball career,” Lobel said.

“Brian did a great job on the mound,” said coach DiRuocco after the game. “He was around the plate, he didn’t walk many and his stuff was working, he located his ball. He kept us in the game.”

Even on the days he isn’t on the mound, the team still feeds off of the senior’s enthusiasm and energy as he tends to be the one keeping everyone focused during games.

“Brian is the voice of the team,” said junior Steven Deleo. “Whether he’s pitching or not he gets us all talking in the field and on the bench.”

Lobel plans to attend Manhattanville College next year and hopes to join the school’s baseball team.

Best of luck and continued success to Brian Lobel, Harrison Patch’s athlete of the week.