Schreiber Baseball Eyeing Third Straight League Title

Enough is enough. It's time to put up or shut up. At least, that's how Schreiber senior relief pitcher Harrison Remler feels.

"We have worked over the past three years to reach this point [as a team] and now it's just time to perform," Remler said.

The Schreiber Vikings varsity baseball team is looking to best its 16-2 record from 2009 to bring home a third straight league title. The Vikings advanced to the second round of the playoffs the last two seasons to face a similar fate — a heartbreaking loss.

"I think that winning the conference and advancing in the playoffs with this group of seniors on the team would be very special," third baseman Ethan Sander said. "Being a senior and this being my last high school season, I want to enjoy all the time I am playing and would like to win as much as possible."

The Vikings most notable victory last season came against top-seeded MacArthur, who was undefeated before squaring off with Schreiber in a three-game playoff set. MacArthur won the first game while the Blue and White took the second. But the all important series-clinching victory fell through Port's grasp.

Switch-hitting shortstop David Podlofsky said he'd like to see a rematch come late spring. "There is nobody else who we would rather play in the playoffs than them," Podlofsky said. "Throughout the series we had missed opportunities and we felt we should have won the series. We also know they don't want to see us in the playoffs and that makes it an even better matchup."

Podlofsky said he feels he needs to improve on his swing mechanics and focus in the field, and plans on implementing them during Schreiber's scrimmage games to prepare for the regular season, which kicks off this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Roslyn.

"I got into a few bad habits mechanically last year, so I will make sure to keep my swing sound this year, both left-handed and right-handed," the shortstop said. "In addition, I know that my defense should improve. I need to keep my focus and concentration up at all times in the field, even more so on routine plays."

Schreiber has nine returning players from 2009 and, according to first-year varsity coach Matt Holzer, he is looking for his team's pitching and defense to be the anchor in 2010. Holzer is taking over as head coach after Rich Greeney stepped down following last season.

"Coach Holzer brings a new identity to the program," Remler said. "Holzer is a mentor to myself and is defined by his extreme attention to detail and long term vision for the program. This is his dream job."

In terms of pitching, Vikings phenom Everett Keller, who will be playing at Hofstra University next year, should be kept a close eye on as the temperatures rise and league games commence. Keller had 71 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings pitched last season, while holding opposing hitters to an incredibly low .136 batting average.

"The kid can throw, there's no doubt there," Holzer said.

Although like any solid ballclub, Keller has plenty of help on the mound. Joining Keller will be senior Dylan Kane, who had a solid performance in the Vikings upset of MacArthur last season. Kane will be pitching for Middlebury College next year. Remler and fellow senior Robert Levinger will provide relief in the bullpen.

"It is crucial that we really stay focused throughout the entire season," Kane said. "I plan on working very hard and making the most of the opportunity. Pitching is single best act in all of sports. It's the perfect combination of physical and mental challenge. There is no other position in any sport where one player has as much influence on the outcome of the game and pressure that is associated with it. That's why I love it."

This year, Schreiber is one of the teams to be condensed into two larger leagues (Conference AA I and II) so competition will be as tight as it's ever been for the players. Some of the top teams in the league should be Plainview-JFK, Syosset, Farmingdale and Herricks.

"Over the past few years we have started to develop a winning tradition and have really started to turn the program around," Holzer said. "As long as we are healthy I do not see any reason that we can not continue to win games and make the playoffs."