High School Baseball Roundup

High school baseball season is wrapping up with post-season action just beginning. Hastings-Dobbs Ferry Patch takes an inside look at how each team performed this season heading into the playoffs.

Dobbs Ferry Eagles Baseball

The Eagles lost their first three games of the season to win their next nine games; a streak that makes Dobbs Ferry Head Coach Matt Arone proud.

"We had a nine game winning streak that was definitely a highlight," Arone said.

After three straight and narrow losses at the beginning of the 2010 campaign against Eastchester (6-4) Pelham (4-3) and Rye Neck (9-8) the Eagles became a brand new team attitude-wise  to win the next nine games.

"The attitude changed," Arone said.

Wins came against Roosevelt (10-3) Schechter (11-0 and 18-2), Sleepy Hollow (6-0 and 5-4) Ardsley (10-1 and 6-1) Hastings (3-2) and Woodlands (15-4).

The Eagles realized the value of hard work a value that they will carry with them into Section One Playoff play. "We just have to work just a little bit harder," he said.

Although one will not be chosen until the end of the season, contenders for the Most Valuable Player Award include three year starter and Pitcher Zachary Avalos who leads his team and brings the Eagles together everytime he is on the mound.

The playoffs begin Friday for the 13-7 Eagles when they host Irvington beginning at 4:30.

Irvington Bulldogs Baseball

Irvington Head Coach Gary Raimondo started four sophomores and a freshman this season including Outfielders Ben Liberatore, and Andy Silverhardt.

There was also Catcher Konald Cupp and Infielder and Pitcher Miles Semetis. Shoran Tamura was a Freshmen Infielder and Pitcher.

Raimondo and the rest of the Bulldogs were not sure how the season would pan out.

"Coming in we didn't know what to expect," he said.

Highlights of the 2010 campaign include a win at the Briarcliff Tournament the beginning of April. Wins came against Briarcliff (12-5) followed by an 8-5 victory over Ossining.

The Bulldogs then hit a slump going on a four game losing streak before varied wins and losses the rest of the season to currently stand at 8-11 heading into their matchup Friday at Dobbs Ferry.

It will be interesting to see who is given the MVP honor considering the Bulldogs youthfulness. Semetis is one leader on the mound.

Hastings Yellow Jackets Baseball

After beginning the season at 3-0, Head Coach Jesse Waters squad went on a ten game winning streak with their last loss coming on April 22 at Dobbs Ferry 3-2.

The Yellow Jackets winning ways started with a 23-5 crushing of Sleepy Hollow followed by another 9-1 victory against the Horsemen a few weeks later. Hastings then went on to defeat Keio (4-3), Ardsley (2-0) Woodlands (13-1), the Bulldogs (3-0), Schechter (10-1), and Bronxville (16-6).

The Yellow Jackets even rebounded to beat the Eagles (7-5) and (10-4 ) in the Ardsley Tournament towards the end of the regular season.

With only three other losses on the season at Pelham, Ardsley, and home to New Rochelle, the Yellow Jackets look to remain a force in their Section One baseball playoff game at home against Putnam Valley.

It should be easy especially with the good amount of juniors and seniors on the 16-4 squad in Mark Siden, Joseph Borelli, Luca Cobucci, Andrew Mcgowan, Nate Torda, Ian Thomas, Brandon King, Jake Fuerst, Captain Ryan Blicker, Chris Paquette, Brendon Rasulo, Pete Meyers, and Captains' Alex Pezzuto, and Greg Pezzuto.