Hackley Baseball off to Stong Start

Through seven games, Hockley's baseball has garnered a 4-3 overall mark, 2-0 in the prestigious Ivy League.

Hackley coach Steve Frolo feels his team has achieved those marks because of a solid pitching staff.

"We will go as far as our pitching takes us this year," Frolo said.

Leading that staff is senior Eric Notari, who has a 3-0 record.

"He's been able to throw three different pitches for strikes: a fastball, a curveball and a changeup," Frolo said. "It's tremendous to have someone like him to rely on. The game of baseball revolves around pitching and if we get good pitching, we have enough hitting to be a successful team."

Notari felt winning his first game in the season opener, a 6-2 triumph against Christ the King in the Iona Prep Nick Ciccone Tournament April 1, played at Hackley, was huge. He pitched six innings, struck out two, walked just one and allowed only one earned run in addition to helping himself by hitting a home run.

 "I think the first game of the season, where I was able to work through all the nerves was big," Notari said. "Once I saw that I was able to throw strikes, I got my confidence up. That was really important for me."

Notari's success continued in an 11-2 win at Dalton April 7, where he pitched six innings and struck out six and in an 10-0 triumph at Rye Country Day in three innings pitched in a five-inning game, he struck out four on April 12.

"Just throwing strikes and letting them hit the ball to my defense, which has done a great job of fielding the ball, have been the key to my success so far," Notari said. "They have been extremely important to me. They have played phenomenal behind me. They have made one error behind me in three games. They have been a big part of the way I have pitched."

That defense includes seniors Sam Budlong and Jon Salandra, who are also both helping immensely with their bats as they are each hitting over .500 this spring. Frolo said their success at the plate is because of their work ethic.

"They are students of the game and they have worked very hard to get to this point," Frolo said. "They both want to play at the next level. Sam is looking at going to Fordham and play at Fordham, Jon has already committed to go to Franklin and Marshall and he's going to play two sports, basketball and baseball."

Notari, who plays first base when he isn't pitching, also swings a mean stick with a .500 batting average, .600 on base percentage and nine RBI.

Another Hornet that has stood out is Conor McDermott, who has excelled at his catching position this spring.

"Conor McDermott has been very solid behind the plate," Frolo said. "He has thrown out 75 percent of the runners that have attempted to run on him. That's been a big part of our defense, to keep runners from taken any bases."

McDermott is part of a team that has the ability to shrug off things easily when they go wrong.

"They are a very low-key group, not a whole lot of things bother them," Frolo said. "They all like each other and that has led to great team chemistry right now. We are a very small group, there are only 10 boys on the team right now. We have very good team chemistry."