It was a difficult season for Yorktown as it went 3-18, but the team had a player who enjoyed a standout campaign- senior Jake Matranga.
Matranga was named all-section and league pitcher of the year.
“You always feel good when kids get accolades to support the seasons that they had,” Yorktown coach Sean Kennedy said. “We would’ve liked to done a little better as team but I was really happy for him and proud of what he was able to accomplish.”
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Matranga accomplished what he did in large part because of his consistency.
“You knew what you were going to get, day in and day out with him,” Kennedy said. “He was going to throw strikes, he was going to keep us in the game and you knew he was going to go deep in the game.”
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Earning all-league honors was junior left fielder John Battista.
“John was a real hard-working kid,” Kennedy said. “He just does pretty much anything he can to help the team.”
Battista’s work ethic was symbolic of the Huskers' workmanlike approach to playing the game of baseball.
“The guys played hard all year,” Kennedy said. “We probably played one of the tougher schedules in the section. A lot of things went against us, we had limited practice time, we only had nine practices outside all season, lost our No. 2 and No. 3 pitchers to injury but the guys continued to work hard. I got nothing but good things to say about them as a team.”
Looking to continue that work ethic next year are Battista, junior pitcher/first baseman Danny Rooney, junior pitcher/third baseman Brian Redahan and sophomore infielder/OF Scott Russo, who started 18 games this year.
Rooney is someone who could swing a solid stick, field his position well and pitch a solid game like he did against Somers on the Huskers’ senior day where he had a complete-game effort with six strikeouts. Solid efforts like that are what Kennedy expects from him next year.
Kennedy said he is also has high expectations from Redahan, who not only could provide the Huskers with another solid pitcher on the mound, but can field his position at third and also come through with the bat like Rooney.
Giving the Huskers versatility is Russo and, being able to play any position, Kennedy would need him to play a key role in next year’s Yorktown season.
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