Despite returning a number of starters from last year's team that led all of Long Island in home runs and RBI, head coach Ryan Cox is stressing a different style of play in 2011.
"We’re going to be more of a scrappy team this year, as opposed to a power team," he said. "If we can put that together with our pitching and defense, I think we’re going to have a pretty good year."
Don't get him wrong. He's not opposed to the long ball, and with all-County talent like , Kyle Van Duyne and Rich Millwater, he'll still get his share of it. But a dedication to doing the little things and scratching out runs could be a difference maker for the Golden Flashes in a league where the best teams are separated by very little.
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Cox is expecting many teams to tread lightly around Hewson, a preseason collegiate all-American who will be making the switch from outfielder to catcher this season, giving added responsibility to the players surrounding him in the lineup.
"We know a lot of teams are going to pitch around him, so it’s going to take a real team effort to get it done," he said.
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Tom Dieckhoff will need to be the spark plug at the top of the lineup, and junior shortstop Michael Rahn will be one of those responsible for driving him in. Rahn, an all-League player in his sophomore season, will also be a key member of the lineup.
"He's a great shortstop," Cox said of Rahn. "We haven’t figured out where we’re going to hit him yet but he’s going to be a big part of our offense."
If the lineup can't produce as many runs as it did a year ago, the onus will fall on the team's biggest strength, their starting pitching. Sayville's three-man rotation, likely comprised of , Nick Petrella and Ryan Aloise, is as good as any in League VI.
"I would absolutely say our strength is our pitching," said Cox. "We've got Brendan Butler, an all-League returning player. He's got a fastball that goes from 85-88 miles per hour, and even touched 89 in the fall. We're looking for him to lead our staff. He's our ace."
Look for the Golden Flashes' pitching to carry them deep into the postseason as they contend for both a league and county championship in 2011.
Record last year: 17-6
Head coach: Ryan Cox (9th year)
Top players:
- Brendan Butler, P
- Michael Hewson, C/OF
- Kyle Van Duyne, 1B
- Michael Rahn, SS
- Nick Petrella, 3B/P
- Rich Millwater, LF
- Ryan Aloise, P/3B
Key losses: Having to replace a guy like Eddie Rupp in center field is tough for any team. The 2010 Gold Glove Award winner, Rupp was as dynamic with the bat as he was in the field.
The Golden Flashes also graduated Andrew "Tank" Lanzillotto, who was partially responsible for those high home run and RBI totals a year ago.
They will also be without Steven and Michael Marsich, a pair of utility infielders who were vital to the team's defensive play in 2010.
Expectations: Coach Cox expects to be in contention for a county championship this season, though he is well aware that his main competition is also loaded for 2011 as well.
"League VI is one of the toughest leagues in Suffolk County," he said. "Shoreham-Wading River is going to be very tough and Rocky Point is outstanding. I would say right now it’s Sayville and those two in the conversation for a league title. And I would count all three of those teams in the county championship conversation as well."
Regardless, Cox and his players relish the challenge.
"We have a tough league. Our kids love it. They love the challenge. I like going into every week that it’s going to be a battle and we’re going to have to fight it out. It makes it fun, but it makes it stressful too," he said with a laugh. "Shoreham has their entire team back, Rocky Point has their whole pitching staff back, but so do we. It’s going to be a battle."
