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PSAL Manhattan baseball preview: Team to watch
By Zachary Braziller April 5, 2009
Manhattan boasts two of the favorites for the city title: George Washington and Norman Thomas. The Trojans have a loaded lineup while the Tigers can throw out a dominant ace any day of the week. That is not all the borough holds. Stuyvesant and Beacon, each undefeated so far in Manhattan A West, could be possible sleepers come late May. It all will make for an interesting season.
Last year’s title means little to this group of Trojans
George Washington won 46 games last year and claimed the PSAL Class A city championship crown for just the second time. Yet, the Trojans are treating last spring like it didn’t happen.
“Everything about this team I really like,” coach Steve Mandl said. “They could care less they won it last year; they want to win it again.”
As usual, Mandl is blessed with high-end talent, in the field and on the mound.
Shortstop Mike Antonio is a smooth fielder and a power bat in the middle of the Trojans’ treacherous lineup. He’s protected by Alibay Barkley, a potent left-handed hitter, and middle infielder/closer Xyruse Martinez at the top off the order. Those three, not to mention a vaunted supporting cast, have eased the absence of power hitters Fernando Frias and J.C. Rodriguez, both of whom were drafted last spring.
“The kids are focused and they are hungry,” Mandl said. “We have the rah-rah guys and we have the cool, calm and collected guys. We have guys that hit and guys that run.”
Mandl has plenty of options on the mound, from hard-throwing southpaw Nestor Bautista, a Manhattan Center transfer, to fellow left-hander Francisco Gracesqui to Martinez, the veteran right-hander. Sophomore Yael Regalado and Francisco Santana are solid as well.
“Everybody offers something different,” Mandl said.
Norman Thomas boasts fearsome pitching staff
In Mariel Checo, Yancy Taveras and Isaac Reynoso, Norman Thomas has a trio of power arms that are tough for anyone to match.
Checo, a junior right-hander, has been clocked at 94 mph. Called a “bulldog” by coach Nerva Jean Pierre, Checo will likely be drafted in the near future. Reynoso is another power pitcher, Jean Pierre said, that throws “hard, harder and hardest. That’s all he knows.” Then there is Taveras, the finesse member of the three. He still can crank up his fastball to the upper 80s, but the 6-foot-3 senior’s greatest strength is spotting all three of his pitches.
Checo and Taveras have yet to give up an earned run in 17 innings pitched this spring while striking out 33 opposing batters.
This is the year Jean Pierre believes the Tigers can make serious noise in the playoffs. After quarterfinal exits the last two seasons, Norman Thomas has matured. Instead of a roster littered with underclassmen, the Tigers are stocked with juniors and seniors. They beat George Washington last year before falling to Gompers in the postseason.
“This group knows how to win,” said Jean Pierre, in his fifth year. “They’ve played in big games. If we stay together, we work hard, we can make a nice run.”
Paramount is the offensive attack, led by leadoff man and outfielder Jose Rodriguez. Center fielder Miguel Reyes, Taveras, who plays first base when he isn’t pitching, and shortstop Albert Morales are middle-of-the-order run producers.
“If we hit the ball and catch the ball,” Jean Pierre said, “we’ll win.”
Beacon reloads after losing several starters
Last year Beacon won Manhattan A West, but lost in the opening round of the ‘A’ playoffs. After graduating six seniors, many of them key contributors, the Blue Demons will be counting on current seniors such as catcher Evio Isaac and designated hitter Geoffrey Freeman.
Senior Gabriel Faithfull has gotten off to a quick start on the mound for coach Thomas Covotsos’ squad – producing two wins, 18 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA in 12 innings pitched.
Becker, a two-sport dynamo, leads Stuyvesant
Nolan Becker was a force on the Stuyvesant boys’ basketball team – a 6-foot-6 dynamo in the paint who averaged 25 points and 17 rebounds per game, leading the Runnin’ Rebels to the Manhattan A Northwest crown. He is just as important to his team on a baseball diamond, if not more so.
The flame-throwing southpaw, who was 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA as a sophomore, is the Hitmen’s stopper and a powerful bat in the middle of the lineup. In just three games, he already has 10 RBIs, one home run and six runs scored for Stuyvesant, which is 3-0 this far in Manhattan A West.
He isn’t the only reason for the Hitmen’s hot start. Outfielder Nicholas Rozar is batting .545 with seven RBIs and junior Nicholas Gallo has picked up two wins on the mound.