Wantagh Baseball Looks To Continue Last Year's Momentum

Despite losing several key players from last season’s state finalist squad,  the baseball team is coming into the new season with high expectations. Although all four starting pitchers and seven starters have graduated from last season, head coach Keith Sachs seemed pretty relaxed about the situation.

“We just tell the new guys or guys that didn’t start last year, that this is their year to step up,” said Sachs. “They all have the opportunity. We have made the postseason the last 15 years, so our expectations are always the same. We are never going to believe that we aren’t going to be good.”

These new players have some pretty big shoes to fill as the Warriors reached the New York State finals last year. The Warriors magical season included capturing the conference, counties, Long Island and regional championship. They even beat the number one ranked team in the state on their way to the finals.

The Warriors are returning perhaps the two most important cogs to a functioning line up, their lead off and number nine hitter. These spots are filled in by All-County recipients Ryan Sliwak and Mike Rumel, respectively. Both spots in the line up are equally as important since they are in charge of keeping innings going as well as starting them up. The number nine hitter, in actuality, served as another lead off hitter. 

Sliwak, a second baseman and All-County wide receiver in football, looks to cap off yet another great year as he finishes up at Wantagh.” Our talent level last year can’t be repeated, but our goal always remains the same,” said Sliwak. “Even if we have to work twice as hard, we’re going to do what it takes to get the job done.”

Rumel, the center fielder and standout soccer player, has the same outlook on the season up ahead. “The guys last year were great leaders,” he said. “I am just trying to lead the same way. I’m just trying to make sure everyone knows their part and tries their hardest.”

It will be a tough endeavor for a team that lost so many starters, but Wantagh tries not to look at it that way. They have been hard at work all winter long, preparing to fill the shoes that left.

 “It really isn’t about who we lost,” said Sachs. “It’s more about who we have and who is going to fill those shoes. Anyone can have a breakout year. We met with all of them during the winter and explained the situation. The pitchers know we have four spots available and they have been hard at work since that time. Now it’s just their turn.”

 Wantagh will look to repeat and maintain their dominant position atop the conference by going about business as usual. The game plan remains the same and not much really changes. They still go about practice and preparation as they always would. They take ground balls, practice all types of situations they could find themselves in and most importantly, have fun doing it.

“We just have to maintain focus, play ball and play good defense,” said Sachs. “We are all battle tested. I think we’ll be alright.”

 Wantagh opens the season on Tuesday at home against Long Beach starting at 4:30 p.m.