18U baseball Rams save the best for last, peaking heading into start of the playoffs
July 26, 2023 at 9:47 p.m.
They saved the best for last. Or almost last.
Port Chester Rams sophomore shortstop/second baseman Bryan Sachs wrapped up his 18U summer season-long Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League audition for a starting spot in the upcoming regular high school varsity pitching rotation with his best effort ever—a complete game, eight-strikeout, 5-1 home win on Saturday. July 15 over Stamford, one of the better teams in the GHVBL.
"He had great execution, great command, great poise, great control, all of which contributed to easily his best start of the summer season," said head coach Sean Burke. "In fact, it may well have been the team's best game of the season."
Saved best for last
Burke was speaking after what may have been the Rams’ last game of the regular GHVBL summer season.
The lack of finality is because some canceled games may yet be rescheduled in the coming days before the playoff schedule is released Tuesday (8/1).
Whatever happens, the Rams are in the playoffs with a 5-5 record, most of their losses coming in close games during a highly competitive season in which they outscored their opponents 46-38 and different Port Chester players kept stepping up during what amounted to a summer tryout for next year's starting varsity.
Great talent showcase
"It has been a great showcase because all of our most talented players are vying for starting positions in our regular varsity lineup once the high school season starts for real next year," Burke said. And he likes what he is seeing because the team seems to be peaking in time for the playoffs. And the roster has the depth to make up for the inevitable injuries that crop up during a grueling schedule.
Sachs, for example, shows the kind of versatility that makes him Burke's kind of ballplayer, a vital cog who can fit in almost anywhere in the Rams’ small ball approach that depends on contact, bunts, steals, solid pitching and defense with a heads-up attitude that leads to capitalizing on other teams’ mistakes.
'The Rook’ aging well
Sachs, a former Port Chester Youth Baseball League (PCYBL) age group standout, became "The Rook" last year, the rookie who started at second base for the Rams as a freshman and is scheduled to be the starting shortstop this year, replacing the graduated All-League short stop Dylan Masi. But as a bonus, Sachs has also developed into a potential starting pitcher, capable of fitting into a solid rotation headed by junior ace Dominican Republic transfer Jordany German and seniors Josh Virella and Joey Cicariello, both also former PCYBL All-Stars in contention for the starting first baseman spot vacated by the graduated All-Star Michael (Mikey D) DeCrescenzo.
With George (Pags) Pagnotta, another potential starter as pitcher/outfielder, suffering arm woes, Sachs stepping up as a starter helps the rotation as does German upping his game to move into contention as a starting outfielder.
Gagnon on upswing
As Burke discussed the way injuries have forced him to shuffle his lineup, he mentioned the way different players have caught his eye.
Senior outfielder Ryan Gagnon, for instance, has impressed by playing multiple positions: shortstop, first base, even pitching—"he wants to help the team in any and every way he can," said Burke. Brian Escobar, up from the junior varsity, is making the most of his summer shot at the varsity as is Billy Villanova Jr. And junior catcher Scott Sullivan is coming into his own, calling heads up games behind the plate and getting the most out of his pitchers. "He's becoming one of our leaders and looks poised to take the next step in his development."
Through all the ins and outs of the season, senior third baseman John (Tommy) Tomassetti has been the Rams’ most solid power hitter. "He came up with a big double in the Stamford win," Burke said. "And he is going to have his pick of colleges because he is so good in the classroom as well."
SUNY Purchase recruiters were going to be on hand to scout Tomassetti during last week's games against Harrison, but both those games were canceled by the Huskies due to injuries. "We'll make sure they get a chance to see him play at another time, but he has no worries because he is so good he is going to have his choice of where he wants to play," Burke said.
Breaks of the game
The same holds true for German, who has been attracting pro scouting interest and hasn't been available to pitch for the Rams on weekends because he has been pitching for a fast-paced travel team called Los Santos. "But we like our chances in the GHVBL playoffs with Jordany pitching against anybody," Burke said.
As for the other injuries that have cropped up, "The Kid" (second baseman/shortstop Adam Castaneda, the first eighth-grader ever to be called up to the varsity by Burke) has been swinging a hot bat but is still experiencing what Burke calls "Little League elbow," so he is limiting his throwing and promising freshman Tommy Hinz has also been hurting, but that is opening up opportunities for playing time for Johnny (Jay Bo) Borzoni and Erick Samano.
But that's what the summer league is all about, adjusting to whatever happens during the day in/day out grind, seeing what's what and who's who, using the games as basically a tryout camp for the Rams varsity without burning the players out before the regular season ever begins. And Burke and his 18U Rams are making the most of the time while looking forward to the upcoming playoffs.
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