Spring Sports Preview: Baseball and Softball

East Baseball

The Bulls won the League III championship in 2010, going 16-4 and winning every series in which they played until going 1-2 in the county playoffs. The Bulls are looking for similar success in 2011, according to coach Ken Klee.

“We should be a very solid team that will compete for both a league and county championship,” Klee said.

All-County player Alex Indelicato is East’s ace, with a 2.14 ERA last season, and also hits cleanup, having batted .380 in 2010. All-League first baseman Tim Kopiske will bat fifth and also close for the Bulls, after going 5-for-5 in save opportunities with a tidy 0.81 ERA last season.

Kenny Anello and Joe Kubisco are two more returning All-Leaguers. Anello will pitch and hit behind leadoff batter and centerfielder Kubisco, who is coming off a .333 season at the plate. Shortstop Doug Milne hit .361 with 13 RBI and will bat third. Brian Quadrino will start at catcher. Sophomores Christian Vetter (IF/P) and Billy Noke (OF) could also make an impact.

West Baseball

West is looking to return to the playoffs and contend for a league title, and even “make a run at the county title” according to sixth-year coach Al Nucci. West went 8-1 against playoff teams last season and even swept League IV champion Hills West, but was bounced from the playoffs by Sachem North.

The rotation is led by senior ace Anthony Gatto, a two-time All-County selection and former league MVP, and junior James English. Junior Doug Zhong looks to make the rotation as the No. 3 starter.

Senior Nick Zito, who hit .360 as a junior, will play right field and bat cleanup behind leadoff hitter and shortstop Ricky Alesse, and left fielder Tyler Reinig, who “should have a big year with the bat,” said Nucci.

Newcomers include sophomore Dan Taliercio, a sophomore who could start at catcher while seeing some time on the mound. John Spirito has speed and a good glove at second base, while Steve McDermott returns to the varsity as a sophomore, playing infield and outfield.

East and West baseball open the season against each other, with a three-game series on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

East Softball

Smithtown East softball is looking to have one of its best seasons yet under coach Glenn Roper, as long as the team can stay healthy. “We have a solid foundation and a good nucleus on the bench,” said Roper, whose club is led by a trio of seniors.

Catcher Emily Cisternino is a five-year starter for the Bulls, while All-County shortstop Francesca Busa and pitcher Corinne Vazac enter their fourth year with the varsity. All-Leaguer Maggie Engellenner is a rock at third base, and Mackenzie Buckley moves over to center field from right field.

Roper said he’s looking for younger players to step up this season, including junior right fielder Jessica Mulderig and junior pitcher Samantha Moss. Sophomores Madison Provencher (first base), Holly Russell (second base) and Alex Gross (DH) are slated to start, along with freshman Stephanie Aplin in left field.

East dropped its opening two games, 8-7 to Centereach and 3-2 to East Islip.

West Softball

West softball will be led by returning team MVP and All-Division player Catherine Heacox, the ace of the staff who won 14 games in 2010 while leading the Bulls in batting with a .436 average and 20 RBI.

Starting shortstop Shannon Forbes, a five-year varsity player, may miss the entire season after February shoulder surgery, a “major hit” in the words of coach David Miller, who added the Bulls will have the youngest team in memory with two seniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.

Third baseman Emily Horman (.419, 19 RBI), catcher Carissa Kinsella (.338, 14 RBI) and shortstop Kayla McCoy (.411, 13 RBI) will form the core of the team with Heacox. Senior Natasha Lopez (CF), sophomores Cait Weller (LF) and Melissa Koster (P), and freshmen Teresa Stain (RF) and Samantha Morganelli (2B) round out the starting lineup.

West has made the playoffs every year since 1988, and Miller said he looks to continue that streak in a “wide open” League III.