BY MICHAEL KELLY
Gazette Sportswriter
CLIFTON PARK — After running through the state of the Shenendehowa baseball program, from the freshman level up to his varsity squad, head coach Greg Christodulu delivered his verdict about the potential for the 2016 Plainsmen.
“We think we’re going to be competitive with this varsity group, day in and day out,” he said.
An understated outlook, but that’s fine. It would be hard to oversell the potential of this year’s squad.
Between Major League Baseball draft prospect Ian Anderson leading a pitching staff of aces and an everyday batting lineup including three seniors already committed to play college baseball, the Plainsmen’s roster is littered were stars. Throw in the expected contributions from senior catcher/first baseman Michael Gillooley and senior outfielder/pitcher Kevin Huerter — Division I commits to Cornell University football and University of Maryland men’s basketball, respectively — and Shenendehowa should be able to meet the expectations of its coach.
Head coach Greg Christodulu is shown during a Shenendehowa baseball practice Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (Michael Kelly/Gazette Sportswriter)
Which, realistically, is to do more than compete. The Plainsmen are built to dominate, to go after Section II and state championships this season.
The biggest reason for that is Anderson, a senior committed to Vanderbilt University. One of the nation’s top high school pitchers, Anderson went 6-1 with a 0.66 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings during his junior season. Nationally, he was an American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings High School All-America third-team selection; locally, he was recognized as the Suburban Council Pitcher of the Year. He ended his 2015 year with Team USA, helping the country’s 18U team win a world title in Japan.
Representatives from all 30 MLB teams visited Anderson this past winter, but he’s not the only star pitcher for the Plainsmen. Twin brother Ben Anderson is committed to pitch next season for Binghamton University and senior Nik Malachowski is slated to play next year for the College at Brockport. Those three pitchers combined last season to allow 13 earned runs across 110 innings.
That trio should keep opposing lineups from much success, while Shenendehowa wants to use a deep, well-balanced lineup of its own to manufacture runs.
“That’s the formula,” Christodulu said.
“We know what our team’s identity is going to be and what our potential is going to be,” Ian Anderson said. “It’s a matter of if we’re going to play to the best of our abilities.”
Nik Malachowski throws during a Shenendehowa baseball practice Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (Michael Kelly/Gazette Sportswriter)
Last year, Shenendehowa went 19-4 and entered the Section II Class AA postseason as the favorite. A 1-0 loss in the title game to Saratoga Springs denied the Plainsmen their third consecutive area championship.
“We try to bury that [loss] in the past, but when you lose something like that, yeah, it’s in the back of your mind,” Malachowski said. “As long as we stick together and take it one game at a time, we’ll be OK.”
Frank Pizzo is shown during a Shenendehowa baseball practice Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (Michael Kelly/Gazette Sportswriter)
“That was a tough loss and a tough way to end our season,” Anderson said. “We’ll use that as motivation for what we do every day.”
This year’s team, though, is this year’s team. Senior outfielder Richard Drum said the Plainsmen know nothing they can do this season will change last year’s result.
“We’re not trying to play back for the 2015 season,” he said. “We’re playing for the 2016 season.”
The Plainsmen get the first chance to do that April 6, at home against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, nearly two weeks before they see Saratoga Springs on April 18. Meanwhile, the Plainsmen’s most intriguing non-Suburban Council game is an April 23 visit from Section I’s Mamaroneck, last year’s state champion.
Along the way, the Plainsmen’s constant challenge will be to keep themselves on track toward reaching their potential. A dozen seniors on a 21-deep roster should help Shenendehowa stay focused.
“There’s a confidence to us. We know we’ve been there before and played in big games,” Drum said. “But we’re not trying to act like we’ve been there before.”
“We’re going to worry about the process,” Christodulu said.
The post Special season possible for Shenendehowa baseball in 2016 appeared first on Your Clifton Park.