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May 2008 |
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Knights want to get to midseason form soon |
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Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
By ERIC RUEB
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EXETER – If it were up to Exeter-West Greenwich baseball coach David Gamba, the Knights would skip to the middle of the season and start play then.
The early part of the season hasn’t been a particularly good time for EWG; the start of the season has been filled with players trying to get eligible, players leaving the team and, what coaches fear most, injuries.
This season’s Exeter squad is young with little experience, but Gamba thinks, come midseason, will have a big say in what goes on in the race for the Division II title.
“Hopefully we can get through some difficult issues right now for the first part of the season, then the last eight or so games start to gear up for the playoffs,” Gamba said. “That’s the most important time to get ready. We’ll find out who can play what or where now and that’s should help position guys toward the end of the season.”
Exeter will be fighting an uphill battle this season before it even gets underway.
As one of the smallest schools in the state, the Knights have a limited amount of players for its team, which means a limited amount of pitching.
With the Rhode Island Interscholastic League putting in a new format to the baseball schedule, teams will play three games a week. Division II plays on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, which means you need three good starters each week.
“I’m not going to complain too much because everyone’s in the same position,” Gamba said. “We’re all on a level playing field and it will only get crazy if we get cancellations we have to make up and our opponent doesn’t because they might have a better field and we play them not rested with our rotation out of order.”
The Knights will also have to play Saturdays, a day for rest and relaxation in the past; Sundays are also a possibility as far as makeups go, which could cause disaster for the rest of the state.
“I have kids that work,” Gamba said. “One of the city school guys said it’s almost impossible to get kids on a Saturday. I’m sure he will but he did say it would be difficult.
“I don’t know how many teams will play on Sunday.”
Exeter will rely on the back of Anthony Tortolano, its star junior pitcher and shortstop. Tortolano will handle the bulk of the pitching responsibilities and is one of the centerpieces of the offense.
Following him in the rotation will be sophomore Joe Bourgeois and junior Michael Farias. At least that’s the plan.
“Tortolano is going to be the No. 1, but with three games a week, there’s a possibility of getting kids who might not usually pitch,” Gamba said. “Farias will be another shouldering the load and hopefully he’ll hang. With him and Bourgeois, plus Tortolano, I hope we’ll be competitive.”
The Knights return their top hitter from last season, Andrew Varone, who hit nearly .400 on the season. Gibson Fines will be at the top of the order when he returns from vacation and Farias should be third, followed by Tortolano.
“Then we go Punch and Judy from there,” Gamba said. “You hope someone hits from the back part of the lineup but we have some good speed with Rick Sheehan and there’s some other ones, but that’s where we’ll manufacture runs and try to get creative.”
Whatever approach Gamba takes, he just wants the Knights to reach the postseason like they did last year, where they beat North Smithfield, 8-1, before losing to Prout 13-6 then being eliminated from the double-elimination South Regional with a 5-3 loss to Scituate.
“Since they won a playoff game last season - the first time in seven or eight years a team from Exeter did - that was a big step for the program,” Gamba said. “I think this year they think they can do a little damage.”
They just have to get through this first half of the season first.
Head coach: David Gamba
Last season: 11-7 Division II; lost to Scituate, 5-3, in double-elimination South Regional.
Key returners: Anthony Tortolano, P/SS, Jr.; Andrew Varone, 3B, Sr.; Nick Audette, C, Sr.
Key additions: Matt Varone, 2B, Jr.; Nick DiRocco, 1B, Jr.; Joe Ferle, OF, Jr.
Key losses: Jeff Lacombe, SS.
Coach says: “The ultimate goal is to get to McCoy Stadium. That’s everyone’s goal. We have to get through the spring break thing when they go away I sit them a game when they come back, so we’ll have some guys miss three or four games.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 April 2008 )
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