Baseball: St. Anthony's 2011 Preview

The baseball team finished the 2010 season in a tailspin.

So the operative word this spring has been discipline. And it begins at the top with first-year coach Rob Wilcox.

Wilcox, who spent the last three years as the freshman coach, takes over for Jon LaRochester. The Friars lost in the playoffs to eventual champ Holy Trinity.

Fighting for respect in the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA is especially tough in baseball. Every program is competitive. While it will take some time for Wilcox to get to know the ins and outs of the league, he already knows exactly who’s on the Friars roster. 

“It’s a nice loop,” Wilcox said. “I’m getting seniors who I coached as freshmen. So the boys are familiar with me and I know them.”

Last Season: 8-12 overall, 8-10 CHSAA.

Coach: Rob Wilcox (first year).

Top Players:

• Mike D’Acunti, junior, catcher
• Joe Cormio, senior, third base
• Billy Massa, senior, pitcher
• Taylor Sperin, senior, pitcher
• Justin Whalley, senior, right field

Position Breakdown: Pitching will decide how far St. Anthony’s goes.

Starter Taylor Sperin, a 6-foot, 3-inch senior righthander, had a breakthrough summer. He has great movement on his pitches and leans on a solid slider and change. But he goes from middle relief to the starting rotation, and that’s a big change in responsibility and attitude.

“There’s a much different feeling from last year,” Sperin said. “There’s more demanded of us.”

The Friars have several good arms. Senior lefthander Billy Massa, who committed to USMMA, is capable of being an ace. He was the No. 2 starter a year ago. Jake Furz is another good arm.

Wilcox expects senior third baseman Joe Cormio to be a middle of the lineup hitter and captain of the infield. Senior Justin Whalley saw playing time a year ago and can hit, leading the team with a .350 average. Sperin and Whalley will play at Johns Hopkins. Senior second baseman Matt Zsevc returns.

The CHSAA is a wooden-bat league, so expect the Friars to manufacture runs and not depend on the home run.

Want something to marvel at? Junior Mike D’Acunti is getting rave reviews at catcher. His arm is feared.

Expectations: St. Anthony’s dropped nine of its last 10 games a year ago and went 4-7 in games decided by two or fewer runs. Wilcox said that has to change. That’s where discipline comes in.

“Discipline goes hand-in-hand with having a good finish to a season,” Wilcox said. “Discipline goes hand-in-hand with winning those close games. Discipline on and off the field. And hopefully it will translate into success.”

CHSAA rivals will have plenty to say about that. Chaminade’s talent runs deep and Holy Trinity features strong pitching. St. John the Baptist and St. Dominic will be in the mix.

The Friars’ players will also have last year’s fade in the back of their minds as they look ahead.

“We were 7-2 at one point,” Whalley said. “We got too far ahead of ourselves.”

Friars fans can only hope the new attitude translates into wins.

Key Games:

April 19: St. Mary’s @ St. Anthony’s, 4:30 p.m.

April 26: St. Anthony’s @ St. John the Baptist, 12 p.m.

May 4: Chaminade @ St. Anthony’s, 4:30 p.m.

May 11: St. Dominic @ St. Anthony’s, 4:30 p.m.

May 17: Kellenberg @ St. Anthony’s, 4:15 p.m.