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08/04/2015 12:00 AMWhile it may not have come away with a postseason bid this summer, the Guilford Senior Legion squad got a crash course in situational baseball—especially at the dish.
Led by first-year Head Coach Michael Yates, Post 48 played to a 2-22 record in 2015. Although the victories weren’t there for his squad, Yates explained that the boys hit the nail on the head and took a step in the right direction in terms of knowing the right move to make when a game is on the line.
“The main goals for us this year were development and improvement, both on team and individual levels. One big thing we tried to teach this year was our approach before stepping into the batter’s box and knowing what to do in certain scenarios in certain counts, etc. We wanted them to go to the plate with the idea of what to do,” said Yates, a Post 48 and Guilford Indians’ baseball alum. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach here and was humbled when they chose me. It was great to be back in the community. Our record may not indicate how they improved, but they put in the work and the results of it will show in the future.”
Post 48 applied what they had strived to learn all summer in the first game of their season-ending doubleheader against the Shoreline co-op squad on July 17. In the bottom of the eighth inning, infielder Luke DeRose roped a walk-off base hit as Guilford prevailed 3-2.
“I think that game was our biggest accomplishment this year. Luke just got up there with the bases loaded and did it,” said Yates. “He was told to wait for a pitch he liked and hit it. We also want the skills and mental aspects of the game that they take away here to be put to use for them going forward, whether it is high school or college ball.”
Standing out as leaders both in the field and clubhouse for Post 48 were pitcher/infielder/outfielder Lucian Zingarella, a Guilford Indians’ team captain in 2016, who hit for a .275 average with 22 base knocks; along with two college-bound sluggers in catcher/pitcher/third baseman Alex Potocsny (Plymouth State University) and infielder/outfielder Alex Pia (Pace University). Pia led Post 48 in batting average with .300 clip. Guilford additionally boasted a freshman upstart in three-hole hitter and catcher Matt Donlan.
“Lucian was one of our best hitters and was a leader both on and off the field. Pia and Potocsny were two older guys that had good commitment and focus all summer,” Yates said. “Matt put in more work than anyone this summer. He worked with the coaches a lot and was like a sponge in absorbing any info he was given.”
Guilford’s other triumph this summer came on June 14 at home against East Haddam in a 6-1 win. John Suchy went the distance on the bump and Potocsny hit a bases-clearing double.
Even though Post 48 took some lumps this summer, they still gained invaluable experience throughout the campaign and Coach Yates anticipates that those lessons learned will pay massive dividends come June of 2016.
“We had a lot of younger guys with quality at-bats and innings in the field, so I feel with that we will come back that much better next year,” said Yates. “I’m very excited and feel we have a bright future here.”
Rounding out the full roster for the 2015 Guilford club is second baseman Jae Cooper, first baseman/pitcher Sean Kellaher, infielder Anthony Lota, pitcher Tyler McLain, utility man Nate Monte, outfielder/pitcher Kyle Nettland, first baseman/designated hitter Connor Peters, outfielder/pitcher John Portocarrero, pitcher/third baseman Tyler Rogers, outfielder Evan Song, and utility player Gray Stephens.
From the Sidelines
Michael Yates was also a member of the last state championship squad for the Guilford Indians, which came in 2007.
In two games against Zone 3 winner Cheshire, Post 48 dropped competitive contests by losing a 2-0 decision on June 17 and 10-6 final on July 13.
The Post 48 Senior Legion program has reached the State Tournament on seven occasions while taking a Zone 3 title in 2007 and finishing as runner-up in 2008 and 2010.