Check out the 2021 Spring sports preview,
The Elk County Catholic Crusader baseball team is hoping to pick up where they left off following the 2019 season and win another District 9 title this year, according to head coach James Slay.
“But perhaps overreaching, our goal is playing a full season for the love of the game and building life lessons through our team within the Crusader baseball program,” Slay said. “Championships are important and (that) is our focus. But maybe more so than ever before, our job as coaches is to provide the best opportunities for our team to just have the greatest season possible. If we can achieve that, I will feel we fulfilled our coaching mission and had a successful season by any definition. This season is dedicated to my team, both of the 2020 and 2021 roster. Our coaching staff, athletic director, and the ECCSS are profoundly committed to a rewarding 2021 Crusader baseball season.”
Slay credited the Elk County Catholic School System for their “outstanding job of creating the safest possible academic environment” and continuing to offer in-school instruction to students.
“This is of far greater priority than sports,” Slay said. “However, the toll of the full experience of the minorage student-athlete has, without question, borne a burden of ‘uncertainty’ to play in interscholastic sports and extracurricular activities with all of the restrictions over the past 12 months. The guys know how fragile this season will be and what is required to be able to play each game. We will take it one game at a time and enjoy every play.”
The same goes for the team’s coaches, Slay noted.
“For the coaches and I to be on the field with the guys, it is our passion,” Slay said. “We certainly have missed being on the diamond.”
Slay shared that everyone’s excitement about being able to have a season this year has been evident at the team’s practices.
“The guys seem even more excited to start the 2021 season,” Slay said. “You know you had a great practice when it comes to a close and they say, ‘Coach, just one more’ before we end practice. That says it all about our 2021 spring start, and we never want it to end,” Slay said. “To be able to play this year is a beginning in the rebuilding process of what once was lost. For the sake of my team and all spring sports student-athletes in our country, I hope we never experience that disappointment ever again. It’s time to play ball.”
As for what he is most looking forward to this season, Slay cited playing the game and building memories for the team’s student-athletes.
“So much was lost in a cancelled season for a graduating senior, not to mention our underclassmen. The memories and experiences can never be replaced, and we have all missed out on our 2020 season,” Slay said. “This year is about us being essential. This year is about the game and the experiences we build as a team. It’s a different feel this year, and one in which we will fully take in each moment. We are certainly driven to win, and we will, but I think we realize there are larger forces at work and the opportunity to just play the greatest game ever invented is what we all need.”
Slay added that the numbers on the scoreboard do not matter at this point.
“It’s just playing the game,” Slay said.
“The guys just want something familiar and true. Our baseball season in 2021 may be the most appreciated season we will ever have. When we are on the field, the smiles, encouragement, enthusiasm, and fun just takes over the atmosphere of our practice. It is very rewarding to the coaching staff to see their pure love of the game. We will be building memories yet to come, and we look forward to that opportunity.”
As for the challenges facing the Crusader squad this season, Slay cited the lack of preparation resulting from the cancelled 2020 season and the inability for the team to do much in the offseason and preseason.
“Our pitchers are not ready for the daily grind of games,” Slay said. “We have a pretty detailed program for arm care that begins in November. Our pitchers began their throwing routines on March 16. Our sophomores haven’t seen one inning of varsity baseball and are expected to play a role this season. That is going to be tough. Our juniors and seniors are just plain rusty from not playing. And our freshmen have not had time to fully acclimate to the program just because it is all new. What was once four months of preparation to what we have now is, at best, four weeks of accelerated learning. But, we will make the best of it. I guess the other schools have had similar restrictions of a preseason, and we are ‘all in this together,’ I hear, so we should all be at a similar level.”
Making up this year’s Crusader baseball team are five seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and eight freshmen.
Senior members of the squad are Mason McAllister, Conner Stebich, Gavin Leckey, Jordan DePrator, and Mark Kraus. Juniors on the team are Dominic Zambanini, Joey Geci, Luke Ginther, and Tommy Slay. The team’s three sophomores are Joseph Tettis, David Anderson, and Isaac Dellaquila. Making up the remainder of the squad are freshmen Andrew Dellaquila, Thomas Gilmore, Andrew Seltzer, Shawn Geci, Noah Cherry, Patrick Forster, Timmy Brannock, and Colby Nussbaum.
Looking at the squad as a whole, Slay remarked that he sees the potential for the
team to have some late season pitching strength and depth.
“We will probably be a little reserved in the first third/half of the season, but I am very encouraged by the options we have in pitching. Our goal for the pitchers is to be in peak pitching form by the postseason. We are not going to go full rotations until the arms are ready, but I see some real potential in midMay,” Slay said. “Our hitting in practice has also been a highlight. Albeit, we haven’t seen a game pitch yet, but the mechanics and trajectories have been base-hit quality. I am anxious to see our hitting develop over the season. Defensively, I think we will have a solid group. We are still working at a faster pace than I like to cram so much in so little time, but I do have confidence we have a great foundation to build on. The guys are excited to play, and the level of enthusiasm and effort has been awesome to watch. We may stumble a little getting started, but the coaches and I are very optimistic of the team for the long term success of the season. Our focus is on a solid postseason this year.”
As for the team’s question marks, Slay remarked that the Crusaders are fielding a young team this season.
“Losing a full season and preseason is a disaster for experience, but the guys are more excited to play this year and the effort has been outstanding,” Slay said. “I think the biggest question mark of the team is having to deal with any setbacks related to the flu. At this point, you just don’t know what surprise restriction or cancellation will come tomorrow. That’s tough on the guys just living day to day.”
With the loss of the 2020 season and the uncertainty surrounding the current season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Slay shared that all the team can do is look forward.
“It is a reality that the loss of that season has significantly hampered our progress and development leading up to our first official practice of 2021, but we can’t dwell on it. We have to move forward and work through the challenge. We have to accept we can’t change the past and work on what we can do today for tomorrow’s success,” Slay said. “The 2019 season had its challenges too, yet we were able to work through the regular season and finish in the state quarterfinals. We are focused on what we have control (over), what we need to work on, what we need to adjust, and our ability to execute. Our goal is to build on tomorrow through today’s hard work. Despite the adversity, we will succeed and excel through the disciplined work of our ‘one unit, one team’ philosophy. Our message to the guys is “Life is hard and unfair. Now, what are you going to do about it?” We will move forward, highly motivated and ready to win. And move forward we shall indeed.”
Assisting Slay this season are Scott Wehler, Chris Zampogna, Danny Singer, and Tim Cotter.