The LoHud Baseball Blog

Ask just about anyone in Section 1, and they’ll tell you that Fox Lane can flat out mash. The Foxes slugged their way past Class AA power Mamaroneck in a 14-4 semifinal win last season, before falling short in the final against RC Ketcham. With all but four players back from that 2011 squad, the optimism level was high at Fox Lane practice yesterday—but there are still some causes for concern. Among the four players who graduated last year were the Foxes’ top two pitchers. That’s the main question mark heading into the season, but if the Foxes can answer it, they’ll be right in the mix for a section title.

• Fox Lane has a very strong junior class, led by 1B Matt Oniffrey and SS Richard Slenker. Oniffrey came on as a major offensive force last season, with coach Matt Hillis calling him, “as pure a swinging lefty as you will see.” Slenker did not participate on the first day due to a knee injury, but both are considered to be potential Division 1 prospects.


• Hillis was quick to point out that Oniffrey came in looking bigger and stronger than he did last season, which could add to his already impressive ability to drive the ball. “He has tremendous bat speed,” Hillis said. “I was impressed with him today. You do a lot of growing from your sophomore to junior year, so he got bigger, and we were impressed with what we saw today. Hopefully, that turns into an even bigger year, if that’s possible.”


• Oniffrey hit fifth last season, but should probably move up to third or fourth this season. “Hopefully I can keep that spot, or move up,” he said. “It’s whatever coach wants.”


• As for Slenker, he isn’t expected to miss significant time, but he’s also not a guarantee for opening day. “I don’t think we’re looking at a sustained period of time,” Hillis said. “He’s already off crutches and walking, and he threw the other day. I don’t know yet if we’re missing any games with him or not, but the quicker he gets back, the quicker we get better.”


• Other returning contributors to the lineup include P/OF TJ Hallock, OF Spencer Chernus, 3B Chris Tomassi and P/INF Jamie Hertz. Hallock will likely be a middle-of-the-order guy, along with Oniffrey. No doubt, most of these guys can swing the bats. “With hitting, it’s what we do here at Fox Lane,” Oniffrey said. “Everyone in the lineup can hit almost anything. We work on hitting so many hours of the day, every day.”


• While the Foxes didn’t lose much in terms of numbers, they did lose some significant pieces. CF Donny Castaldo, who Hillis said, “might have been the best center fielder in the section,” and 2B Jake McGrath were two captains and important parts of Fox Lane’s lineup. And Chad Stroud and Andrew Rosenbaum were the Foxes’ top two pitchers. “Those four seniors will be sorely missed,” Hillis said. “On paper, it doesn’t look like we’ve lost a lot since we have six positions where we have returning starters, but those were big, big losses.”


• While everyone seemed pretty confident that Fox Lane will still hit, how things play out on the mound should be interesting to watch. Hallock pitched in the final against Ketcham, and is the Foxes most experienced returning pitcher. “We were extremely confident with him all year,” Hillis said. “He had a low ERA, and I think the game against Ketcham might have been his only loss. We’re expecting him to come in and fill those No. 1 duties.”


• Senior Robby Seraita also pitched in that game against Ketcham, and could be either Fox Lane’s No. 2 starter or top reliever. Fellow seniors Julian Haddad and Hertz should also get some innings. “It’s a matter of whoever steps up,” Hillis said. “That’s who we’ll plug into those spots.”


• One of the things that Hillis raved about was Fox Lane’s facilities. The field is well-kept with a full fence and brand new dugouts. They’ve got foul polls, a scoreboard and three (soon to be four) batting cages. It provides many tools for Hillis and his staff to utilize. “We’re extremely happy with it, and we’re very proud to have this facility,” Hillis said. “It’s a result of a combination of things. Our athletic department, in combination with our parents and boosters, have gone above and beyond the call of duty.”


• In terms of roster decisions, Hillis said that there aren’t too many to make. Having been with the team since 2002, he runs a very structured program, which gives him a good idea of what he has coming up every year. “Our philosophy is set from level to level in our program,” he said. “What we try and do is keep a large group of seventh and eighth graders at our modified level because we want to see them all play. The freshmen we start to weed out a little bit, when they get to JV a little bit more, and so by the time they get this stage we’re usually pretty sure other than three or four kids who’s going to make the team. Then, it’s just a matter of figuring out where they’re going to fit in.”


• As for the new BBCOR bats slowing down Fox Lane’s potent offense, Oniffrey shut that idea down right away. “If all of the teams have to use them, it’s not going to be much of a disadvantage for us,” he said. “I used them over the summer and the fall. I like the bats. I picked out a pretty good one, and hopefully everyone can make the adjustment.”