Season Preview: 2011 Port Washington Boys Baseball

The Port Washington Vikings baseball program enters the 2011 season looking to continue its recent success. Over the past three seasons it posted a regular season record of 43-11, won two conference championships and won two playoff games. The team has a dedicated and hard working coaching staff led by Matt Holzer, a Port Washington alumn. Long time Port Washington coach Joe Del Gais is the varsity assistant coach and Phil Spotteck is the JV coach.  

The role of catcher is probably the team’s deepest position. The team has two players returning for their second year on varsity – senior Mike Weiss and junior Wayne Baker. The Viking’s infield will be anchored by the two guys up the middle. Second year player Danny Kaminsky will be taking over at shortstop, while junior and first year varsity player Aaron Feinberg will be at second base. Both players should hit at the top of the line up and are great with the glove. Either Jacob Schuckman or Paul Mills, who hit a homerun out of MCU Park last year, will be at third base. Junior and first year varsity player AJ Friedman should be at first base.  The Viking’s outfield defense should once again be strong.  Senior and second year varsity player Johnny Conetta will battle Max Mancher, Tim Costello, and first year varsity player Grant Ogulnick for playing time in the outfield.

The pitching staff will be led by Senior Jacob Schuckman and Junior Paul Mills, both two year varsity starters.  Senior and second year player Max Mancher, Junior Tim Costello and Sophomore Bryce Keller will be the team’s third starter while the other will most likely be the team’s key reliever out of the bullpen.   

Last Season: 11-7 overall and 8- 7 in league play.

Coach: Matt Holzer

Position Breakdown:

C- Mike Weiss - Senior, Wayne Baker - Junior

1B- Jacob Schuckman - Senior, AJ Friedman - Junior, Drew Friedman - Junior

2B - Aaron Feinberg - Junior

SS - Danny Kaminsky - Senior, Bryce Keller - Junior

3B - Paul Mills - Junior, Jacob Schuckman - Senior, Robert Sexton - Junior

OF - Tim Costello - Junior, Max Mancher - Senior, Johnny Conetta - Senior, Grant Ogulnick - Junior, Stephen Orso - Junior

P - Paul Mills - Junior, Bryce Keller - Sophomore, Jacob Schuckman - Junior, Max Mancher - Junior, Tim Costello - Junior, Robert Sexton - Junior, AJ Friedman - Junior, Drew Friedman - Junior, Jacob Lanzkowsky - Junior

Expectations:  “The coaching staff expects the team to compete for one of the four playoff spots from their conference,” Holzer said.

Key Games:

MacArthur - 4/11, 4/12, 4/14

Manhasset @ MCU Park in Brooklyn - 4/16

Plainview - 4/18, 4/20, 4/21