Owls set sights on playoffs

Pitching and senior leadership are two things Lynbrook baseball coach Al Marrazzo is counting on to put an end to the program’s four-year playoff drought.

“These guys are hungry to get into the playoffs and willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen,” Marrazzo said. “To fall one game short last year was disappointing and left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.”

Marrazzo believes the Owls can go as far as their pitchers lead them, and the outlook is promising with four quality arms to lead the staff. “Everything is going to come down to pitching,” he said. “We’re going to go as those guys go. I’m not sure how many runs we’ll score, but we have four guys capable of throwing a big game any time they take the mound.”

Junior Alex Weingarten, who went 4-1 with a 3.15 earned run average in 2010, spearheads the starting rotation and plays second base. “Alex was an unknown entity last year,” Marrazzo said. “Now he’s a proven varsity pitcher. He’s going to be fun to watch the next two years.” Weingarten pitched four innings of hitless relief March 31 in a non-league loss to Island Trees. He struck out five and walked one.

Senior Dan Grossi, who battled arm issues last spring, is a hard-throwing lefty with a solid breaking ball. If he stays healthy, Lynbrook’s chances of winning the League III title will be that much stronger. Grossi will play first base when he’s not pitching.

Senior Will Norris is throwing extremely well out of the gate and can fire a nasty curve ball for a strike or make batters fish out of the zone. “Will has good command and is always around the plate,” Marrazzo said.

Four-game weeks wouldn’t affect the Owls as much as other teams. That’s because senior third baseman Spencer Kirsch can take the ball whenever the schedule calls for it. If not used as a starter, Kirsch is the first reliever the coach will seek in tight situations. “I won’t hesitate to go to him in close games,” Marrazzo said.