LWA baseball rolling again

The ultimate goal of any team is not necessarily, as one might expect, to win its league’s championship. Sure, titles and trophies are great, but the real hallmark of a good team is in consistently playing the game, in the words of Lawrence Woodmere Academy varsity baseball coach Mike Cohn, “the right way.”

That form of effort and preparation, according to Cohn, consists of playing a full seven innings, working hard in practice and doing everything possible to maximize potential. If an entire roster of players buys into that process, and if everyone pulls in the same direction, and if the team catches some breaks along the way, only then will the accolades follow.

That’s the way it worked out for Cohn’s team last season. The Tigers played solidly if not spectacularly during the regular season, finishing with a winning record but behind both Bay Ridge Prep and Evangel Christian in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PSAA) standings. But the team played the right way, and progressed to the point that it was a force once the postseason began. On the strength of dominant pitching and timely hitting, the Tigers caught fire in the playoffs and won the league championship, their first since 2006. 

It was a seasoned and senior-laden team that went the distance last spring. “We have a lot younger group (this season),” says Cohn. “But we’ve had a good start to the season and have been able to win some close games.” 

Cohn’s goal at the start of the season was to once again qualify for the playoffs, and the Tigers are on pace to do that. Going into their game with Brooklyn Friends earlier this week, they owned a 5-3 record. This season began just as the last one ended, with a pitching gem from Jakob Cayne. Though just a sophomore, Cayne has been a member of the varsity for three seasons, and last spring won two games for the Tigers in the playoffs. He got off to a fast start, allowing just two hits while striking out 15 over seven innings in the Tigers’ 3-0 victory over Martin Luther on April 6. 

Ian Shoenfeld, the team captain and one of five seniors, followed that effort with a four-hitter in a 13-3 victory over Evangel Christian the following day. Shoenfeld, also the cleanup batter, helped his own cause with two hits and three runs scored. In addition to Shoenfeld, Cohn relies on first baseman Brandon Hougnou, catcher Michael Grasberg and second baseman Harris Fisch to lead the way. According to Cohn, he counts on them to set an example of the right way to play.

The Tigers close the regular season Monday by hosting Evangel Christian at 4:15 p.m. The PSAA playoffs begin May 19.