Clarke preps for another title run

Playing in the county final has become commonplace for the Clarke baseball program since coach Tom Abruscato took over in 1999, and this year’s team could again play a recurring role in that series come late May.

Clarke, which has won 23 conference titles in the last 25 years, is poised for a fourth consecutive county final appearance thanks to its 5-0 start. The Rams lost a heartbreaking three-game series to Calhoun in last year’s final after winning the first game and fell to Island Trees the season before. 

But Abruscato, who guided the team to the 2019 crown, says this year’s squad has a short-term memory.

“We don’t stress that stuff,” he said. “There was no sense of urgency or anything. We’ve got to win the league first and then hopefully we get back to where we’ve been.”

Despite trailing in two of the three games, the Rams swept a three-game series against Lynbrook to open the new season and took the first two games of their set versus North Shore. They held a 51-11 scoring advantage in those games and have scored at least seven runs in each contest while yielding more than three just once.

Clarke topped Lynbrook 8-3 in the opener and easily took the middle contest 7-0 behind five shutout innings by junior hurler Nick Berasti. In the series finale, the Rams were down 4-2 in the fourth inning before taking advantage of a shaky Owl defense en route to a 14-4 triumph on March 30. 

Giancarlo Rengifo’s two-run homer and four more solid innings by Berasti highlighted a 14-4 win against North Shore on April 3 and Zaim Deljanin had three hits and five RBIs in Clarke’s 9-1 victory the next day. Senior George Neofitidis surrendered three hits and a walk while fanning five over four innings of relief to pick up the win.

“Giancarlo’s home run was big to get us up 3-0,” Abruscato said. “We battled and [Berasti is] very talented. He’s got to be one of the best arms in the county.”

Deljanin has had several multi-hit games after batting .326 last year to go with two wins on the mound, including a five-strikeout performance over three innings in the season opener.

Providing pitching depth are seniors Josh Deluccia and Tom Roche, junior Jaret Sarrantonio and freshman James Beckworth. Senior lefty Matt Cardozo, who had four saves last spring, will provide further depth when he returns from injury.

Senior designated hitter Andrew Rosales has had some “timely hits” for the Rams and sophomore first baseman Dylan Vicara drove in three runs in the opener. Senior catcher J.J. Palumbo had the go-ahead two-run double to help Clarke complete the Lynbrook sweep.

“He’s got a high baseball IQ,” Abruscato said of Palumbo. “He does a great job of going the other way and has good power as well.”

The outfield consists of junior Liam Fonal flanking left fielder Roche and sophomore right fielder A.J. Cumbo, who went 2-for-3 with three runs scored in the shutout win over Lynbrook.