Monday, May 19, 2025
It's a Plainedge pitching staff that won't quit.
With a rotation that goes four deep, the Plainedge baseball team has scorched its way to an 8-0 start – 6-0 in Conference A2.
The Fab 4 starts with sophomore Jaxson Torres as ace with little dropoff. No. 2 starter, junior Taylor Nitsch, is superb and also swings a mighty bat (.556 average). Then comes grizzled senior hurlers Aiden McCarthy and Nick Williams.
Last season, Plainedge rolled to the Nassau County Class A semifinals, losing a deciding third game to Wantagh. After losing just four senior starters, the Red Devils are poised for major things in 2025.
"I expected us to be one of the more competitive teams,'' coach Colin Fratrik said. "The success we had last year and a lot of kids returning, I knew we'd be pretty successful, especially with the majority of the pitching staff back keeping us in every game.''
Torres was a dominant pitcher as a freshman, earning All-Conference after striking out 48 batters in 34 innings and posting a 2.26 ERA. "He's got a dominant fastball, throws in the mid-80's,'' Fratrik said.
Because of his back soreness, the coaches have brought Torres along slowly. It is a luxury Plainedge has because of its depth. Torres only began pitching last week and hasn't allowed a hit in 5 innings.
Nitsch, All-Conference last season, also has been given light duty, pitching 13 innings without giving up an earned run and notching 19 strikeouts. It's his third year in the rotation. He also helps with the lumber, already notching six extra-base hits.
Committed to Barry University, McCarthy has thrown 7 innings and totaled 14 strikeouts.
Williams is old reliable, whether starting or bullpen duty. Last season, Williams notched a 0.34 ERA last season in 20 innings. Williams is 3-0 so far - 25 strikeouts in 14 innings.
"We're one of the deeper pitching staffs in the county,'' Fratrik said. "These are four kids who really have a lot of varsity experience from the last three years. It's our strong point.''
Innings-pitched totals are slightly down because 7 of the 8 games were called for the mercy rule after five innings. Last week, Plainedge notched three straight routs of 10-plus runs over Malverne.
The biggest stick in the order is junior Bobby Wescott, who committed to Stony Brook. He's off to a raging start, hitting .667 (14 hits in 21 at-bats with 2 home runs).
Last season, Wescoff clubbed four home runs and hit .420, earning All-County as a sophomore.
Also adding punch is junior Mike Calapia, the cleanup hitter who plays third base. Calapai is batting .526 with five extra-base hits.
Last season's Red Devils posted a 17-9 record. So 2025 looks even more special. Plainedge gets a big test Tuesday, April 22 against unbeaten Seaford.
"This team is pretty confident,'' Fratrik said. "We feel with our pitching staff, they give us a chance to win every single day. We still have a long way to go. Hopefully we take the next step and make a deep run in the playoffs.''
