Hewlett opens new field in style

Surrounded by a new turf infield, Hewlett’s Michael Eckerle got his senior campaign on the baseball diamond off to an impressive start and helped give new coach Andy DeBernardo his first win in the process.

Eckerle pitched a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and junior third baseman Jake Miller went 4-for-4, drove in four runs, scored four times and swiped two bases to lead the Bulldogs to an 8-0 victory over Conference A-II rival Mineola at Hewlett Elementary School on April 7.

“It’s good to get the first one,” said DeBernardo, who served as Hewlett’s JV coach from 2004-08 and a varsity assistant last season. “I think once we get 100 percent healthy, we’re going to be dangerous.”

DeBernardo said Eckerle, an All-County left-hander who had five wins and a 1.32 ERA a year ago, elected to start the home opener as opposed to the season opener the previous day at Mineola in large part because of the buzz surrounding the new field. “Mike got stronger as the game got longer,” DeBernardo said. “He has a great fastball and two other pitches he throws consistently for strikes. He doesn’t worry about the pitch count and knows he doesn’t have to strike everyone out to be successful. He’s confident in the defense we’ve got behind him.”

In addition to the C.W. Post-bound Eckerle, the starting rotation includes senior Corey Grant, who won some games at the varsity level in 2009 and features a change-up, slider and curve, and junior Spencer Prusak, last year’s ace of the JV staff. The most important thing for Grant and Prusak, said DeBernardo, is limiting walks.

Senior shortstop Dylan Pastor, who has All-County and All-League seasons under his belt, is the leader of the infield and first option out of the bullpen. He threw two innings of scoreless relief in last Friday’s 9-3 home loss to Jericho. “Dylan won’t come off the field,” DeBernardo said. “He’s someone we’ll count on a lot both offensively and defensively.”

The same goes for senior Dino Tomassetti, who is recovering from knee surgery and expected back in the lineup this week. He led the Bulldogs in batting average (.500) and earned All-County honors in 2009 while serving as the starting catcher. He could patrol the outfield this spring with junior Alex Bernstein getting the nod behind the plate. “Dino has all the tools,” DeBernardo said.

Bernstein has a solid arm and is a table-setter at the top of the lineup. He hits in the No. 2-hole behind speedy senior second baseman Jason Canales. Pastor bats third and Miller, who was called up to varsity down the stretch last spring, fills the clean-up spot. Grant and senior Josh Abrams, who can also log some innings on the mound if necessary, are both working at first base. The starting outfield for the first three games consisted of senior C.J. Brady in center, senior Mike Theiss in left and junior Ross Kleinrock in right.

Five of the 10 teams in Conference A-II qualify for the playoffs. “We can be one of them,” DeBernardo said.