High expectations for South Side

Coming off a 17-win campaign that ended in disappointing fashion with a Nassau Class A baseball quarterfinal playoff loss, South Side is stocked with talent and aiming to contend for the county title.

“We have to put all three phases of the game together to get where we want to get,” coach Tom Smith said after the Cyclones fell to 4-2 following a defeat at the hands of Kennedy at Barasch Field last Saturday. “Defense has been the most consistent piece so far,” he added.

South Side, which captured the Nassau Class A championship in 2021 and followed with a conference title last spring, is led by returning senior award-winners Sean Britt, Rob Pericolosi, Justin Peralta and Chris Rosenbaum.

Peralta heads a pitching staff that includes juniors Matt Arnott and Trevor Marigliano. “All three throw hard and mix pitches well to keep hitters at bay,” Smith said.

Peralta has won his first two starts and was an All-Conference selection a year ago. “His fastball starts in the mid-80s and he throws a power curve and a nasty slider,” Smith said of Peralta, who opened the series with Kennedy by striking out six over four innings in a 17-7 win.

The 6-foot-6 Arnott, along with Pericolosi, recently helped South Side’s basketball team to county and Long Island titles. Arnott joined the starting rotation after one relief appearance that helped build his pitch count, Smith said.

Marigliano won his first varsity start to help the Cyclones sweep Great Neck North out of the gate and will likely get the nod in the second game of every series. Senior Thomas McCarthy and sophomore lefty Gavin Donahue lead a deep bullpen.

Two-time All-County catcher Sean Britt is “dynamic behind the plate,” Smith said, and the No. 3 hitter. Britt had three homers and 28 RBIs to go with a .360 batting average in 2022.

Senior center fielder Pericolosi is All-County in two sports and coming off a stellar year on the diamond. The leadoff batter raked to a .507 average with 34 runs scored and 26 driven in. He had four RBIs in South Side’s lone win over Kennedy. “His numbers from last year are even more impressive because of the level of pitching he faced,” Smith said.

Rosenbaum (.323, 18 RBIs) is an All-Conference right fielder and clean-up hitter who smacked three triples through the first six games. He’ll also see some work at first base with Donahue.

Senior Drew Aromiskis is a vital two-way weapon, serving as the starting shortstop and No. 2 hitter. Junior Jack Bodkin, last year’s JV shortstop, has assumed the second base job while junior Aidan Medeiros looks to take the next step at third base after a solid .320, 10-RBI campaign.

Junior Brady Callahan is the primary left fielder. Senior Jack Phelan can fill in there and will DH along with senior Sam Russo.

“Class A is stacked,” Smith said. “We’ve got work to do, but I believe if we play up to our potential we’ll be in the mix come playoff time to have a shot to win it all.”