By TONY BELLISSIMO
Yet despite finishing 11-6 in Conference ABC-VI, the Golden Tornadoes didn’t make the playoffs.
Under the new alignment implemented for baseball by Nassau’s Athletic Council this year, teams were no longer grouped by enrollment but rather by ability. Since Lawrence competed in the one of the weakest conferences based on ability, certain criteria (in this case, an .850 winning percentage or better) had to be met in order for it to participate in the Class A playoffs.
“The way it was set up we needed a few more wins to be a playoff team,” Lawrence coach Dennis Leonard said. “We really didn’t focus on the finish line until we were almost there. That was easy because you want to take things one game at a time.”
At the midway mark, Leonard said, the Golden Tornadoes were playing well and had the conference title in sight. Their goal of finishing first was fulfilled on May 13 when they defeated Wheatley, 6-3, to move two games ahead of second-place East Rockaway with one to go. The next day, before Lawrence took the field at Wheatley for the regular-season finale, the coach broke the non-playoff news to his players. “I had to explain to the kids we didn’t have enough wins to make the playoffs,” Leonard said. “It put a little damper on winning the conference at the time, but everyone’s proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
While Lawrence wasn’t included in the 16-team Class A playoff tournament, others with an inferior record got in. “Whether it went undefeated or winless, every team that played in either of the top two conferences was guaranteed a playoff spot,” said Ken Ward, Section VIII baseball coordinator and Valley Stream South coach. “So we had some upper ability teams struggle and make the playoffs and some lower ability teams do well and not make it.”
Glen Cove, which was seeded at the bottom of Conference ABC-II and finished last with a 1-15-1 record, qualified for the playoffs and upset Plainedge in a Class A first-round game. In Class AA, 10 of the 12 playoffs teams were predetermined by the setup.
Coaches not in favor
The new policy, which is used for girls’ and boys’ basketball, girls’ and boys’ soccer, girls’ and boys’ volleyball, girls’ lacrosse and softball, was put in place for baseball despite coaches voting against it.
“We’re the only county I know of that does something like ability grouping,” Clarke coach Tom Abruscato said. “I don’t like it for any sport, and I don’t particularly like it for baseball because nobody brings the same team to the field every day. Baseball teams change based on the person pitching.
“We’ve always grouped conferences based on enrollment. I don’t approve of setting up success for anyone. It’s about hard work. In the old system, teams had the option of being a part of an independent league if they wanted.”
Abruscato, who guided the Rams to state championships in 2002 and ‘05, also doesn’t care for the guaranteed playoff spots even though Clarke is likely to get a free pass to the postseason for as long as the system remains in place. “I want our team and every other team to earn its way into the playoffs,” he said.
Ward spoke in front of the Athletic Council on June 9 and came away feeling optimistic about a return to the previous system. “I told everyone the coaches voted 54-1 against the current system and relayed some thoughts,” he said. “We were told it was a one-year trial to be evaluated.”
Frank Viggiano, who coaches baseball and girls’ basketball at Hewlett, likes to see kids challenged by whatever the schedule offers. “Personally, I don’t mind playing a mixed bag of teams based on population,” Viggiano said. “When we played Garden City in basketball, it was like our Super Bowl. They were a powerhouse, and the girls were excited to see how they stacked up against the best. We lose David vs. Goliath matchups with ability grouping.”
More competitive games
Saul Lerner, the Bellmore-Merrick athletic director and Section VIII boys’ basketball coordinator, introduced the concept of ability grouping to boys’ basketball prior to the 2006-07 season and couldn’t be more pleased. “Nobody benefits from a basketball game that’s a 40-point blowout or a baseball game decided by 15 runs,” he said. “Games are much more competitive and fun under the ability grouping system. It’s great for kids. It may not benefit a select few teams, but it works for the other 50.”
What’s next?
Section VIII Executive Director Todd Heimer, who serves as secretary of the 24-member Athletic Council but isn’t a voting member, said the 2009 system for baseball is expected to be determined late in the summer. “The Athletic Council is quite aware of the feelings of the baseball community,” Heimer said. “Nothing has been determined for next year. The situation will be looked at more closely in August.”
Comments about this story? tbellissimo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 204.
