Somers baseball looks for rebound year

SOMERS, N.Y. - 2024 was a tough season for Tusker baseball, and Coach JT Genovese is confident about rebounding with a lot of returners. 

He starts on the hill.

Andrew Kapica and Rhys Carway will lead the way with the most mileage. 

“These guys anchored the staff last year,” said Genovese.

The latter is ramping up in hopes of making opening day. “He pitches in the upper 80s and has an awesome slider,” said the coach.

But the number one is Kapica. Heading to Fordham next year, the senior is also in the high 80s and has great off-speed stuff. This winter, said Genovese. “He was perfecting his arsenal.” 

In the bullpen, he’s confident that a little less experience will still measure up. “He got some pretty big innings for us last year,” said Genovese of Ryan McAuley, and he’s in the 80s with good off speed too.

Around the horn, the coach starts at third with Patrick Bracelin. 

“Really sound, it might not always look pretty, but he gets the job done,” Genovese said.

Merged with North Salem, Ryan Denneen has a good arm at second, Jake Hopper will be picking it at shortstop again, and Lorenzo D’Ambrosio returns at first.

That leaves the rock behind the plate. “Joe Dwyer is an unbelievable leader who’s really grown over the last few years,” said Genovese. 

Dwyer is also a coach on the field. “He’s going to take a lot of pressure off, because he’s an extension of us,” asserted the coach.

The bench is deep too. Among them Jackson Whipple, said Genovese, “There’s a lot of really good athletes that can do different things. It’s our job to find spaces to put them in.”

The push for the end result doesn’t change, though. “Like any other year, the goal is to win a championship.”