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NEWSFLASH - SportingNewsCT.com launches REPLAY STORE subscription service!!!
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Curren's American Legion Report Week 1 |
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Ray Curren - Elm City Newspapers
June 23, 2008 - Mike Siwek was wandering around a baseball coaching clinic last winter, looking at the different material being offered, when he came across a stand selling uniforms.
He took one look at the Vegas gold shirts and hats and knew it was exactly what his West Haven American Legion squad needed for the 2008 season.
Now, don’t get me wrong, they’re fine looking uniforms, but West Haven under Siwek has always been ahead of the fashion curve in Zone II (previously with the purple and black of the Colorado Rockies). There was another motive behind Siwek wanting the new duds (based on Vanderbilt’s), and it had nothing to do with how they looked. They were different, and after an uncharacteristic 7-19 campaign in which West Haven’s troubles went well beyond their record, it was time for a change.
“We just wanted to change our whole outlook,” Siwek said. “I don’t want to talk a lot about last year, but we needed a fresh start.” And West Haven appears to have the goods to make last season a distant memory. The core of the team all played college baseball this spring: shortstop Ed Shea, third baseman Mike Aquilino, and center fielder Nico Gambardella. Siwek can also use all three on the mound if he needs to (and he probably will), and Aquilino logged some innings for the University of New Haven as a freshman.
But what Siwek likes more about his trio is their attitude. With an otherwise young team around them, the leadership will be key if West Haven can stay in the hunt for the Zone II title, a place they haven’t been in a long time – at least by West Haven’s standards. “Those are three kids that just love to play the game, no matter what time or where,” Siwek said. “We tell them to be here for batting practice at a certain time and they’re always there on time, no moaning or complaining. They’re always working hard and that just sets a great example for everyone else.”
Most of their surrounding cast was seasoned this spring at West Haven High, where the young Blue Devils rebounded with a 12-8 season after missing the state tournament in 2007. Foremost among those players is star-in-waiting pitcher Tom Lawrence, who just finished up his junior season. Of course, he’s no stranger to the pressures of Senior Legion, having been on the roster since the eighth grade. But it’s taken a while for Lawrence to get the confidence to pitch on the high levels, and get some other pitches to back up the fastball he throws in the mid 80s (mph).
Lawrence was dominant at times in the high school season, and in the state tournament, he dueled Boston College-bound senior Tyler Lasko of Bunnell to a stalemate before the Bulldogs pushed across a run and beat him, 1-0.
“I’ve matured a little more in the last year,” Lawrence said. “I’ve learned how to pitch a little instead of just throwing the ball.” In the Legion season opener against East Haven, Lawrence didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, and with West Haven holding a 6-0 advantage after five, Siwek was confident enough in his relief to give Lawrence the rest of the day off.
Aquilino provided the relief, but was rusty, allowing two runs in the seventh inning on a long double by Matt Caputo, but there was no panicking in the West Haven dugout. Aquilino got the last three outs and the Westies had a season-opening victory.
Another area where Lawrence has improved is with his bat, and second baseman Dave Riccio should also provide some punch for West Haven, who had to work around some graduation scheduling, but with Stratford and New Haven next on the schedule, could shoot their way to the top of Zone II, a place where they haven’t been in a while.
“We’re optimistic, and we’ve got a little confidence right now,” Siwek said. “New uniforms, a new attitude, it’s going to be a fun year.”
WEATHER WOES: Only one week into the season, already weather is a major factor. Thunderstorms and rains have forced some cancellations early. With the season a little but longer than it was last year (due to the high school season ending earlier), many teams got rid of a couple of those Saturday doubleheaders.
However, that might turn out to be a short-sighted move if we get a few more rain outs in the next couple of weeks. The good news is there still appears to be a couple of open dates on most teams’ schedules, it’s just a matter of plugging in the teams to the dates. For instance, there are no games scheduled on July 15 or July 18, with the last day of the regular season slated for July 19.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Caputo, East Haven – Caputo took a couple of swings to get the rust off, but that was it. He tortured Stratford pitching last weekend, including going 5-for-5 in a 15-10 win on Saturday, as the Easties got off to a 2-2 start to the campaign, with a lineup as dangerous as anyone in Zone II.
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