2 Photos
Returning seniors for the Baymen this season include, from left, Jahzani Edwards, Allan Canales, Jorge Hernandez, William Mendel, C.J. Peterson and John Reyes. Kazmin Pensa-Johnson was missing for the photo. DREW BUDD
Hampton Bays captains C.J. Peterson, left, and Patrick Donahue. DREW BUDD
Regardless of who the opponents are, the Hampton Bays baseball team is stacked with upperclassmen ready to make this season count.
And the Baymen are looking to do that against top-tier programs like Mt. Sinai, Sayville, Shoreham-Wading River, Bayport-Blue Point and Miller Place as they move to a new League VIII after a Section XI expansion from eight to 10 leagues.
“It’s a big jump, but I’m confident in our guys. It’s only going to benefit them,” head coach Rob Pinney said. “Playing schools like Greenport and Shelter Island didn’t help us. This is definitely going to be a challenge, but it will only make them stronger.”
The district had worked a deal with Section XI, the governing body of athletics in Suffolk County, to forgo playoff potential while competing in the lower league as the district adjusted to less-than-average participation. Hampton Bays even had to ax its junior varsity team more than once over the last decade due to the down years.
But now, these Baymen that have been competing alongside each other most of their lives are ready for their time to shine. The team, which finished 10-10 last season in the old League VIII, boasts a roster of 19 — 10 of them seniors — with most starters showing a longtime commitment to the sport.
“We do have more confidence because we have been playing together since Little League,” junior Pat Donahue said. “It is going to be tough, but we have the talent to compete against these teams. We are excited to be in this league because we want to show everyone that we can compete.”
What Hampton Bays will be relying on is its staunch defense, playing “error-free baseball” to stay in games. The group has also been working on being more aggressive at the plate to balance that.
“Our defense is our biggest asset,” Donahue said. “If the other team hits it in play, all our guys are capable of making the play.”
The All-County junior pitcher and shortstop returns to the team along with his younger brother Nate, a cleanup hitter and pitcher who was tabbed All-League as a freshman, and senior utility player C.J. Peterson, who is committed to Florida’s Inspiration Academy.
“A number of us really put the effort in during the offseason. We want to make sure we improve all aspects of our game, so I’m excited,” Peterson said. “There’s no better guys I’d want to have with me on the field.”
Also back are senior center fielder and pitcher Kazmin Pensa-Johnson, junior second baseman Eustorgio Urbano and sophomore left fielder and pitcher Seamus Smith.
What the Baymen said helps this team is their connection to one another, with almost all competing on more than one Hampton Bays athletic team together. Seven of the juniors and seniors even grew up on the same street.
“The chemistry is there,” Pinney said. “It’s just about execution.”
That execution, especially at the plate, is something he’s honed in on. In a scrimmage against Southampton Friday night, the players struck out 16 times.
“We’re lackadaisical at the plate. We’re not aggressive enough,” Pinney said. “I want them to jump on that first pitch and get things going. You have to be more aggressive than that.”
Donahue said a focus has also been placed on hitting because of the stiff competition he and his teammates are up against, but Peterson said the Baymen have their weapons, too.
“Seamus Smith has a canon of an arm from the outfield, and he already hits home runs and uses all sides of the field,” the senior said. “He’ll be an exciting to player to watch these next few years.”
Peterson said the team has also upped its baserunning skills, and grown a lot closer on and off the diamond, which he believes has led to better communication.
“We’re encouraging each other and we have each other’s back,” he said. “We’re realizing we are all a piece of the puzzle, and we all play a key role in the team’s success.”
The senior said he sees playoff potential in this team’s future.
“I feel that we have a good shot, and this being my last year, I am going to keep my eyes fixed on winning games and hopefully going far,” Peterson said. “It’s already been a great offseason, and we had great winter workouts, now we’re just looking forward to our accomplishments on the field.”
