Impressive seniors lead West Hempstead

There’s been a little bit of change and some of the usual on the baseball diamond at West Hempstead, this spring. With the return of seven seniors who are leaving their mark on the program, a few newcomers on the roster, and the arrival of an energetic coach who took over the varsity after a short stint with the JV, the program is in good shape for the present and future.

Among the things that remained the same is the level of success. After a 2016 campaign that resulted in an overall record of 11-7, including 10 wins in league play, the Rams have followed things up with another strong season. After a sweep of Hempstead, the team’s record stands at 9-5 with three games yet to be played.

Despite losing its leading hitter and ace of the pitching staff from a year ago, West Hempstead has used steady hitting, strong pitching, savvy base running, and solid defense to put itself among the top teams in a very competitive Nassau Countywide Conference.

Head coach Chris DeMarzo is pleased with the brand of baseball his team is playing. “They’ve truly surpassed expectations,” DeMarzo said. “The pitching staff is among the best in the league, and the defense has been real strong. The conference has been better than expected. Most of the teams are, more or less, of equal ability. So win, lose or draw, nearly all of the games have been competitive. Thankfully, we’ve been on the winning side more often than not.”

The pitching staff, with a senior-laden starting rotation, has been a key to success. Matt Morel, Matt Arasmo, and twin brothers, Kyle and Dylan Suffa, have been consistent and effective on the mound. Battery mate Zac Koster has emerged as one of the conference’s top backstops. 

The offensive output has come from a multitude of players. Arasmo, Morel, the Suffa brothers, Koster, Savion Thorpe, and Rayshawn Grant have been consistent at the plate, and have mixed in some power. As a team, the Rams are hitting just about .350.

Once they reach base, the Rams don’t believe in waiting for a hit or walk to move from station to station. While Koster has kept opposing team’s running games at bay, once aboard, the Rams have been crafty on the base paths. DeMarzo wouldn’t be surprised if his team has racked up 100 stolen bases for the season. 

“It’s not like we’re manufacturing runs with a small-ball mentality,” DeMarzo said. “We’re making things happen on the bases, and the guys are consistently putting the ball in play.”

DeMarzo, who is more than thankful for the support he gets from Athletic Director Chris Mistretta, is optimistic about the future. “We’re building the program with family, town, and school,” DeMarzo said. “We have a strong future. I’ll miss these seniors. What this program is going to become is a testament to them.”

The Rams close out their season at Great Neck North on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.