Wantagh aims for playoff return

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the 2023 Wantagh baseball team is determined to start a new streak.

The Warriors (4-2) endured a rare non-postseason campaign in 2022 competing in a challenging league full of county title contenders, dropping a number of close games in a frustrating 3-14-1 season. The new season is off to a far more promising start with Wantagh entering this week at 4-2 in Conference IV and in the mix to receive one of the league’s four available playoff bids.

“We don't want to have that type of season again, but we didn't do anything wrong preparation wise and work wise and work ethic wise,” said 30th-year coach Keith Sachs, who until last spring had reached the playoffs every season since taking over the program in 1994. “The kids are working hard and playing baseball the right way.”

Wantagh returned two All-County players in senior pitcher/center fielder Tim Hennig and junior catcher AJ Bardi, who is leadoff hitter after hitting over .500 as a sophomore. Both Hennig and Bardi smacked home runs in Wantagh’s 8-2 victory at Plainedge on April 3. 

The versatile Hennig is the ace of the pitching staff who has tossed a one and two-hitter so far this season. Junior Tate has shined on the mound in the number to pitcher and recorded eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings during the 8-2 Plainedge triumph.

Tate is also one of the leading hitters in the lineup, who knocked in two runs as part of Wantagh’s 7-0 win versus Plainedge on April 4 where Hennig pitched a three-hit shutout. First baseman Paul Fontanta has also delivered offensively early in the season with three RBIs in that win which enabled Wantagh to take the first two games of a three-game set with its neighborhood rival.

Shortstop Colin Crispyn patrols the midfield and is a key part of the lineup as the No. 2 hitter. Seniors Vinny McCartney and Joe Legovich along with junior Shane Russo have also made contributions in Wantagh winning four in a row after a season-opening 6-2 loss at Mineola.

Wantagh nearly completed a three-game sweep of Plainedge on April 8, but fell 5-4 on a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“The kids are working hard and playing great defense,” Sachs said.  

Sachs credits his longtime assistant coach Mike Ninivaggi, for the success of the program and especially his work with the pitching staff. The coaches have fostered a tradition each April vacation taking the players on a Mid-Atlantic journey in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. that serves as a valuable bonding opportunity before the home stretch of the season.

The Warriors began a three-game series with Island Trees Monday that concludes Thursday at home starting at 4:45 p.m. Sachs said with such a competitive conference it leads little room for error if Wantagh is to assure itself of a chance to return to the playoffs and compete for its first county title since 2017.