Youthful Lynbrook Owls learning to fly

After taking a couple of gut punches to start the season, the Lynbrook baseball team welcomed a rare 10-day break to regroup.

The Owls are trying to avoid another slow start after their 1-11 beginning to the 2022 campaign derailed any postseason aspirations. Jon Zaccaro, who inherited the managerial job last winter after spending the last 21 years as an assistant with the team, is now being tasked to prevent any negativity from permeating to his mostly young team.

Lynbrook eventually finished 4-14 last year and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018.

“We’re definitely in a tough league, we know that,” Zaccaro said. “So, we’re looking to just change our confidence level. I think that’s the biggest thing we have with these young guys is to understand that they can compete.”

The schedule makers were unforgiving to Lynbrook by pitting it against three-time county finalist Clarke to start the new season. The Owls hung tough and held leads in the first and third games, but the Rams proved to be too much as they swept the three-game set by a combined score of 29-7.

Lynbrook had a chance to salvage the finale by holding a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning, but defensive miscues allowed Clarke to rally for a 14-4 victory on March 30. 

“We just need to figure out how to finish [and] get the experience,” Zaccaro said. 

The new senior-laden pitching rotation features Brian Mansfield, Nathan Santoli and Esteban Salazar, who held Clarke hitless while striking out seven in three innings before taking the tough loss. 

“Esteban could be considered our No. 1,” Zaccaro said. “He can definitely bring the heat. I’m expecting a lot from him.”

Salazar, a center fielder when he’s not on the mound, is also doing his part at the plate with a pair of doubles thus far. The energetic Mansfield has also helped set the table as the second-place hitter.

The leadoff spot has been interchangeable between switch-hitter Paolo Palleschi and fellow freshman Christoper Mangieri. Both youngsters have impressed Zaccaro with their ability to “put the bat on the ball” and playing time will be determined by who’s the hotter player at that moment.

Sophomore catcher Jameson Morrissey was thrust into action as an injury replacement last year and trained hard during the offseason to earn the full-time job while being the team’s cleanup hitter. The only other senior on the team, right fielder Nicholas Pugliese, has made a “huge improvement at the plate” in the middle of the order, according to Zaccaro.

Junior Tim Mingo and sophomore Jake Mylan are splitting time at third base, and both have performed well during scrimmages. Mingo can also be slotted anywhere in the outfield and Mylan can play first or second base in a pinch.

“It’s good to have a little bit of depth, which we haven’t had in a very long time,” Zaccaro said.

The Owls faced Mineola earlier this week and will host East Rockaway on Saturday before a pair of three-game series against Plainedge and Wantagh.