Team Preview: Fort Schuyler Post 1290

Manager Sal Paladino, Coach Jason Cooper, Coach Tom Grace.

Losses: Ben Brady, John Gamela.
Returning Players: Sean Badger (IF/P), Peter Clark (OF/P), Mike Grace (OF), Chris Lewis (IF/P), Jared Marshall (1B/P), Mike McCormick (OF), Joe Priore (IF), Sean Redmond (IF/P), Mike Rose (OF), Ed Schulze (IF), Nick Vella (P/OF), Jordan Zongrone (IF/P).
Newcomers: Jeff Albright (1B/P), Dominic Galimo (C), Richard Lange (IF/P), Dan Priore (2B/SS), Nick Raymer (IF), Anthony Rose (OF/P).

I discussed the upcoming legion season over coffee with Fort Schuyler manager Sal Paladino last week. Despite fielding a young team, Paladino is excited about the potential of his players. I’ve included some highlights from our discussion below. To hear more, listen to the full audio interview: http://www.uticaod.com/sports/legionbaseball/x765550528/Legion-Baseball-Audio

AD: You guys are playing your home games at Delutis. Why is that?
SP: The Mills, they let it go. The infield needs so much work and I end up doing it and it’s too much work.

AD: It’s pretty far away from New York Mills. Do you think that will grow on the kids or will they get tired of it?
SP: I think they’re tired of playing at the Mills. The infield is so bad that they’re looking forward to going. We don’t have buses, but we car pool and we fundraise extra money so we’re going to pay the older kids extra gas money. Everything I do, I meet with the kids and I talk about it, and they look forward to it.

AD: The only all-star you lose is Ben Brady. How is that going to affect the team, losing a player like him?
SP: Well we also lost, even though he wasn’t an all-star, John Gamela. John Gamela was a big part of the team. You’re not going to replace Ben and you’re not going to replace what John meant. John played, last year, every position for us. He was a captain and he was a good player for us for four years. He would do anything you asked him to do and today that’s not the easiest thing to get out of players – to give up themselves to get what’s best for the team. John was always like that. He’d take on any challenge. So it’s going to be hard to replace both of them.

AD: Who do you return from last year’s team that you’re looking to be leaders for this year’s team?
SP: Well, we have three captains – Jared Marshall, who’s at MVCC, Sean Redmond and Jordan Zongrone. Those are our three captains.

AD: In terms of newcomers, who are looking forward to?
SP: We have two fourteen-year-old kids; one’s from Proctor, Danny Priore, and Anthony Rose from Notre Dame. This is probably one of the better recruiting classes that we’ve had. We also have a fourteen-year-old kid from the Mills - Jeff Albright. Dan doesn’t pitch; the other two pitch. But Anthony Rose just has so much potential. Danny Priore is going to be an outstanding player. I think Jeff can help us a lot on the mound. He’s 6’2” and he’s only fourteen.

AD: Those three guys are from three different high schools. How does that work with the team chemistry when you bring in guys from different schools?
SP: Since we got involved that’s when we started hitting in the winter. One of the main reasons with us is so that they get to know each other. They’re together every Sunday from September ‘til the beginning of spring baseball. And we have a couple of different parties with them so by the time the season starts (they’re okay).

AD: Do you have any injuries going into this year or is everyone pretty healthy?
SP: Well, the Albright kid broke his wrist so he’s going to be out for part of the season. I think he’s going to be out at least four more weeks. Jordan (Zongrone) is back healthy. The last three games that I’ve seen him play, he’s really coming into his own. He’s hitting the ball well and he’s pitching there and he’s doing a good job. I think if Sean stays healthy, Sean can pitch with anyone in the league. He may not throw as hard as (Garrett) Baker (of Smith Post), but he’s pretty crafty.

AD: What do you like most about this team at this point?
SP: Jordan being healthy allows us to not only put him – last year we were just able to DH him – this year he can go to first base, he can play third base, but he can also go on the mound. He’s a very good pitcher. The young players allow us more competition which is going to push the other players. Mike Rose is back. He had a big year for us (last year).

AD: How about stuff that you think the team needs to work on to have a better season?
SP: As far as hitting, we were able to score enough runs to be competitive. Defensively we didn’t do a very good job, but we have a new catcher. Again, Jordan will be able to go into the field. The other players have a year more experience, but I also think that Rose and Priore, defensively, can play now even though they’re very young. There’s a lot more competition and I think that will make them work a little bit harder…It will push them to be better.

AD: You mentioned Smith earlier and you just mentioned Whitestown. Who do you think, at this point, will be the major contender?
SP: I think Smith. I always felt that he (Smith manager Tony Abone, Sr.) gets the most out of his players. I think he’s a very good coach. They don’t play a lot of games so he usually keeps the pitching sharp.