Schools

PREVIEW: SSHS Baseball Focuses on Speed and Defense

Coach points to speed on the base paths and a high baseball IQ as keys to success.

Don't let their record fool you. 

After a perceived down year last season with a 6-13 record, the South Side High School baseball team is in Conference A-II this year, and head coach Keith Lessuk said he thinks the experience his team gained last year playing in a harder division will pay off twice-fold this season.

"We're in a conference that's not as strong as last year," Lessuk said. "We still have tough teams in our conference, but last year, it was like a playoff game every time we went out."

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Conferences were re-aligned at the beginning of the fall season, and schools are now grouped according to population rather than ability.

With a couple of returning pieces like All-Conference outfielder James Howard and three-year starter Andrew Talbot, Lessuk said his team definitely has the talent to challenge for a conference title. "We have some tough opponents, but the experience from last year will definitely carry over," he said. "We have some good seniors back, and we can contend for a title."

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Lessuk noted that the team added Christian Colletti, a left-handed pitcher who transferred from Holy Trinity High School, and his experience can help boost the program to the next level.

Though Lessuk said the team has a nice balance of hitting and pitching, it's defense and mental focus that are its keys to success. During the offseason, players worked on conditioning and building up their legs, he said. "Our main focus was to get faster," Lessuk said. "Some guys needed to get faster to improve their game. They had the right skill sets, but more speed takes them to the next level. To compete against these guys, we need to be in tip-top shape."

The head coach stressed to his team the need for mental fortitude and focus. A high baseball IQ, and knowing what position to be in and where to go with the ball during in-game situations could be the difference between a win and a loss.

"I've been stressing defense and positioning," he said. "Our guys have the skills, but we want to focus on not making mental errors. We can't be throwing to first when it should have been second. We need to be sound on defense and not have the unforced error."

The Cyclones open the season on March 28 at East Meadow High School at 4:30 p.m.

 

 


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