The Xaverian baseball team is off to a great start this season, despite losing 17 seniors from last year’s Brooklyn-Queens division championship team.
The Clippers, though technically in a rebuilding year, began the season by going 4–0–1 in Myrtle Beach, and followed that by winning its next six non-league contests for a 10–0–1 start. Xaverian is 1–1 in Catholic league play since then, and had a game against Archbishop Molloy suspended in the sixth inning with the score knotted at 1–1 on April 7.
The results so far have been pleasing to coach Frank Del George.
“We have a young team,” he said. “We expect some growing pains along the way. I am surprised by the start. We are playing well, lost a tough game to league favorite St. Francis 2–1. Our goal is to give the young guys experience and have next year be our year.”
The key to Xaverian’s success so far has been its pitching. The ace of the Clipper’s pitching staff is Anthony Sigismondi. Tuesday afternoon against Archbishop Molloy, Sigismondi showed his skill by giving up just one run in six innings. He also showed his ability to work in pressure situations by striking out a batter to end the first inning with runners on first and second.
“He is really stepping up,” Del George said of his new ace. “He is doing well for us. He is a seasoned pitcher. He has a lot of innings under his belt, and holds things together. If he can hold things together, we can do well.”
In the field, Xaverian is returning three juniors who started on last season’s team. Infielder Anthony Scotti and outfielder Nick Meola hit in the middle of the lineup. They are responsible of driving in runs, along with infielder Phoenix Hernandez.
Despite the good start, the weather has kept Del George from truly seeing what his young team is made up of since they are getting games inconsistently.
“Once we get going, we can see what the team is,” he said. “We don’t have an identity until we get going.”
Del George has been around long enough to know anything can happen, even though this season is one the Clippers view as one to help the rebuild. There is still a lot of talent on the field.
“If we mature, we can make a dent this year,” Del George said.
