Troy

A simple focus

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Senior James Andrzejewski returns as Troy’s top pitcher and one of its top offensive producers

A year after semifinal appearance, Troy baseball team is set on getting back

TROY — Speaking from inside the school’s gym on a cold, gray April afternoon, the rain-soaked baseball field unusable, Troy High baseball coach Frank DiVito admitted what most baseball coaches and players are thinking at the start of the season, when the weather is anything but spring-like.

“It’s tough to think too far down the road,” he explained. “It’s tough to get too excited when you’re working indoors.”

The excitement will come, however. As a matter of fact, it did just a few moments later when asked about the potential of his 2009 team.

“Things are looking pretty solid,” DiVito said. “They’ve set some goals for this season. There’s a lot they still want to accomplish.”

The “still” in DiVito’s statement is especially noteworthy. It was said in regards to last spring, when the Colts advanced all the way to the Division 1 semifinals before falling in a 3-2 decision to Saline High.

Since that time, the team’s focus has centered on returning to, and then getting past, the same point. And that’s a topic DiVito isn’t afraid to talk about.

“They saw how close they got to having the chance to play in the biggest game of their lives,” DiVito explained of the semifinal trip, the first for the program since 1998. “I don’t know exactly how good we are just yet, but I think this is a group that’s going to push itself for a chance at that again. It’ll be our motivation for sure.”

“We’re pretty excited to see what this group can do,” said senior Matt Farber. “We feel like we’re real similar, as far as talent is concerned, to what we had last year. And with that experience to build from, our confidence is pretty high.”

The Colts have a good amount of experience to fall back on, as well. Eight players return, including five who were full-time starters.

Senior James Andrzejewski leads the cast of those returning. The pitcher and center fielder is the rotation’s clear No. 1 starter and one of the team’s top offensive performers.

“We’ve some good experience mixed with some younger guys who are going to step up,” said Andrzejewski, who hit .444 last season with 26 RBIs and two home runs. “We’re expecting our pitching to carry us right away. After that, we feel like things will fall into place.”

While he expects a quick start, Andrzejewski was quick to dismiss any apprehension should the team need some time to get rolling.

“The chemistry is there, and we know that,” he said. “Even if it takes us a few games, in the long run, this is a team built for success.”

“It’s not always how you start,” DiVito said with a laugh in reference to the 2-8 start his team got off to a year ago before finishing with a 27-12 record. “What matters to us is how we finish.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.