Nassau baseball preview

Calhoun baseball caught everyone's attention last year. And it's not letting go now. The Colts earned the Nassau Class AA title and just missed a spot in the Final Four for the state crown. The starting lineup included only one senior en route to the title.

It could be more of the same in 2011. Calhoun has already cashed in on last year's success as three Colts signed letters of intent to play Division I college baseball.

"We were a young team with talent," said Calhoun catcher Jake Thomas, who had seven homers and 35 RBIs and will attend Binghamton. "With all of these guys coming back, we should defend our title."

How about that? Calhoun has great expectations. The AA classification has been dominated by Massapequa and MacArthur for years and now it's all about the Colts.

"We have to prove that last year was for real," said Calhoun hard-throwing pitcher Joey Christopher, who went 5-1 as a junior and is going to St. John's University. "The goal is to stay focused, have no letdowns, and go win a state championship."

The Colts can swing it behind Thomas, the Diamond Award runner-up, who hit .486 and Siena-bound Dan Sullivan, who batted .404 with 18 RBIs.

It's tough to argue that a team with three Division I players and a host of other talent would falter. Watch out for outfielder Tom Viverito, who hit .345 with four homers and 21 RBIs and first baseman Frank Trimarco (.366, 26 RBIs). "American Idol" contestant Robbie Rosen moves to second base. He batted .321 with three homers and 27 RBIs. If all goes well, he'll be singing Queen's hit song, "We Are the Champions" at season's end.

Farmingdale will be in the title mix with righthander Alex Brosnan, who committed to Le Moyne College. He was 4-0 with 58 strikeouts in 37 innings last year. Massapequa and MacArthur are always contenders but will be hard-pressed to push out Calhoun.

In Class A, with ability-based scheduling trashed and schools playing by enrollment, there figures to be 18-win teams again at Wantagh, Clarke, Island Trees and Division. Island Trees will find it difficult to replace two-time Diamond Award winner Bryan Verbitsky, who has already had an impact at Hofstra. But the Bulldogs will find leadership with three-year starter Mike Manganiello, a .392 hitter with four homers and 25 RBIs last year. Also, keep an eye on Garden City.

In Class B, junior Joe Siringo, a hard-throwing righthander, makes Oyster Bay the team to beat again. In Class C, Friends Academy looks to defend its title.