Zapata is looking to build on a memorable sophomore season. (Denis Gostev)
Poly Prep has never entered a season quite like this.
It has a national ranking, one of the city’s top talents and a NYSAISAA title to defend. When preseason practices began, coach Matt Roventini has to remind his players they had yet to accomplish anything. The message has sunk in.
“We’re very talented, but the season hasn’t started yet, we haven’t beaten anybody yet,” junior ace Andrew Zapata said of the five-time Ivy Prep League champions ranked No. 46 in the nation by ESPN. “We have to work extremely hard, do all the right things, play our game, before we can say we’re as good as everyone thinks we are.”
Optimism is well warranted after Poly Prep’s dream season last spring. It beat traditional city powers George Washington, Xaverian and St. Joseph by the Sea and finished atop The Post’s NYC rankings after rallying past Berkeley Carroll in the NYSAISAA title game.
Most of the club returns, from Zapata to No. 2 starter and third hitter Phil Maldari and senior third baseman and cleanup man Matt Coposio. Sophomore Rob Calabrese will move behind the plate after spending much of last year at designated hitter and Morgan Grey, another sophomore, will be back at first and on the mound as the third starter.
“We have three goals every year: to win our league, win [NYSAISAA] and win our non-league games,” Roventini said. “I want to go 25-0. It doesn’t always work, but that’s the goal.”
Zapata, The Post’s Player of the Year last spring, enjoyed a sophomore year many can only dream of. The 6-foot right-hander was 6-0 – all wins of the complete-game variety – tossed five shutouts and posted a remarkable 0.45 earned-run average in 46 1/3 innings pitched.
Such numbers may be impossible to repeat, even if Zapata, whose fastball is already in the upper 80’s along with a cut fastball, slider and changeup, is an improved pitcher. Roventini has drilled that into his ace’s head and it seems to have gotten through.
“There is pressure, but I don’t play baseball for the numbers – I play because I love it,” said Zapata, who is being courted by numerous Division I programs, such as Maryland, St. John’s, Virginia and Duke. “I’m going to go out there and have fun and try to prepare myself the best I can.”
He’ll be joined in a star-studded rotation by Maldari and Grey. Roventini said the three are all different, though effective with Zapata the hardest thrower of the three and Grey coming on. Sophomore Weber Lawrence has impressed thus far and will be used as a spot starter and late-inning reliever.
“This staff is the best I’ve ever played with,” Zapata said. “What I expect out of us is no less than last year, if not better.”
For all Poly Prep’s strengths, its dynamic pitching rotation and deep lineup, there is a large leadership void to fill with stalwarts like catcher Marcus Hernandez, center fielder Marley Randazzo and shortstop Joe Calabrese having graduated.
The senior class is just five deep, led by starters Coposio and outfielder Andrew Doar. Of course, juniors Zapata and Maldari have plenty of experience, serving as arguably the two most important players on last year’s team. Roventini said he has noticed the two emerging as leaders along with Coposio and Doar.
Poly Prep may have an even tougher schedule this spring than it did last year. In addition to the Ivy Prep League slate, the Blue Devils have non-league contests with Xaverian, George Washington and New Jersey dynamo Don Bosco Prep. They open with loaded PSAL power Grand Street Campus March 27, the first of many welcome challenges.
“We can compete with pretty much any team if we play our ‘A’ game,” Zapata said.