At this time of year, Monroe is usually talking about winning championship and contending with the PSAL’s elite.
Entering his 35th season, Mike Turo won’t rule either one of those out, but he has simpler hopes for one of his youngest and most inexperienced teams.
“My goal this year is to win the division,” he said. “We have to get better each game.”
Turo isn’t playing possum – he has just two seniors and returns only four players with significant experience. Thus far this preseason, he’s dealt with such fundamental mistakes as players missing signs.
“It’s really a rebuilding year,” he said. “We go through our highs and lows. I’m hoping while we’re rebuilding, the kids can gain confidence and still get wins.”
That’s not say the Bronx school is devoid of talent – this is Monroe after all. Turo likes his starting rotation. Flame-throwing junior right-hander Ricky Parra is now in his third year on the varsity and will be the staff ace. Following him in the rotation will be talented sophomore Inoel Nunez, who went 8-0 as a freshman, and juniors Jeffrey Castillo and Randy Perez, a safety transfer from Morris waiting to gain eligibility.
“When one of those guys are on the mound, we should be in every ballgame,” Turo said.
They’ll have a familiar catcher to throw to in sophomore Braian Angelistra, one of two returning starting position players along with junior outfielder Justin Morales, who is moving from left field to center and will bat third. Turo compared the 6-foot speedster, who batted .425 with 15 runs scored 13 RBIs last year, to former standout Melvin Garcia, who is currently playing pro ball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Shortstop Luis Santini, Monroe’s lone senior starter, isn’t necessarily new, though he was kicked off the team early last year for disciplinary reasons. Turo brought him back and slick, fleet-footed senior has matured off the field and shown plenty of tools on it.
“His thing is he can’t over-swing, he’s a line-drive hitter with some pop in his bat,” Turo said of Santini, who has committed to top JUCO Southeastern Iowa Community College “He has very good speed. If he stays within himself, he’ll have a great year. Defensively, he’s as good as they get.”
In a recent scrimmage against Long Island City, Santini was going to cover second on a steal when a ball was hit behind him. He stopped in his tracks, dove and made a back-handed stab and gunned the runner down from the turf.
“One of the best plays I’ve seen in years,” the coach said.
Turo has been impressed by his young team thus far. It has already defeated contenders Beacon and William Bryant. He’s hammered home to his players to be themselves, not worry about what past Monroe teams have done. The Eagles, Turo said, aren’t going to roll over teams like they did in the past, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be a contender by late May.
“If they play their game and we get the pitching, which I think is our strength, we can be as good as anybody,” Turo said.