Long Season for Blue Devil Varsity Baseball
It was a long season for the Huntington varsity baseball team. The Blue Devils finished with a 1-17 record in league play (3-18 overall). Seniors Joe Rielly and Nick Sammartano earned All-League honors and sophomore Jimmy Oliva grabbed All-Academic recognition.
Rielly, Sammartano, Mike Taylor and Dan Goldstein captained the 18-player squad, which was coached by Greg Kalkau and Keith Flynn. Kalkau called the team “talented” and “hard working” but the Blue Devils couldn’t quite pull it all together this spring.
Kalkau cited Rielly (.375, 15 hits, 11 RBIs), Sammartano (.389, 21 hits, 9 RBIs), Taylor (.271, 16 hits, 9 runs), Oliva (.263, 15 hits, 9 runs, 9 SB) and eighth grade catcher/third baseman Rob Fiato (10 hits, 7 RBIs, 13 BB) as the team’s top players.
Fiato seems poised for a fine career. He “plays well above his years,” Kalkau said. “I wish I had nine of him.” The coach added that Sammartano (3B/P) was a “great leader” and was “hard working.” Oliva (2B/P) was “quiet on the field” and “speaks with his game.” Taylor (CF) was “very vocal; never quits.” Rielly’s (SS/P) attitude was a coach’s dream.
The highlight of the year came when the Blue Devils topped playoff-bound Port Jefferson, 6-2, despite Huntington needing to call up six JV players after finding itself shorthanded.
Looking ahead to next spring, Oliva and Fiato will be the top returnees. Huntington will be faced with strong league foes in Kings Park, Hauppauge and Eastport-South Manor. Kalkau called it a “rebuilding year,” adding that he is looking for “7-9 wins.”
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