GLOVERSVILLE — Last season was a step in the right direction for the Gloversville baseball program, although things came to an abrupt end in the first round of the Section II Class A tournament, after the Huskies ran into a strong Troy team.
Gloversville will kick off its 2023 campaign on Thursday when they are scheduled to host Foothills Council foe South Glens Falls at 4:30 p.m.
“Our expectations are pretty high,” said sophomore catcher Caelan Porter. “We’ve got a lot of senior leadership and I think a good goal for us would be to win the Foothills. Last year we finished above .500 for the first time in a couple years, then went to sectionals and played a really good Troy team. We’ve got everybody back and I’m excited to get going.”
Coming off a season when they finished 8-5 in the Foothills Council, the Huskies will have eight seniors on the roster, with plenty of experience at the varsity level.
“Our senior leadership is going to be our biggest thing. Some of these guys have been on the team for three years,” said Gloversville coach Mike DeMagistris, discussing his early-season practices. “Our JV and varsity always practice together, so hopefully our JV guys are learning from the varsity guys and making the most of the experience. That’s been one of the most positive things here so far.”
While most of the Huskies’ practices have been inside the school’s gymnasium, they have been about to get onto the field a handful of times, including for a scrimmage against Lansingburgh on March 27.
“When you play in upstate New York, it’s tough to get outside and baseball is such a short season,” Porter said of the team’s desire to get outside. “All of us want to get out there, and once you do, the energy level really picks up.”
“We’ve been working hard and getting better every single day,” added Alex Payne, a senior pitcher and infielder. “The weather’s starting to clear up, so we’ve been able to get outside a little bit and see some live action. Every day we’re getting better.”
When it comes time for that bittersweet Senior Day celebration, Gloversville’s eight seniors are Payne, Robare, Andre Deumaga, Lukas Oathout, Gary Meher, Hunter Strauser, Jeremiah Hughes and Logan Oathout.
In addition to his core of seniors, DeMagistris has five juniors, plus Porter as the only sophomore on the roster. The Huskies have some challenging non-league games on their schedule including Ichabod Crane, Chatham, Unatego, Fonda-Fultonville, Maple Hill and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
“I’m really excited for the season, I think we’ve got a lot of potential,” said Dominic Dorman, a junior who primarily plays left field and pitches. “Everyone’s working really hard and motivated to make this a good season.”
Dorman noted that he spent the offseason working on playing shortstop, should the team need him in the infield, as well as hitting the ball the other way.
Porter expects Payne and Kyle Robare, a senior, to lead the Huskies with strong seasons on the mound.
“Kyle’s been a three-year starter for us and Alex Payne, they’ve been working hard all winter and have looked great so far,” Porter said of the pitchers who have stood out. “They’re just trying to perfect everything that they do. I think they’ve taken a big leap this winter. Kyle’s got a really good curveball and Alex has a good fastball. They’re definitely going to be tough to hit.”
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