New York State Games Preview: Capital Region

June 23, 2016

By RYAN McDONOUGH
New York staff

Capital Manager Kevin Sherameta and Assistant Coach Bobby Krogh have assembled a squad of 21 players to compete in Prep Baseball Report’s 2016 New York State Games.

Sherameta will field a team with many talented infielders, beginning with one of his youngest talents, Luke Gold (2019), a shortstop from Balston Spa High School.

“He is an absolute stud,” said Sherameta. “He’s probably one of the best ninth graders, if not the best ninth grader in New York State. He hits for power, and he just does it all.”

Sharing the left side of the infield with Gold will be Brett Young (2018) from Albany Academy, who also hits for great power. On his third baseman, Coach Sherameta said, “He’s a gap-type hitter, a line drive hitter. He has a strong throwing arm with very good hands in the field.”

Two players who will also see time up the middle are Jake Fox (2017), Gold’s teammate at Balston Spa, and Reilly Hall (2017) from Cooperstown High School.

“Love the kid,” said Sherameta about Hall, who will also pitch. “He’s just such a good all-around player.”

With a surplus of infield talent, Sherameta plans on rotating his infielders quite a bit and have them all play different positions around the diamond. The same holds true for Tim Carroll (2017) from LaSalle Institute and the smooth-handed Aidan Booker (2017) from Shaker High School, who are also in the mix. Booker hit .368 at the plate with five RBI this season.

Brandon Kruzinski (2017) from Mohonasen High School highlights Capital’s outfield. “He’ll be one of the best outfielders in Section II baseball next year,” said Sherameta about Kruzinski, who will also pitch. “He just tracks it. He’s got a great strong, accurate throwing arm. He can really track it down. He hits well, too, from the left side.”

A couple power pieces will help round out Sherameta’s outfield. Christian Italiano (2018) from Christian Brothers Academy in Albany has home run power, and Sherameta said about Ryan Starr (2017), “He’s got some power. When he has confidence, he can play with anybody.”

The fleet-footed will see time in centerfield Jordan Peltier (2018), another player from Shaker. Peltier is a potential leadoff hitter as well as a great fielder for Sherameta, who added, “The kid can flat-out run. He gets a good read off the bat in the outfield.”

Sherameta will have three different catchers suit up, the first in line being Matthew Toy (2018) from Niskayuna, who, according to Sherameta, has a pop time around 2.0.

His second catcher will be John Wheeler (2018) from Ichabod Crane. “He’s a workhorse,” praised Sherameta. “He blocks very well and he’s really consistent throwing the ball. He’s a very good catcher and a very good receiver.”

Aiden Booker’s twin brother, Jonah Booker (2017) will also serve time behind the dish.

Following suit with the powerful hitting will be some power pitching for Capital. Coach Sherameta praised Ryan Lanaro (2017) from Mohonasen. “He just gets outs,” he said of his pitcher who throws around 81-82 MPH. “He throws a heavy ball with sinking action and a good curveball.”

At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, the big righty Noah Bagnardi (2017) from Watervliet tops out at 87 MPH, according to Sherameta. Kurt Forsell (2017) from Shenedehowa High School is another big flamethrower at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds.

Finally, Sherameta praised the versatile Nicholas DeBrino (2017) from the Christian Brothers Academy, labeling him as both a consistent pitcher and middle infielder who hurls around 81 MPH. He went 2-0 this season on the mound at CBA.

Readers can view the complete Capital roster by scrolling down here. Readers can view the team’s prospective pitching matchups here.