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To view the full list of 2023 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

2023 Spring Team Preview: Amity

WOODBRIDGE, Ct. - The holes to fill are big, but veteran head coach Sal Coppola knows what it takes when it comes to success on the ball diamond.

The 29th-year mentor, who has won more than 500 games including six state titles (2006, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), is counting on three senior co-capains to lead the way this season. Third baseman Nick Clark, first baseman Brian Kiska and outfielder Tripp Waldron are expected to be the leaders coming off a 19-5 season a year ago.

“Defensively, we should be strong,” Coppola related. “We have a lot of guys back on defense. The question mark this year will be the pitching staff. I’m not saying they aren’t good, they’re just a little inexperienced. They could be great, but they’re inexperienced.”

Senior left-hander Brock Goodwin is a returnee for the Spartans, which lost ace hurler Martin Zhang to graduation. Senior Jack Hawes and junior Jack Lewis both threw limited innings in 2022 but will now be counted on to help carry the load on the mound this season. Goodwin is a Springfield commit while Hawes is headed to Eastern Connecticut.

Senior outfielder Steve Cifarelli, another Springfield signee, is also expected to provide help on the mound this year.

“It will be different this year,” admitted Coppola about the pitching staff. “We’re a little inexperienced. It will be the first year in a while that we don’t have a guy who can throw it by somebody. These guys are more finesse pitchers. Hopefully, they’ll be strike throwers and limit walks. If they do that we should be in most games.”

While there are some uncertainties with the pitching, there is vital experience on the field behind the plate in Tim Cap, the 10th-rated junior catcher in New England. Sam Gettinger also saw time a year ago and is back to help catch and play DH his junior year.

Another 11th grader back is second baseman Anthony Lucibello, who could also shift over to shortstop. Sophomore Derek Porto, who played varsity at the end of last season, is another potential shortstop.

“He’s a really talented 10th grader,” Coppola said of Porto. “He’ll be fighting it out with Lucibello at shortstop.”

The long-time head coach sees a lot of promise with this team, which must not only replace Zhang, a left-hander now at Columbia, but four other key regulars, two now playing in college at Dartmouth (McAllister Burke) and Maine (Sebastian Holt).

“This is a really hard-working group,” Coppola noted. “They’ve been working out religiously in the weight room since October. So far they’ve been a pleasure to coach.”

But it will come down to pitching in the eyes of Coppola.

“Every coach says the same thing,” Coppola concluded. “With us it will be about our pitchers. We have kids that have the potential to be good, they just have to continue to get better.”

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