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Strong History Continues At Amity Under Coppola

WOODBRIDGE, Ct. - In 27 years of existence, Amity Regional High School has claimed six Class LL state baseball championships while making three other appearances in the title game.

Could 2021 add to that impressive history?

“It’s always nice to have a one-two punch and it appears we have that,” veteran head coach Sal Coppola said. “We have an experienced older guy and a sought-after lefty who’s a competitor. I hope he has a phenomenal year. I think after this year most of the teams in the SCC (Southern Connecticut Conference) will know who he is.”

For those that don’t yet know, the left-handed junior in high demand is Martin Zhang, who at the PBR  New England Procase in February topped at 87.

Jack Ranani joins Zhang in forming the one-two punch Coppola likes to feature on his squad.

“He’s very experienced,” Coppola said of Ranani, a team captain headed to Dartmouth who will also DH. “His last game was in the semifinals as a 10th grader when we lost to Southington.”

Sebastian Holt and Julian Stevens headline the rest of the Amity lineup. Holt, the third-rated 2021 first baseman in New England, is a Maine commit while Stevens, the fifth-ranked senior outfielder in the area and another Amity captain, is headed to play at Missouri.

In addition to first base, Holt is penciled in to be a closer this year with more pitching depth coming from Owen Leszczak, who is also looking to get action in the infield.

“Leszczak is more of a strike thrower that will be used in middle relief,” Coppola noted. “Hopefully, our staff will be a strength along with a veteran catcher.”

Jacob Crow, another team captain who would be starting his third season had the 2020 campaign taken place, will be behind the plate for Amity.

Junior McAllister Burke is a promising infielder slated to play third base or shortstop with second base and wherever Burke doesn’t play unknowns at this time according to Coppola. Senior Luke Hauser will be in right field with Stevens playing center. Left field is a battle between A.J. Soldra, the 16th-rated 2022 outfielder in New England, Justin Roche and Jacob Silbert.

“Our outfield should be solid,” Coppola noted. “We have guys that are wicked fast and good athletes. Defensively we should be solid and we should be good at hitting and on the base paths.”

There is more that the veteran mentor likes about the 2021 edition of his team.

“If you look at them, they’re huge,” explained Coppola, who has 14 seniors and seven juniors on the 22-man roster at Amity this season. “They’ve been animals through covid lifting whenever the weight room was open and lifting on their own when it was closed. They’re very academic, strong-working kids. Their work ethic alone is pretty cool.”

An 18-game schedule, two down from normal, starts a week later than usual with Coppola admittedly still disappointed to miss out on last year’s season.

“It would have been a good year for us,” Coppola said. “It’s a big disappointment for the seniors missing out on their last year and there was also missed development. Junior year is such a learning year where the top juniors get experience and then come back strong as seniors.”

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