COACH TALK: Ellwood City Baseball & Softball Look Forward To Seasons

Ellwood City baseball and softball programs took to the fields this month as a start to their respective spring seasons with each having new outlooks on the long anticipated season.

For the boys, first-year head coach Chris Weisz takes reigns of a Ellwood City baseball team and will try to bring a new philosophy to the program – and will do so at an expedited rate.

“I think one of the biggest obstacle as a first year head coach is trying to install your philosophy into the kids and the program,” said Weisz. “It is very hard to do that in the span of five weeks. We are working every day and the kids are buying in.”

The Ellwood athletes missed a whole spring last season and, according to Weisz, will make sure to follow proper guidelines this season so they can have a full and normal season.

“Covid has put a lot of strain on academics and sports over the last year,” said Weisz. “We make sure we have masks and we keep the proper social distance at practice. As with that we have to take symptom checks prior to practice.”

Weisz expects big things from the team that returns nine seniors for the 2021 season and expects fans to find a team to rally behind.

“As a new coach I am blessed to have the seniors that have lead by example. “They have high expectations coming into their senior year. I expect this team to work hard every day and by the end of the year be competing for a section title.”

Seniors Nico DeCaria, Samuel DiCaprio, Ryan Gibbons, Ryan Hampton, Joseph Hudson, Noah Magill, James Meehan, and Russell Murray will lead the Wolverine charge.

When prompted about a tough opponent Weisz sees the section as strong throughout.

“You have great coaches at all these schools and every game will be a battle,” said Weisz. “The game you have to circle on your calendar is Riverside. As a former player and coach you always look forward to going to compete against your crosstown rival.”

Weisz, 30, graduated from Ellwood City in 2009 and played for former head coach Jeff Fotia in seventh and eighth grade.

Class 3A Section 1 features Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Freedom, Hopewell, Mohawk, and New Brighton. Hopewell (16-7 in 2019) is ranked #1 in Preseason from Trib Live HSSN.

The Wolverines will host rival Riverside on Wednesday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m. at Sanders Field in Ewing Park.

ELLWOOD CITY SOFTBALL:

A similar outlook and championship goal will greet the softball team as long-tenured head coach Gary Rozanski leads the girls into section play. The team has a strong core of girls returning and Rozanski believes their experience is key.

“It will be important for the upperclassman to step up and become leaders,” said Rozanski. “We have a great group of girls returning, their experience is going to be important to our success since not having a season last year.”

Seniors Makinley Magill and Maria Ioanilli will lead the Wolverines charge.

“It will be important for the upperclassman to step up and become leaders,” said Rozanski. “We will need the incoming new players to quickly mature and become leaders as well. It will be important for each player to contribute to her role.”

Juniors Jenna Vetica, Kali Barnett, Katelyn Wehman, Angie Nardone, Mollie Street, and Kyla Servick are expected to also pace the Wolverines who lost all of last season due to the COVID-19 shutdown.

According to Rozanski, the girls have a great attitude and a lot of excitement coming into the season.

“We will be competitive, as always give ourselves an opportunity to qualify for playoffs and give it our best shot to put a run together in playoffs.”

The section (2-AAA) is a competitive section top to bottom and Rozanski believes the team will have to play its best everyday.

“The section is very competitive top to bottom. When section play starts all games are of importance and tough. We have to be ready to play for each of those games”

“To be successful, we will need to play as a team and put the ball in play; make the routine plays on defense. We will need to take each game one pitch at a time.”

The Wolverines surged to a torrid start over their opening day weekend, outscoring two opponents a combined 23-1 in two mercy-rule victories to start their season.

SCHEDULE: Both teams will play on the road Tuesday afternoon with Girls Softball playing 4:15 PM @ Mohawk and the Ellwood City Boys Baseball playing 4:15 PM @ Laurel.