BASEBALL: A young, hungry Post 45 lone area squad at the table for ’22 Legion season – Meriden Record-Journal
MERIDEN — Meriden Post 45 finished 12-5 in the regular season in 2021 and the Silver City squad has many new faces, which should make for an exciting season in 2022.
Doug Wedge, entering his 16th season of coaching, is excited about molding his young team as the summer goes on.
“Legion-experience wise, it’s very young,” Wedge said. “We have guys who range from 15 to 19. We have some returning guys and, overall, we have a young team and will be a work in progress with these guys.”
Wedge said his team is attentive and wants to do well.
“They are like sponges and we’re really excited to have them because they really want to learn the game,” Wedge said.
Meriden’s top returners are Max Giacco (P/OF/SS), Connor Bennett (P/OF/1B), Dylan Gay (3B/P1B) and Ted Haniewski (C/3B/1B).
The rotation will consist of Bennett, Gay, Max Giacco and Sam Giacco.
“We have a few other guys that will piece it together beyond that,” Wedge said. “There’s no plug-and-play this year, but that’s OK. They are learning. We are also teaching different pitching philosophies.
“They are hungry and aggressive. I think they are going to surprise a bunch of people.”
And, hopefully, Post 45 will do well. With the Wallingford Cardinals shifting to the Colonial Baseball League this summer, Meriden is the sole area team playing American Legion ball this year (see related story)
Meriden graduated its top two starters in John Vumback and Wes Deno.
Other key players who have moved on are Javon Malone, Peyton Thiel, Evan Cordero, Evan Avery, Ethan Brazel and recent Maloney grad Jack Fitzgerald, who decided not to play to focus on football.
“That’s a lot of players, but we picked up some good ball players,” said Wedge.
That list includes St. Paul’s Jonathan Remillard (OF), Southington’s Gabriel Zamorano (OF/P/3B), Platt’s Bruce Candelora (SS) and Maloney’s Griffin Papallo (OF), Alex Owen (2B) and Luis Delgado (1B/C/3B).
Maloney’s Ryan Pirruccio is a young catcher on the team and will work behind Haniewski. Platt grad Kelvin Miranda is also on the roster. Delgado is a candidate to be the closer.
“We have some talented ball players,” Wedge said. “We are carrying a light squad with 13 guys, but I like that. They like it, too, because they are all going to be Swiss army knives. We will play everyone anywhere at any time. They like that because it keeps their heads in the game and it’s a total team effort.
“They are all good kids, too. I don’t have any wiseguys. They soak up like sponges and want to be better. Their work ethic is really good.
“Will this be a learning year? I don’t know,” Wedge continued. “Max and Teddy are the only guys who will age out next year, so we will have everyone else back. The kids are excited. It’s going to be a fun year. How we do win-wise, I don’t know. We could be .500 or more, but I’m expecting more. My biggest thing is that they are going to learn more and be better.”
Remillard, Zamorano, Delgado, Gay, Max Giacco, Haniewski and Owen enter the season as Meriden’s top hitters.
In terms of coaching, Wedge is returning his staff of Mark and Will Kszywanos, Alan Oeschger, Zackary Golebiewski, Jerry Moss and Willie Thiel.
“We all enjoy ourselves,” Wedge said. “The more fun, the better. If you get guys relaxed, they perform better. We wil see.”
Wedge is approaching 270 career wins with a Meriden program that is a regular in the state tournament.
“We’ve had a tremendous amount of success in getting guys into college baseball,” Wedge said. “To me, that’s more important than wins. Everybody wants to win. That’s why you keep score. But, if you can affect someone’s life to pursue the next step in life to play college ball, it’s better than a win.”
Meriden has started the season 0-2 with an 8-1 loss on Sunday at Bristol and an 11-6 defeat on Tuesday in Torrington. The squad is back on the road to face Bristol on Thursday at Muzzy Field. The home opener at Legion Field is next Tuesday, June 21 against Simsbury.
Meriden is in Zone 1 along with Bristol, Naugatuck, Newington, Simsbury, Torrington and West Hartford.