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Ward Melville Looks to Build on 19-Win Season

by Max Edelman

Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.

Last season, the Ward Melville Patriots rode a 19-win season to the conference finals. Unfortunately for the Patriots, it wasn’t meant to be. Head coach Lou Petrucci, who is going into his 17th season as head coach of Ward Melville, looked back on what was a good season, despite it not ending with a conference championship. 

“We won 19 games.” Petrucci said. “We advanced to the conference finals, it was a good season for the boys. I’m disappointed on how it ended, lost to Pat-Med 2-0, their pitcher pitched a good game. Our starter pitched a heck of a game, we only gave up two runs, but we just couldn’t put together any offense.”

The Patriots had a strong group of seniors, with three of them continuing to play college baseball at the Division-I level. Charlie West is now playing at UConn. He was the recipient of the coveted Paul Gibson Award – the top pitcher in Suffolk County. He went 6-1 with a 1.42 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 97 Ks over 54.1 IP. Jack Friend is now at Maine, he was a 4-year varsity player for them. RHP Tommy Ruehle was another impact player, he was named All-League and a great No. 2 pitcher behind West.

In a season in which you come so close to a county championship, the drive to get the job done is always stronger the next year, and for the group of returners for the Patriots, that drive is even stronger this year. In 2024, the Patriots will be led by Nick Carnovale and Tyler Jean-Noel, who are the two All-League returning players for the Patriots this season. 

“We’re looking for Nick and Tyler to have a big impact on our offense.” Petrucci said. “They’re really good kids, and I’m looking forward to watching them play their senior year. Nick’s been a four-year starter. He made the varsity team in eighth grade. He’s going to have a big year.”

For the rest of the Patriots, they will be called upon to fill the void left by many of the seniors who graduated. One name pointed out by Petrucci is Anthony Competello. He will likely see time behind the plate. Nick Failla, will serve as the team’s starting shortstop. Petrucci also mentioned reliever turned-starter Dalton Rutt, who will be moving from the bullpen to the rotation in 2024. 

For the pitching staff, Petrucci believes that it will be one of his team’s strengths this year. Petrucci pointed at Pat Duryea, Dalton Rutt, and Nick Carnovale as the team’s rotation if the season were to start today. Ben Ferrero, Jason Stiles, and Matt Poxon were other names mentioned as potential big pieces on the mound for Ward Melville this year.

On the field, Petrucci believes that his team will play great defense and that his pitchers will throw strikes. That is why Petrucci pointed at his team’s pitching and defense as the main strength of his team going into this year.

“I think we’re going to defend well.” Petrucci said. “We’re going to defend the ball, pick it up, throw it to the right bases, and let’s hope our offense can pick us up, win us a few games. Our pitching is going to throw strikes, we’re going to compete everyday on the mound. It’s just a matter of can we get big hits in big spots and move runners across the diamond.” 

The Patriots will open their season on March 25 at home in a non-league game against Brentwood.