Sports
Drake Reloading in Hopes of Baseball Repeat
Strong pitching staff led by Alec Kenilvort, Marky Parnow and Bryan Bostjancic gives the Pirates hope despite heavy losses due to graduation.
Here’s the biggest reason the Marin County Athletic League baseball race is considered wide-open this season: the defending champion, as its coach put it, “graduated a ton.”
That would be , which will go this season without 10 guys – including Pitcher of the Year Cory Bostjancic – who contributed big-time to last year’s 15-3 league record and 21-8 overall mark.
So, it’s no surprise as he prepared for his non-league slate last week, Pirates coach Adam Farb would say, “We have a lot of unanswered questions.”
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Three guys who definitely aren’t question marks are , and .
O’Sullivan, a catcher, was second on the team in hitting last season as a junior. Kenilvort, the No. 3 pitcher last season, is expected to be the staff ace this time around after his arm gets into shape following basketball season. And Parnow will move from second base to shortstop this season and also serve as the No. 2 pitcher.
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Throw in , the top pitcher on the junior varsity last season, and Farb believes he has a deep staff to work with.
“All three of them will get tons of innings,” the coach said of Kenilvort, Parnow and Bostjancic.
In fact, Parnow already has seven innings in the book. He went the distance in Drake’s season-opening 7-4 victory over Analy last week.
Junior catcher Sterling Champagne has been so impressive pushing O’Sullivan for playing time behind the plate, Farb said it’s likely both will find spots in the lineup. They’ll join first baseman , the hitting star of the opener with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Joe Fazackerley, Will McQuilkin, , , and are others being counted upon to play leading roles.
“We always consider ourselves a contender, but we have work to do,” Farb said. “A lot of these kids have been sitting behind very talented kids for a couple of years. Now they’re getting their opportunity.”
With league play set to begin today against San Marin, the coach realizes things need to come together rather quickly.
“We don’t know where all the pieces fit yet,” Farb admitted. “The practices have been great. We’ll be fine once roles are settled and we’re able to plug guys into the right spots.”
DRAKE’S 2011 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Home team in CAPS
Drake 7, Analy (Santa Rosa) 4
Drake 11, Washington (San Francisco) 1
March 8: SAN MARIN, 3:45 p.m.
March 12: vs. Terra Linda at Albert Park, 7 p.m.
March 15: at Marin Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
March 18: at Justin-Siena, 4:30 p.m.
March 22: SAN RAFAEL, 4:30 p.m.
March 25: at Novato, 4:30 p.m.
March 29: REDWOOD, 4:30 p.m.
April 1: BRANSON, 4:30 p.m.
April 5: at Tam, 4:30 p.m.
April 8: at San Marin, 4:30 p.m.
April 14: at McQueen (Nev.) in Northern Nevada Classic, 10 a.m.
April 14: vs. Mountain View (Orem, Utah) at McQueen High in Northern Nevada Classic, 12:30 p.m.
April 15: vs. Reed (Sparks, Nev.) at McQueen High in Northern Nevada Classic, 12:30 p.m.
April 16: vs. TBA at Spanish Springs High in Northern Nevada Classic
April 19: at Terra Linda, 4:30 p.m.
April 21: MARIN CATHOLIC, 4:30 p.m.
April 26: JUSTIN-SIENA, 4:30 p.m.
April 29: at San Rafael, 4:30 p.m.
May 3: NOVATO, 4:30 p.m.
May 6: at Redwood, 4:30 p.m.
May 10: at Branson, 4:30 p.m.
May 12: TAM, 4:30 p.m.
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