Trojans Recognized For 2013 Individual Achievements

Several Garden City High School (GCHS) baseball players were recently recognized for their 2013 individual achievements.

Garden City finished play with a 15-7 record and advanced to the Nassau County Conference A quarterfinal playoffs. The following report includes descriptions of the team's award recipients' achievements and performance leaders.

Senior pitcher/center fielder Kyle Ritchie batted .346 (which included 4 season home runs and a .667 playoff average), led the team in stolen bases (8), sported a 5-2 pitching record (which included a 4-0 shutout playoff victory over previously unbeaten Wantagh), a team leading 48 strikeouts and innings pitched (47) and an incredible 1.34 ERA, all of which helped secure an All-County Designation (following his All-Conference selection in 2012). Kyle's efforts also resulted in his selection as a 2013 RTC Rawlings Long Island All-Star and the recipient of GCHS's William J. Lucano Pitching Award as the team's outstanding pitcher.

Senior catcher PJ Volz, who played superb defense all year, led the team in runs scored (20), singles (21) and batted .343 (only striking out 3 times in 70 AB's) which resulted in his earning of a highly coveted 2013 All-County designation.

Senior pitcher/3B Cory Fallon, batted a team third best .355 while leading the team in hits (27), doubles (8), home runs (7 - which was one short of one high school record and three in one game which did establish a new record), RBIs (30) and also won four games when on the mound. These outstanding achievements resulted in Fallon's second consecutive All-Conference designation as well as the high school's Frank Kiernan Award as the team's Most Valuable Player.

Senior first baseman TJ Pallan led the team in batting with a .378 average (.442 in league play) finishing second in singles (20) and runs scored (19) all while truly being an infielder's best friend with his outstanding defensive play which only yielded one error all season (this is not a typo). Pallan's fine all around play earned a 2013 All-League Designation as well as one of the high school's William Goss Awards for his dedication to the game.

Senior shortstop Matteo Latanzio batted .327 while leading the team in walks and earned the following three high school honors: a William Goss Dedication Award; the Frederick Stutzmann, Jr. Scholarship Award whose recipient demonstrates leadership, dedication, integrity and high academic credentials; and the Michael Staab Award presented to the player designated as the best teammate.

Junior pitcher David Butler produced an unblemished 3-0 record while striking out more than a batter per inning (34 K's in 32 IP) which supported his 2013 All-League designation.

Additional junior contributors included 2B John Cauchi who batted a team second best .373 (which included a team leading .444 (20-45) league average) and defensively committed only two errors. The ultimate multi-purpose player (3B/OF/DH) second year varsity junior Thomas Zwicke hit a strong .347 (17-49) sparked by a super last half of the season. Brian LoRusso led all juniors in wins with a 2-1 record while Matt Rogers did not yield an earned run in any of his appearances (10.1/3 IP).

Congratulations to all award recipients and the entire 2013 GCHS baseball team.

Submitted by a Garden City Patch reader