Strong Team Chemistry Boosted Rams

CARMEL—Good team chemistry and strong senior leadership are the two biggest areas Carmel High baseball manager Bob Shilling points to when talking about his team's 2010 spring.

Gaston Rojas SKIP PEARLMAN The Rams came out of their annual Florida spring training trip hungry and ready to go, and the team opened like gangbusters, winning 12 of its first 13 games. But the schedule finally caught up with the Rams, who were unable to maintain that winning pace. Carmel advanced to the playoffs as the No. 13 seed, and routed Saunders in an out-bracket game. The Rams went on to have a big game against John Jay Cross River, eliminating the No. 4 seed in extra innings, before losing to North Rockland in the quarterfinals.

“It was a very enjoyable season,” Shilling said. “We got some career seasons from a few kids, the team was competitive, and we had a wonderful Florida trip. The team chemistry was great, and our senior leadership was great. That made us very competitive, so it was a very enjoyable year”

Ryan Shilling SKIP PEARLMAN Senior team captains Gaston Rojas and Ryan Shilling led the team in several categories, and were both named All-Section and All-League.

Rojas, a center fielder and secondyear varsity player, led Carmel in batting average (.464) and RBI (28). Shilling, a third-year varsity player, was second on the team in hitting (.440) and RBI (24). Rojas will head to the University of Buffalo this fall, and Shilling is off to Union College, where he will play baseball and football.

"Gaston was very close to being Player of the Year," Shilling said. "He hit the ball hard all year. He struggled a bit as a junior, but he worked his tail off, and now he's a division 1 type centerfielder. He was one of our leaders. And Ryan has been very consistent. He's hit close to .400 the past three years, and the kids look up to him. He's been one of our most clutch hitters."

Senior right-handed pitcher/first baseman Ian Anderson went 7-3 this spring with a 2.90 ERA, and earned All-Section Honorable Mention/All- League status. Senior second baseman Chris Harlin (.405, 16 RBI), and sophomore LHP/RF Bret Viola (4-3) were both named to the All-League team.

"Ian was very strong early, and late in the year when we wanted to give the ball to someone, he really helped us," Shilling said. "He helped us swinging the bat and pitching in the John Jay (playoff) game. He stepped up and came through. Chris came in as a senior, and from day one he hit the ball. He played his tail off, and was consistent in the field and at bat. And Bret… I think he can be a (Chris) Erker type of guy – a dominant type of pitcher by the time he's a senior. And he can be a power hitter. He's got a bright future."

Shilling also mentioned solid contributions coming from junior catcher Bob O'Malley, junior shortstop Nick Palmiero, senior pitcher Estlin Link, and junior outfielder John Lauria.

The Rams lose four position players from the starting lineup, and two pitchers, to graduation. So there will be a good deal of experience returning to the lineup next spring.

"I think we'll be good, but we'll need to replace the leadership," Shilling said. "Our junior class is talented, and I hope we can continue the winning ways."
CW from Above: Bret Viola • Ian Anderson • Chris Harlin. Photos by Skip Pearlman