Baseball team made strides in 2006

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, June 16, 2006

The Vikings did the best they could with the hand they were dealt.

The Grand Island baseball team won more games than it lost in 2006 and, as usual, competed for the Niagara Frontier League crown. But in the end – and in the sectional playoffs – the Vikes didn’t have quite enough horses.

Grand Island finished 12-7 overall, improving on last year’s win total by four. That included an 8-6 mark in the NFL – good for fourth place in that highly competitive league. The Vikings entered the Section VI Class A Playoffs as a No. 9 seed and, after picking up a victory in the pre-quarterfinals, bowed to sectional finalist and top seed Williamsville South in the quarterfinals.

“We had a tough draw in the playoffs,” Grand Island coach Dean Santorio said. “We lost a couple of close games in the regular season, and that really hurt our seeding. So instead of being seeded fourth or fifth, we wound up ninth and playing against really solid clubs on the road. That’s something we need to do better next year.”

The Vikings finished with a trio of league all-stars in senior Rob Utz, junior Justin McInerney and sophomore Matt Klock.

Utz made the NFL first team as a designated hitter, although he also pitched and spent a lot of time behind the plate. He sported a .381 batting average and drove in seven runs. He also had one home run – a grand slam in a victory over league champion Niagara-Wheatfield.

McInerney made the NFL second team as an infielder, playing third base when he wasn’t pitching. He hit .326 and had eight RBIs.

Klock made the NFL third team as an outfielder, although he also emerged as an important factor in the Vikings’ pitching rotation. He hit .357 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. He also went 3-2 on the mound with 31 strikeouts and a 3.09 Earned-Run Average. He allowed just 15 earned runs on the season.

McInerney and Klock became the team’s top two pitchers when senior Ryan Breier - who had been the Vikings’ returning staff ace – left the team after violating school policy.

Two other key players on this year’s team were senior Brandon Antonelli and freshman Joe Oliverio. Antonelli was a rock at first base, also hitting .314 with nine RBI. Oliverio was primarily a designated hitter but also saw some time behind the plate. He hit .342 and drove in 11 runs.

It was nice to see big years from our seniors, especially Robbie Utz and Brandon Antonelli,” Santorio said. “And when you add in some of the younger players, it was really a nice mix. Matt Klock and Joe Oliverio really exceeded all of my expectations – they played really well.”

The Vikings will graduate six starters, but Santorio will count on five returning players who logged significant playing time. McInerney and Klock give him a solid 1-2 combination on the hill, and he’ll also look to the junior varsity squad that finished 10-4 this season.