The 2021 Section V baseball playoffs ended one victory short for Hilton as they lost to Penfield in the Class AA title game, and that memory has been part of their motivation in 2022.
But this time they are the top seed after a 17-3 regular season and a Division 1 title.
“We lost a tough one last year to a really good Penfield team, but this year the goal is to advance and win sectionals,” senior lefthander Preston Price said.
As usual, the Cadets can hit the ball, averaging over seven runs per game during the May portion of the schedule, but they have also been receiving superior pitching with no starter allowing more than two runs per game.
“Pitching has been a big key this year; we’ve been pitching really good every game so far, so we just need to keep rolling,” senior Carter Clark said.
Prince, headed to play at Niagara University this fall, finished the regular season with a 4-1 record and a 1.48 earned run average. Carter was 3-0 with a 0.35 ERA, junior James Capellupo was 4-1 with a0.56 ERA, and sophomore Steven Kraus was 3-1 with a 1.63 ERA to lead the pitching staff.
Combined, Cadets pitchers allowed only 18 runs over 19 games prior to the regular season finale, good for a team 0.96 earned run average.
“Our starters have been going deep (into games) … and a big key is throwing strikes,” Clark said.
And the offense has delivered more often than not, led by junior shortstop Michael Whelehan’s .508 batting average, 24 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases at the top of the lineup.
Clark was hitting .404 with 15 RBIs and a pair of home runs while junior outfielder Jeffrey Broadnaux led the squad with 16 RBIs. Seven regulars averaged .300 or better, including Kraus, Capellupo, senior Luke Schofield, and Michael Heise.
Hilton is trying to win their third Section V baseball title with previous crowns in 1997 and 2008.
“Last year was certainly a disappointment, but this group stuck together in the offseason, we did a lot of stuff in the fall and winter; they have a pretty special bond so we hope we can keep rolling here,” head coach Kevin Whelehan said.
“McQuaid and everybody in our bracket is tough – we’re going to have to go out and compete because there are no sure things.”
Hilton drew eighth-seed Fairport in the first round with the winner facing the winner of #4 Edison Tech vs. #5 Victor in the Class AA semi-finals.
“Last year it hurts; you see your friends like that and losing sucks, so our mission this year has been to go out and compete,” Prince said.
