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Sports

Bronxville Baseball Team Looks Towards Playoffs

As playoffs begin today, the Broncos reflect on the regular season

Bronxville's top starter and top reliever combined to pitch just two innings last year, but ace Stephen Shoemaker and lefty Nicholas Janney have helped lead Bronxville baseball into the playoffs. The Broncos are on the road today against Nanuet in the first round of the Class B playoffs.

Shoemaker seems a shoe-in for comeback player of the year. Two innings into his first start last season, he felt tingling in his arm and was taken out. It ended up being tendonitis in his shoulder, a season-ending injury.

Now the 6-foot-1 junior has become a key contributor to the team. His best performance may have been in a 3-2 loss against top opponent Eastchester, when he allowed just one earned run and struck out eight in seven innings.

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"It went unnoticed because we didn't win, and it looks like he gave up three runs (two were unearned)," coach Anthony Vaglica said. "I was very proud of him with that performance. He matched Eastchester's top pitcher pitch-for-pitch."

Janney, a junior captain, had never pitched for the Broncos but was given a chance because the team wanted a lefty to match up against lefty-heavy teams like Eastchester and Hastings.

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But in his first nine innings he only gave up one earned run, allowing six hits and striking out 10. He can spot his fastball and move his slider around to keep opponents off balance, and he has the right mental makeup.

"He's never rattled on the mount," Vaglica said. "Never shaken, very confident, looks like he's been there all year. Initially my thought was to put him in middle relief, use him for an inning or two, but he's really emerged and blossomed into a starter and could be our No. 1 or No. 2 next year."

Vaglica has also gotten better-than-expected contributions from sophomore twins Christian and Jackson Conway. Christian, the No. 3 hitter and third baseman, and Jackson, the No. 4 hitter and catcher, are both having great seasons and have made the middle of Bronxville's lineup a lot tougher than in previous years.

"They're tough outs," Vaglica said. "You're not going to see many pitches to hit, but they kept their mouths closed and have done a good job of going through the growing pains quicker than I expected."

One player who did have high expectations entering the season is senior shortstop Chris Marasco, who has been the team's most consistent player offensively and defensively. He had a 19-game hitting streak end on the last day of the regular season.

Besides being one of the section's top hitters and a great fielder (he could be a starting second baseman in college), Marasco is also growing into a leader, giving his teammates scouting reports on the opposing pitcher when he gets back to the dugout.

"I'm very proud to see him grow up," Vaglica said. "In the past he would come in and sit down and have nothing to say."

"We've had our ups and downs like any team. But overall we've had a successful season so far."

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