BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — It’s a new era for the Horseheads baseball team as Andy Scott takes over for legendary coach Jeff Limoncelli coming off a state title a season ago.
The Blue Raiders began defense of their state title on Monday with the first day of spring practices.
Scott, who has coached the JV team for the past 16 years, takes over for Limoncelli, who retired after the state championship. Limoncelli won 437 games and 11 sectional titles in his 27 years with the program. That came after Jim Keenan won 348 games in 21 seasons before that as Scott is just the third coach in nearly five decades for the Blue Raiders.
“Being under coach Limoncelli I have been fortunate enough to be around one of the greatest in the game,” Scott said. “It was nice to take this over. It’s a storied program between Jim Keenan and Jeff. Just really looking forward to trying to continue that excellence they set the tone with.
“I think it’s our goal to try and surround yourself with some great people to try and help you as far as coaches, athletes here at Horseheads they are always going to work their tails off and they are accustomed to knowing what hard work does and tradition is going to allow them and we are looking forward to a great year.”
Scott know the other coaches on the staff help him, and the group of players at Horseheads makes the job easier.
“If you surround yourself with good people I think you are going to find great things are going to happen,” Scott said. “The more instruction we have from these kids with guys from different perspectives I think is going to be good. I am going to run a lot of the same things as Jeff did. I watched him for 15 years and there is none better. I’m looking forward to just trying to go out and continue that and hopefully have another great year for Horseheads baseball
I”t’s great, there is an expectation. People that win that, especially at that level, they know they have the execution to do that year after year. Some people say you can’t do that every year, while your goal every year is to win a state championship. We are going to set goals and get better every day, 1% better, and hopefully at the end of the year we are finding ourselves in a great spot again.”
After winning a state title last year, the returning players are a big help in pushing the new kids on this year’s team.
“They have been great,” Scott said. “We have had probably 20 open gyms in the winter and I think they have done a great job of setting the tone, showing these kids what to do. They have been very positive role models for the kids, but they have been there. They know how to win and they know how to help one another.
“I think one of the biggest things they had last year, other than obviously the great instruction was that they were sort of like brotherhood. I think they did a really nice job of helping each other out and being there for one another and working hard together. If you like each other obviously you are going to play better.”
One of the returning players is Cooper Ball, who gives the Blue Raiders one of the top pitchers in the state.
“He’s great,” Scott said. “He works really, really hard. He does a great job. He has a couple different programs he’s on right now. He is such a great kid and he sort of rubs off on other kids. He’s showing them a few things here and there and he’s going to the weight room with this group and doing hitting with this group. He’s a true team player, a true, excellent kid.”
It’s a busy first week to the season for Scott, who is also coaching the girls’ basketball team as they prepare for the regional final on Sunday. Scott is in his 26th season with Horseheads and is closing in on 400 wins, while winning his 12th sectional title on Sunday.
“Not a lot of sleep this week, but that’s a positive thing,” Scott said. “I’m really looking forward, really happy for the girls. They have had a good year. It’s a great group of kids and I hope they can get another one and get a chance to go experience the final four and then with this baseball group it’s exciting because it’s something new for us. Taking over something that is so storied is an honor and I’m looking forward to trying to uphold that and working hard for this program.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM PRACTICE:
