Photo - Austin Lindell

JAMESTOWN – It's the dawning of a new era of Jamestown Community baseball for the 2022 season with first-year head coach Jerico Weitzel leading the way.

"It has been an interesting start to things here," said Weitzel. "Obviously I was a late hire to come in and run the program but we are working on doing things the way I believe are the right way to approach the season. There has been a learning curve but that's expected with a new coach coming in. I am looking forward to getting out on the field for our first game and see where we are at and work on where we need to go."

Luckily for coach Weitzel, he will have a group of eight veterans returning to the program to help along the otherwise young team. Returning on the mound is ace Bryce Jackson (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS) who led the country in strikeouts in the regular season and was name dot the All-Region and All-WNYAC team a season ago. Adonis Collado (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy HS) also returns to the mound to be a key pitcher in the rotation.

Joining Jackson and Collado are infielders Lucas Porpiglia (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk HS) and Yordangel Gonzalez (Miami, FL/Miami Jackson Senior HS). Outfielders Ayden Reagle (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove HS), Wyatt Hennessy (Mukwonago, WI/Mukwonago HS), Billy Harmon (Racine, OH/Southern Local), and Steven Garcia (Miami, FL/Breto Miami Private School) all coming back shore up the outfield. Hennessy was also name dto the All-WNYAC team last season for his play on the field.

"Most of these guys are in unique situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and gaining another year of eligibility," Weitzel said. "Usually by year three is when guys seem to pick up certain things and most of our returners, this is their third year in college and know what it is like play through a season. They have some experience under their belts and the younger guys can look towards our veterans for that leadership."

Behind the plate and seeing most of the work will be Porpiglia with Kameron Melendez (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS), and Dominic Pascucci (Portville, NY/Portville Central) also seeing time behind the plate.

"Lucas is a veteran guy with a lot of ball under his belt," said Weitzel. "Strong kid with a strong arm and handles our pitchers really well. He knows when he needs to talk to them and get them through things. Kam keeps improving everyday behind the plate and Dominic also brings attributes to help the team this season."

Working around the diamond and joining Gonzalez at time at first is Kenny Nickson III (Erie, PA/Erie HS).

"We have two really good options at first base," said Weitzel. "Both are big strong kids that bring a lot to the table in terms of their bat and move well for bigger guys on the defensive end as well. Both will be hitting in the middle of the order and very well could see one of them as the designated hitter if they aren't in the field."

At shortstop will be Nate Johnson (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern High) and seeing time at second base will be Zach Zulawski (Melbourne, FL/Viera HS), Chris Navarro (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS), and Riley Piazza (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS).

"Nate is a very solid player and does everything you as him to do," Weitzel said. "He is a steady presence at shortstop and that is what you want from that position. At second base we will have a rotation going. Zach, Chris, and Riley are all good options to have. If one guy is not performing the way he should, we can turn to another guy to see what they can do."

At third base will be Jackson Yost (Frewsburg, NY/Frewsburg HS), Tanner Potter (Trumansburg, NY/Trumansburg HS), Zach Rohlin (Russell, PA/Eisenhower), and Zulawski will see time there.

"This group of guys have been working hard and are competing with each other every day," said Weitzel. "It may come down to having each guy get some work in during the non-region games to see who will rise to the challenge and ride the hot hand."

Starting in the outfield will be Reagle in the center with Harmon and Hennessy locking up the corners. Also seeing time in the outfield will be Garcia, Donovan Lockett (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk HS), Sal Carmona (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS), Mingjong Seong (Hanam-Si, South Korea/Baemyeong HS), and Alex Kemery (Youngsville, PA/Youngsville HS).

"This may be our most experienced group on our team," said Weitzel. "Returning Reagle, Harmon, and Hennessy to the lineup to go along with Garcia who has knowledge of the game is big. Mix that in with the younger guys are its solid."

Rounding out the squad are the arms on the mound. Joining Jackson and Collado are Aaron Hair (Frewsburg, NY/Frewsburg HS), Walt Rybcynski (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis HS) will be strictly pitching. Position players who will have their time on the mound include Potter, Johnson, Rohlin, Kemery, Nickson III, Piazza, Harmon, and Seong.

"Bryce will be leading our group of pitchers this season," Weitzel said. "He does everything he has to do to go out and compete and be ready once a week. Following Bryce will be Adonis, Aaron, and Tanner in the rotation. Walt will be a key arm for us coming out of the bullpen when we are in the crucial moments. We also have a group of position players that can come in when needed to give us some good innings on the mound."

The Jayhawks start their schedule with a pair of games on March 17th at Westmoreland County Community College followed by games at Division II Monroe Community College on March 22nd.

"Ideally we would have like a few more games before region play but this is the hand we were dealt," said Weitzel. "I kind of have what I want as far of a starting lineup but will use these games to see where certain guys are at and move some people around."

Following their two series of the season is followed by their home doubleheader and region opening games against Tompkins Cortland Community College on Saturday, March 26th. After this home opener, JCC will travel to TC3 and then Genesee Community College. The Jayhawks will return home on Saturday, April 2nd against GCC and Onondaga Community College on April 9th.

From that point, the Jayhawks will have alternating home and away doubleheaders with opponents like SUNY Broome Community College, Erie Community College, and Finger Lakes Community College. JCC will close out the season with an away and home series against preseason No. 1 Niagara County Community College before postseason begins.

"There's a lot of optimism on being one of the four teams from the west to make the postseason," Weitzel said. "Our guys know that we have to take it one day at a time, making sure we are doing the right things. It nice that our guys are excited and have the goal to make the postseason. There is a reason why our more veteran group came back, its because they believe in one another and want to do something special this season. If we are in a short series and and I can go to a Jackson, a Collado, a Hair, just know that we're going to be coming at you."

For a full list of games, dates, and times, visit jccjayhawks.com.