With two undefeated seasons behind them, AAS baseball has been promoted to AAA, and the team’s new leaders now face the challenge of guiding the program into the city’s toughest division. Gazette journalists sat down with Coach Carey and leaders from generations past and present to discuss the potential this season holds.
When asked about his non-negotiables for the roster this season, Coach Carey said: “Pitching quality, the ability to compete deep into games and staying cutthroat.” This is vital after the team lost seven seniors last season, including captains Micah Liu, Addison Hinz-Camarano and Jacob Buron, who brought the team considerable success on the field and at bat. This year will be the true test for new captains Max Monesson and Everett McConnell to prove they have the leadership and resilience that AAA requires.
McConnell said he first displayed leadership in a scrimmage last year against Queens powerhouse John Bowne, when there were no seniors in the lineup and the team still managed to outperform expectations and tie the game against the strong opponent.
Reflecting on how he hopes to continue growing in that role, McConnell pointed to former captain Andrew Page ’23 as a model. “He brought an infectious positivity, and I haven’t seen it in anyone else since,” McConnell said. Former captain Micah Liu offered his assessment of the new leadership: “I have lots of faith in the new captains. Max and Everett are very hardworking individuals. Their competitiveness and dedication will rub off on the rest of the team and create a great environment, putting them in a strong position to make a run come spring.”
When asked to speculate on the team’s record in this new, more difficult division, those interviewed generally predicted a .500 record and third-place finish. The Southwestern division the Eagles are in is significantly more difficult than the other Queens division competitors, specifically Richmond Hill and Grand Street Campus. Coach Carey, when asked to describe the work ethic in one sentence, said: “Kids better be ready to put in a load of work. There needs to be a hunger to compete with the big dogs. The foundation for a championship gets laid now.”