This spring, in anticipation of fielding their strongest Varsity Baseball squad since the program began eight years ago, Portledge decided to change leagues from IPPSAL to the PSAA/ACIS Alliance in hopes of finding stronger and more consistent competition.
As a newcomer to the Alliance League, which consists of independent school teams from all over the metropolitan area, the Panthers were placed in the 10 team 2nd Division.
Well it didn’t take long for Portledge to demonstrate the rapidly developing quality of their baseball program as the Panthers hammered their way to a regular season mark of 9-1. Moving on to the league playoffs, Portled
ge quickly dispatched their quarter and semi-final foes before heading to the championship game against Bay Ridge Prep on May 21 at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY.
Portledge’s exceptional trio of sophomores, pitcher Matt Butler ’15 (Oyster Bay), league leading slugger Zach Kleinwaks ’15 (Glen Cove), and speedy centerfielder Bradley Stewart ’15 (Elmont) were too much for the boys from Brooklyn as the Panthers cruised to 5-1 victory powered by a triple with 2 RBIs from Kleinwaks, and a masterful complete game three-hitter from Butler. Also key to the team’s success was the fine all around play of sophomore shortstop Tim Barbaro ’15 (Garden City) and the combination of catching and pitching provided by eighth grader Anthony Porrino ’17 (Locust Valley).
The young Panther talent stacks up well when compared to other independent school play across New York State as, according to MaxPreps Statistical Service, Kleinwaks’ .767 batting average is tops among all independent school players, while Butler’s miniscule E.R.A tops all independent school hurlers. Next year Portledge will move up to the Alliance’s 1st Division to face such perennial secondary school baseball powers as Berkeley Carroll of Brooklyn and Staten Island Academy.
