Spartan sports this year have seen some of the most success they have ever had and look to continue the success through the remainder of the school year.
Spring sports include Baseball, Softball, Boys and Girls Golf, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Boys and Girls Track, and Boys Tennis.
Many of these sports have very good chances at having successful seasons and each one is pushing for a sectional title. We have an exciting spring in store for us.
Read the following preview of each sport, including results from last season, games to watch, and a lot more about these teams’ seasons.
Baseball
The Spartan baseball team is coming off of a very successful 13-4 season with a trip to the sectional final.
The baseball team has come up short the past few seasons with two losses to Jamesville-Dewitt in the final and a quarterfinal loss. This year, they look to get over the hump and get the job done.
Senior captain Johnny Vitullo told me how last year’s result will motivate them this season.
“Our coach has reminded us many times about last year’s outcome and it really fuels us to work harder everyday so when playoffs come around we are prepared to come out on top,” Vitullo said.
There are a lot of high hopes surrounding this year’s squad, after only losing three seniors and returning seven starters and many key players.
“Last year’s team did make it to the sectional final having a good year, but I think this year is the year that New Hartford baseball is going to win sectionals,” Senior Sam Beaton stressed.
When asked how this team can reach expectations and be successful this year, junior Ashton Palmer said “the guys have to come together and gain momentum off each win onto the next.”
This season is something the players and fans are both looking forward to. Beaton told me, “I have a lot of close friends on the team, therefore I am really excited to see what they do in their final season of high school baseball.”
Vitullo also expressed enjoying his last year of baseball.
“I am looking forward to playing baseball with my friends and getting on the diamond with my pals,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the warm weather and playing baseball in my senior year.”
When asked what the fans should expect, Vitullo told me “They can expect clean, good baseball where everyone shows great body language and a lot of runs put up on the board and pitchers throwing a lot of strikes.”
Palmer said fans should expect “a long playoff run.”
Beaton also told me why he loves watching baseball in general: “I really like the concession stand and the hotdogs. They are very delicious. Nothing beats watching baseball with a hotdog!”
The baseball team is currently 4-0 with a 3-0 record in the TVL.
Boys Lacrosse
The boys lacrosse team is coming off of an 11-5 season seeing a trip to the sectional semi-final.
After many successful seasons falling just short in sectionals, this year they look to make it to the finals and play for a championship.
The team has many returning players after only graduating three seniors last year. The players see their potential to have a great season.
The team’s season ended with a loss to Homer, a team that they had beaten in the regular season. Captain Geo Fratassio told me how this motivates them for this season: “The team’s results motivated us to realize what we need to do better this year, we beat Homer and lost to them in the semis and that just shows it was a lack of heart and grit.”
He hopes the team will play with the same intensity throughout the entire season and not just for a select few games.
There is a lot to look forward to this season. Senior Joe Talarico and Fratassio both told me a game they were both looking forward to was the “Sparrior cup”–the rivalry matchup between Whitesboro and New Hartford. Fratassio explained how the Spartans have “held the cup for 10+ years and it needs to stay that way.”
On another level, Talarico told me how he’s really just hoping to enjoy his final year of lacrosse, hoping it ends with glory.
“Im excited to take my time and enjoy this season with my friends, remembering all the great times I’ve had playing lacrosse,” Talarico said. “I hope the season ends with us playing for a sectional chip.”
Talarico told me fans should expect every game to be “high action, and to see a hardworking team that never gives up.”
If you are looking to mark your calendar for the biggest game of the season, May 15th the Spartans travel to Homer for a rematch of last year’s sectional semi-final. Fratassio stressed the importance of this game and the momentum it could provide going into sectionals.
The boys lacrosse team is currently 5-3 with multiple high quality wins over very tough competition.
Girls Lacrosse
The girls lacrosse team is another team coming off a successful season with a 10-6 record but an unfortunate loss in the quarterfinals.
This year, with three Division 1 commits, they hope to make a further push into sectionals and play for a sectional title.
The team only graduated five seniors so this team has a bright future this season.
When asked what they are looking forward to this season, seniors Aminnah Spahic and Jillian DePerno both told me they are looking forward to enjoying one last season with their friends, “making the most of every day.”
Goals for this season, Deperno said,include “Win TVLs and make a strong push for sectionals, With the roster the team has, this is very possible.
Talarico, a member of the boys lacrosse team said, “this is one of the better girls teams we have had here in the past few years, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a great season.”
DePerno and Spahic both agreed that “Clinton and Indian River are definitely the biggest games this season.” Indian River is another top team in New Hartford’s class, and our Spartans play the wolves on May 11th at home. On the other hand, Clinton is a very big rivalry and they face off twice this year: the first matchup April 14th at home and the second April 30th at Clinton under the lights.
The girls are currently 6-1 with big wins over Clinton and Carthage.
Boys Golf
The boys golf team looks to continue their success winning another sectional title behind a very experienced and talented squad.
This year’s team includes some of the top golfers not only around our area, but in the entire state. This squad has very high hopes and expectations this year.
When asked how the team can continue the success, sophomore Charlie Beaton said, “We just have to focus on us and make sure we don’t focus on other teams’ scores.”
He also touched on the new players joining the team this year and how they can help
“We are lucky to have our top 4 players last year all return for this year, but also next. But to round out our lineup in the 5 and 6 we got 2 sophomores Jack Heenan and Jake Albano who can make a big difference. Our depth is what will separate us from other teams,” Charlie said.
Beaton spoke on how important their depth is, citing another new edition to the team, Charlie’s older brother, Sam Beaton. Sam has always loved playing golf as a hobby so he said, “why not play in my senior year?”
Sam is not only playing just because he enjoys it as a hobby, he also looks to contribute.
“I will make sure that the top players will stay level headed and not look too far into the future-taking the season one step at a time,” Sam said.
JP Lazzaro, a junior who was recognized as a member of the New York development program along with teammate Tommy Goodelle, is looking forward to “bringing another section championship back to New Hartford.”
Similar to Lazzaro, Charlie is also looking forward to the post season “with sectionals & state quals as we look to win sectionals.”
Lazzaro is looking to cement himself as a top golfer this season, with his goals being “to do a lot better at states than last year and making myself one of the top players if not the top player in Section 3.”
The team is currently 1-0 after a big win over Whitesboro.
Girls Golf
The girls golf team looks to have a great season and continue the trend of success with New Hartford sports.
When asked what she likes about golf, senior Avery Sassower told me, “I like how supportive my teammates are and the patience it takes to play the sport.”
She looks to have a strong focus on her technique this season and maybe even make a trip to states.
Sassower is looking forward to “the games because I get to meet other girls who are interested in golf and compete against them.”
The girls’ are 3-0 to start their season.
Softball
The softball team looks to get revenge this year and finally get past Camden and claim a sectional title, and this may be their best shot.
After graduating three seniors the team looks to their experience to lead them to another successful season.
Freshman Addie Way thinks the results of the last two seasons will motivate them to work harder this year
“I feel like this year, everyone wants it more,” Addie said. “We are more locked-in and working on the things that we weren’t as great at last year. Again losing to the same team in the sectional finals didn’t feel great for all of us so we are gonna make sure we don’t have to feel like that this year.”
A 13-7 season with a trip to the finals is a great season, but the team does not want to come up short this year.
Way said she was looking forward to this season and what is to come.
“I am looking forward to this team chemistry,” Way said. “We have come up short the past two years against the same team, but this year I feel that we will execute and hopefully come out with a sectional title this year. Everything is a new start so I feel starting fresh will help our team bond and grow together.”
Way also said the fans should be ready for a long, hype, and great season of softball.
The Spartans are also looking forward to playing on their new field that was built recently at Hughes Elementary School.
The team is currently 5-0 with high hopes for the season.
Boys Tennis
The boys tennis team looks to return to the top this year with a new group of talent.
Senior Dylan Berg told me how he is excited to build connections with the new members: “I am looking forward to making new connections with the new members of the team. Two years ago we lost 10 seniors and this past year we lost 4, so the team this year is full of new faces for the most part which makes it a unique experience all around.”
Berg told me he has seen great improvement already from the newer players although it’s only been a few weeks of practice.
“Many players on the team this year are playing for the very first time and I can already see the growth that they have achieved in just a few weeks of practice,” Berg said.
The team’s goal is to win sectionals but also to improve their skills and get better every day.
Berg told me how he is just very excited to get started and see what the season will bring.
The team has had a slow start with a 1-3 record but look to get back on the winning track.
Track and Field
The Track and Field team is full of talent and experience and look forward to having another great season with many accomplishments.
Seniors Mike Radell and Alex French are both members of the track team and are both looking forward to enjoying their senior year of track.
Radell also said he is looking forward to “the meets because they are very fun and competitive.”
French told me, “I’m looking forward to building a strong relay team for our 4×800. We have great talent and potential for a competitive 4 girls at sectionals this year.”
Radell believes this year’s team has a great shot at not only the TVL championship but also sectionals. His goals are to get better and contribute to the team’s accomplishments.
French also has goals for herself: “My goals are not only to set personal bests in my events, but also to live in the moment for every meet since I’m a senior. But of course the main goal is achieving some sectional titles.”
