Every year John Adams’ roster diminishes. This spring they have just 14 players on the roster. However, two of those - Christian Cardenas and Bryant Seligson - are true Spartans, lining up one and two in Coach Glenn Beyer’s rotation, respectively.
The two have combined to go 3-0 thus far, striking out 24 batters in 14 innings. With the return of wood bats, that is not likely to change.
“You throw strikes and you have good pitching, you have a chance to win,” Beyer said. “The team that makes fewer mistakes is going to win. Most of all, it’s the pitching.”
In Cardenas, a preseason second-team All-American selection by Collegiate Baseball, and Seligson, Adams could feature two of the best in the borough, if not the entire city.
Seligson, a talented left-hander who relies on a 12-to-6 curve, impressed Beyer last year as a sophomore by his aggressive demeanor and confidence on the mound while Cardenas - whose older brother Jesse pitched for Florida A & M, and also went to the Ozone Park school - has played for Beyer since his days as a freshman.
“They’re both quality pitchers and both pitched last year. Add that combination with wood bats and it’s not bad,” he said.
Adams is actually not in first place in Queens West A. That honor belongs to William Bryant, 4-0 after besting Long Island City, 6-2. Shortstop Joe Rosado paced the Owls’ attack with three hits and three runs batted in.
Bayside has not missed aces Anthony Velazquez and Eric Strauss much yet. That is because the Commodores have scored 36 runs in their three victories to jump out in front in Queens East A. Senior second baseman Kevin Brown had led the charge, batting .600 with eight runs batted in and four runs scored.
Queens Vocational Tech was supposed to be down after losing five seniors off last year’s city championship team, including ace right-hander Dio Gonzalez.
Thus far, the 5-0 Tigers look just fine. On Monday, in their 6-2 win over Frank Sinatra, Carlos Belliard went the distance, allowing six hits and striking out six. Belliard and Annaldo Jimenez, who has beaten Robert Wagner and Academy of American Studies, have each won twice already. Angel Tejada and Luis Espinoza each scored two runs and had two hits apiece.
