Lane Tech Fan interviewed Lane Tech boys varsity baseball coach Jeff Szukala.
How did the base ball team do last year?
22 and 9. Eight loses by 1 run. Lost city title to Whitney young 1-0.Lost in regional final to Guerin prep
Q - Who are the key losses to graduation from last year?
4 year starter 3b Sam graebe 3 year starters ss josh colon RF Danny Serrano rhp Bryan Platt
Lane Tech graduated 18 out of 25 seniors including entire pitching staff
Q - Who are some of the key returnees for Lane this year?
2b turned shortstop David botello cf James glaesser currently injured rhp Antonio calderone and of/3b Rafael Rodriguez not to mention the 7th ranked sophomore in the entire state of Illinois by prep baseball report William (Anthony) Feliciano who started on the varsity as a freshman and is the best professional prospect I have ever had in my 13 years coaching at lane tech.
Q. What's new this year? Players that will make an immediate impact:
Jr 2b estaban abbey catcher Jr noel pagan lhp/1b soph Kyle Huber
Q- How does the schedule look like this year?
I have attached what I believe is the toughest non-conference schedule (COMING SOON)
Q - How does the rest of the Public League look like this year?
Whitney young is strong but in a different conference this year CPS split the super conference up into 2 divisions north and south. Going into this year lane tech is the 7 time defending champion of the super conference going 12-0 in 2007 and 62-3 overall vs. the public league in the last 3 years alone.
Q - In your opinion what do you think would make Lane Tech Base Ball in 2008 a success?
Although last season’s team graduated six starters, including four in the pitching rotation, the Indians will look to get off to a “fast” start as Coach Szukala feels this is one of the fastest teams Lane has ever assembled. Speed and overall team defense are the main strengths the 2008 Indians possess. The biggest question mark will be the overall pitching depth.
Expectations:
The expectations for Lane Tech Baseball are as high as ever. Having won the Super Conference the last seven years in a row, the Indians expect to be the leader of the conference again. With a heartbreaking loss in the City Championship last Spring, the Indians hope to regain the title this season. The Indians also have higher expectations in terms of the
IHSA
State
play-offs.
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