Correspondent file photo / Michael Taylor Niles’ Matthew Kozak throws a pitch during the Red Dragon’s playoff win over Canfield.

After a remarkable season in 2022, the Niles baseball team heads into the new campaign ready for the task at hand behind strong pitching.

The team graduated 11 at the conclusion of last season and, as a result, left holes in the lineup. Among the returning players is senior Matt Kozak who will lead the team on the mound. Last season, Kozak tossed a 0.84 earned run average while fanning 56 batters and surrendering 29 hits in 50 total innings pitched. Head coach Michael Guarnieri said he expects more of the same from Kozak.

“I think (Kozak) really grew up as a pitcher last year. I think he found himself in terms of understanding what pitching is. It’s not striking everyone out, it’s being efficient with your pitches and allowing that defense behind you to work,” Guarnieri said.

Another returner is senior Sam Perrone who, Guarnieri said, will share time on the mound and be a big part of the rotation this season.

“It really begins with them. They’ll be our 1A and 1B on the mound for us. Those are two important arms coming back for us,” he said. “With Matt, he’s going to command the strike zone. He has the ability to change speeds. I think the thing that was most enjoyable to watch, having coached him for almost all his life, is watching him grow up and have that confidence.”

Kozak’s tenacity on the mound was evident in the Niles’ 4-3 playoff win against Canfield last season. Guarnieri said the priority for Kozak was to get batters out and let his defense do the work.

The Red Dragons finished last season on a tear, winning 11 of their last 12 regular season games. The big playoff win, however, isn’t going to be a motivator for the team this season, Guarnieri said. He said his philosophy isn’t about momentum from season to season, or even game to game.

“I’m a staunch believer that last year is last year. I think momentum is the guy on the mound and his ability to get people out,” he said. “We make it a point that these guys know what happened last year is in the past. This is a new story and these are new faces that need to make plays.”

With 11 seniors leaving the program, the inexperience of some of the fresh faces will lead to tough times down the road, but Guarnieri believes his group of seniors and experienced players, Kozak, Perrone and Nick Hammond, will “carry the water” for the team this season.

“Those tough times are only going to benefit as we move through our season,” he said. “Hammond will get his first taste of varsity action this season. He’s been through our program and knows what it takes. He’s been a great program kid… we’re going to rely heavily on those guys.”

As good as the pitching staff will be this season, there are still some questions regarding the offensive and defensive lineup this year. Guarnieri said there is no set lineup and doubts there will be when the season opens.

“We’re going to ride the hot hands and move pieces around. Our kids know what we want to do offensively, but it’s a matter of how those pieces will fit together. We preach a lot about not being worried about statistics, only scoring runs,” Guarnieri said.

On the defensive side, Guarnieri said the approach will likely be the same. The only difference is working around who’s pitching each game.

“We have different rotations defensively. You’re juggling the eight defenders because of the guy on the mound. All of our guys who pitch also play positions. There’s going to be some moving around, but we train our guys in multiple positions as they come into the program,” he said. “We’re going to get nine guys out there who can catch a baseball.”

With the early shuffling of the lineup, Guarnieri said his team will be aggressive on both sides of the ball.

“We’re going to get after you for seven innings. We’re going to be aggressive and we’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Niles opens its season March 27 against Girard.