The Washington High team has plenty of integral pieces coming back from what was already a very good team.
Photo by Denis Gostev
Back at the helm: Steve Mandl scours what will be his everyday lineup and his eyes gleam. The legendary George Washington coach is back in the dugout again this spring after a one-year suspension for alleged recruiting violations, and he may be greeted by the greatest team he's ever had — certainly the best in the New York City area, and one of the best high school teams in the country.
As a result, George Washington begins the season ranked No. 9 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Preseason National Baseball Rankings.
Washington has a winning tradition that's seen the Trojans win the Manhattan A Conference 25 straight years during one stretch (interrupted by Normal Thomas in 2009) and win their conference title 27 of the last 28 years. But there is a peripheral concern Mandl harbors, just off center in the back of his mind as spring quickly approaches.
"Complacency, I would say right now, is my biggest worry," Mandl admitted. "We have so many kids coming back. We're a little more senior-heavy than usual, with more experience and leadership than we've had in the past. We have five coaches, and if they ever saw me get complacent, they'd kill me. But that's the only fear I ever have, being too complacent. We really want to push and get the best out of everyone this year, especially the seniors. They want to go out winners."
Fernelys Sanchez, Washington
Photo by Denis Gostev
Mandl will have a little something to say about that, too. The feisty coach had his passion taken away before last season, when the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) said that Mandl had violated a league tenet that prohibits a coach from inducing a student to transfer schools for athletic purposes.
Under assistant coach Nick Carbone, the Trojans won the City Championship and finished 45-2 with Carbone winning City Coach of the Year honors by some media outlets.
Watching last year seems to have rekindled an even greater fire than Mandl ever previously had.
He also returns two of the nation's top players, catcher
Nelson Rodriguez and outfielder
Fernelys Sanchez, two probable high-round draft picks in the June professional draft.
"It's why we're going to constantly need to stay focused this year," Mandl said. "It's going to be more intense than normal because of a million scouts around, plus we're the defending city champions and people will be gunning for us even more. The mantra we go into each season with is 'Bust your butt until the season starts, and the season is a breeze.' No game can be harder than what we do every day. I press them. I don't like complacency. I'm constantly challenging them."
Local look: "They bring back most of their key players, including two All-Americans, and they're going to be a problem for anyone. This could be one of the best teams Steve has ever coached. It's hard to pitch to Washington. They were hard to pitch to last year. They gave us fits. Steve has kids on his bench that could start on most teams in the city. I know his team in my sleep, because they gave me nightmares every year. Coach Mandl is the best. He works real hard and works his kids real hard. They'll be there in the end."
- JP Nerva, former Norman Thomas coach
