Newfield team returns after one-year hiatus

High school baseball is already underway in Tompkins County. For one local team, this season will mark its first time back out on the field since 2021.

The Newfield Trojans varsity baseball program is back after a one-year absence. The decision was made to not field a varsity team last season due to the lack of varsity experience that was left after 11 players had graduated after the 2021 season. For head coach (and athletic director) Jeff Augustine, it was a difficult decision to make at the time, but it was one that he felt would be beneficial to the program as a whole.

“It was really just a matter of finding the appropriate level of play for the kids,” Augustine said. “We had enough baseball players in the program. They just really weren’t ready yet at that point in time to play a varsity schedule. So we made the decision to have them play at the JV level. We consulted with the seniors and had those conversations with them and talked through the pros and cons of it. The decision was made that the JV level was the appropriate level for them to get up to speed with.”

This season’s varsity team has gotten off to a strong start, winning their first three games. Newfield opened up the campaign with a doubleheader against Newark Valley. In the first game, the score was tied at 6-6, but the Trojans scored three runs in the final two innings to prevail 9-6, making it a dream return to the field.

“I give our guys a lot of credit,” Augustine said. “We’ve worked hard on covering the basics. We know we are not a team built around slugging or power, so our job is to get on base. And when we do, we need to be able to move from station to station and get runners into scoring positions and create opportunities. When those opportunities present themselves, we have to be ready to pounce on them. The kids did a really good job of working their way on base, taking advantage of opportunities when they’re presented, and making sure that we bring the runners home.”

In the second game against the Cardinals, Newfield had a much easier time, winning 10-4. They followed that up with a 7-3 victory against Marathon, making them a perfect 3-0 on the season heading into spring break.

In terms of the personnel, just four players remain from the last varsity team: Joshua Donley, Austin Jenney, Connor Lynch, and Brock Reed. The quartet of upperclassmen will be a valuable asset to so many newcomers to the varsity scene.

“Those four guys are really integral to what’s going on,” Augustine said. “They’ve been there before, so they’ve seen it and they know what’s expected and what needs to happen.”

Zephyr Ramsey is one player to watch out for this season. The senior has already caught the eye, driving in a run with two outs in the sixth inning of their season opener to give them the lead for good. As the starting catcher, Ramsey will have a lot on his plate behind the plate, but Augustine knows he’s up to the task.

“Zephyr’s really worked hard learning to frame,” Augustine said. “This spring he’s been tremendous, learning to block the ball and really picking up that skill. We refer to them as “Pink Floyd” on the team, kind of like a wall back there. We count on him with runners on third base to get the pitcher’s confidence to throw whatever pitch they need to throw. If they throw a curveball, he’s gonna be there to block it and eat it up for him. Everything starts with defense and defense starts with your catcher, so Zephyr has been a real pleasure.”

With such a young team, it may take a few seasons for the Trojans to re-establish themselves back at the top of the pack in Section IV. But this season will go a long way and build a revitalized foundation for many successful years to come.

“We’re looking to make sure that we are able to recognize and understand what it means to play at that level and what it takes. We’re trying to find the teams that are similar to us in terms of ability, skill, and experience, and find a way to compete with those teams and do the best we can. We’ve got about six games or so against some of the best teams in Section IV Class C. Those will be really good learning opportunities for us to see what baseball is played like at that next level. We’ll have a chance to observe, to compete, and to walk away from those games hopefully with a better understanding of what we need to do and how we need to do it as we continue to move forward.”