I sat down with coaches Joel Slawinski, also known as Slaw (the head coach) and Vincent Parisi (the assistant coach). Coach Slaw was also the offensive coordinator for our football team as well.
Q: What it is like being a football coach and baseball coach?
Slaw: A lot of fun, I love [the] coaches [on our teams] and something new happens every day.
Q: Which do you like better, baseball or football?
Slaw: When I was growing up in my high school, I played both and the coach was the same for football and baseball. Also, baseball is more of a teaching, relaxing game and football is more strategy and thinking.
Q: How far do you think the team will go this year?
Slaw: My goal is to be playing for a district title this April.
So Mr. Slaw has done this already. He knows what to expect from his players since he was once one of them, and by the smiles he has on his face during my interview, he looks and sounds like he is really enjoying being the head coach. My next interview was with Coach Parisi, who played for Italy in the Olympics as a catcher not too long ago.
Q: What was it like being an Olympian?
Parisi: Amazing, it was the peak of my career. It’s what I wanted ever since I was a little kid. Hard work always pays off.
Q: Are you hard on your players?”
Parisi: Yes, I expect them to pursue baseball as I did. Anything less than their best is unacceptable.
Q: People are saying that you aren’t coming to any of the games, is that true?
Parisi: Yes, I am still trying to get my master’s degree. I don’t want to commit if I can’t be there 100%. Baseball is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. So if I can’t be there all the time I don’t want my players to be the same way.
Mr. Parisi wants to be a college baseball coach.
All in all the team is looking good and the coaching staff is strong and well equipped with the players and skills to bring home a district championship.