File/MICHAEL KARAS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BY RON FOX
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD | THE RECORD
Joey Castellanos is fully involved the moment he steps into the batter’s box. His baseball coach at St. Mary, Dennis Hulse, says he has never seen a high school player more locked in on every pitch, refusing to give away an at-bat.
“Every at-bat is important,” said Castellanos, the Gaels’ senior-to-be who led the team to this year’s North Non-Public B sectional championship. “I try to be aggressive and make every one count. Hitting is a challenge and fun.”
It has been that way since 2014 when Hulse didn’t hesitate to insert the shortstop into the varsity lineup as a freshman.
“First time I saw Joey play was our first practice,” recalled Hulse, who had unique insight, having been the shortstop in 2008, the last time previously the Gaels won a sectional title.
“The whole staff knew he would be able to help us defensively immediately. He’s always been tremendous at shortstop.”
The rookie didn’t need to contribute much offensively because the lineup featured standout hitters Nazier McIlwain, Willie Krajnik and Gregory Cuervo. That team went 23-6.
“The older guys mentored me and it just made me play harder,” he said. “I was being held at a higher level [of expectations].”
The Gaels have gone 66-20 with Castellanos entrenched at his position for three years. He hit over .300 as a freshman and over .400 as a sophomore and .552 as a junior.
