New York’s winningest high school pitchers of the past decade
RYE, N.Y. (BVM) — New York has been the source for some of the top pitchers in every level of baseball and, for over a decade, one record at the high school level has been hard for all of them to top.
From 2000-2005, Ichabod Crane ace Josh Horn set a new precedent, becoming the winningest pitcher at the high school level in the state of New York. Horn’s 39 career wins stood for 12 years before one pitcher making the list reached the 40-win mark for the first time in state history.
5. Ryan Smith – Hancock (33 wins)
The Hancock ace collected 33 wins throughout his career stretching from 2011-2015 as Smith dominated competition in Class D. Smith would cap off his final season helping the Wildcats to the semifinals behind his 101-pitch no-hitter over Oriskany in the NYSPHSAA Class D playoffs. Smith would go on to pitch at SUNY Cortland after putting his name in the state record books.
4. Robert Sprague – Fort Ann (33 wins)
Fort Ann’s dominant ace racked up 33 wins in his career with the Cardinals, reaching the tops of individual and team success. After three shoulder surgeries, Sprague would still get the chance to help Fort Ann in his final season, pitching a complete game against Salem to bring home the Section II Baseball Tournament Class D championship. Sprague was also part of the state champion Fort Ann team in 2010.
3. John Rooney – Hoosic Valley (37 wins)
Rooney’s dominating career at Hoosick stretched from 2011-2015 where he helped lead the team to two straight Class C state championships in 2014 and 2015. Rooney compiled an 11-0 record in 2014 with a 0.51 ERA and 106 strikeouts. He would follow that up with a 9-0 record his senior season. The Class C Player of the Year in his final two seasons went on to pitch at Hofstra University.
2. Derick Fera – Lyons (38 wins)
Fera racked up a dominating 38 wins throughout his high school career from 2008-2012. The Lyons ace narrowly missed the record mark left by Horn just a few years prior. The Lions pitcher would however break the win record for Section V, while collecting first team All-State honors in 2012. Fera would go on to pitch in 2016 at SUNY Brockport and was once considered the closest to Horn’s record after it was set in 2005.
1. Enzo Stefanoni – Rye Country Day (43 wins)
Stefanoni broke the nearly unbreakable record of 39 wins recorded by Horn in his final season in 2017, finishing his career with 43 wins. No pitcher at any public, private or Catholic high school in the state of New York had ever reached the 40-win mark. The Rye Country Day ace finished his senior baseball season with an undefeated record of 11-0, an ERA of 1.02 and 92 strikeouts, only allowing 12 walks in 61 innings pitched. Stefanoni has gone on to pitch three seasons at Harvard, but would miss out on his senior campaign due to the canceled 2021 season.