Sayville's Hewson blasts toward LI home run record

Despite little fanfare before this season, 16-year-old Michael Hewson - Sayville's King of Mash - has become a wunderkind on Suffolk's South Shore.

His powerful stroke and record-setting home run pace have grabbed the attention of the town. Hundreds of Little Leaguers packed Sayville's Broadway Park last Saturday night to get a glimpse of the Golden Flashes' star.

And the 5-11, 180-pound junior did not disappoint. With two runners on and the place abuzz, Hewson crushed a long three-run homer well into the night beyond the leftfield fence.

Before home run No. 13 found its landing area, Hewson was in full trot around the bases. The blast, a single-season record at Sayville, kicked off another 3-for-3 performance with five RBIs and a double for Hewson in a 9-1 win over Kings Park.

"The ball just disappeared into the darkness and the crowd went crazy," Sayville coach Ryan Cox said. "He's having a magical season. He's having quality at-bats and he's seeing the ball so well. This is a special night in our community where the students and Little League comes out and supports the baseball program. He's been the talk of the town."

Hewson is on pace to challenge Long Island's single-season home run record of 20 set in 1994 by current major-leaguer Ross Gload. The lefthanded-swinging Gload, from East Hampton, blasted 14 regular-season homers and six in the postseason.

"The key is to have a plan when you go up there," said Hewson, who seems humbled by his newfound fame. "I like to be aggressive but I also try to get myself into hitter's counts so I can get a good pitch to drive."

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- May

Hewson's numbers are off the charts through 16 games. He has 38 hits, eight doubles and 13 homers, 29 runs scored, 51 RBIs, a .644 batting average and a 1.441 slugging percentage. Oh, and when he's not swinging, he's walking - 14 times, for an on-base percentage of .713.

"He doesn't get cheated," Cox said. "But he knows when to cut his swing down and do the team thing by driving the ball the other way or hitting the ball hard with two strikes. He gets some angry hacks - some real strong swings - but his swing is beautiful. He has that terrific whip action through the zone, for excellent bat speed, and he finishes all the way through the swing."

Hewson has had four multiple-homer games. He hit two at home against East Hampton, Westhampton and Amityville and on the road against Miller Place. He's also hit safely in all 17 games. Sayville is 14-3 overall, 12-3 in Suffolk League VI for second place.

The righthanded power hitter served notice early that this was going to be a special year. He opened the season with a two-homer, six-RBI performance in a win over Amityville. He set the school record for home runs in a season with homers 10 and 11 in a win over East Hampton on May 4. The record of 10 had been set by John McGorty in 1999.

Hewson had a solo home run in a 7-6 win over first-place Shoreham-Wading River. The blast left an impression on SWR coach Sal Mignano.

"It was an impressive home run because he drove the ball the other way with some real power," Mignano said. "He's an aggressive power hitter that's dangerous in any count. And in a small park, he's very dangerous. He was 5-for-8 with four walks against us. We could pitch to him because we had some leads in the series."

Hewson points to the Sayville lineup for his success.

"Our whole team can hit," he said. "We create opportunities for each other. I have so many RBIs because these guys are always on base."

Senior third baseman Keith Hilton has five home runs in the three-hole and senior centerfielder Eddie Rupp, a .363 hitter, and sophomore leadoff man Mike Rahn, a .515 hitter, are key factors to a Sayville lineup that averages .387.

Some pessimists will dismiss home run hitters in small parks. Hewson has hit 10 of his 13 at hitter-friendly Sayville High School. Gload heard similar comments when he took advantage of shorter fences in East Hampton.

But Gload unloaded four home runs against Kings Park to lead East Hampton to the Suffolk championship at St. Joseph's College. The final blast caromed off the side of the school in right-centerfield, about 400 feet from home plate.

Gload, 34 - who has hit 29 home runs in 1,455 at-bats in nine seasons for six major-league teams - let his bat do the talking. Hewson does the same.

"I look at the team picture last year and he looks like a baby," Cox said. "What a difference a year makes!"