While large schools like Massapequa and Connetquot get most of the attention for their ability to consistently win, there’s a school that should be getting more press.
Bayport-Blue Point has won three consecutive Class A Suffolk County championships, with two LI Championships among those. They have not missed the playoffs since 1997–before this senior class was born. Additionally, they have won 43 consecutive home games, with three neutral-site playoff wins sprinkled in.
Despite losing to Division in the LIC last season, they are well-positioned for another title run.
They will be looking to replace the production of All-State pitcher P.J. Weeks.
Head Coach James Moccio, now in his 17th year at the helm, spoke glowingly of the southpaw.
He noted that he was a perfect 6-0 in his postseason career, including 4-0 in elimination games. Of those four games, he threw three shutouts and hit a walk-off in the other game. He is now at Farleigh-Dickinson after signing at the conclusion of his senior season.
Among the other graduates were Sal Geraci (LIU Post), Jake Scimone (Dominican), Dan Campanelli (St. Joseph’s) and Scott Schultz (All-League in ’15).
They are not asking for any sympathy, they have a new crop of upperclassmen.
Leading the offensive is returning All-State bat Dylan Rooney. He hit .375 with 21 RBI, 23 runs scored and five doubles. He will be heading to Herkimer CC in the fall.
Luke Olsson, who was named All-League last season, hit .342 with three HR, three triples and three doubles. He will be heading to St. Michael’s in Vermont.
Junior SS Jake Liberatore will be another potential game-changing bat.
First baseman T.J. McGuire is committed to McDaniel College in Maryland and Rob Acierno is committed to York College in Pennsylvania.
The pitching staff will be counting on Liberatore to anchor the group. He went 5-0 with only six walks in 30.0 IP last season. He will be pitching the third game of each series, though, because they need his arm at SS.
Moccio noted that the team has a “good mix of upper and underclassmen”.
They will open up against rival Shoreham-Wading River. They always pose a threat, but they defeated them in the three-game county finals last season. It will be an interesting matchup to see if ace Brian Morrell can beat them for the first time in his career.
Regardless, the two teams will most likely be fighting tooth-and-nail at the end of the season to fight for League 7 supremacy.
