So I was waiting to post this until I saw everyone on this list. It’s easy to post a top-10, but to have an explanation for each decision is another story. Here’s my best effort to organize the chaos that is Suffolk County Class AA…
11) Bay Shore (Record: 8-5)
They deserve recognition for being the only team to defeat previously undefeated Smithtown East and they took them to the edge again today with a 3-2 walk-off loss. They don’t have a Hermes Abreu or Brian Weissert, as they did the previous two years, but they are a pesky bunch led by Jayden Morales, Jared West, Joshuel Rodriguez and Jake Lacetera.
10) Deer Park (Record: 10-4)/Eastport-South Manor (Record: 10-4)
Both teams are in League V and both teams have overachieved this season. They still have an outside chance to top Hills West for the league title with less than two weeks remaining. Ryan Foran has been lights-out and has a chance to win the Paul Gibson Award, the Sharks are a pesky offense and they play strong defense, especially SS Mike McCormick who impressed me today with his defensive prowess. Deer Park recently had a stretch of five consecutive shutouts, which is an accomplishment regardless of the level. Ace Charles Rainone has been great this season as well as Robert Belotti.
9) North Babylon (Record: 11-4)
They have bounced back incredibly well from last year. They are also set up for the next couple years, as many of their impact players are still young. After starting 1-2, they won 10 of their next 11, in large part to preseason All-Long Island Brian Primm and a number of others including Nick Burke and Evan Christopher. They finish off the season with Newfield and West Islip as they look to keep their league title hopes alive.
8) Sachem East (Record: 10-5)
I watched them on Opening Day and they looked like a title contender. When they have Roman Dorosh on the mound, they are capable of beating anyone as they did that day. They have a few other solid starting pitchers in Andrew Scavo, Nick Comunale and freshman Rafe Schlesinger , who are earning their stripes for the first time. The offense is led by Dan Palermo, Dylan Stalzer, Dorosh and sophomore Fordham-commit Don Wille.
7) Hills West (Record: 12-2)
I watched them today, they faced one of the best pitchers in the league and had an early 2-1 lead but couldn’t hold on. If I didn’t see the standings, I would’ve thought it was ESM who was the first place team, as they outplayed Hills West in most aspects and took great at bats all day but I can’t ignore the 12-1 start to the season. Even after graduating Brad Camarda, one of the programs best players of the past decade, they have gotten off to this great start. They have a solid team led by Ethan McMenamy, Jason Sarubbi, Mike Draskin, Mike Freda and Aidan Tornquist but I do get the sense they lack the pitching depth of the following teams on the list.
6) Newfield (Record: 11-4)
I told you the postseason drought would end. Thirteen years is a long time and the players understood that. Credit to them for getting over that hump, but make no mistake; the goal of this team was not to simply make the playoffs. They have their sights set on a league title and a deep playoff run. The sweep by West Islip was a tough pill for them, because they certainly have the arms to beat anyone. I watched their clinching game against Centereach and it was clear they expect to win games not simply to be competitive. Bobby Vath won his fifth game of the season today, he’s been as good as anyone on the island. I think they just need to get more consistency out of the offense against tough opponents. They put up only eight runs against West Islip and that’s the biggest question for them; when they face an elite arm in late May, who gets that big hit? Kyle Johnson, Mike Prisco, Michael Manzolillo, Chandler Giovinco, Vath and Dylan Johnson make up the crux of the team and they will need to answer the bell.
5) Commack (Record: 11-3)
Both games I’ve watched, they slept walked for a few innings before getting the bats going. They have arguably the best power bat on the island in Tim McHugh, Hofstra-commit James Cardinale, one of the top uncommitted 2019s in Jake Krzemienski, his brother Travis, and a solid leadoff hitter in Joe Pellegrino, so they should not have any problem generating offense. I don’t sense, though, they have that fiery edge they had last year that guys like Peter Theodorellis and Jake Jacobs brought. That’s a rare thing to duplicate. They are still one of the elites, but I don’t anticipate a repeat.
4) Longwood (Record: 11-4)
Much like in 2016, they have done it with a great pitching staff led by three college-bound starters in Jon Holmstock (Cortland). Danny Owens (Southern New Hampshire) and Jarred Vanderhoof (St. Thomas Aquinas). I watched Owens pitch at Ward Melville (no small task) and he proved his mettle. He has the mental makeup to beat anyone in a postseason setting. Jake Dannenberg has been great in the bullpen and offensively they’ve been impressive as well. Uncommitted Kyle Rausch has looked like an emerging star and patrols CF with the best of them. Matt Encizo flirted with .400 for the entire first half of the season, Sophomore James Myler is one of the brightest first base prospects on the island and Jose Matos is a promising shortstop. It’s been quite a turnaround for them after a rebuilding year in 2017.
3) West Islip (Record: 13-2)
I am at a loss for words with West Islip. I don’t know how they continue to graduate their biggest impact players and they continue to win at a ridiculous clip. Even after graduating Joe Valentino, Tom Gatto and Axcess Baseball League MVP Greg Tsouprakos last year they are back once again competing at a high-level. Bobby DiCapua, Michael LaDonna and Anthony Cinquemani have stepped up and assumed a dominant role in the rotation and Jordan Piht has been the fireman. They have won nine in a row with two more with Copiague before they close out against North Babylon in what will likely determine the League 4 champ.
2) Ward Melville (Record 10-5)
They were my preseason pick. I don’t care about the five losses, once the postseason starts they will be close to impossible to knock off. They know how to win, they are mentally tough and well-coached. I don’t see them losing before the semifinals, but more likely, they will make it to the county finals on the strength of a ridiculously stacked pitching staff led by two Divison-I lefties in Max Nielsen and Chris Buehler. RHPs Matt DiGennaro and Ethan Farino are perfect complementary pieces and closer Drake Eggleston is nails at the backend of games. They will be right there. I’ve witnessed all those guys pitch. The most dominating outing of the bunch was Farino down in Fort Meyers in the Underclass World Series back in October. He throws a pitch that I can only describe as a bowling ball. He fired six innings with about 60 pitches and didn’t break a sweat. This pitching staff is only rivaled by one other team and that is…
1)Smithtown East (Record: 13-1)
The Bulls were expected to be very good this year, but I thought they would be one year away from dominating the competition and competing for a county championship. They have the makings of that type of team right now.
I watched them last week. The obvious is their crop of high-end arms in the rotation. Michael Storms pitched a complete game when I was there, Will Kennedy struck out 11 over 5.1 IP today, but they could easily win with Doug Goodwin or Nick Harvey, too. The depth of the lineup stands out. They can do it with 1-through-9 in the order and they have some bats that jump out. Harvey, Goodwin and Kennedy all do it with the bat, but Ryan Pennisi is a cleanup hitter that has done damage for them. Second baseman and LIU Post-commit Matt Laurelli is a table setter. Mike Ciminiello, Marc Birbiglia, Matt Weirtheim and Justin Harvey are all capable as well. This could be their year.
Honorable Mentions: Bay Shore, Sachem North, Connetquot, Lindenhurst, Northport, Hills East
