Very rarely are excuses valid, but we will let you be the judge of this one:
Due to a rain out on a Saturday in the postseason, Valley Stream North was told by Section 8 that they would have to not only face Plainedge on a Sunday, but the winner would have to face MacArthur in the same day. Right away, that’s not entirely fair that in a varsity postseason game one team would be playing a double header and not the other team. You could make the case that the higher seed should have the advantage, but regardless it is not typically the case.
Our @DigmiNation Player of the Game is Sean Rogers. The first baseman had 3 RBI in Valley Stream North’s 11-0 victory over Lynbrook. Eddie Ye was the winning pitcher. #TipYourCap pic.twitter.com/ivu1sRW6If
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 3, 2018
Then, in that game against Plainedge, it took five hours to win a marathon 13-inning game in which starting pitcher Chris Manzi started, pitched into the seventh inning, went to right field and threw out the potential winning run at the plate, went to SS and turned a double play in the 11th inning and recorded the save in the 13th inning to preserve the 6-5 victory.
With no rest and without the benefit of their top three pitchers, they were then forced to face perennial powerhouse MacArthur at 4 pm, before losing 6-2 and having their season cut short.
Was that the correct call by Nassau County?
VSN Head Coach Phil Sanfilippo doesn’t necessarily think so.
“We pleaded with them to play a double header on Monday if need be, and Coach Costello was okay with it, but Nassau County told us ‘no’,” said Sanfilippo.
They finished the season with a record of 15-8. Sanfilippo noted that they had a special group of guys that “felt we could play with any team.”
They will go to battle in 2019 with many of their impact players with the exception of All-County RHP/1B Sean Rogers who batted over .400, played a flawless defensive 1B and dominated on the mound. They also graduated All-League CF Anthony Franco, who “stole several extra-base hits in that playoff win” said Sanfilippo. They also graduated All-League Thomas Graziano.
While it’s never easy to replace that caliber of talent, they should be solid again in 2019 as they are returning six position players and three of their top five pitchers.
Joe Gisonda posing with his Axcess Conference A-3 MVP at the 2018 Axcess Invitational
Leading the charge is Joe Gisonda (Albany commit). The Axcess Conference MVP had an other-worldly 2018 season in which he was a finalist for the Diamond Award but lost to Nick Fressle (Division) for the MVP voted on by the coaches. He batted .457 with 7 HR (two in the playoffs) and scoring 35 runs. He was named 3rd-team All-State. He will shift over to SS and will be the catalyst for the team.
All-Conference C James Saracino completely flew under-the-radar last year; at least in this space. He batted .451 in the regular season (.419 overall) and will be entering his third season as the starting catcher. Sanfilippo noted that he has improved defensively each season.
The pitching staff will be in good hands.
Chris Manzi will anchor the rotation. The Nassau CC-commit was lights-out last season. He compiled an ERA of 1.90 and lost only one game. In that one loss–against first-place Division, he allowed only 1 ER and was a victim of four defensive miscues behind him. Had they won, there’s a very good chance he winds up with the Conference MVP. They are very confident in his abilities.
Behind him is Colin McGreevy. He compiled a 1.52 ERA last season as their go-to reliever.
“We had some talented seniors ahead of him but this year he will slide into the rotation,” said Sanfilippo.
They will also be counting on strong seasons from Eddie Ye, Chris Lynch, Joseph Estela and Tristan Ferreira–all returning players who logged significant playing time on varsity last season.
All of that is the good news.
The bad news is that the conference realigned and they will have to face a gauntlet of Division, Wantagh, North Shore, Lynbrook and Floral Park this season.
It will make for outstanding baseball in Class A-4 once again, which features an incredible 30 teams this season.
