When it comes to the Mount Rushmore of Long Island baseball, there is no doubt that West Islip is firmly entrenched with their recent run of success.
Head Coach Shawn Rush has been at the helm for nine years and has won Suffolk County Class AA Championships in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Additionally, they have 14 graduates currently on college rosters and one active player in the Major Leagues (Nick Tropeano).
It’s been a run that only Massapequa can trump. Speaking of them, it was those Chiefs of Massapequa that finally ended West Islip’s 21-game win streak that culminated with winning the Class AA title over Eastport-South Manor. It was a battle of two red-hot teams but it was Massapequa that came out on top, avenging the 2014 Long Island Championship in which West Islip was victorious in.
This year’s team enters the 2019 as the hunted once again; familiar territory for the program. Last time they were reigning champs, they were one win away from repeating as champs but Commack was able to capture the title in 2017.
They will have to replace the production of four players from last year’s starting lineup; Jake Guercio (Fordham), Jimmy Loeffler, Anthony Ippolito and Tommy Parson.
Fortunately, there are no such things as rebuilding years for West Islip; they simply reload and this year’s team feature plenty of experienced players that were key parts to the 2018 season.
The strength of the team is the starting staff.
Senior Mike LaDonna (NYIT-commit) and junior Bobby DiCapua both had meteoric rises to prominence last season. They combined for 17 wins and each recorded a win in the Class AA Finals. Coach Rush spoke about each of them:
Three hits in the inning but LaDonna fans Trace to strand two runners in scoring position. 1-1 after 4 pic.twitter.com/aYhu26qM78
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 28, 2018
“We knew what kind of pitcher DiCapua could be, I was a little surprised at how quickly it happened,” he said. “We knew he had the makeup, being a three-sport athlete, but didn’t know how he would handle it as a sophomore.” After losing his first outing of the season, he went on an 8-game winning streak. He pounds the strike zone and is completely unfazed by any situation. They will once again be leaning on him, and hoping he builds off the tremendous success he had as a sophomore.
LaDonna, who won the Boomer Esiason Award given to the top quarterback in Suffolk County passed for 19 TDs and rushed for 21 more. On the mound, he is a fireballer who works in the mid 80s and, like DiCapua, thrives in pressure situations.
Rounding out the rotation will likely be 6’5 RHP Anthony Cinquemani, who also had the go-ahead hits in both County Final games.
Brad Battaglini (West Islip 2020) topping at 86 MPH pic.twitter.com/BeD3ZVVfNx
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 17, 2019
In typical West Islip fashion, they have another up-and-coming star Brad Battaglini, who will push to make the rotation. He has smooth mechanics and throws in the low-to-mid 80s as well with a terrific change up.
“Brad is a throwback kind of player,” said Rush. “He’s a great kid, he’s very intense and focused,” he added. He was their third baseman last season and made a run-saving diving play in the clinching game last season but will shift over to SS this year.
Rush also noted Jack Altieri, Nick Siano, Christian Esperson, Matt Walsh and Jimmy Celano as players that they will be relying on to provide production offensively, along with Cinquemani.
They will open up their season on March 30 with a non-league game against the high-powered St. Anthony’s Friars.
While there may be plenty of competition to repeat as Class AA Champs with teams like Connetquot, Smithtown East and Commack, it’s never a good thing to bet against Shawn Rush’s squad.
