FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2013, THE CLARKE RAMS ARE COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!!!
FINAL: Clarke 7 Division 0 pic.twitter.com/pWdOtzXJB7
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 3, 2019
Despite consistently having the lowest number of students of all the Nassau Class A schools, Clarke has consistently won championships. Since the time head coach Tom Abruscato took over in 1999, the Rams captured County Championships in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013 and most recently, 2019. Additionally, they captured the New York State Championships in 2002 and 2005. During the years 2007-2009, they made it to the County Finals but were knocked out the first two years.
No matter how you slice it, the Rams have been one of the premier programs on Long Island for the past two decades. In 2019, they defeated Division in a hard fought three-game series at SUNY Old Westbury with Chris Lydon firing a shutout in Game 3 in a 7-0 game to advance to the Long Island Championship. It was there where they finally had their run ended – running into Notre Dame-commit Brock Murtha who fired a no-hitter in a thrilling 1-0 game. Speaking on that game Abruscato recalled that Sayville’s CF (Thomas Nielsen) made at least four great plays on balls over his head in the vast outfield of Old Westbury. While Abruscato noted those balls might’ve been home runs in other fields, Murtha did a great job of spotting up his fastball all game against a loaded Clarke lineup.
The Rams had pop up & down their lineup and sent several of those players to college – with two others still in the lineup. From that lineup; Chris Giardino (Molloy) , CJ Cumbo (St. Thomas Aquinas), Nick Campagnuolo (New Haven), Pavlos Papoutsakis (Dominican), Brian Sullivan (Molloy), Steven Lee (Old Westbury) and Justin Goetz (MCLA). From the pitching staff, Brendan Turton was the staff ace (Dominican) and won nine games.
Tyler Cox rips a 2RBI double down the left field line to give Clarke a 3-1 lead in the top of the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/dhMZlv4Oeu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2019
Had there been a season last year, Clarke would’ve been the heavy favorites to repeat as county champs considering their entire lineup was returning. With the cancellation, they missed out on many of those players returning but they are still in great position. Not many teams can say they have the duo in the lineup of Tyler Cox (West Viriginia-commit) and Matt DeStefano (Stony Brook-commit). We ranked Cox as the top position player on Long Island (Preseason Player of the Year) and DeStefano top five.
Abruscato raved about them as players and leaders:
“They are both great kids and they both followed their weight programs this offseason,” said Abruscato. “Normally you don’t have college bodies at their age but they both do. They’ve been awesome. We made a list of players in the program and they reached out to all of them to check up on whoever felt lost. They helped out big time. As ballplayers, they were both All Stars as 10th graders. They’ll be in the middle-of-the-order, probably 3 & 4 or 2 & 3,” he added.
What makes them unique athletes is that despite both playing outfield two years ago and when they’re in college, they can play anywhere. Abruscato said there’s a chance Cox could play SS. He will also be in their rotation either as the No. 1 or 2. He served as their closer two years ago. Coach said he has been 85-88 MPH recently. DeStefano could be their closer this year and could play middle infield as well.
Uncommitted RHP Sean Welsh (Clarke 2022) pic.twitter.com/mp6SmIdw0f
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 4, 2021
They also have two other extremely talented juniors that made the team last year in Nick Giardino and Sean Welsh. Giardino is another great athlete that will pitch, play SS, 3B and OF. Welsh is probably their SS and ace along with Cox. He’s touched 89 MPH this offseason and will be tough to hit.
Final: Dodgers Nation 7, Black Diamonds 1
WP: Nick Giardino @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/YKSYtzM8MC— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 5, 2020
He also named LHP Lucas Rubenstein as an impact player and he will play 1B and outfield.
They also have a freshman that may start – he’ll be only the fourth freshman in his 21 years to do so.
This season they open up against Oyster Bay. Abruscato stated they will likely see their ace RHP Michael Gatti, he noted that he grew up with his father and is looking forward to his team facing him.
They will be tough to beat during the regular season and even tougher come playoff time.
“We don’t get nervous in the big spots.”
