by Nick Cipolla
Last year, St. Dominic’s High School showed everyone in the CHSAA they were much improved and they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
First year head coach Joe Fusco led St. Dom’s to 14 wins between league, non-league, and playoff games in 2022. They were a team that got hot down the stretch, winning 8 of their last 10, eliminating teams like St. John the Baptist, Holy Trinity, and St. Mary’s from the playoffs. The only losses they experienced in the 10 game stretch were losses in walk-off fashion, showing that they were in every game they played towards the end of the year.
Coach Fusco is a big reason for the instant turnaround in 2022. Fusco shared with Axcess Baseball some of the things that he felt made a difference in 2022.
“Last year for myself and the coaching staff was about changing the culture at St. Dominic’s. There was too much putting other teams on a pedestal, everyone was worried about how good every other team was”, Said coach Fusco. “ I feel we’ve changed that, we are only concerned with ourselves and what we can control. I truly believe no team is on a pedestal for us anymore”.
A key piece of the St. Dom’s team in 2022 was Albert Ramos (Adelphi). Ramos will be missed by the team as he has been described as a “tremendous talent” by his former coaches. However, there seems to be a surplus of depth that will truly get a chance to shine in 2023.
Coach Fusco feels that moving forward, the team’s biggest strength is pitching. “We have 4 guys who all have been up to 90 mph. Most of them have great command of their secondary pitches”.
This year’s rotation will be led by a trio of juniors. Victor Fredrick (24’), who is committed to pitch at St. John’s University has all the tools to be a big game pitcher in 2023. His fastball runs into the 88-89 mph range and has already won big games as a sophomore. He eliminated St. John the Baptist from the playoffs last year, his coaches expect him to be one of the top pitchers in the CHSAA. Danny Onorato (24’) will join Frederick as the second junior in the rotation. He is coming off a 3 win season last year as a sophomore, his biggest win being in an elimination playoff game against Holy Trinity.
St. Dominic sophomore Danny Onorato threw a no hitter with 9 strikeouts. Chris Sais was 3-4 with 2 home runs. Albert Ramos, Vinny Deiosso, Enzo Carpentiere and Luca Lopetrone all homered for St. Dominic. Sophomore Matt Cruz was 4-4, he is hitting .500 on the season pic.twitter.com/PkGBORpihr
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 13, 2022
Two-way stud and returning All-CHSAA seletion Matt Cruz (‘24) will also contribute to the starting rotation in 2023. His coach had the utmost respect and praised the Penn State Commit. He batted .500 last year and led the league in hitting. On the mound his fastball is in the 88-90 mph range, coupled with his devastating slider that he has the ability to throw from different arm angles. He also runs a 6.60 60 yard dash.
“Matt Cruz is one of the most talented players I’ve ever coached. I’ve coached over 20 players who are either current Division one players or committed D1 players”. Said Coach Fusco, “He stands out. He is a flat out winner who exemplifies everything we preach as a staff at St. Dominic. Between what he does as a position player and a pitcher, in my opinion he’s one of the best players in the entire league”.
The pitching staff also includes the likes of senior and Iona College commit Jack Puvogel (23’). Puvogel will mostly pitch out of the bullpen and he will be bringing the heat with a fastball that has been up to 90 mph. Transfers Luke Lang (25’), Tommy Mcmichael (24’), Jordan Ynoa (24’) and Tyler Azarieh (25’) will also be major contributors on the mound.
On the offensive side of the ball, Coach Fusco is expecting a lot from freshman phenom Lucien Saint Cyr (‘27). “If he continues to progress on the path he’s on we see him as a future high level Division 1 player. Said Coach Fusco, “He’s certainly a name that we believe people in the baseball community will be very familiar with over the course of the next 4 years.”
Vin Deisso (St. Dominic 2023) with a double inside the third base line and Tristate Arsenal leads 3-1 pic.twitter.com/1ZhAp5c4Ib
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 11, 2022
Outside of Saint Cyr, the Bayhawks still have a really good group of hitters that could potentially make this roster dynamic on both offense and defense. The offense is led by returning All-CHSAA selection Vincent Deiosso (23’), Deiosso batted .432 last year and was in the top 10 in many offensive categories in the league. Gettysburg commit Francis Olivieri (23’) will also be a major contributor in the lineup. Junior catcher Thomas Garrett will also have key role in the lineup.
The confidence is at an all time high at St. Dominic High School and Coach Fusco truly believes he has a special group that could win it all in 2023.
“Last year we won 14 games between league, non league and playoff games. That was the best mark at St. Dominic’s since 2018. Our goal this year is not to win 14 games total, or be around 500 in the league like last year. Our goal is to be champions. I see a major improvement coming in 2023. The pieces we have, the culture change all put together. I expect us to be right in the thick of things looking to win our first CHSAA championship since 2009.”
The Bayhawks open up the 2023 campaign at home against Long Island Lutheran on March 22nd.
