by Brian Honka
Miller Place 3, East Hampton 1
WP: Trevor Diamond 6ip 1 run 5 hitsTyler Hodella 2-3, double, 2 RBIs Mikey Schleider 2-3, RBI pic.twitter.com/xK3ohQ2o81
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 19, 2022
Miller Place is coming off a 13-6 season and a trip to the playoffs where they lost to Bayport-Blue Point. They will be looking to follow that up with another postseason appearance.
The team graduated 10 players from last year’s team so filling the gaps left by those players will be something the coaching staff will have to figure out this off-season and early in the season.
Among that group was their All-County OF Tyler Hodella – who had ridiculous season. He batted .557 with a .618 OBP, .889 SLG, 1.520 OPS, 34 hits, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HRs, 25 runs and 24 RBIs and is currently at Bridgeport. They also graduated All-League Thomas Pranzo (Muhlenberg) who batted .345, .500 OBP with .582 SLG and 14 RBIs. Bradley Riegel was All-League as well. He had a huge season with a .403 AG, .500 OBP and 1.048 OPS. Gio Cassino (Farmingdale) bated .391 with .509 OBP and .944 OPS. Jason Strickland (Bridgewater State) and Trevor Diamond (Farmingdale) are two others players that are now playing in college.
Jason was great on the mound, he went 4-2 over 24.2 innings with a 0.85 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
The team’s relative inexperience will be something to watch coming into the season. The team does have some returning players that coach Ricky Caputo will be looking at to step up and take a bigger role.
Some players that the team will look to for production and help fill gaps left from last year’s graduating class are Joey Citrangola (Plattsburg) a 6-4 RHP and OF, utility man Dominic Falino (FDU-Florham), OF Jack Kiernan (Cortland), P Tyler Lopez (Dominican), and All-league catcher Mike Schleider.
Catcher Mike Schleider (Miller Place 2023) rips a triple for the Eastend Aviators pic.twitter.com/4ESi88XGz2
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 10, 2022
Schleider had a great season – he batted .349 with a .488 OBP and 1.139 OPS. He controls the running game and is an impact bat in the middle of the order.
Lopez will anchor the rotation – he fired 26.1 innings and went 3-1 with 2 saves. He is a workhorse atop the rotation.
Dominican-commit Tyler Lopez (Miller Place 2023) on the mound for the Aviators pic.twitter.com/fswZREQIFY
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 10, 2022
Coach Caputo said that he believes that the depth of the pitching staff although having limited experience will be a strong point for the team coming into the season with contributions from Joey Citrangola and Tyler Lopez along with returning seniors and the Juniors coming up from JV.
Other players that coach Caputo mentioned that have a shot at having a role and impact on the team this year were SS and P Alex Strickland, Mike Monaco, and sophomore flamethrower Nick Frusco who is a tall LHP and will compete for a spot in the rotation this season.
Easy cheddar from Nick Frusco (Miller Place 2025). FB 86 pic.twitter.com/dYNTBrkc1Q
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 6, 2022
Alex Strickland batted .308 and has started since freshman season. On the mound he throws in the mid 80s. He has a bright future ahead.
Miller Place will open the season at home as they take on Bayport-Blue Point on March 27th. They will also take on Mt. Sinai, Shoreham WR, Sayville, and Hampton Bays this season.
