by Nick Cipolla
Final: Bayport-Blue Point 9, Center Moriches 1
WP: Ryan Costa pic.twitter.com/PPIIEIDcnV— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 19, 2022
2022 was just another normal year of Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms baseball. A second place finish in their league with a 14-6 overall record while making it to the playoffs is per the status quo for the Phantoms as they have made it to the Suffolk County playoffs for 24 consecutive seasons. The one blemish on this season was that they would see their season end against the team from the next town over, Sayville. The Phantoms are led by head coach Jim Moccio.
The Phantoms will have some big shoes to fill in 2023 as they unfortunately lost a trio of studs to graduation following the 2022 season. All-County infielder Trey McGowan (‘22) will be playing for Oswego State this spring. Catcher Logan Robertson (‘22) who was an Academic All-League selection will also be playing ball collegiately in upstate New York as he is currently attending Ithaca College. All-League Outfielder Max May (‘22) is another big piece they will have to replace in 2023.
This season, the Phantoms will be looking towards some All-League and All-County level guys to keep their playoff streak alive.
Bayport-Blue Point ace RHP Brady Clark led the Phantom to first football Long Island Championship in program history and also won League MVP, Playoff MVP, Boomer Esiason Award and Hansen Award. Quite a season pic.twitter.com/4ZOONXfu5l
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) December 6, 2022
The biggest name on the list of returners has to be St. John’s-commit and All-County RHP/1B Brady Clark (‘23). Clark is one of the best pitchers on Long Island with a fastball in the upper 80s. He went 6-3 with a 0.91 ERA and had 71 K’s over 54 IP. At the plate, he batted .373 with 7 doubles and 31 RBIs. That’s in addition to his season on the gridiron in which he led the Phantoms to their first LIC in program history and he swept the major awards.
He will be joined in the pitching rotation by FDU-Florham-commit Pitcher/OF Liam Stemmler (‘23) who went 4-2 with 51 Ks in 31 innings pitches. He also scored 18 runs at the plate.
Manhattanville College-commit Pitcher/IF Ryan Costa (‘23) went 5-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Both Stemmler and Costa were All-League selections in 2022 and look to improve off these seasons this spring. SUNY Poly Commit Quinn Hill (‘23) is currently slated to fill the infield spot left behind by Trey McGowan (‘22).
Bayport-Blue Point 4, Miller Place 3
WP: Ryan Costa (CG, 3ER, 7 Ks)Liam Stemmler and Matt Lombardo both had sac flies and the other two runs scored on errors by Miller Place. pic.twitter.com/9fCQ4V1cRu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 20, 2022
The Phantoms will be looking to make it 25 years in a row that they make it to the postseason as they will be opening up the season against Comsewogue High School on March 28th.
“This group will rely on the fact that we return our entire starting rotation”, said Coach Jim Moccio, “with three seniors who were all starters in League play last year for the entire season, and all throw multiple pitches for strikes”.
