(Photo Credit: Ray Passaro)
(Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscaping Design for sponsoring the season preview series.)
by Aaron Diaz
This season will look a little different for the Mattituck Tuckers in 2024 as the little school is now in an ocean full of bigger schools to play against this year. Head coach Danny O’Sullivan prepares in his fifth year at the helm to bring their team to the next level.
Mattituck finished the season with a league record of 12-7 record and an overall record of 12-9 including the playoffs.
“Last season was kind of interesting for us,” said O’Sullivan. “We ended up losing in the semifinals to Babylon and Center Moriches who had excellent seasons.
Mattituck now sees itself in a mixed league but with bigger schools rather than the smaller schools they are used to. This creates a big challenge in the season for Maittuck which puts eyes on their big senior class.
“Last year we were mixed league but with smaller schools,” O’Sullivan said. “This year, we and Babylon are playing up with powerhouses like Bayport-Blue Point and John Glenn.”
Three seniors including ace Andrew Berman, catcher Ryan Janis and centerfielder Mike Mowdy graduated last season and will need to be replaced in 2024. All three players contributed a combined 43 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 51 innings pitched. None of them are playing baseball at the collegiate level.
End of 4: Mattituck leads 1-0. Only run scored on a wild pitch to score Michael Mowdy pic.twitter.com/yAvVwOkREu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 6, 2023
“Those three guys, they were with us the last few years and we never reached the goal of winning the counties, but those guys are very hard to replace and they did a great job of continuing our traditions and building a foundation for this year’s group.”
With having three positions to fill, O’Sullivan and his staff look to return six starters with a high senior class of 12 players on the year.
“We are a senior-led team this upcoming season,” O’Sullivan said. “That goes a long way. We have some big roles to fill and we have guys we have some guys who have been on the team for two or three years that are gonna step in and understand their roles and responsibilities for this upcoming season.”
For their pitching staff, Mattituck has a blend of players they will rely upon in their rotation.
Sophomore Tyler Brown mixed in both of the starting rotation and a reliever out of the bullpen. In 23.1 innings pitched, he compiled a 2.70 ERA with 13 appearances out of the bullpen and one save during the season.
6’3 RHP Tyler Brown (Mattituck 2026) displaying good command early on for Team Steel Osik pic.twitter.com/tNwqMI08SV
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 13, 2023
“He’s definitely a player we are looking at for possibly as a starter or possibly a reliever,” O’Sullivan explained. “As kind of a sling guy that goes back and forth.”
Junior Ben Voegel also sits as a big piece in the middle of the rotation. Voegel put together an All-League season with 37.2 innings pitched, a 4-3 record, and a 3.53 ERA. His athletic versatility also placed him at shortstop with a .309 batting average, 20 runs and 14 stolen bases.
“He’ll slide up into the one or two role in the rotation depending on where the chips fall,” O’Sullivan said.
Another pitcher is Jimmy Reidy. Reidy was an academic All-League player last season with a 4-1 record and compiled a 4.20 ERA. He also contributed his playing time in the outfield with 18 runs off his bat.
On the offensive side, the six returning players will play a key role in how Mattituck plays in 2024.
Senior Dylan Spooner will fill in for Mowdy as the anchor of the outfield. Last season Spooner played his way to an all-league season with a .371 average along with 14 RBIs, 23 runs and 18 stolen bases.
“He’s a guy that finds his way on base and knows how to manufacture runs, which we will definitely lean in on,” O’Sullivan said.
Senior Mike Garret will make a move from the outfield to the starting catcher position. Garret hit .364 with a .488 OBP, 10 runs and 10 stolen bases last season.
“All though it’s going to be his first year as the guy, he did get some innings last year and also played the outfield while also playing a huge role offensively,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s almost like a seamless transition, Mike learned a lot under Janis for three years and is someone we’re relying on to control the pitching staff and the infield.”
As the season gets closer by the day, a team starts to recognize their motto for the season, and for the players, it’s still to be determined, however, O’Sullivan keeps it simple for his team.
“For me, it’s having continuity and trying to build upon success,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve been very successful in reaching the playoffs and having successful seasons but for a senior-laden team like this it’s just trying to get over the hump and win a Class B Championship this year.”
The Mattituck Tuckers seem prepared for the challenge of 2024 season ahead of them. Mattituck will start their season on the road against Bayport-Blue Point on Monday, March 25
