By Mike Merolle
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
Eastport-South Manor 4, Westhampton Beach 3
WP: Cole Johnson (CG, 6 H, 6 Ks, 1 BB)Tristan Gatchalian game-tying HR
Ayden Deslauriers scored go-ahead run on wild pitchESM improves to 8-6 overall (6-6 league play) pic.twitter.com/zZ1RkuqL9e
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 28, 2023
After finishing last season with a record of 11-11, Eastport-South Manor is focused on improvement in 2024. Their season came to an end after losing to Sayville and Mount Sinai in the playoffs. Head coach Jim McGowan will look for more in his 10th season as the Eastport-South Manor head coach.
McGowan is excited for the return of 16 players from last year’s playoff team. Senior Drew McGowan will be a key piece as he’s a fifth-year varsity player. McGowan is a two-time All-County player and won the Gold Glove for Suffolk County behind the plate last season. The Marist College-commit hit .345/.531 OBP with two home runs in 2023. Senior Luca Occhiogrosso will enter his fourth season as a varsity player. Occhiogrosso will provide his impact on the mound whether it is in the starting rotation or out of the bullpen in high-leverage situations. McGowan mentioned Occhiogrosso has had a “tick up” in velocity this offseason and has developed secondary pitches.
Uncommitted RHP Luca Occhiogrosso (Eastport South Manor) works out of a one out jam with a strikeout and a ground ball pic.twitter.com/8low9JfL4L
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 21, 2023
Senior Cole Johnson will also be effective for Eastport-South Manor on the mound. “He throws every pitch for a strike and will keep us in every game,” McGowan told Axcess Baseball. He will likely get the ball in either game one or two. Senior John Coffey was an All-League player last season. On the mound, Coffey went 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA. Senior Landon Davis will produce in right field and the middle of the batting order.
Besides the seniors, McGowan is optimistic about some developing underclassmen in the program. Junior Noah Kirwin will be expected to be an impact player. In 16 innings pitched last season, Kirwin had a 0.87 ERA striking out 21 batters and holding opponents to a .192 batting average. He will also impact the team with his bat as a designated hitter and third baseman. Sophomore Brady McGowan is in his third year as a varsity player since being brought up as an eighth grader. McGowan was an All-League player last season as a freshman playing shortstop and batting at the top of the lineup. He had 11 RBIs, scored 13 runs, and stole nine bases in 2023. In Eastport-South Manor’s playoff loss to Sayville, McGowan hit a home run and a double. He’s expected to take a big leap in 2024.
Drew McGowan (ESM 2024) with an impressive showing. Was named All-County this season. pic.twitter.com/T67ANArPuY
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 22, 2022
Sophomore Logan Walsh impacted the team heavily at third base in his freshman season. McGowan noted the strides Walsh has made offensively and defensively as the season went on. Walsh is also expected to spend time on the mound this year with “significant innings”.
Eastport-South Manor’s biggest strength comes from the pitching staff. They’re returning every player to throw a pitch at the varsity level last season. McGowan says that the pitchers have gained valuable experience from the playoffs last season. In 2023, the team collected a 3.22 ERA.
Hitting is McGowan’s concern for this season. He mentioned the struggles the team had offensively last season, especially with runners in scoring position.
McGowan isn’t looking too far ahead in this year’s schedule as he plans to take a series-by-series approach. He mentioned the competitiveness of their league as six out of the seven teams in the league made the playoffs. “Each week will bring its own challenges,” said McGowan.
Eastport-South Manor will open their 2024 league schedule at home against Half Hollow Hills West on March 25.
