Port Jefferson defeats Pierson 6-3
They are the Suffolk Class C Champs for the second straight year pic.twitter.com/zBwps6t782
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 19, 2023
by Aaron Diaz
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
The 2023 season was another successful one for Port Jefferson with a record of 14-10 record. Their success has placed them at the top of their respective leagues after winning back-to-back Class C Long Island and Suffolk County Championships. In 2024, Port Jefferson will try to put together yet another successful year with a team full of talent and a veteran core behind head coach Jesse Rosen.
Coming into the new season, Port Jefferson will be a part of the new Class B league which puts them with some new competition. “This year we are a class B school,” Rosen said. “The competition will be a little bit stiffer within the county and on the island. Hopefully continuing to progress the program.” They have won their past two championships under Class C.
The main nucleus within their team will be shared by five key returning players. Those players are Ruairi Rago, Natti Mullen, Kyle Erickson, Joey Aronica and Evan Raymond. “Rago, Mullen and Erikson were in our starting rotation last year and we expect them to be strong again,” Rosen said. All five of their bats will also be a main staple of why these five players will anchor a big part of this team.”
Rago contributed a huge amount on the field being on both sides of the ball. In his junior season, Rago batted .518 and had a .685 OBP. His arm also dominated the game as Rosen expects a leap in his pitching performances come 2024.
Mullen, now a senior, also cracked the bat from the batter’s box with a .490 average and a .700 OBP imprinting himself on the base paths. On the mound, his junior season saw him compile a 1.78 ERA.
Erickson also joins this elite group of starters. Rosen plans to mix these players’ talents mostly in the infield. Erikson demonstrated a dynamic arm on the mound and a good eye at the plate with a .396 average and .522 OBP.
“They are the nucleus,” Rosen said. “They’ve hit in the top 5 since they were sophomores and this is their year to shine.”
Besides those three, Joey Aronica will also tie in a significant role with his glove at second base. Aronica has had the position for four years but Rosen will expect more out of him in his junior year. “We expect him to hit in the top half of the lineup and be productive in his junior year,” Rosen said.
Evan Raymond will be dominant in the middle of the lineup for Port Jefferson as a lefty. “We expect him to hit in the middle of the lineup as a good lefty bat to continue the success he’s had and with the others to propel us to the next level,” Rosen said.
Besides their returners, Port Jefferson lost their entire outfield due to their senior class in 2023. They will have to replace Frankie Andriani, Daniel Owens and Ciarian Laffey. However, with a strong group of players, those roles will be filled easily this season as they prepare defensively.
But their emphasis this season is the five starters mentioned earlier as the leaders of this year’s team as they go for a three-peat. “These kids have been doing it since they were sophomores,” Rosen said. “The expectation is to continue the ascent of the program. They’ve taken a lot of pride in it and they work unbelievably hard during the offseason and set a tone for the younger guys.”
Bridgehampton 4
Port Jefferson 2Bridgehampton wins the Suffolk Class C/D Title
Scott Vinski complete game 8 strikeouts 2 runs and 4 hits allowed
He also broke 2-2 tie in top 7 with 2 out 2 RBI single
They will face winner of Babylon-Center Moriches for Conference 5 title pic.twitter.com/d1ZYBPvRut
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 23, 2023
Yet the goal for this year’s team has stayed the same, especially with their recent success during the postseason. “We want to continue the continuity these kids have experienced so far,” Rosen said. “We have a core who have come in being successful and expecting the same level of success in the regular season and postseason.”
Port Jefferson will defend their championship title in a new season and league against Southampton on March 28.
