by Max Edelman
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
East Islip 4, Hills West 3 (9innings)
WP: Jaden SchmidtNick Rizzo (8 innings, 8k’s, 3 earned, 3 walks)
Rizzo: walkoff single in the 9th
Thomas Costarelli: 2-3, RBI triple pic.twitter.com/Q0JXJu5sje
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 8, 2023
Whenever a varsity roster is dominated by freshmen and sophomores, it means that a bright future is ahead. And for the East Islip Redmen, the future is now. Despite only having two seniors on their roster last season, head coach Sal Ciampi was encouraged by the team’s season last year, as well as the progress he saw in many of his younger players.
“Last year went pretty good.” Ciampi said. “We were a very young team. By the end of the year we were playing a freshman, five sophomores and a couple of juniors, and we lost in the conference championship to West Babylon. It was a really good year. We knew the group was very good, but at the same time, they were very young. Any time you have a group that young get that far, it’s encouraging for the future.”
They graduated four players that are playing in college. Anthony Rigogliosi is now at Adelphi. Johnathan Kortright is pitching at SUNY Old Westbury, Michael Tomossone is pitching at St. Joseph’s LI. And Nick Rizzo, who is pitching at Stony Brook, drew very high praise from his coach. Not only for his playing ability but for his leadership skills as well.
“Nick was a great player for us.” Ciampi said. “Nick did a real good job of bringing along a young team, and allowing those kids to play through some mistakes early on, especially when he was pitching. It was convenient to have someone that good as a leader with a younger group.”
East Islip’s strength lies in the players that are returning, with a number of them earning honors for their play last year. Thomas Costarelli, who was All-County last year as a sophomore, is back as a junior. Ciampi believes that Costarelli has the potential to not only be one of his team’s best players this year but also one of the best players on the entire Island.
LHP Thomas Costarelli (East Islip 2025) commits to the University of Central Florida @TitansBsb pic.twitter.com/IOmNLOQhZO
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 15, 2024
“He has the potential to be one of the best players on the island.” Ciampi said. “He’s going to play at the University of Central Florida. Any time you have a kid thats getting offered by some of the best schools in the country, you feel really good about it.”
East Islip also has three other All-League returners, Brady Kneisel, Alex Johnston, and pitcher Jaden Schmidt. Although Schmidt was in a rotation with a plethora of pitching talent, Schmidt was the team’s best pitcher statistically last year.
Jaden Schmidt (East Islip 2025) utilizing his overpowering fastball to pick up a strikeout. pic.twitter.com/d1xb3OMX0a
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 21, 2023
“From start to finish last year, Schmidt was our best pitcher stats-wise,” Ciampi said. “He was 6-0 last year with a 0.70 ERA. We feel pretty good about our pitching and defense. It’s the best pitching staff I’ve ever had and the best defensive team I’ve ever had.”
The Redmen are also returning a group of starters that will be looked upon to take bigger strides and be even more effective in 2024. Ciampi mentioned Gavin Veltman, Mike Tramaglini, Alex Ciampi and Chris LaMacchia.
“All of those kids are returning players.” Ciampi said. “As young kids, really did a great job and really progressed nicely last year.”
With most of the team occupied by returning players, it doesn’t leave much room for new players to break into the team. However, new to East Islip is Lucas Patton who, while a sophomore, could be crucial to East Islip.
“The reviews I’ve gotten from people that have played with him or coached him in the past, and from what I’ve seen from him have been great,” Ciampi said. “You get lucky every once in a while with a kid that transfers in that’s going to be a great player. And he’s just going to be a really great player for us.”
As mentioned earlier, Ciampi believes that his team’s biggest strength is his pitching and defense.
“Without a doubt it’s the pitching and the defense.” Ciampi said. “We’ll be good offensively too. I do think we’ll be able to do some things with good athletes in the lineup. But our pitching will be as good as I’ve ever had. And it will be by far the best defensive team I’ve ever had in 20 years coaching.”
The East Islip Redmen will open their season in April 2 against Westhampton Beach.
