by Aaron Diaz
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.
For the past quarter century, Long Island baseball fans could count on Bayport-Blue Point making the postseason. Under longtime coach Jim Moccio, they did so in 25 straight years and won the Class A New York State Championship in 2013 and 2014. He decided to step down following the season, and he is replaced by Victor Manzella, who just led West Babylon to the Class A Long Island Championship, beating Bayport in the County Finals.
“Coach Moccio, who had won 383 games and 2 state titles, decided to retire,” Manzella said. “ I happen to live in Bayport Blue-Point, so when the opportunity came up to interview for that position, I took the opportunity and was blessed to get the job.”
Manzella will enter his first year as head coach for Bayport-Blue Point after a successful season at West Babylon, including their first Long Island championship in 30 years. With the position vacant after head coach Jim Moccio’s retirement, Manzella took the opportunity to apply for the job because of his connection to the Bayport area and its team.
Longtime Bayport-Blue Point head coach Jim Moccio has stepped down. He won 373 games in 23 seasons pic.twitter.com/U0Bin07AIA
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 31, 2023
He emphasized the fact that he is grateful for his time at West Babylon and it was a very difficult decision to make.
Bayport finished last season with a 23-3 record, winning League VIII and the Conference IV Championship. In the Class A County Championship they lost to West Babylon, with their new coach on the other side, in two games.
It is a unique situation, but the start of a new era for Bayport-Blue Blue who had been coached by Jim Moccio since the turn of the century and became one of the premier programs in Suffolk County having reached the playoffs every year of his tenure.
While every year features players lost to graduation, this year has the added challenge of replacing a very strong 2023 class. Leading that charge was Brady Clark, who is at St John’s in 2024. “He was the League 8 MVP last year,” Manzella said. “He was 7-1 on the mound and he batted .389. He was a force to be reckoned with.” Clark was dominant for 3 seasons and was a game-changer for the Phantoms. He will be tough to replace.
Bayport-Blue Point 3, Mount Sinai 1
WP: Brady Clark (CG, 1 R, 9 Ks)BBP improves to 11-1 on the season pic.twitter.com/z8QEGKSruw
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 25, 2023
FDU-Florham Pitcher/OF Liam Stemmler will be missing from the mound and lineup as well in 2024. “He was 8-0 on the mound, five home runs and batted .360 for the year,” Manzella said. “He was an All-County player, the same as Clark.”
They also had five other All-League players in 2023 including Quinn Hill and Ryan Costa. With Clark, Stemmler and Costa compiling most of last year’s innings, Manzella explained one of the first things he needs to do as head coach.
“I knew coming in, I’m going to have to formulate a whole new pitching staff,” Manzella said. I also have to figure out and learn about these players when I first came into the job.”
Manzella has a few players to work with. Pitcher senior Jonny Platt went 1-1 on the mound last season. Senior Evan Hasemann also saw innings from the mound with a 1-0 record and three saves. “Those were really the only guys who had innings that are coming back to this year’s team,” Manzella said. “So they are going to step into the rotation.”
Offensively, All-League players junior Tyler McKillop and senior Logan Curran will make their way back to the lineup after impressive 2023 seasons. McKillop batted .384 last season and will be Bayport’s shortstop this year. “He’s probably one of the top players in our league this year,” Manzella said.
Curran batted .347 last season with one home run and 14 RBIs in 2023. “Those two guys will be on the field all the time,” Manzella said.
Guytano Kiesel (Bayport-Blue Point 2025) rips a bases clearing double to give fivestar a 9-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth pic.twitter.com/jfPUTdQjHJ
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 22, 2023
St Joseph’s-commit, senior Nick Karafantis will be a key returner for Manzella and his new team. Junior Guytano Kiesel will return with a .361 OBP and 11 RBIs as the starting catcher. “He’s probably one of the best catchers I’ve seen, “ Manzella said. “He’s going to be one of the top catchers in the county.”
Two JV players also caught the attention of Manzella now as Juniors on the Varsity team with Cooper Fuller and Brady Gelan. Fuller was 7-0 on JV last season.
Really solid bullpen from uncommitted RHP Cooper Fuller (Bayport-Blue Point 2025)
Commanded 3 pitches well. Slider dotted on the outside corner to righties consistently. Tough 3/4 arm slot
Had a great summer, compiling a 2.73 ERA over 41 innings with 50 Ks for LI Strong pic.twitter.com/GsxA6ks7MO
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 18, 2024
Going from his success last year to a perennially successful program, Manzella is always focused on the main goal of any team he’s coaching. “Our goal is to always win a league championship,” Manzella explained. “But it’s always in progression. Making the playoffs is always your first goal then, the League Championship, County Championship, Long Island championship, and states. For me, I set my standards and my goals high and I think this team can compete for a County Title.”
With a coaching change, Manzella will have the ability to continue the same success from West Babylon, now to Bayport Blue-Point.
Bayport will start its season at home against Mattituck on March 25
