(Photo Credit: Mari Barnett)
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
Final: Bridgehampton 11, Amityville 1
WP: Kai Alversa (CG, 1 R, 1 R, 2 BB, 16 Ks)Foard: 2 hits, 2 R, 3 RBIs pic.twitter.com/EjVnK6mYHe
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 4, 2024
by George Caratzas
Entering its fourth year since reviving its baseball program, the Bridgehampton Killer Bees have taken a 6-12 season in 2022 and turned it into consecutive Class D regional appearances. This year, they are hungry to get past a familiar foe. A year ago, the Killer Bees completed their second straight winning season under head coach Lou Liberatore but ultimately fell to Chapel Field in the regional round for the second straight year.
While coming up short of the end goal, Liberatore sees last season as a building block for a roster that returns eight players from last year’s bunch.
“Playing a great team like Chapel Field in back-to-back regional title games has made us a much better team,” Liberatore said in an interview with Axcess Baseball. “We fielded a team of primarily underclassmen the last two years and I feel like those two games have made them really hungry going into this season.”
The biggest piece that will not return for Bridgehampton is catcher Milo Tompkins, who was named the League Most Valuable Player in 2023. In his junior year, Tompkins put up numbers that mimicked Bridgehampton alum and MLB Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. The backstop was named to the All-County team two years ago after batting .583 with three home runs and 16 stolen bases.
Nonetheless, Liberatore is more than confident in his replacement.
“We got a great transfer in Jaylen Harding that is going to fit right into what we’re trying to do,” Liberatore said. “We don’t expect Jaylen to try to be Milo, they are completely different players. Jaylen is an incredible athlete that looks to play fast. He is going to steal a ton of bags, manage a great game behind the plate and put a lot of balls in play to put pressure on the defense.”
Speed and athleticism will without a doubt be the identity of the Bridgehampton offense, starting with its leadoff hitter — shortstop Tate Foard.
While also getting time on the mound, Foard compiled a stellar sophomore season leading to his to name being called as an All-League player. In 2024, he batted .333 while reaching base at a .541 clip. Playing to Liberatore’s speed-first mantra, Foard has swiped 29 bags over the past two years. His ability on the field is just as important as his off the field presence, as Foard was tabbed to be the team’s captain this season.
“He’s the captain,” Liberatore said. “He is like an extension of the coaching staff but on the field. He knows the game in and out and does a little bit of everything for us. He’s going to play shortstop, he’s going to pitch and he’s going to leadoff the game from the left side with really good at bats.”
Helping Foard at the top of the order are utility men Shawn Gnyp and Ari Kardaras . Gnyp — who splits time between the outfield and first base — was an All-League selection last season, after hitting .303 and stealing 14 bases. Kardaras was the ultimate safety valve for Liberatore as he hit .279 with 14 hits while spending time at five different positions over the course of the season. Those two, along with Ali’s twin brother and pitcher Alexi Kardaras act as leaders as all three are set to graduate at year’s end.
“Those three are just examples of guys that do everything the right way,” Liberatore said. “They play hard, they play fast, they’re tough. They really set the example of who we want to be to the other guys.”
While the speedy offense certainly figures to torment opposing defenses, Bridgehampton’s true strength lies on the mound. Heading the staff is junior left hander Kai Alversa, who went 4-1 as the team’s ace last year.
Alversa — who was awarded an all-league honor — threw 35 innings while striking out 57 batters and pitching to a minuscule 1.20 ERA. He also chipped in at the plate, hitting .340 with 17 hits.
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
“Our team has so much confidence in him because he is the most prepared pitcher you’ll be around,” Liberatore said. “Nobody takes their craft more seriously than him. In my eyes he is the best pitcher in the league and every time he takes the mound we’ve got a great chance of winning, regardless of who we’re playing.”
Filling out the back of the Killer Bees’ four-man rotation is Foard, senior Alexi Kardaras and sophomore Elliot McGonegal. Liberatore feels comfortable that as a whole, the rotation will be tough on opposing hitters.
“While Kai is the ace, we’ve got confidence in all four guys,” Liberatore said. “We’ve got confidence that all four guys are going to pound the zone, throw secondary pitches for strikes and go out there and compete. The big thing for us is whenever guys take the mound, we want them to compete like a bulldog and the guys that are behind them really appreciate that.”
An interesting name that will anchor the bottom of Bridgehampton’s batting order is second baseman Finn Alversa, the brother of the team’s ace. After injuries plagued the Killer Bees last season, Alversa was called up late in the year as a seventh grader.
“Finn and Kai both eat, sleep and breathe baseball,” Liberatore said. “[Finn] did a great job when he was called up because the kid is a real baseball player. He’s as tough as they come on a baseball field and I think he gets a lot of respect from opponents for that. He was a little overmatched at times, but he is a guy that we look forward to seeing in the spring because of the growth he showed last year.”
Despite losing their most potent bat, Liberatore still feels strongly about the level of on-field ability possessed by this iteration of the Killer Bees.
“I would say that this is the most talented team we’ve had since our revival,” Liberatore said. “These guys are ready to go.”
Bridgehampton will open its season on Monday, March 31 at home against Greenport.
