Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Joe Bello
Brian LoRusso heads into his 3rd year as head coach for the Locust Valley Falcons in 2025. While competing in a highly competitive Class A conference last season, they finished with a record of 2-18 and missed the playoffs.
“We were extremely young with multiple middle schoolers on the roster.” LoRusso said. “We will still be young again this year but we are hoping to be able to bridge the gap to compete. Despite being as young as we were, we fielded to a 91% success rate, which is something to build off of.”
They only graduated one senior last year, center fielder Kyle Prisco.
Junior shortstop and pitcher Liam Baker is going into his 4th year starting on varsity. He was awarded All-League honors last season, the only award winner for the team.
Most of the Locust Valley roster stays intact for the 2025 season, as they return 12 of their 13 players.
Baker will be a big piece on both sides of the ball for the Falcons. He threw a lot of innings as a sophomore in 2024, and enters the 2025 season in the closer role for LoRusso’s club. While offensively, Baker can bring it as well, he hit .358 last year. All of this while leading the team up the middle at shortstop and having a 95% fielding rate.
“He played some huge games as a young 8th and 9th grader on varsity so we put a lot on him to be a captain as a 10th grader.” LoRusso said. “I expect him to grow as a leader and continue to push our program standards to new heights. He’s absolutely capable of being a .400 bat with some pop, a lockdown SS and a major arm for us out of the pen in the low to mid 80s.”
Junior Ryan Sullivan will make an impact in the lineup once again for the Falcons.
“He can play every position and batted second last year. A plus baseball IQ kid who hits to all fields.” LoRusso said.
Senior Sean Lyons is coming off an injury but he should play a big role in the starting rotation this season.
“Chris Gianoukakis had most innings pitched last year with plus command. He’s a competitor.” LoRusso said. Gianoukakis, senior, will also look to contribute to the rotation in big ways during the 2025 campaign.
LoRusso knows having a young roster will open up unique opportunities for many to become impact players for multiple years.
“With a very young program.” LoRusso said. “We have the interesting potential to have many 4, 5, and 6 year varsity players to come down the pike.”
Mason Terrana is one of those players who will become a rare 6-year varsity player at Locust Valley. Terrana played all over the field last year as a 7th grader, he has a chance to be a serious threat on offense while also pitching. This year as an 8th grader, Terrana brings 80+ mph stuff on the mound with a good 3 pitch mix.
Another young player LoRusso will lean on for innings on the mound is freshman Cole Corey, who competed against some of the top teams in Class A last season as an 8th grader.
“Left handed pitcher who has made some strides in his velocity and command.” LoRusso said. “He should contribute with heavy innings this year.”
LoRusso’s Falcons have begun winter workouts in preparation for the quickly approaching season.
“We have a dedicated group that is taking strides forward as they grow and mature.” LoRusso said.
“We have been preaching getting back to the fundamentals of getting 1% better everyday in our training to win ball games.” LoRusso said. “Have an approach and stick to that approach which will allow us to compete. You have to want it more than the other guy you’re competing against. We are optimistic for our guys to grow as ballplayers and young men and hopefully wins will be a byproduct of the hard work.”
The young and hungry Locust Valley Falcons will begin their season on March 29th against the Carle Place Frogs.
