Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by George Caratzas
Oceanside 10, Port Washington 2
WP: Patrick Pallentino (6ip 1ER 4 Ks)Luke Villella: 3 for 5 3 singles 3 RBIs
Jake Lunenfeld: 3 for 4, 2B and 2 singles 2 RBIs
Justin Alvarez: HR, 2 RBI’s
Sean Varon: 2 for 3 pic.twitter.com/tFPbm2Oaor— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 17, 2023
2024 was a tale of two seasons for the Oceanside Sailors. After starting 8-3, the Sailors dropped seven of their final nine regular season ball games and lost two of three to Plainview JFK in the playoffs.
Oceanside also lost nine seniors to graduation, including much of its pitching staff. Nonetheless, head coach Mike Postilio is confident that the Sailors will be able to overcome those losses.
“We’ve got depth,” Postilio told Axcess Baseball. “Some of these other schools might have a couple of good guys but we’re lucky enough that we have some younger guys that did really well for us last year.”
Arguably Oceanside’s biggest loss came even before the curtain was drawn on last season. Prior to the Sailors’ game on April 18 at Massapequa, outfielder and captain Jake Lunenfeld broke his wrist diving for a ball in the outfield during warmups. The team was riding high after a 7-5 win over Massapequa the day prior, but according to Postilio, the loss of Lunenfeld derailed the back half of the season.
“We ended up losing that game and then losing three more in a row after that which messed up our playoff seeding,” Postilio said. “That changed our season drastically coming off a really big win and to have our best player get hurt in warmups was tough.”
Lunenfeld — who did not allow an earned run all season — has since graduated, leaving Postilio tasked with replacing his production. Leading that effort is pitcher and infielder Luke Villella who is committed to play college ball at the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Villella was named a co-captain with Lunenfeld last season and ended up getting selected to the All-County team. In his junior year, he hit .382 with 26 hits, 20 runs scored, 15 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.
“He is a two-time All-County player and I expect another All-County season from him,” Postilio said. “He leads on the field and off the field … he leads by example and does everything to exude leadership.”
Heading to South Carolina Aiken with Villella will be teammate Kyle Scheurer. Batting out of the leadoff spot, Scheurer was an All-Conference center fielder for the Sailors after hitting .317. He also tallied 20 hits, 20 runs scored and 21 steals.
Kyle Scheurer (Oceanside 2025) continues his torrid weekend with an RBI double and he’s now 7-for-7 in the tournament pic.twitter.com/nQGpFxGkhi
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 23, 2024
“The kid is one of the fastest players we’ve ever had,” Postilio said. “He plays a phenomenal center field and is just always competing.”
Both Villella and Scheurer also spend time on the mound and will play key roles in the depleted rotation.
“We’re going to have to plug a couple kids from last year’s JV team and maybe find some guys that never really got the opportunity to pitch before,” Postilio said. “Those two guys along with Dylan [Beirne] are proven.”
Postilio will pencil Beirne into his ace slot as the Adelphi-bound senior struck out 40 batters in 28 innings.
“He’s the ace,” Postilio said. “When he throws the ball, it’s just so effortless and he has really sound mechanics. The ball absolutely flies out of his hand with really good secondary stuff. He is very hard to hit.”
Three more names that will help the Sailors’ pitching crew are seniors Dan Pignataro, Jake Ducorsky and Alex Merejo.
“These guys are going to get an opportunity,” Postilio said. “Dan pitched for us last year in relief but we may be looking at him in a bit more of a starter’s role.”
Jack Regan — a junior who found success last year— will be a fixture on the left side of the infield. He tallied 16 hits and seven RBI across his sophomore campaign.
“Jack is getting better every year that he’s been with us,” Postilio said. “We’re expecting a big year out of him. He is starting to realize the things that he does best and how he can do that repeatedly. His swing is looking simpler and has just had a great offseason in the cage. Jack has a high desire to win and plays that way.”
Three more players that will round out Postilio’s starting lineup are catcher Ryan Pender, outfielder Ryan Piccola and second baseman Matt Vlahakis.
Pender served as the team’s primary backstop in his sophomore campaign.
“He’s becoming a more vocal leader for us,” Postilio said. “You can never expect ninth and tenth grade guys to jump up to varsity and act like they’re ready to play college baseball but he is progressing really nicely. He is another kid that should be playing college by the time he graduates out of here.”
Piccola on the other hand is committed to play at the next level once he moves to Rosemont College.
“Ryan is someone that we’re looking to have another big season for us,” Postilio said. “He played a decent amount as a junior but is going to be someone we lean on to fill one of the vacant spots in the outfield.”
As for Vlahakis, he enters his freshman year of high school already having varsity experience. Upon getting called up as an eighth grader, Vlahakis hit .295 in limited playing time and figures to be a big piece of the Sailors’ 2025 plans.
“He started playoff games for us last year,” Postilio said. “He was an eighth grader but you would’ve never known based on the way that he played.”
Despite having more than enough options to replace the losses that Oceanside sustained, Postilio has not finalized as his opening day lineup will be an open competition. One of the big questions is the alignment of the left-side of the infield as both Villella and Regan are capable at both spots. Merejo, as well as senior J.J. Kemmesat are also in the fold to get playing time.
“Nothing is set in stone yet outside of a couple kids,” Postilio said. “The positive of that is that the kids know that if they work, there will be opportunities for them. They know that they will have to work for playing time and I think on the athletes level, that’s what you want.”
Whatever the starting nine looks like, Postilio will put his lineup to the test for the first time on April 3 against Garden City.
