Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Joe Bello
Here is the Gamechanger player of the game…..Jayden Gigante.
Gigante went 4-5 breaking the 4-4 tie in the fourth to give his team the lead, 6-4. pic.twitter.com/i9NWeduZwC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 8, 2024
Doug Robins is revving up for his 26th season as a high school baseball head coach. The 2025 season will be his 7th at H. Frank Carey High School, and he is looking forward to another season of competitive baseball for the Seahawks.
“In 2024 we played a very tough schedule in playing Division, Garden City, Calhoun, New Hyde Park, and Roslyn.” Robins said. “We finished in 3rd place and were one game away from the first place team in the standings. We played in 5 Elimination games during the playoff run, going 4-1 in which I was very proud of the team’s mental toughness.”
The Seahawks battled their way to a 18-9 record during the 2024 campaign. They made the playoffs, got past No.1 seed MacArthur and Mepham but lost in the semifinals to Bellmore in a 3-game series.
Unfortunately for Robins, they lost some talented players due to their graduation in 2024. Matteo Tufano, who was a 2-time All-County award winner and named first team All-Long Island in 2024, has now moved on to playing at Queens College on a scholarship. They also lost Rob Nunez who is playing at Purchase College, Dom Ruggiero who is playing at Queensborough College, as well as Justin Babiak and Christian Boswell.
Jayden Gigante stays hot with a double just inside the 3rd base line for Next Level pic.twitter.com/pESpvuRvmv
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 29, 2024
Rounding out the 2024 award winners for Carey were sophomore Jayden Gigante, awarded All-County, and sophomore Tristan Hickis, who was named All-Conference.
Gigante, who is a junior, heads into his 4th year starting on varsity for the Seahawks. He was awarded All-Conference honors during his 8th and 9th grade seasons before winning All-County as a 10th grader in 2024. The St. John’s University commit batted .444 with 40 hits and 21 RBI last season, and once again will be an important piece of the lineup for Robins’ club.
“Jayden is a five-tool player. He’s an old school type of player.” Robins said. “As successful as he has been, he’s always working and striving to improve as a player. In my opinion he is a Diamond Award type of baseball player with the skills he possesses.”
Also looking to contribute this season will be seniors Jack Degnan, Jacob Daddino, Nick Medoro, Jon Millan and Nicholas Taranto, who is committed to Albertus Magnus College.
Daddino will be a big piece of the Seahawks starting rotation for the 2025 season. The 6’3” lefty has gotten a big jump in velocity, now sitting at 86-88 mph while topping at 90 mph on the mound. The work that Daddino put in during the offseason will pay off as we head into the season.
Uncommitted 6’3 LHP Jacob Daddino (Carey 2025) sitting 86-88 T90 CH 79-80 MPH pic.twitter.com/RajTBCuBAe
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) December 14, 2024
“Jacob Daddino has increased 8-10 mph from last spring.” Robins said. “He has dedicated himself to his arm strength program and has jumped up in the summer and then made another jump this fall. I’m looking forward to watching him and the rest of the staff go out and compete.”
Rounding out the pitching staff is Hickis, Degnan, Micheal Agostino and Ryan Kunkel, all of whom will be battling it out for the top three spots in the rotation this season.
While behind the plate, Dom Peluso and Brody Kennedy will both look to see action during the 2025 season.
Tristan Hickis (Carey 2026) starting on the mound for Next Level Sticks. pic.twitter.com/Ef1AQ3FBm2
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 28, 2024
While he did lose some talented players because of graduation, Robins is excited for some of the younger guys on the roster to step up and build off their play last season.
“Juniors Jon Carlo Carbone, Michael Agostino and Mark Vera will be looked upon to continue the success they had last year.” Robins said. “All three players play tremendous defense and can run the bases very well.”
The Seahawks will once again be a force to reckon with this season. As with the experience of their 2024 playoff run, they will look to repeat and get even further this spring.
“My 2025 outlook is that the team is battle tested from last year’s season.” Robins said. “Between the weight room and winter workouts, we are ready to compete this spring season.”
The Carey Seahawks will open up their season facing their cross town rival, the Garden City Trojans, on April 7th.
