Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by George Caratzas
Coming into 2024, the Rocky Point Eagles had made the playoffs for a decade straight. Unfortunately for them, that streak came to an end as the Eagles went 9-11 in head coach Anthony Anzalone’s sixth at the helm.
Despite losing some key pieces, Anzalone believes that his team is prepared to make sure that Rocky Point does not start a playoff drought.
“We have experienced seniors who went through a rough time last year and don’t want to feel that way again,” Anzalone said in an interview with Axcess Baseball. “They’ve also been on some pretty good teams so they’ve seen all ends of the spectrum. They’ve come in this offseason with a great mindset and a great work ethic and are ready to have a lot of success this year.”
The biggest difference between this year and last year will be the absence of shortstop AJ Aschettino — who claimed the league Most Valuable Player award in 2023.
Rocky Point 17, Comsewogue 7
WP: LoughlinAJ Aschettino: 3-R HR, 4 RBIs
Dom Viggiano: 4 RBIs
Tyler Maggio: 2 hits, 3 Runs, 2 RBIs
Anthony Viggiano: 2 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBIs pic.twitter.com/zJEFO7PfZH— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 13, 2023
“He was our shortstop, he was our two hitter, he was our leader,” Anzalone said. “He breathes Rocky Point baseball through and through. To lose a guy like that is tough. Now he’s at Northeastern battling for a spot up there, so certainly a big loss.”
With Aschettino gone, Anzalone will rely on a much younger cast of hitters to produce offense for the Eagles.
“We’re not really at liberty to not use the younger guys,” Anzalone said. “This has benefited us in the last 20 years when we throw guys into the fire and tell them ‘go get a job done.’ More often than not they’ve been able to come through.”
Leading the lineup is senior outfielder Ryan Loughlin.
Loughlin — who was not considered much of an offensive threat entering last year — was one of Rocky Point’s best hitters, batting .412 over the course of the season. The SUNY Plattsburgh commit posted an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .900 and had the most hits of any Eagles’ returner with 26. He also scored 15 runs.
“We want him to continue what he started last season,” Anzalone said. “He was originally only a pitcher and last year we stuck him in left field. He ended up being our best hitter average wise for the entire year. He was our toughest out. Was constantly on base and can steal bases for us as well. He is the definition of a gritty, tough out.”
Loughlin is also one of Anzalone’s two aces on the mound as he will join senior pitcher Vito Spadafina atop Rocky Point’s rotation.
Spadafina — who is headed to SUNY Cobleskill — leads all returners in innings pitched as he hurled 41 ⅔ innings in 2024. In those frames, he pitched to a 2.86 earned run average (ERA). Loughlin had a great year in his own right, pitching to a 2.08 ERA in 40 ⅓ innings while striking out a team-high 35 batters.
The presence of two top-notch arms will allow Anzalone to have great flexibility in his pitching plans.
“We are going to play things by matchups with those two,” Anzalone said. “You can tell Ryan that he is getting the ball on a given day or tell Vito that he is pitching and either one is going to go out, compete and do a great job.”
Dominic Pavlicko (Rocky Point 2026) enters in relief for the Rangers
Rangers 3 – Phenom 0
Top fifth pic.twitter.com/WmW9NdjJLk— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 7, 2024
While Rocky Point has not settled on a third starter, junior Dominick Pavlinko is a surefire contender to get that job. Pavlinko only threw nine innings last season, but held a 3.11 ERA.
Back on offense, shortstop and SUNY Plattsburgh commit Tyler Maggio is the frontrunner to take over Aschettino’s spot. In 74 at bats as a junior last season, Maggio hit .353 with an OPS of .802. He also notched three doubles and drove in eight runs.
“Maggio is going to be our everyday shortstop,” Anzalone said. “He should be one of if not the biggest hitter we have in the lineup this year. He has a lot of experience in different parts of the game and different parts of the lineup.”
Joining Maggio as his double play partner will be junior second baseman Tyler Callahan. Callahan did not play much last year but profiles as a big piece of Anzalone’s group in 2025.
“Callahan is one of those ‘buy-in’ guys and he knows what we expect of him,’” Anzalone said. “He has worked hard to make sure he’s ready for the season so we’re really excited to see what he gives us this year.”
The last piece to the puzzle is outfielder Jackson Marte, who will serve as the Eagles centerfielder and leadoff hitter. Marte played in all 20 of Rocky Point’s games last season, hitting .294 and reaching base at a .419 clip. He notched 15 hits and 13 runs scored for the Eagles in his junior campaign.
“He’s a tremendous athlete with a great work ethic,” Anzalone said. “He is always the last guy in the cage trying to get more swings and is always striving to get better and a great teammate. On the baseball side, he does a great job in centerfield with a plus arm and is a threat on the base paths. We’re looking for him to sneak on base any way that he can over the course of the year.”
When he isn’t pitching Spadafina will man first base and split time with sophomore Collin Ark. Additionally, senior Connor Seplavy will handle the duties behind the plate.
For Rocky Point, the down season last year does not change Anzalone’s overall end-goal.
“From the beginning of time, the goal is always to play into June,” Anzalone said. “The expectation does not change. Even though we didn’t make the playoffs last year, we never had the thought of not playing into June. If you think any differently, you shouldn’t be doing it. The expectations do not change, the desire to do it does not change, now it’s just a matter of going out there and getting it done on the field.”
The Eagles’ trek to return to the playoffs will begin on the road on April 1 against Kings Park.
