Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Adrianna Armani
With a new season on the horizon, the Southampton High School baseball team is locking in, ready to turn months of hard work into results on the field. After an intense offseason focused on strength training, skill development, and team chemistry, the Mariners are stepping into the upcoming campaign with confidence and a hunger to compete at the highest level.
Coach Zach Epley has been at the heart of the team’s preparation, ensuring that every player is ready for the challenges ahead. In a candid interview, Epley shared his thoughts on the team’s mindset heading into the season, the breakout players to watch, and why this year’s squad has the potential to be one of the strongest Southampton has seen in recent years.
When asked how the team prepared for the off-season to get ready for this year, he responded, “Yes, we have been working out twice a week since January. Several players on the team participate year-round in various travel teams.After the February break, we will increase our training to three days a week, along with some optional workouts.
Our expectations are high for this season; we aim to make the playoffs.” He also mentioned, “This team has a fantastic group of returning players. Four years ago, there were only six kids in the 10th through 12th grades, and over the last three years, I have only graduated two players. That freshman class is now entering their senior year, so I have a good number of seniors and juniors. Many of them have been playing varsity for the past three years.
When asked how the chemistry of the team has evolved since last season, he replied, “I’s been great! While we’ll miss the seniors, a lot of our core is back. Most of them are three-year, and maybe even some four-year varsity players. For example, Daniel McDonald is a senior, and this is his fifth year; he has been on varsity since eighth grade.”
This year, the team is filled with energy and eager for this year’s matchups, particularly against Center Moriches and Babylon. Their primary goal is to defeat Babylon, as Coach Zach Epley believes he knows the competition well. Since it’s a smaller league, they play the same teams each year, which makes them feel well-prepared to compete against every team in the league.
As for newcomers and stars of the team, Daniel McDonnell is returning for another season and has been named All-League for the past few years. He compiled a 2.10 ERA last season over 45.1 innings with a 58:7 K:BB ratio. At the plate, he batted .362 with a .486 OBP. Coach Epley stated, “He’s probably one of the best players in the league, if not the best. I rely on him for shortstop, pitching, and hitting; he can do it all.” As a fifth-year varsity player, he plans to play college baseball after high school at Roger Williams University. With his bright future ahead, this team looks ready for the upcoming season.
RHP Daniel McDonnell (Southampton 2025) gets the 8-1 win against Yeti 8-1. 6 IP giving up 4 hits with 1 ER. Nasty CB! @axcessbaseball @PBR_Uncommitted @PG_Uncommitted @TopTier_HQ @TopTierBaseball @danielmcd2_ pic.twitter.com/EX5GzQW41z
— Top Tier Aviators LI NY (@TopTierAviators) June 27, 2024
James Dudley is the team’s catcher and is currently in his third year as a starter on the varsity squad. He earned All-League honors last year after batting .310 with a .388 OBP. He is known for his strong presence behind the plate. Thomas Crawford, a junior this year, is expected to make a significant impact on the pitching mound. This winter, he was clocked topping out at 88 mph, showcasing his powerful fastball. He fired 29.2 innings with 36 strikeouts last year.
The team works well together, and their chemistry and dynamics keep them focused. They are all friends outside of baseball and participate in various activities together, such as team workouts, meals, and other shared events. Elijah Bella, a senior and an All-League player from two years ago. He batted .312 with a .468 OBP last year. He has been a part of the team for four years. Jackson Romanow is also a four-year varsity player on the team. Along with Elijah and Daniel, he serves as one of the captains this year. The three of them share a close friendship.
End of 1: Bayport-Blue Point put up 3 runs in the top of the first, Southampton answered right back with 3 of their own. 2-run 2-out double by Jackson Romanow pic.twitter.com/yiUaBdhMpX
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 29, 2024
Any final goals for the season? He replied, “Yes, I’m looking forward to it. This is a great team. The last time I felt this optimistic was during the 2020 season, which ended up being canceled because of COVID. However, we did win the small school Brookhaven tournament, going undefeated.”
The Mariners will open their season against Center Moriches on March 31.
