Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Joe Bello
Final: Connetquot 4, Walt Whitman 0
WP: Nick Pepitone (CG shutout, 2 hits, 15 Ks, 3 BBs)Connetquot is moving on! They will face the loser of Commack-Sachem North on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/aN0VNGIuOG
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 21, 2024
Robert Burger is heading into his 6th year as the head coach of the baseball team at Connetquot High School, and his 26th year coaching in the district. The Thunderbirds skipper is expecting another season full of success this spring.
“After finishing the regular season with an 18-6 record and clinching the League II Championship, we were eliminated in the semifinals.” Burger said. “We lost our first playoff game which took place over a two-day period. We then beat Smithtown East, Longwood and Walt Whitman in elimination games to finish our season one game away from the county championship. That playoff run lights the fire for our returning players. We are playoff tested and ready to take that next step.”
Burger put emphasis on how tough Connetquot’s league was in 2024, with all three of the final teams in the Suffolk County playoffs being from League II. The Thunderbirds stepped up with an impressive regular season to win the league with an 18-6 record. Burger was named League II Coach of the Year.
“Winning 18 games was great, but ultimately, winning championships is the expectation for Connetquot Baseball.” Burger said.
Burger will be without some of his talent from the 2024 season due to graduation. Ryan Kiendle has moved on and is playing at St. John’s University this season. Tony Gagliardo is playing at Dominican College and ace Nick Pepitone is playing at Endicott College.
St. John’s-commit Ryan Kiendle closing out the 7-3 victory for Connetquot pic.twitter.com/pbwCsZSFP2
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 21, 2023
The Thunderbirds team featured three award winnings players last spring. Jagger Adamo, DJ Filippone and Mike Empaynado all were awarded All-League honors.
Adamo, who is a junior, hit .302 with 17 RBIs as the starting shortstop for Connetquot last season.
“Jagger Adamo started every game at shortstop and didn’t disappoint.” Burger said. “He was dynamic defensively and batted at the top of the order. His ability to recognize pitches and work counts is next level. He led the team in runs batted in. His discipline at the plate is unmatched. This is the year we expect him to take that next step.”
Filippone was outstanding in 2024 as a two-way player for the T-Birds. He hit .311 with 13 RBIs as a hitter and had an impressive 0.53 ERA in 41 innings as a pitcher.
“DJ Filippone was a two-way stud.” Burger said. “He dominated on the mound and in the batter’s box. For a sophomore to come in and do what he did is not really heard of. He has put the time in to make a huge jump this upcoming year, His fastball is in the mid 80’s and he has really worked on his mechanical approach on the mound. His balance is greatly improved and now has command of other pitches which he can throw for strikes at any time. The sky’s the limit for this kid.”
DJ Filippone (Connetquot 2026) pic.twitter.com/5gTBxjt8iC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 18, 2023
Empaynado, senior, rounds out the award winners for Connetquot, he hit .346 last season with 14 RBIs.
“We return All-League and Farmingdale commit, Mike Empaynado.” Burger said. “Mike led the team in average and is looking to take his game to the next level. Mike is our guy, he’s a very coachable kid and our team rallied behind him. He has really spent the off-season working on improving his overall game.”
1B Michael Empaynado (Connetquot 2025) max exit velo 86 MPH @PBRNewYork pic.twitter.com/FSqJvhGQ4u
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 16, 2023
They also return many seniors that will have a major impact on the team in the 2025 season. This includes St. Thomas Aquinas-commit Dylan Wilkinson, who will be headlining the Connetquot pitching staff this spring.
“Dylan did everything for us last year and is one of our leaders.” Burger said. “His fastball is in the mid 80’s but he has worked tirelessly in the off-season perfecting his other pitches. He is poised to have a monster year. He will start games and also act as a closer when he is needed. There is not much Dylan can’t do.”
The entire 2024 T-Birds outfield returns for another season as well. An outfield that features St. Joseph’s-commit Andrew Amarando, New Paltz-commit Joe Scarabino and Misericodia-commit Dylan Cerone. This is a trio that Burger labels as “the best outfield trio in Suffolk County.”
Brandon Bartick will play a full season this year after tearing his ACL during a scrimmage last spring. The College of Staten Island commit will look to be a serious impact in the lineup during the 2025 campaign.
“Brandon tore his ACL in our first scrimmage last March and lost his junior season.” Burger said. “Every guy on our team is rooting for him. He is a five-tool player that has All-County potential. He worked his butt off in the off-season to be ready for what lies ahead. He will play infield and pitch for us as well. He has a cannon for an arm. Some other impact players are senior Aaron Pace, senior Santino Capozzola, and Maritime-commit senior Liam Murphy who we fully expect to make that jump this upcoming season.”
The T-Birds started doing offseason workouts way back in September and Burger says that the momentum has carried into their winter workouts which are currently ongoing.
All in all, the T-Birds are bringing a talented roster full of experience into the 2025 season and will be a force to reckon with in Suffolk County.
“We before me. That’s our message this year.” Burger said. “We will go as far as our pitching takes us and this year we have depth. We have three to four guys competing for the third spot in the rotation which leaves us with plenty of arms out of the bullpen. Our lineup is experienced as seven players return from last year. Our JV team won their league last year and those players will help us fill some depth spots on our team.”
The Connetquot Thunderbirds open up their 2025 schedule against the Lindenhurst Bulldogs on April 1st.
