LUHI WALKS IT OFF IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Matthew Muzikant drives in the games only run in the seventh inning to win it 1-0. pic.twitter.com/tOTIn8YKzE
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2024
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Tucker Terranova
Long Island Lutheran has long been synonymous with high school basketball excellence. With both the boys’ and girls’ teams consistently ranked among the nation’s top programs, LuHi has established itself as a powerhouse, producing elite talent year after year. Yet, amid the basketball program’s dominance, the school’s other athletic programs have long been overlooked in the public eye.
Head Coach Shaun Manning is working to change that narrative.
Now in his sixth season at the helm, Manning believes the culture surrounding LuHi baseball has transformed for the better.
As a smaller school, LuHi offers Manning the advantage of coaching players for up to five years, a rare continuity that accelerates development. Facing older, more experienced competition has forced his players to mature quickly, and the results are beginning to show.
“I think our team brings a certain level of toughness. We’ve played a tough schedule over the last couple of years when most of this team was freshmen and sophomores,” Manning told Axcess Baseball. “We’ve taken some lumps along the way. While the games weren’t very close a few years ago, recently, we’ve been competing with the best teams on the island.”
That resilience has translated into success, as LuHi has captured four consecutive Private School Athletic Association (PSAA) championships.
Now, the Crusaders are taking on a new challenge. This season, they will step away from the PSAA to compete as an independent, embarking on a grueling 23-game schedule against top-tier competition.
“We will be playing one of the tougher schedules in the state,” Manning said. “Our schedule features matchups against ranked opponents like Poly Prep and Stony Brook, as well as a return to NSCHSAA Opening Day against St. John the Baptist. Additionally, we will face every Catholic League team at least once, adding to an already competitive slate.”
Fortunately for Manning, the roster turnover is minimal. Seven of LuHi’s nine starters from last season return, with only three seniors graduating.
Junior Matthew Muzikant, the Crusaders’ projected shortstop, leads the way as a player with two years of varsity experience. Along with anchoring the infield, Muzikant will provide much-needed pitching depth as LuHi looks to replace the production of Troy Vigilis and Ivan Epps. He delivered the walk-off single in the 2024 PSAA Championship Game and has already attracted Division-I interest.
Matthew Muzikant (LuHi 2026) pic.twitter.com/MoQ9RyE0c9
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 9, 2024
Junior Matthew Garib will patrol center field and provide innings on the mound. He has drawn attention from both Division-I and II programs. Meanwhile, junior Timothy Peguero and senior Tyler Persampire will split time behind the plate and in the infield. Junior Frederick Von Bargen will play first base and contribute innings on the mound.
Among the underclassmen, Manning highlighted switch-hitting middle infielder Kayden Bates as a player to watch. Bates, already receiving Division-I interest, brings promise to the lineup. Additionally, RHP/3B TJ Borzumato, a transfer from Archbishop Molloy HS, will be called upon early in the season.
Tim Peguero (LuHi 2026) pic.twitter.com/0F6kBYKL15
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 9, 2024
A reliance on younger talent is nothing new for Manning. LuHi has historically fielded one of the youngest teams on the island, but their continued success over the past few years proves that youth does not equate to inexperience.
“Going through the battle of a tough schedule in years past has prepared us for what they will face this season,” Manning stated. “Having a sophomore and junior-heavy program with the experience of doing it already is a unique situation. It’s rare for freshmen and sophomores to get varsity-level at-bats against elite varsity competition.”
While relying on underclassmen often signals a lack of depth or talent, that isn’t the case for LuHi. The Crusaders have a proven track record of developing college-level players, with recent alumni including Marcus Harrison (Bentley), Epps (Manhattan), Tommy Bressmer (St. Peter’s), and Jack Coogan (Molloy). Each spent multiple years in the program, helping to establish a culture of work ethic and development.
Head Coach Shaun Manning believes that list will continue to grow, crediting the foundation laid by past players.
“Our team has an incredible work ethic—they’re in the gym year-round,” Manning said. “We have multiple programs in place, giving players access to the weight room and coaching staff, and they take full advantage of it. Even though our offseason programs are optional, we’ve had 95% attendance so far. That just speaks to the commitment these kids have, not only to what we’re building but to their goal of playing at the next level.”
To establish itself as one of Long Island’s premier baseball programs, LuHi’s commitment must extend beyond just the coaches and players, it requires full support from the athletic department as well. With a track record of building successful programs, the school fully believes in Manning’s vision and the foundation he is creating.
“The school has been phenomenal to me, that’s part of the reason I took this job in the first place,” Manning said. “They told me they would give me whatever I needed, and they’ve been more than willing to help.”
What Manning once described as a “recreational club” has since transformed into a fully-recruited baseball program. This season, the Crusaders will travel to Florida for competition, with plans to visit the Dominican Republic in 2026 to further prepare for the challenges of a demanding schedule.
With a rigorous slate ahead, Manning believes this season will be the culmination of years of development.
“They’re battle-tested and tough,” he said. “I think it’s going to pay off this year and in the future. We’re a team that should be in consideration for some rankings this season.”
LuHi opens its season on March 12 against Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School.
