West Virginia-commit Luke Coats on the win for St. Anthony’s pic.twitter.com/jH8Ky6MXBV
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 25, 2025
4 games in one location in front of a packed house at Moriches Athletic Complex. Baseball fans were treated to an absolute perfect setting for Opening Day of the Catholic League.
It was an incredible pitching match up between the reigning champs, St. Anthony’s, against the Kellenberg Firebirds. The Friars sent West Virginia-commit Luke Coats against Miami-commit Jack Durso. A handful of MLB scouts were on hand anticipating a tremendous pitcher’s duel.
St. Anthony’s got off to a quick start in the top of the first. A leadoff single by Stony Brook-commit Jacob Vaccariello, HBP of West Virginia-commit CJ Alfano and a single to left by Phil Mazzola had them in prime position to put a crooked run on the board. Durso nearly escaped unscathed after a strikeout of Alex Bono and a comebacker to the mound. After he threw home for the force out, the throw to first got away and allowed Alfano to score the first run of the game.
Coats worked a scoreless first inning with two strikeouts, which was a them of his outing as he struck out two batters in the second inning and the side in the third inning.
His offense went to work in the third inning. After the first two batters were retired via strikeout and a fly out, a two-out walk started their rally. Alex Bono singled to left which allowed Mazzola to advance to third. An errant pickoff attempt allowed Mazzola to scamper home. Adrian Tavarez singled through the left side as Bono advanced to third, and Brady DiMitrio came through with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-0.
Final: St. Anthony’s 5, Kellenberg 0
WP: Luke Coats (5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 10 Ks)Brady DiMitrio: 2 RBI single
Phil Mazzola and Adrian Tavarez had 2 hits pic.twitter.com/WQPlcwiwQd— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 25, 2025
The Friars added their fifth run on a wild pitch which scored Alex Bono who grounded into a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning.
Coats was in the control, but Kellenberg threatened in the fifth inning.
Lucas Vamvaketis led off the inning with a single and Mario Coscio drew a walk. A fielder’s choice was the first out of the inning, but Vamvaketis advanced to third. Coats was able to bear down and notch strikeouts of his counterpart, Durso, and Nick Kramer to end the jam as he let out a primal scream when he walked off the mound. He finished his day with 10 strikeouts and 1 hit allowed over 5 innings.
Chris Parisi came on in relief of Durso, and he was electric in his inning of work. He fired a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts showing an 89 MPH heater and a devastating curveball.
Michael Clare came on for Coats and he ran into trouble with two walks to start the inning, but a double play started by Michael Carr diminished the threat. He also made a nice sliding play on a ball to his left to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Vamvaketis smacked a leadoff triple to give a last ditch chance for the Firebirds, but a popup, strikeout and ground out to shortstop slammed the door shutout.
The Friars improve to 1-0 on the season as they look to defend their title.
