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Miller Place Looks to Compete In the Fierce League 6

Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series

by Anthony DiCocco

After struggling a season ago, head coach Joe Mancini will look to lead the Miller Place Panthers back into the postseason during his third year as the team’s skipper.

When Mancini took over Miller Place’s program in 2024, the Panthers finished in second place in their league and even won a playoff game. However, the team went 7-11 overall last year and 6-10 against League 6 foes to fall short of the postseason.

“We just didn’t perform to the level that we needed to,” Mancini said in an interview with Axcess Baseball. “We struggled a bit offensively, and in League 6, every game’s close so you have to play your best ball every day and we just didn’t.”

At last season’s end, Miller Place graduated a number of players, with none being bigger than LHP Nick Frusco, who is now pitching at Clemson. The southpaw won 3 games last spring and racked up 73 strikeouts while positing a minuscule 0.61 earned run average (ERA). At the dish, Frusco slashed .375 with 11 runs batted in (RBI), 12 runs scored and a .902 on-base plus slugging (OPS).

“[Losing Frusco] is a huge blow to our rotation,” Mancini said. “He was a fierce competitor; he wanted the ball in his hands every day with the game on the line. He was a catalyst for us and someone the kids would look up to when we faced adversity.”

Though Frusco is the only member of last year’s team playing in college, the Panthers also lost C Joe Fallon, who is now at P27 Academy.. Last year, he got on base at a .416 clip and drove in seven runs.

Despite losing a key battery, Mancini feels his team is in a solid spot heading into the new season.

“Other than [Frusco and Fallon], we’re pretty good,” Mancini said. “We have a good group of returning seniors that were there with us last year and some underclassmen coming up. Everybody plays good complimentary baseball so we have a good core group that knows the expectation and level that it takes to win League 6.”

To help fill the void Frusco’s departure creates, Mancini will turn to right-handers Van Johnson and Jacob Marcario, along with southpaws Logan DeLorenzo and Matt Yashowitz. Johnson — a junior — went 1-4 last year, but secured two saves and struck out 30 batters en route sporting a 1.31 ERA. 

In addition to operating on the hill, Johnson can play both corner infield positions and clubbed a homer last year. He batted .402 with a 1.099 OPS, 28 RBIs and 20 runs during summer ball.

“[Johnson] got better with each start last year,” Mancini said. “He’s going to be a guy that we really look to on the mound and at the plate. He really grew into his own last year so we’re looking for him to build on that to become more dominant and be one of our aces.”

In limited time on the bump last year, Marcario picked up a save and punched out 16 hitters despite owning a 5.00 ERA. When not on the mound, the senior will see time at first base. 

After a strong offseason, Mancini believes Marcario is ready to take off.

“‘Marcario had a great fall showing on the mound and played first base for us and everything last year,” Mancini said. “He’s a guy we need that’s going to break out for us this year.”

Like Marcario, DeLorenzo can also man first. The lefty was called up from Miller Place’s junior varsity team during the middle of the season as a sophomore last year and is slated to compete for a rotation spot this spring. Another junior in Yashowitz will serve as the Panthers’ primary reliever.

Though an opening day starter has yet to be determined, Mancini views his pitching staff as a strength.

“Pitching is going to be an area where we’re really strong,” Mancini said. “All of those guys give us a great opportunity to go out there and compete in game one.”

Senior Kyle Diamond is another name that will be involved in the first-base carousel, while senior Josh MacDonald and junior Cole Maloney are battling for the starting job at second base. In addition to Johnson, sophomore Michael Zicchinelli and freshman Brody Ress may also see time at the hot corner.

With the absence of Fallon, senior James DiGennaro, who batted .345 with a .904 OPS a season ago, and junior Chase Braun are two names that can fill in behind the plate. 

Though Mancini expects most of his players to bounce around when needed this year, one position that is set is shortstop, as senior Chris DiGennaro is set to reprise his starting role. 

As for the outfield, senior Shane Kiernan will continue to patrol right field while fellow seniors Liam Dunkin, Erik Flannery and Nick Gargone will also see time out on the grass. Kiernan was an impact bat in Miller Place’s lineup during the 2025 campaign, as he produced a .921 OPS while hitting .333 to go with a longball.

“[Kiernan]’s going to be a big part of what we do this year,” Mancini said. “Dunkin’s also been putting in the work this offseason.”

With the new season on the horizon, Mancini is looking for the Panthers to play better situational baseball in order to return to the dance.

“We can’t give teams extra outs and we need to get more situationally aware with hitting,” Mancini said. “We need more team-oriented at-bats and we need to do our job to push across a run when we need to manufacture one.”

To open its 2026 season, Miller Place will lock horns with Rocky Point on Friday.