Archive
Where Are They Now: Chris Gannon
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on February, 13, 2024.) In what remains the last County Championship for Hauppauge, Chris Gannon put together one of the finest seasons in Long Island history. He played CF and batted leadoff – hitting .483 with 5 HRs, 10 triples, 7 doubles, scoring an incredible 55 runs, drawing 27 walks, 42 hits and drove in 32 runs. The Eagles went 21-5 for the second straight year and successfully defended their title as Suffolk County Champs, this time against future MLB draft pick Tim Layden from Deer Park at Ducks Stadium. Surely, a player of that ilk would go on to play Division-I baseball before continuing his career in pro ball. For Gannon, however, his true love was not baseball, but soccer. He also starred on the Hauppauge boy’s soccer...
Where Are They Now: Nick Clark
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2024) (Photo Credit: Cosmic Fox Media) When it comes to sliding door moments – this one might top the list. During his senior season at West Babylon HS, Nick Clark had already decided he wanted to attend Adelphi University to play basketball. His dream was to play in the NBA. Despite West Babylon’s outstanding team – they won the Suffolk County Championship in 1993 and 1994 – he did not have plans to continue his career after graduation. As fate would have it, legendary Adelphi baseball coach Ron Davies, was attending his West Babylon game to watch his teammate, Mike Rayola. Clark had what he described as his “best game of the year” and Coach Davies asked him if he’d be interested in playing baseball at Adelphi Universi...
Where Are They Now: Matt Daley
Thousands upon thousands of boys grow up dreaming to play Major League Baseball. Very few are talented enough to even play at the collegiate level. Truly passionate baseball fans will still try to find a way into the industry through a position as a journalist, a scout or if they are intelligent enough, a front office position. Garden City alum Matt Daley is in the very, very small subsection of the baseball world that was both talented enough to play at the big league level while being intelligent enough to transition into a front office position for the New York Yankees. If that sounds difficult to do, that’s because it is. Most organization are looking for highly-educated individuals with economic degrees or MBAs as opposed to a former player that simply has an eye for talent. Daley, wh...
Neal Heaton: The Best Hitters I Ever Faced
There were so many tough hitters that I faced in my career. I was lucky enough to face Hall of Famers like Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson and Carl Yastrzemski. Believe it or not, the big power sluggers were not the ones that gave me the most trouble. I did pretty well against Ken Griffey (both of them), Don Mattingly and George Brett. The free swingers with long swings weren’t the problem. It was the guys with good bat control that could foul of tough pitches on two strikes. Here are some that come to mind: Wade Boggs – (Career Line: .328 AVG, 3,010 hits, 118 HRs, 1513 runs) He was the toughest hitter I ever faced. Inside-out hitters are the toughest to get out. I never faced Derek Jeter – but players like him that could take the inside pitch and hit it the other way. Boggs would l...
GAME RECAP: Top Tier Aviators Win Boys of Summer Varsity Division Championship
by Trevor Dugan The Saints comeback attempt falls just short as the Top Tier Aviators earn the @liboysofsummer Varsity Division championship FINAL: Aviators 3 – Saints 2 pic.twitter.com/FvSAZfPRAU — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 17, 2024 The Top Tier Aviators and Long Island Saints met Saturday morning at East Islip High School in the Boys of Summer Varsity Division Championship. Both teams won their semi-final matchups, also played Saturday morning, 11-0. Andrew Buckshaw got the start for the Saints and promptly struck out the first batter of the game. The Aviators then hit back-to-back singles, and were able to score their first run of the day on an RBI groundout by Nick Moraitis. Buckshaw then recorded another swinging strikeout to end the first inning. He would fin...
RHP Andrew Caramico Commits to St. John’s University
Andrew Caramico (‘26 NY) flashing a solid FB/CB mix today up to 90 mph, did not allow a hit in 4.2 IP. Lots of whip to the AA, high ceiling for future w/ proj remaining in 6-foot-3, 170 frame #NESelectChamp@PG_Scouting pic.twitter.com/uYWa7Eu6TJ — PG Mid Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA, MD,DE,DC) (@PGMidAtlantic) August 12, 2024 Andrew Caramico, a rising junior at Chaminade HS, burst onto the scene this summer for Next Level Brewers. He fired 71 innings, he notched a stellar 1.57 ERA and struck out an incredible 108 batters while yielding just 36 hits – just over 4.5 per 9 innings. He has yet to pitch in a varsity game, but that is not unusual in this era. He will certainly be a player to watch over the next two season as the Chaminade Flyers attempt to regain their status as the premier Cathol...
GAME RECAP: LI Wolfpack Capture 16u National LI Boys of Summer Championship
by Jacob Infald BALLGAME. Wolfpack 16U are your @liboysofsummer 16U National Champions!! Rodgers with a complete game shutout. Wolfpack 2 – B1 Ghost 0 pic.twitter.com/WSoaa030nQ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 17, 2024 Tonight, after a long summer full of intense baseball, a winner was crowned in the most competitive 16U LI Boys of Summer division, as the LI Wolfpack pulled off a huge upset, as they took down the number one seeded B1 Ghost-Okon, winning 2-0 behind great defense, and a complete game shutout from Lucas Rodgers. Lucas Rodgers was dominant all night long for the Wolfpack. The class of 2025 product out of Calhoun High School, pounded the zone, only walking two batters and did not allow a single Ghost leadoff hitter to reach base. Rodgers credits both himsel...
GAME RECAP: Christian Vascellaro Fires No-Hitter to Capture 15u National Championship
by Trevor Dugan The 15u champions caught up with Axcess after their victory at Medford Sports Complex @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/R4LePwgjRR — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 17, 2024 The LI Elite Prospects Cuomo met with the MXE Academy Giac Squad Friday night to determine the 15u Boys of Summer National Division champion. The Elite sent out Christian Vascellaro to start on the mound, and he was lights out from the very beginning. He struck out two MXE batters in a 1-2-3 top of the first. Joe Arlia took the ball to start the game for MXE. He answered Vascellaro with a scoreless inning of his own in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, Vascellaro struck out the first two MXE batters. The next batter, Jack Lyke, drew a walk, only to be thrown out by Elite catch...
GAME RECAP: 15U MXE Academy Giac Squad Cruises to 12-1 Win in Boys of Summer Semis
by Trevor Dugan MXE earns a mercy rule victory to advance to the 15U @liboysofsummer championship FINAL: MXE 12 – Black Diamonds 1 pic.twitter.com/OAcHajz3WK — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 15, 2024 The Long Island Black Diamonds National and MXE Academy Giac Squad met at PAL Stadium this Thursday afternoon in the Boys of Summer 15u National Division Semifinal. Peter Malone started the game on the mound for the Black Diamonds, while MXE sent out the left-handed Jack Lyke. MXE jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a pair of RBI singles, one coming off the bat of Nick Caroli. He would finish the game 1-3 with a pair of runs scored and one RBI. Lyke quickly got the MXE offense back to work by firing a shutdown inning in the bottom of the first. Striki...
GAME RECAP: 17/18U Long Island Saints Advance In BOS Playoffs
by Trevor Dugan The Saints advance on the strength of Lynn’s complete game shutout FINAL: Saints 4 – Elite 0 pic.twitter.com/RGhJr6tHPz — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 15, 2024 The South Shore Elite and Long Island Saints faced off Wednesday night as part of the opening round of the Boys of Summer Varsity Division playoffs. South Shore tapped Robert Grzelaczyk to start, while the Saints sent out Brandon Lynn. The two starters traded back-to-back scoreless innings to start the game. Following the scoreless first inning, the Saints’ middle infield turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the top of the second. Grzelaczyk responded by retiring the next three Saints batters in order in the bottom of the frame. After Lynn struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 top of the third, the Sa...
Q & A With Cole Zaffiro
One of the toughest environments to pitch in college baseball is College Station, TX. The “12th Man” as they are known, are known to be ruthless to the opposition – especially pitchers. Nobody told that to Cole Zaffiro. As a sophomore, all he did was fire four strong innings, allowing 1 ER and striking out five in relief. UPENN won two of three from the Aggies, one of the best teams in the nation. As it turns out, it was a harbinger for things to come as they wound up winning 33 games in a strong season. They built on that the next season, winning 34 games including the Ivy League Championship. The ace of that team was undoubtedly Zaffiro, who led the team with 74.2 IP and struck out 90 batters. The Manhasset native was named first-team All-Ivy League. Fast forward one ye...
GAME RECAP: Bombers Capture 9U American Championship With 14-4 Victory
by Jacob Infald We spoke with Coach Wilson and Royce Barerra. They spoke about their dominant run this summer and what makes this team so special. pic.twitter.com/xov7DDt0W0 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 10, 2024 The Bombers would carry over their dominance from the semifinals into the championship. They would face off against Team Francisco Notorious 9, who had survived a 10-9 duel with Mayhem Baseball-Berman earlier in the morning. Despite an early challenge, the Bombers once again would prevail, winning the championship by a score of 14-4 in only four innings. In the top of the first inning, it seemed like the Bombers’ heads were still thinking about the prior game. Francisco’s dugout had tons of energy, and the bats were alive early. Keanu Westbrook led the game off wi...
