FEATURE STORIES
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...
Q & A With Nicholas Delvecchio
Holy Trinity entered 2022 with a talented roster – albeit a younger one. Coming off a difficult season, they were hoping that their large group of 2023s and 2024s gained valuable experience from that 2021 season. Turns out, that’s exactly what happened. Led by one of the best pitchers on Long Island in Sadier Vicioso, they were able to go toe-to-toe against any team during the regular season. Ultimately, they lost in the playoffs to St. John the Baptist but it was a successful season for the program. Additionally, their position players all matured quickly – notably catcher Tyler Cook (Catcher of the Year), infielders Sebastian Velazquez and Nicholas Delvecchio. The latter just announced his verbal commitment to Long Island University. He plays his summer ball for Knights...
Q & A With Brian Morrell
Morrell with a big double for @hofstrabaseball in the 9th WATCH NOW 📺 @FloBaseball 💻 https://t.co/AKWsfFFrHv 📈 https://t.co/zrrBJzfPgg pic.twitter.com/wHoDoVQ5WY — Colonial Athletic Association (@CAASports) May 29, 2022 2022 was an amazing and historic season for Hofstra. Can you go into some detail about what changes Frank and his staff implemented, how they were able to turn around the program so quickly and also what it felt like to go on that outstanding playoff run? Once I heard Cat got the coaching position at Hofstra, I knew in my head that it was a no brainer that Hofstra was where I was going. One of my best friends growing up was Zach White who was a pitcher who played at New York Tech for Cat and his staff. I immediately called him on the phone and asked him tons of questions. D...
Observations From East Coast Lumberjacks’ Workout
Yesterday I went down to 365 Athletics to check out the East Coast Lumberjacks’ organization workout. The travel organization, founded by Ryan and Daniel Pembroke, is coming off a big year in which their 2022 grad team captured the BCS National Championship and compiled an overall record of 48-14-3. Remarkably, that’s not the team that Ryan called the most talented team he’s ever had. We’ll get to that in a bit. But first, some observations from the workout. Josh Knoth (Pat-Med 2023) Charleston-commit Josh Knoth (Pat-Med 2023) up to 96 (!) today. Not shown – CB at 83 (2995 RPMs). @FlatgroundApp @BenBadler pic.twitter.com/cTYQmbFPEJ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 6, 2022 This is a pro-level pitcher and he looked outstanding. Knoth solidified hi...
Q & A With Robbie Mascia
In most cases, stats at the 12u level are not indicators of future success. The fields are small, the competition is weak, the players are not physically mature and there’s simply too many variables to predict what’s real. On the flip side, sometimes players simply rise above and their play is impossible to ignore. In the case of 12-year-old Robbie Mascia out of Commack, NY – it just might be real. The catcher for the Long Island Rebels had a season that is hard to comprehend. This is just his Perfect Game tournaments, which is higher-end talent than any league. 12u Robert Mascia (Commack, NY) continues his hot weekend with this absolute 💣 to dead center. Line drive straight over the batters eye. @PGMidAtlantic #AllStateGames pic.twitter.com/QjRomX001A — Perfect Game Yout...
Chris McHugh Commits to VCU
Please consider signing up for our monthly membership to ensure you don’t miss any content! 2021 was an incredible season for Commack. They ran through Suffolk County on their way to an appearance in the Conference I Long Island Championship against perennial powerhouse Massapequa. In a well-played game at St. Joseph’s College, the Cougars prevailed to capture their first LIC in program history. What made the accomplishment even more impressive is that they were able to do so knowing that their Head Coach, Bryan Bonin, was battling cancer. The boys were able to rally behind their coach on their way to the best season in program history and their second county title since 2017. While they definitely had some impact seniors like staff ace Craig Pihlkar, SS Connor Pedersen and CF ...
Up Next Powered by the Yard Sports: Logan Norman
PG 2021 15U New England Elite Championship 🏆Champion: Eastcoast Lumberjacks 🥈Finalist: Vendetta Baseball 🏅MVP: Logan Norman 🏅MVPitcher: Josh Ossiander pic.twitter.com/bXIoKzRCKy — Perfect Game Tournaments (@PG_Tourney) July 6, 2021 It’s been six years since Centereach HS has produced a Division-I player. That was 6’6 RHP Greg Marino who went onto pitch at Stony Brook University, where he was a key cog for the Seawolves rotation before briefly playing pro ball in 2019. Before that, it was his brother in 2007 who went to play for Stony Brook and won an America East title before playing several years in the Frontier League. In between, Centereach did have back-to-back League III Championships in 2009 and 2010. It’s significant because it’s the last time the Cougars fin...
Q & A With Plainview-native Tyler Galletti
by Ben Diamond Many collegiate baseball players spend their summers in the Hamptons. They aren’t there to enjoy long days on the beach, and nights at 1 Oak. They head to the east end of Long Island to play in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League where top college players from across the country come to compete with and against one another. One player in particular is a Long Island native who got the chance to participate this summer. This player is Sacred Heart catcher Tyler Galletti. Galletti, a freshman, had his first opportunity to play in the Hamptons League this summer. He walked us through his daily routines, on game days and off days. What is your game day routine? T: “Wake up, lift, eat. I go to the cage to get some swings in before heading to the field for warm ups and BP...
Jack Vallario Commits to Fordham
Jack Vallario with an RBI single through the left side. St. Anthony’s leads 2-0 in the second pic.twitter.com/sWITdhcj6t — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 31, 2021 One of the big reasons that St. Anthony’s was able to revive their season in 2019 and make a deep playoff run – rattling off four straight wins in elimination games and reaching the CHSAA Finals was due to freshman Jack Vallario. While they ran into a great Chaminade team, they entered 2020 with a lineup led by Vallario, Marco Ali and Guy Calla as well as a pitching deep as deep as any on Long Island. With the cancellation of the season, they lost out on that great group and returned a very young team in 2021. They struggled, losing in the first round to St. Dominic, but that was to no fault of Vallari...
John Downing Commits to Seton Hall
Final: Chaminade 2, SJB 1 WP: John Downing (CG, 4 H, 1 R, 7 K) pic.twitter.com/2MsfbAhgkf — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 7, 2021 Entering the 2021 season, there was reason to question whether Chaminade could successfully defend their crown in the Catholic League. The biggest reason is that although they possessed a world of talent, they had no players with varsity experience. It seemed like it could present an issue come playoff time when the chips are on the table. In typical Flyers fashion, though, they were able to lean on their coaching staff, pitching, defense and depth to dig deep and sweep Kellenberg in the CHSAA Finals. One of their major contributors all season was junior ace LHP John Downing. The southpaw went 5-0 with a 1.33 ERA. Over 38.2 IP, he struck out 39 and a...
Q & A With Island Trees RHP/SS Vinny Giambona
Island Trees captured the 2021 Nassau Conference V Championship with an exciting 3-2 victory over Clarke. They also had to defeat them the day before, which was an 8-3 victory. It was the third County Championship in their program’s history. A major reason behind their incredible season was their impressive group of juniors Prior to the season when I was writing their season preview, their head coach Joseph D’Auria told me he was optimistic about their chances because of how committed his players are. He stated his players were all the type that “eat, sleep and breathe baseball.” For me as a reporter and scout, that’s a phrase that is very specific to teams that are going to be successful. Coaches won’t say that if they don’t truly believe it. And ...
Where Are They Now: Jack Piekos
In 2013-’14, there was no team more dominant than Bayport-Blue Point and on that team, there was no more dominant player than Jack Piekos. The Phantoms became the first Suffolk County program to capture back-to-back State Championships (that has since been duplicated by Center Moriches). They went a perfect 27-0 in 2013 and followed that up by defending their crown and winning it again in 2014. Piekos was the biggest reason for that success. The menacing left-handed pitcher won every award you can – League VII MVP, All-County, All-Long Island, All-State, Class A Player of the Year, Fred Biangardi Playoff MVP, MSG Varsity Pitcher of the Year, All-Northeast Honor from Perfect Game and 2x Paul Gibson Award winner. With a fastball touching 90 MPH and an unflappable demeanor, he co...
