FEATURE STORIES
Max Nielsen: Why I Chose UCONN
When Max Nielsen was in sixth grade, something was going on that would wind up shaping his future. It wasn’t anything he could control either, ironically. A southpaw named Anthony Kay was dominating hitters on Long Island to the tune of a 0.00 ERA over 55 IP. That success attracted the attention of virtually every college baseball coach in the northern hemisphere. He ultimately chose to attend the University of Connecticut (UCONN), where he would hopefully anchor the rotation for the Huskies over the next four years. In reality it was only three years, but it was good enough to get drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft by the New York Mets. That three-year tenure was not just beneficial for Kay’s future and UCONN’s success, but it also was good for future south...
Branden Falco Discusses How He Persevered Through Injuries
(Editor’s Note: Branden is a 2017 graduate of Kings Park HS. Today he announced he has committed to LIU Post. His fastball sits in the low-to-mid 80s.) By Branden Falco My baseball career has been a bumpy flight. When I started playing baseball at 8-years-old, pitching was my first love. When I was 13, I started feeling tingling down my arm when I threw. I went to an orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Alpert and he sent me for an MRI. It came back showing a swollen rotator cuff and my labrum was very loose. After hearing that, the beginning of my freshman year I began training with Xceleration sports training. When I went there for my evaluation, the manager, Steve Wilk, stated that if I want to pitch in college, I need to shut it down until 11th grade and just play a position. This was to...
Jake Guercio Ready To The the Torch
Over the past decade, West Islip has proven to be a powerhouse on Long Island. Year after year, they churn out Div-I recruits, League MVPs and, in some cases, MLB pitchers. After coming off their second Long Island Championship in three years, one would think they will be in line for a rebuilding year. Jake Guercio has other plans. He’s ready to take on the role of the team leader after the departure of James Kory, Ray Weber, Nick Valenti and Lou Antos. “The graduating class was filled with leadership,” he said. “Something I took from them was how hard they worked during practice. Guys like James Kory, Lou Antos and Nick Valenti are just a couple of teammates that truly taught me how to work and become a leader. I hope I will be able to fill their shoes as the upcom...
Off Season Preparation for Local Minor Leaguers Begins
When your job description involves competing against the best athletes in the world at your particular sport, there’s very little time to rest. With that comes very little margin for error in your workout regimens. Two local minor league players in particular that have risen up the ranks this past year are already beginning their preparation for the 2017 season. Kyle McGowin, 24, and Joe Palumbo, 22, have both gotten back from their 2016 seasons and have hit the ground running with their training–both mentally and physically. Their 2016 campaigns when a little differently, but they both factor in heavily in their respective organizations plans moving forward. But before you know where they are going, it’s important to know where they have come from… McGowin, a nativ...
Dillon McNamara on the Relentless Grind Of Minor League Baseball
Photo Credit: Mark LoMoglio/Yankees (Editor’s Note: Dillon McNamara was drafted out of Adelphi University in 2013 by the New York Yankees. In ’13, he was named All-American when he set a program record with 13 saves and he allowed just one ER in 32.0 IP with 43 Ks (0.28 ERA). He just completed his fourth minor league season and has a 2.77 career ERA over 204.1 IP. by Dillon McNamara I once had a teammate describe minor league baseball to me as follows: Imagine you are in a dark room with your hand on the wall and all you can see is a speck of light in the distance. The wall is comfortable, it’s familiar, and while you can’t see anything around you, somehow you know you are safe. You might start to crawl towards that bright light, but each time you do you get scared and sc...
Matt Vogel Looking to Live Up to Lofty Expectations
From the time he was a freshman in high school, great expectations have been bestowed on him. When you are selected to represent Team USA and you’re named to the All-Tournament team as a 15-year old, you raise the bar for expectations. The 2013 graduate of Patchogue-Medford raised those expectations more when he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2013 MLB Draft. He went on to honor his commitment to the University of South Carolina to play for the Game Cocks after they had won consecutive National Championships. Despite throwing only 38 innings in three years, Vogel showed enough to warrant the Tampa Bay Rays drafting him in the 25th round and assigning him to their Gulf Coast League affiliate. Now 21-years-old and on the path that was seemingly destined for him from a y...
Sal Agostinelli: The Story of How An Undersized Long Island Catcher Became One of the Most Influential Men in Professional Baseball
It was 1993 when Jay Hankins approached the Triple-A catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies with a question. “Hey Sal, did you ever think about being a scout?” “The only thing I know about scouting is that it’s old guys in chairs,” Sal responded. “Well, I think you would make for a good one,” he stated. As fate would have it, that catcher was Long Island native Sal Agostinelli, who went on to accept a position as the area scout for the Phillies and his area would be New York and New Jersey. As time went on and he had success in his coverage area, the front office tasked him with more and more territory. The next year was Delaware, then they added New England. By 1997, his territory was Canada through Delaware when they had bigger plans for him. R...
In 2015, John Galanoudis was the second leading hitter on Molloy. He smacked the baseball to the tune of a .318 AVG/.386/.403 triple slash line, drove in 29 runs, scored 30 runs and belted two HR. He also belted out a bunch of hits on his country album titled “Fire Still Burning“. Since that time, he has been busy furthering his career as a coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, but he was able to release a new single titled “Summer Ball”. I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say… Has music taken a back seat to your coaching or have you still found a balance between the two? Music definitely took a backseat once I began coaching. I felt as if I found that balance as a player, but I also believe that it took me a little while to find that bala...
Shea Spitzbarth On His 2016 Success
Photo Credit: ECC Sports (Editor’s Note: Shea is a 2015 graduate of Molloy College. He just completed his second minor league season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He reached Triple-A this season at just 21-years-old) by Shea Spitzbarth I got to Camelback Ranch, AZ (Spring Training Complex) in the morning for extended spring training practice and my pitching coach pulled me out of the clubhouse and said get dressed and pack your bag because your going to Triple-A. They said they were hurting with arms up there and the way I was throwing in Spring Training and extended that it was great. I had a flight two hours later to Fresno. I pitched 2.1 innings up there and it didn’t go as I planned but this was to help the pitching staff. I learned so much up there from the older guys who ...
Who Is Johnny Castagnozzi?
by Vinny Messana, Editor With the rapid ascension of showcases and travel organizations, we are now able to identify the top players at a much younger age. No longer do we have to hear through the grapevines about a slugger from the other side of town and be forced to wait until spring time to see him in action. Thanks to national databases like Perfect Game, we know that Johnny Castagnozzi, the 14-year-old freshman from Massapequa, is ranked No. 1 in the state for the 2020 graduating class. We also know that he has excellent measurables. His 77 MPH throw across the infield was well above the 69 MPH average for players his age. At the plate, he recorded an 86 MPH exit velocity which is 5 MPH above the average 14-year-old. Additionally, we know that the 6’0″ shortstop has treme...
Matt Overton Commits to Molloy
by Vinny Messana One of the big reasons Hauppauge has won back-to-back League V titles is their balance. While many people assumed Nick Fanti was the reason for their 17-1 season in 2015, it’s important to remember that sophomore first baseman Matt Overton was a terrific player on that team. This past season, he was every bit as crucial to their successful season. Today he verbally committed to Molloy College, the first of two important commitments that they received from 2017 graduates on Long Island (Jacob McCarthy). I had a chance to speak with Overton and here’s what he had to say… First off congratulations on the commitment–can you speak a little about the process and why you chose Molloy? The recruiting process was a very short one for me. It was actually pret...
Adelphi Reaping the Benefits of Kevin Salmon’s Presence
by Vinny Messana Over the past half a dozen seasons, the Adelphi Panthers have had five different pitching coaches. They appear to have found their answer with the current coach, Kevin Salmon. In his first year in charge of the staff, the Panthers ERA decreased from 4.60 to 3.71. That in itself is a reflection on him, but the real value may be in the intangibles he brings to the table. Salmon, a former professional pitcher that played his high school ball at Brentwood and collegiately for Briarcliffe and Coastal Carolina, has had a calming effect on the staff. All the pitcher’s spoke glowingly of their experiences with him and are excited to work with him once again. I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say… What are your fondest memories of growing ...
