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Matt Yip: Why I Chose UNC-Wilmington
(Editor’s Note: Matt Yip is a 2019 graduate of Herricks HS. He has an outstanding junior season in which he was among the Long Island leaders in home runs. He participated in our Home Run Derby in August at Baseball Heaven and recently committed to UNC-Wilmington. The following words are his own…) The thought and desire of wanting to attend UNC-Wilmington had stayed with me since the beginning of my junior year. Coach Hood had watched me first play at the 16U Perfect Game WWBA tournament down in Georgia. Our first game was at the PG complex vs the East Cobb Astros 2020 team. Mid game, a dear friend and teammate that had been flown in from Arizona to play with for most of the summer, Bryan McKinsey had came into the game as relief. Bryan became the star of the game as soon as he...
Mike Draskin: Why I Chose NYIT
(Editor’s Note: Mike is a 2019 graduate of Half Hollow Hills West HS in Dix Hills. He is a very talented C/3B that recently committed to NYIT following a strong season for the co-League 4 Champs. The following words are his own…) From the first time I had stepped foot on campus, met the coaching staff and heard the opportunities within the program, I knew it was a dream to play for the Bears at New York Institute of Technology. Over the summer, I had reached out to my high school coach for Half Hollow Hills West, Coach Tom Migliozzi, saying that I needed more connections with colleges that he was close to. I told him NYIT was somewhere I would love to play, especially because they has just hired Long Island baseball legend Frank Catalanotto. I met him when I was only ten years ...
Cameron Mayer: Why I Chose Tufts
(Editor’s Note: Cameron Mayer is a 6’4 RHP that is a 2019 graduate of Syosset HS. He is one of the top power pitchers on Long Island. He recently committed to Tufts University in Massachusetts. The following words are his own…) The college baseball recruiting process is more than just going to showcases and tournaments. It is an emotional, frustrating process that brought together all aspects of my life in a way that nothing else had. Honestly, the process took a lot out of me and my family and I’m glad it’s over, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. In order to have success during this process, the support system you place around yourself is crucial. Having family and friends who encourage you and want nothing but the best for you is key. I was lucky to have...
Q & A With Oceanside-Native Nicholas DiLorenzo
Queensborough Community College defeated No. 1 seed Bronx to capture the 2018 CUNAC/Community College championship at MCU Park. One of the major reasons they were able to take the leap and become a championship-caliber team was the production of freshman infielder Nicholas DiLorenzo. The Oceanside native led the team with 35 games played, compiling a robust batting AVG of .357, with an incredible .464 OBP and .705 SLG. I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say. How did you decide to attend Queensborough? Queensborough wasn’t my first choice. I originally went to Nassau, but things didn’t work out as I planned. I tried out but ended up not making the team. The next summer I played for a team called NorthEast Empire and my coach Paul Carufe introduced me to Coach P...
Louis Stallone: Why I Chose the University of Arkansas
(Editor’s Note: Louis Stallone is a 2020 graduate of St. Anthony’s HS. He is a 6’8″ RHP, and he announced his commitment to the University of Arkansas on Sunday evening. The following words are his own…) With my verbal commitment to the University of Arkansas I am working my way to a lifelong dream of playing in the SEC. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the support and coaching I received from Brooke Richards and Marc Nellist from the Team Elite organization, Joe Francisco, Chris McCoy and Bobby DeMichael. My last two summers were spent entirely in Georgia and Florida playing for Team Elite, one of the top ranked teams in the nation. Playing in the south, surrounded by so much great talent, was the best thing for me. It pushed me to work harder and har...
David Aufiero: Why I Chose Sacred Heart
(Editor’s Note: David Aufiero is one of the top pitchers on the island. The hard-throwing RHP just finished up an outstanding season for the North Shore Vikings in which he went 7-1 with a 1.14 ERA over 49 IP. He allowed only 30 hits and 14 BB while fanning 67 batters which is good for a 0.90 WHIP. He fired 7 CGs and faced 5 All-County pitchers along the way. Among his victories were two complete game shutouts (one one-hitter and a two-hitter). In the postseason, he fired two complete games; against Mepham and Seaford. He did yield more than two runs in any start and he allowed just two successful stolen base attempts in four tries while also picking off two runners from first base. He recently committed to Sacred Heart, where his brother Matt (Chaminade 2017) plays. The following wo...
2022 East Coast Lumberjacks Dazzle and Impress In Summer 2018
(From left to right: Bowes, Miller, McGurk) Four class of 2022 standouts have been raising eyebrows all over Long Island this summer. Matt McGurk (Commack), Cody Miller (Rocky Point), Tyler John (Ward Melville) and Liam Bowes (Shoreham-Wading River) have united under the flag of East Coast Lumberjacks. The organization was founded by Ryan Pembroke, who coaches the older teams, but the younger guys are led by former professional ball player Eric Strovink. This experienced guidance and coaching has led to all four players earning selections to Junior Team USA. Their commitment on-and-off the field is impressive and this can be credited to the committed coaches and mentors in the Lumberjacks’ organization. “We’re constantly trying to improve and we believe in that 10,000 hour rule,̶...
Stevie Proko: Why I Chose LIU Post
(Editor’s Note: Stevie Proko is a hard-throwing RHP entering his senior year at Locust Valley. Prior to committing to LIU Post this past weekend, he was one of the best remaining available players in the 2019 class. The following words are his own…) From a young age, I have always loved the game of baseball and always had a dream of playing at the next level. On Friday August 17th my family and I agreed that it was the right decision for me to commit to LIU Post. I believe that the recruiting process starts early with getting high grades in high school because I live in a household where my parents couldn’t stress that enough on me. My college recruiting process all started when I sat down with my high school coach John Lonardo, who was the former head coach at SUNY Old W...
Charles Rainone: Life Under The Radar
Being a high school athlete is a journey. A developmental phase that can only be compared to riding a roller coaster with all the ups-and-downs that emerge in the process. It is rather rare for an athlete to enter high school and make the varsity team his or her freshman year. Often times it takes determination, hard work and a willingness to put in more time and effort than everybody else to get to where you want to be. Being a high school athlete is a journey that hinges on skill development and dedication. This is the journey of Charles Rainone. Charles entered high school at Deer Park with the thought in the back of his head of how he wanted to make the varsity baseball team his freshman year. He soon would find out that for most high school athletes that tends to stay a want rather th...
Brandon Buchan Changes Mind, Decides to Play Ball in College
Brandon Buchan won the 2018 Diamond Award, given to the best pitcher in Nassau County, for his performance in the 2018 season. Up until a few weeks ago, however, he wasn’t planning on continuing playing baseball anymore. The SUNY Maritime-commit came into his senior season as not just an under-the-radar player, but almost completely unknown outside of his school. He was rarely used as a junior on a team that featured several other accomplished senior pitchers. Buchan burst onto the scene in his senior year in a big way. Buchan attributes much of his improvement to his offseason workouts. “Last year I was told I was very thin,” the lefty said, “so I was able to put on 15 to 20 pounds throughout the offseason.” The increase in strength helped Buchan increase his fastball velocity from ...
Tyler Becker’s Amazing 2018 is Catching the Eyes of Many
(Photo Credit: Chris Bergmann) The HCBL is full of elite five-tool players with hopes of elevating their baseball careers. The league is made for athletes who may not have been on a scout’s prospect list, but have a ceiling to make a name for themselves. Nobody has taken that opportunity and ran with it quite like Westhampton’s Tyler Becker. “I think he is the best overall player in the Hamptons League,” Bill Ianniciello, coach of the North Fork Ospreys and Becker’s assistant coach at Adelphi University, said. “He is an all-around player. He hits for average, hits for power and his range defensively is really impressive.” Becker hits at the top of the order and starts at shortstop for an Aviators team that has already clinched a playoff berth. He ranks third in the HCBL in RBIs and home ru...
Catching Up With 2016 CHSAA Player of the Year Matt Martino
(Photo Credit: Vassar Athletics) Although Kyle Young and Chris Cappas were the players that generated all the headlines in 2016 in regards to the Catholic League, neither of them actually won the CHSAA Player of the Year. That’s right, that honor was bestowed upon St. Anthony’s senior 3B/RHP Matt Martino, who hit three HR and won six games for the Friars. From there, he went on to Vassar College, where he was named First Team All-Conference as a freshman. The injury bug, however, bit him quite hard. Not only did he tear his meniscus but he also went under the knife to undergo Tommy John Surgery which caused him to miss all of 2018. I had the chance to speak with him, and here’s what he had to say… What are your fondest memories of your time at St. Anthony’s? Playing...
