FEATURES
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...
Jonathon Mulford on His First Professional Season
(Editor’s Note: Jonathon was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 34th round out of Adelphi University. He is a 2012 graduate of Massapequa HS) by Jonathon Mulford The 2016 baseball season was roller coaster experience to say the least. Going into my senior year I had high expectations that I would repeat what I accomplished in my junior year. I had a lot to prove to the teams that passed up on me the year before. I wanted to show the teams that didn’t draft me what they were missing. In my personal opinion I didn’t think I’d even scratch the surface of reaching my goals and feared that teams wouldn’t take a chance on me in the upcoming draft. All along I thought I was going to be getting drafted by the home town team–the New York Mets. The Mets have been scou...
Tim Ingram on the Emotional Roller Coaster of 2016
Photo Credit: Harris Rappel (Editor’s Note: Tim is a RHP for the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He was drafted out of SUNY Old Westbury in 2015 and currently has seven saves with a 3.93 ERA over 34.1 IP with 31 Ks and only five BBs.) by Tim Ingram My first full year of professional baseball has been a roller coaster of emotions. From leaving my family, friends, and girlfriend, to coming close to home to play in Hudson Valley only to get moved up to Bowling Green Kentucky. One of the hardest parts about professional baseball is never knowing where you’re going to wind up. I went into spring training with a great attitude and confident that I was going to a full season team. I even played a few games with the Double-A squad, which I thought was a good ...
Tyler Honahan Enjoying His First Pro Season
by Vinny Messana One of the aspects that makes Stony Brook a perennial contender is their propensity to recruit top-notch players from–not just the northeast–but the west coast as well. By getting the players that already competed against the nation’s elite, allows the Seawolves to beat the best programs in the country. In the case of Tyler Honahan, he was a cross-country recruit that did not need to be sold on the program due to the fact that he grew up in Rocky Point and as a senior in HS, watched closely on the program’s World Series run in 2012. Four years and 20 wins later, Honahan stamped his place in Stony Brook folklore by getting selected in the 36th round by the New York Yankees. He’s gotten off to a terrific start with the Pulaski Yankees of the App...
The All-American That Nobody Wanted
(Editor’s Note: Nick is an outfielder for Nassau Community College) by Nick Marino Throughout my whole life I’ve mostly played for my dad. I played one year with the Long Island Titans but I knew that he enjoyed coaching me and I also just like playing for him. Maybe that cost me in the long run with connections and so on but the time playing for my dad is irreplaceable. So fast forward to junior year of HS at Bethpage –probably the biggest year for someone trying to get attention from college coaches and I flat out played terrible. That year I was just mired in a season long funk and I just couldn’t get out of my own way. I wound up losing my starting spot, and for someone who was supposed to lead the team, I felt beyond embarrassed. After that year I said y...
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 ...
Andrew Misiaszek Primed to Become Next Great Long Island Southpaw
by Vinny Messana, Editor It was only a couple months ago that Anthony Kay set the Long Island baseball community ablaze by getting selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the MLB Draft. The ink has barely dried on the contract, and already there’s buzz regarding another great southpaw from Long Island. It’s time to get familiar with Andrew Misiaszek–Southside ’15 grad and current LHP for Northeastern University. The southpaw played a major role in the Huskies’ 31-win season. He fired 52.0 innings as a freshman, allowing only 45 hits while striking out 53 batters. He won five games and figures to be in the weekend rotation next season. Additionally, there’s a strong chance he will be playing in the prestigious Cape Cod league aga...
Who is Matt Pelcher?
by Vinny Messana, Editor Usually when you hear baseball fans rave about an 8th grader you take it with a grain of salt. He’s good for his age? Big deal. Every once in a while, however, the hype is warranted. The hyperbole is not overstated. When it comes to Calhoun’s Matt Pelcher–there might not be enough endearing terms. “As a player for his age he’s just a freak,” said his summer coach. “Probably the best catcher in his age group.” And it’s probably not close. Pelcher hit .286 and threw out 40 percent of base stealers on varsity as an eighth grader for a playoff team that won 15 games and had an All-Long Island pitcher in Dylan Hughes and a 5-game winner in Jake Garguilo. It is no small task to put up strong offensive numbers while al...
Matt Buckshaw Bucks the Trend
by Vinny Messana Sometimes a change of scenery is the best fit. For a player like Matt Buckshaw–who has already dealt with quite a bit of adversity in his career–this was the case. He initially displayed his intestinal fortitude two years ago by overcoming two debilitating injuries on the field and still earning a spot on Stony Brook’s squad. Now, he’s showing some of the same courage and making a shift to a less prominent baseball institution, but one that could benefit his post-baseball career. While his story may go beyond the typical coverage here at BOTI, it sends a positive message to college athletes that pursuing a career that suits you can be more crucial than the glamour of playing at a Div-I program. I had a chance to speak with Buckshaw and here’s ...
Q & A With Nicholas Trabacchi
by Vinny Messana It was another tremendous season for Smithtown West. They finished the season with a record of 20-5 before getting defeated by Northport in the Class AA semifinals. A big reason for the success was the superb season of junior Nicholas Trabacchi. On Saturday, he committed to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County–a Div-I program that competes in the America East. I had a chance to speak with the 2017 graduate and here’s what he had to say. First off, congratulations on the commitment to UMBC–can you talk a little about the process and how you came to your decision? It was a long process, but definitely an enjoyable one. Everything started to pick up for me in the fall of my junior year. The majority of the schools that showed mutual interest were in ...
