NEWS
Old Westbury Prepared to Return to Top of Skyline Conference
In the two years that we’ve done our Awards Banquet, Old Westbury has quietly led the Long Island programs with eight players represented on the All-Long Island team. Coach Rod Stephan has done a commendable job building up the program, and has now averaged 25.1 wins per year since he took over in 2011. He has also had three pitchers drafted during his tenure–the only three players the Skyline Conference has had drafted during that time. With that being the case, it is certainly time to take them seriously. Despite a disappointing exit in the 2016 season–an extra-innings loss to rival Farmingdale State–the Panthers look ready to compete for the Skyline Conference crown yet again. While watching their practice the other day, the team showed off their top arms during ...
Hofstra Looking to Turn the Corner
Last Season’s Record: 15-37 Key Additions: Mikey Riesner (SS), Jack Berczi (LHP), Jorge Marrero (RHP), Sean Rausch (C/OF) Key Subtractions: Brendan Mulligan (LHP), Bowie Matteson (RHP), Alex Eisenberg (RHP), Chris Bonk (RHP), Ryan Karl (INF/OF) After a tough season where they finished in last place in the Colonial Athletic Association, Hofstra looks to improve on their 2016 season. A preseason poll has tabbed the Pride to finish in the basement of the CAA this year, but it hasn’t done much to dampen the optimism surrounding this year’s team. Strengths: Head coach John Russo is kicking off his sixth season at the helm, and this year he is particularly excited about the amount of depth he sees on his roster. He said, “We’ve got about five outfielders, six infielders, and three catchers we’d ...
Adelphi Right on the Verge of Deep Playoff Run
Last Year’s Record: 25-22 Key Roster Losses: Jonathon Mulford (RHP), Alex Zykoff (OF) Key Roster Additions: Tyler Becker (SS/3B), Tom Macri (INF) Andrew Sesto (RHP), Troy Simpson (RHP) Key Returning Players: TJ Santiago (RHP, senior), Robert Vani (1B, senior), Eric Hassell (OF, senior), Matthew O’Connor (LHP, redshirt junior), Kory Cassara (C, senior), Brett Malm (SS, sophomore), Ed Baram (RHP, sophmore), Mike Demarest (RHP, sophomore), Michael Tarpey (RHP, junior), Mike Stack (SS, senior) Coming off of a first-round exit in the 2016 NE-10 Conference tournament, Adelphi is entering the season with a chip on their shoulder. Luckily for the Panthers, they have a ton of talent to help guide the way for a successful 2017 season. Strengths As we all know, the heart of every team be...
Blue Chip Prospects and Prep Baseball Report-NY Agree to Deal
Two of the premier recruiting organizations have agreed to a have a working relationship. Blue Chip Prospects and Prep Baseball Report-NY have come to an agreement to co-host a series of showcases through out the 2017 year–in order to offer an unparalleled opportunity for high school players. “This relationship allows us to combine our resources to optimize college exposure for the amateur baseball community,” said BCP President Jim Clark. He added, “We really feel it is the best of both worlds. Over the past 20 years, our events have been known to attract a strong turnout of college coaches–both regionally and nationally. If you combine that with PBR’s online presence and video service, it allows us to offer the best service possible.” PBR-NY Dire...
What Is the Proper Way to Warm Up Prior to a Start?
It’s no secret that arms are getting injured at an alarmingly high rate. With that being the case, why wouldn’t you do everything you can to prevent an injury? It starts with warming up properly before a start. Here’s a rundown of what I did before my starts and it’s something that helped me avoid any arm injuries through out my career. A pitcher should be taking a light jog around the field in order to get the blood flowing. Regardless of the weather, this is essential in the process of preparation. You should be stretching out. This includes both your legs and your arms. You can do some arm circles, you can also do some light band work to keep working on getting that blood flowing. Run some sprints. Doesn’t have to be at 100 percent effort, but it’s wi...
LIU Post Ready to Take the Next Step
Last year’s record: 23-20 Key roster losses: Joey Arena (P), David Groeneveld (1B) Key additions: Anthony Vaglica (C/1B), Zach Fritz (INF), Kurt Rissland (P), Julian Arcos (P), Noah Lorenzo (P), Pat McCabe (P), Mike Stiles (P) Key roster returners: Jake DeCarli (P), Dan Jagiello (P), Rob Andreoli (OF), Joe Spitaleri (INF), James Varela (P), Thomas Asbaty (C) Kenny Daley (OF), Kyle Fagan (C/OF) The Pioneers fell just short of an East Coast Conference (ECC) tournament appearance in 2016 despite winning nine out of their last 10 games to finish the year. With some key returners coming back and a roster filled with high-ceiling talent, however, Pioneer nation is confident that the 2017 campaign will yield better results. Strengths The Pioneers’ strength is the culture that was developed under ...
Molloy Poised For Another Big Year
by Mike Guido 2016 Record: 31-23 (East Regional Appearance) Key Additions: Dominic Danetti (LHP), Luciano Morrello (RHP), Sean Hogan (C), James Messina (RHP), Anthony Vano (RHP), Matt Imbrogno (INF), Patrick Kennedy (RHP), Jake Saltzman (OF), Justyn Crisostomo (3B) Key Losses: Nick Gonchar (RF), Deilyn Guzman (RHP) After putting up a program-record 31-wins and earning the No. 6 overall seed in the East Region bracket of the NCAA Tournament last season, a heavily battle-tested Molloy team looks to do much of the same in 2017–if not better. With an overwhelming majority of last season’s roster returning including a loaded freshman class, success for this program looks imminent. Molloy has eight out of their starting nine returning in 2017 including ECC Player of the Year and Baseball o...
10 Skyline Conference Players That Could Be X-Factors
The Skyline Conference has improved vastly over the past few seasons. There are now four teams that could legitimately win it this year. St. Joseph’s, Old Westbury and Farmingdale have each one it in the past three seasons. Below are 10 players that could have a large say in who ultimately wins it this season. Nick Attardi-OF, Farmingdale State The reigning Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year is a force at the top of the order. He hit .420 with a .514 OBP and struck out only seven times. They have transformed into more of a small-ball team over the past couple years. When I was playing there, it was a lineup filled with power but with the speedsters they have, they try to “get-em-on, get-em-over, get-em-in”. With the vast improvements of the rest of the Skyline Conferen...
Suffolk CC Looking to Build Off World Series Appearance
by Mike Guido 2016 Record: 25-6 (Region XV Champs) Key Additions: Sean Blasburgh (Middle Infielder), Michael Bobenzi (P), Christopher Rowe (P), Jared Prebete (P). Key Subtractions: Kristopher Killackey (P), Nicholas Von Ohlen (1B), Joe Deland (OF), Tom Bashen (OF), Dominick Damon (3B), Sean Boyle (P), Angel Rodriguez (2B), Rob Sciarrotta (P) In many ways, 2016 was a banner year for Suffolk CC. They won a thrilling game over Nassau in the regionals with a three-run ninth inning to advance to the Junior College World Series. Coach Eric Brown came away with the Region XV Coach of the Year award along with Kristopher Killackey bringing home the 2016 Baseball on the Island Cy Young. In 2017, a change of scenery is expected for a sophomore-oriented club as the Sharks were last season. Killacke...
Touching All the Bases-Making Sleep Part of Your Game Plan
by Brendan Duffy, Sr. Certified Sleep Educator –RPSGT When the Tampa Bay Rays head to Spring Training in a few weeks they will be arriving to the ball field later in the day. Based on their collaboration with sleep specialists, the move to a later start time is meant to help the players increase their sleep time and improve their practices. Instead of 9:30 AM, the players will be reporting at 10:30 AM. This is not something new as the New York Yankees and other professional teams also have done this in the past few seasons and the Yankees start even later –at 11:30 AM! So why the changes? The MLB teams and other teams in the NBA and NHL have finally realized that sleep quality and quantity is an important part of their training. It is the foundation of their training on top of which they...
Nassau CC Motivated by Regional Loss to Suffolk
Last year’s record: 25-14 (.641) Key roster losses: Nicholas Soriano (SS) Michael McCormick (INF) Michael Tancredi (INF) Adam Waldhof (P) Key roster additions: Joseph Minnuchi (P) Michael Siklas (C), Brian Perez (SS) Key returners: Connor Hehir (P) James Murphy (P) Justin Grimes (OF) Nicholas Marino (OF) Nassau CC had a tremendous 2016. They were three outs away from forcing a winner-take-all game, but blew a ninth-inning lead and were forced to watch their Suffolk counterparts celebrate at Farmingdale State College. They are reloaded and motivated to reclaim the Region XV crown. Strengths The Lions are a talented team in all phases of the game, but their true strength comes in the depth of their roster. Gold Glover and All-Region player Justin Grimes (sophomore), All-American Nick Marino...
5 ECC Players You Should Know Before the Start of the 2017 Season
Year in year out, the East Coast Conference produces a significant amount of talent on the diamond. Headed into the 2017 season, there are a ton of players that could make an impact across the conference not only with their bats, but in the field as well. Here are five players in the East Coast Conference you should get to know better before the start of the season. Jimmy Mendyk (3B) & Joe Spitaleri (SS) – LIU Post From former rivals in high school–at Plainedge and Division in which they played shortstop against each other–to the left side of the infield together in college, these two young infielders are some of the most exciting players you’ll ever watch play the game. And the best part about that? Their best years are still ahead of them. Although the the Pio...
