NEWS
Tools of Intelligence: Talking with the Catchers of Long Island’s Recent Aces
by Pat Duryea Pitchers are unique animals. No one pitcher is the same. Each pitcher has a unique mix of pitches, movement, and velocity. To find those wrangling the pitchers, you look no further than right behind home plate. The catcher. Nobody knows a pitcher better than their catcher. Catching is far from a passive profession, they must strategize just as much as any pitcher and do a whole lot of dirty work. But as we examine the top pitchers in Suffolk County across the past two seasons there is no better perspective to hear from, than that of their catchers. Pat-Med 2, Sachem East 0 WP: Josh Knoth (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 15 Ks) S: Jack Costello Jayden Kennedy: RBI double, bases loaded walk Pat-Med will face No. 1 Connetquot tomorrow pic.twitter.com/ORo94RMhrG — Axcess Baseball LI (@axc...
Jayden Gigante Commits to St. John’s University
24 hits as an 8th grader. 26 hits as a 9th grader and 40 hits as a 10th grader. That is some rarified air for any player. Carey OF Jayden Gigante has had a tremendous start to his high school career, and he still has a full 2 seasons left. This week he recently announced his verbal commitment to St. John’s, where he will join his summer ball teammate, Andrew Caramico in 2 years. He also received interest from UCONN, Boston College, Stony Brook, Rutgers and North Carolina. His school ball coach, Doug Robins, had this to say about his young star. “He is a fiver tool player. Jayden has become a tremendous player through hard work and dedication. His range in the outfield is off the charts – he covers the gaps.He has been a starter since 8th grade. He’s a gamer and rise...
Recap of Saturday’s Axcess World Series at PAL Stadium
by Trevor Dugan Long Island Crew Defeat the East Coast Lumberjacks The Crew earn a six run victory over the Lumberjacks FINAL (5): Crew 7 – Lumberjacks 1 pic.twitter.com/PLAXpKWABE — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 7, 2024 The East Coast Lumberjacks and Long Island Crew kicked off day two of the Axcess World Series this morning at PAL Stadium. The Lumberjacks sent out Nick Vignola (Shoreham-Wading River 2026) to start on the mound, while the Crew started James Rugolo (Babylon 2025). The pair of starters each pitched a scoreless first inning to begin the game. In the second inning, the Crew brought in RHP Joe Cavallo (Babylon 2025). He would pitch the next two innings and strike out five batters, allowing no runs while doing it. When asked about his approach on the mo...
Jalen Josey Commits to Stony Brook University
Tied again! Jalen Josey comes through with a 2-out, 2-strike RBI single and it’s 3-3 as we head to the 9th pic.twitter.com/cSDmQT8C5G — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 27, 2024 Coming off a magical ride in 2023 which included capturing the NY State Catholic League Championship, it was a bit of a youth movement for the Holy Trinity Titans. Even so, they were able to get hot at the right time and reach the CHSAA Finals against St. Anthony’s. Josey was a bright spot for the Titans. After getting called up from JV halfway through the season, all he did was go 12-for-38 (.316) with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 10 RBIs and 9 runs scored. He came through with a clutch game-tying hit in extra innings of the finals. This past week he announced his verbal commitment to Stony Brook University...
Where Are They Now: Chris Gannon
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on February, 13, 2024.) In what remains the last County Championship for Hauppauge, Chris Gannon put together one of the finest seasons in Long Island history. He played CF and batted leadoff – hitting .483 with 5 HRs, 10 triples, 7 doubles, scoring an incredible 55 runs, drawing 27 walks, 42 hits and drove in 32 runs. The Eagles went 21-5 for the second straight year and successfully defended their title as Suffolk County Champs, this time against future MLB draft pick Tim Layden from Deer Park at Ducks Stadium. Surely, a player of that ilk would go on to play Division-I baseball before continuing his career in pro ball. For Gannon, however, his true love was not baseball, but soccer. He also starred on the Hauppauge boy’s soccer...
Where Are They Now: Nick Clark
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2024) (Photo Credit: Cosmic Fox Media) When it comes to sliding door moments – this one might top the list. During his senior season at West Babylon HS, Nick Clark had already decided he wanted to attend Adelphi University to play basketball. His dream was to play in the NBA. Despite West Babylon’s outstanding team – they won the Suffolk County Championship in 1993 and 1994 – he did not have plans to continue his career after graduation. As fate would have it, legendary Adelphi baseball coach Ron Davies, was attending his West Babylon game to watch his teammate, Mike Rayola. Clark had what he described as his “best game of the year” and Coach Davies asked him if he’d be interested in playing baseball at Adelphi Universi...
Where Are They Now: Matt Daley
Thousands upon thousands of boys grow up dreaming to play Major League Baseball. Very few are talented enough to even play at the collegiate level. Truly passionate baseball fans will still try to find a way into the industry through a position as a journalist, a scout or if they are intelligent enough, a front office position. Garden City alum Matt Daley is in the very, very small subsection of the baseball world that was both talented enough to play at the big league level while being intelligent enough to transition into a front office position for the New York Yankees. If that sounds difficult to do, that’s because it is. Most organization are looking for highly-educated individuals with economic degrees or MBAs as opposed to a former player that simply has an eye for talent. Daley, wh...
Neal Heaton: The Best Hitters I Ever Faced
There were so many tough hitters that I faced in my career. I was lucky enough to face Hall of Famers like Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson and Carl Yastrzemski. Believe it or not, the big power sluggers were not the ones that gave me the most trouble. I did pretty well against Ken Griffey (both of them), Don Mattingly and George Brett. The free swingers with long swings weren’t the problem. It was the guys with good bat control that could foul of tough pitches on two strikes. Here are some that come to mind: Wade Boggs – (Career Line: .328 AVG, 3,010 hits, 118 HRs, 1513 runs) He was the toughest hitter I ever faced. Inside-out hitters are the toughest to get out. I never faced Derek Jeter – but players like him that could take the inside pitch and hit it the other way. Boggs would l...
GAME RECAP: Top Tier Aviators Win Boys of Summer Varsity Division Championship
by Trevor Dugan The Saints comeback attempt falls just short as the Top Tier Aviators earn the @liboysofsummer Varsity Division championship FINAL: Aviators 3 – Saints 2 pic.twitter.com/FvSAZfPRAU — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 17, 2024 The Top Tier Aviators and Long Island Saints met Saturday morning at East Islip High School in the Boys of Summer Varsity Division Championship. Both teams won their semi-final matchups, also played Saturday morning, 11-0. Andrew Buckshaw got the start for the Saints and promptly struck out the first batter of the game. The Aviators then hit back-to-back singles, and were able to score their first run of the day on an RBI groundout by Nick Moraitis. Buckshaw then recorded another swinging strikeout to end the first inning. He would fin...
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...
GAME RECAP: LI Wolfpack Capture 16u National LI Boys of Summer Championship
by Jacob Infald BALLGAME. Wolfpack 16U are your @liboysofsummer 16U National Champions!! Rodgers with a complete game shutout. Wolfpack 2 – B1 Ghost 0 pic.twitter.com/WSoaa030nQ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 17, 2024 Tonight, after a long summer full of intense baseball, a winner was crowned in the most competitive 16U LI Boys of Summer division, as the LI Wolfpack pulled off a huge upset, as they took down the number one seeded B1 Ghost-Okon, winning 2-0 behind great defense, and a complete game shutout from Lucas Rodgers. Lucas Rodgers was dominant all night long for the Wolfpack. The class of 2025 product out of Calhoun High School, pounded the zone, only walking two batters and did not allow a single Ghost leadoff hitter to reach base. Rodgers credits both himsel...
GAME RECAP: Christian Vascellaro Fires No-Hitter to Capture 15u National Championship
by Trevor Dugan The 15u champions caught up with Axcess after their victory at Medford Sports Complex @liboysofsummer pic.twitter.com/R4LePwgjRR — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 17, 2024 The LI Elite Prospects Cuomo met with the MXE Academy Giac Squad Friday night to determine the 15u Boys of Summer National Division champion. The Elite sent out Christian Vascellaro to start on the mound, and he was lights out from the very beginning. He struck out two MXE batters in a 1-2-3 top of the first. Joe Arlia took the ball to start the game for MXE. He answered Vascellaro with a scoreless inning of his own in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, Vascellaro struck out the first two MXE batters. The next batter, Jack Lyke, drew a walk, only to be thrown out by Elite catch...
