2022 Season Previews
Longwood Enters 2022 With Talented, Experienced Roster
By Michael Malaszczyk Varsity baseball is almost here, and Coach Ryan McSherry of Longwood is gearing up for the 2022 season. Longwood is looking to be in a particularly good position to have a good season this year. Coach McSherry was very proud of what his team was able to do in 2021, in an interview with Axcess Baseball. Longwood did have a great season last year; they finished with a 14-6 overall record; their season came to an end against Commack in a Suffolk Conference semifinal. “Losing is never the goal, but there’s always a lesson to be learned,” said Coach McSherry. “The 2021 team was a very enjoyable and fun group to be in the presence of on a daily basis. We were happy with their attitudes and approach to everything.” In addition to that aforementioned lesson, with regard...
Led by Reigning Player of the Year, St. Anthony’s Hungry to Take Next Step
Fordham-commit Jack Vallario (St. Anthony’s 2022) is the reigning CHSAA Player of the Year. Compiled OPS of 1.253. Pro potential pic.twitter.com/B8OnvFZl60 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 1, 2022 Led by the returning CHSAA Player of the Year, Jack Vallario, St. Anthony’s is looking to take a step forward in 2022. They were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by St. Dominic, but they have their sights set on taking a leap this season. Vallario, a senior SS that is committed to Fordham University, is coming off an outstanding 2021 season that has earned him the respect of teammates and opposing players alike. Coach Paul Parsolano had high praise for his captain: “I attach other infielders to him – they follow his lead,” said Parsolano, wh...
Oyster Bay Sets Sights on County Championship
By Thomas Cregan Uncommitted RHP Michael Gatti (Oyster Bay 2022) pic.twitter.com/xURsr5xYHn — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 29, 2021 Oyster Bay head coach Jeff Schiereck is looking to his team of mostly returning players to make another run at the County Championship in 2022. Oyster Bay finished the regular season in 2021 with a 5-11 record in a combined league composed of A and B schools. Coach Shiereck said 6 of their losses were against the A schools who they do not usually go up against, though they were losses, he said they were in every game and put up a good fight against the competition. Despite their record, Oyster Bay went on a terrific run in the post season all the way to the County Finals. They were ultimately defeated in the finals by Wheatley on a walk-off s...
Bay Shore Begins New Era Under Head Coach Christopher Schiro
By Michael Malaszczyk Coltrane Calloway fires a 4-hit shutout and Bay Shore advances to the Suffolk Conference II Finals with a 1-0 win over Connetquot ! pic.twitter.com/FryTZ6oBMO — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 16, 2021 Last season was a resounding success for Bay Shore, who took down a talented Connetquot team on the road before losing in the Conference II County Finals against Huntington. With that said, it is a new era for the Marauders, who not only graduated several impact players but also longtime head coach, Mike Herbst, retired following the season. He is replaced by Coach Christopher Schiro, who was happy to share his thoughts on the upcoming season in an interview with Axcess Baseball. “I would have loved the opportunity to be on board last year’s staff with t...
Hills West Looking to Build on Last Season’s Playoff Victory
Hills West is coming off yet another strong season in 2021 under longtime head coach Tom Migliozzi, who has over 400 wins to his name. They defeated Westhampton Beach in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Sayville on a walk-off HR in the 10th inning. From that team, they graduated 10 seniors, with Coach Migliozzi stated that catcher Mike Freda (Queens), 2b Jordan Goldstein and 3b Josh Waldman were impact players for them. In terms of returning players, they are in very good shape. They had six sophomores start on most games for them, and one junior, Mike Steinberg, who started at second base. The crux of the team is in the 2023 class and Migliozzi noted that they are a talented bunch. Justin Leguernic (‘23, NY) closes out the game with a 2 inning save with electric stuff. FB ...
Commack Takes the Field With Heavy Hearts in 2022
Commack captures the Conference I Long Island Championship with a 3-1 victory over Massapequa ! pic.twitter.com/QCz1prESnG — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 21, 2021 Commack will take the field with heavy hearts in 2022 following the passing of their Head Coach Bryan Bonin in January. Bonin was an incredible person and coach – who led the Cougars to the County Championship during his first year in 2017 and also their first Long Island Championship in program history in 2021. Incumbent coach, Matt Salmon, had the following to say: “Since Bryan passed away, I’ve been in constant contact with the guys. The kids really loved him. It’s almost taken on a natural feel the way Bryan would’ve wanted it. Everybody is locked in on baseball. During tryouts, from...
Manhasset Looks to Take That Next Step
by Mike Anderson Several coaches labeled Manhasset as the high school with the best varsity baseball pitching staff in Nassau County last year. That staff led the team to a 16-5 record, and spearheaded their 13-game winning streak going into the county finals. They even won game one, before South Side was able to take games two and three to advance to the LIC. Head Coach Mark Giardino credits not only their pitching staff, but also their team chemistry for their success. “The kids bought into each other. It really didn’t matter who was in the lineup on any given day. Everybody pulled for each other. It’s cliche to say that ‘You’re only as good or successful as the last guy on your bench,’ but that was the truth with us… Everybody knew their role, accepted their role, and excelled in their ...
With the Targets On Their Back, Newfield Prepares for New Set of Challenges
Newfield defeats South Side, 3-1, to capture the Conference III Long Island Championship! pic.twitter.com/prhnKbfnT4 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 20, 2021 2021 was a banner year in every sense of the word for the Newfield Wolverines. First, they captured their first Suffolk County Championship in program history over perennial powerhouse, West Islip. They didn’t settle for that – as they marched on to defeat South Side in the Long Island Championship by the score of 3-1. To put an icing on the cake, their ace, Dylan Johnson, captured the coveted Carl Yastrzemski Award – which is awarded to the top player in Suffolk County. For good measure, he also won the Axcess Man of the Year (top high school player on Long Island). “For years you work, and you won...
Wantagh Returns Talented Roster Ready to Compete in Nassau A4
by Mike Anderson THEY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. Wantagh completes the three-peat as Class A Long Island Champions! FINAL: Wantagh 4 Rocky Point 2 WP – Anthony Fontana (Complete Game) pic.twitter.com/9HcJj90Tin — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 2, 2018 One of the premier baseball programs on Long Island will look to have another great year, as Wantagh High School is ready to compete again. Last year’s team was 11-7 overall and 10-6 in league play, according to MaxPreps. Last season, their team started off 7-0, but was hurt at times by Covid-19 and finished the season losing to Bethpage. However, they were led by several solid players to help continue the program’s winning traditions in 2021. The players they have returning will give them a chance to keep it up this year as well. L...
Valley Stream North Hopeful to Build Off Playoff Appearance
By Michael Malaszczyk The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and varsity baseball is getting closer. Coach Phil Sanfilippo of Valley Stream North had a lot to say about the upcoming baseball season in an interview with Axcess Baseball. By his own words, Coach Sanfilippo and his assistant, James Casella, are looking forward to a season less-stunted by the coronavirus pandemic than the 2021 season. “The last year was very much impacted by COVID,” said Sanfilippo. “This year, we’re starting very late, but not necessarily due to COVID.” Coach Sanfilippo had plenty of thoughts about his team’s 2021 season, which was very successful considering the circumstances. “After a slow start, we won 3 of our final 4 games, including an important win over Plainedge to qualify for the ...
Connetquot Ready For New Challenge in League III
After a long wait it’s safe to say Connetquot is fired up to be playing An RBI double by freshman Ryan Kiendle off the fence in left gives them a 1-0 lead pic.twitter.com/Op8gOV7zbs — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 8, 2021 For the first time in program history, Connetquot will complete in League III this season. The program had previously been in League II and is one of the perennial powerhouses on Long Island. 2021 was a typically strong season for the T-Birds, who finished with a record of 15-4. They lost, 1-0, in the Conference II semifinals against Bay Shore and League MVP, Coltrane Calloway. Despite not reaching their goal, Connetquot was a very young team. Coach Rob Burger, who won the Class AA County Championship in his first season in 2019, stated that they had 7 so...
Massapequa Begins Quest for Unprecedented 5th Straight County Title
Matt Minio fires a complete game gem – Massapequa shuts out Plainview JFK 3-0 to capture the Nassau I Championship ! They will face the winner of Commack-Sachem East in the Long Island Championship on Sunday pic.twitter.com/jzh9xlLFC4 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 17, 2021 It’s been mentioned ad nauseum but the cancellation of the 2020 high school season impacted teams in many ways. Obviously, the teams that were loaded with seniors and were hungry for a championship felt the most spurned. At the very top of that list is Massapequa who had already been riding a stretch of back-to-back-to-back Long Island Championships. Fast forward to today – and while that streak was ended by Commack last June, they did win their fourth consecutive Nassau County title. The ...
