2024 Season Previews
Long Island Lutheran Enters 2024 as Three-Time Reigning PSAA Champs
by Max Edelman Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. And this is how the game ends. Bases loaded, 2 outs Final: LuHi 14, Portledge 4 LuHi captures 3rd consecutive PSAA Championship pic.twitter.com/XU3YEjzlvW — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 11, 2023 In a school known around the country for its basketball, the Long Island Lutheran Crusaders are beginning to make their mark on a different sport. Head coach Shaun Manning, who is entering his fifth year at Long Island Lutheran, who is fresh off winning his third straight PSAA championship, looked back on last season, and looked ahead to the future. “Last season we won the PSAA championship for the third time in a row.” Manning said. “We lost in the quarterfinals in th...
Despite Graduating the Last 2 Diamond Award Winners, Division Reloaded For Another Deep Run
For the first time since 2015, Division captures the Nassau County Class A Championship! They sweep Calhoun and they will face West Babylon in the Long Island Championship next Saturday! Division improves to 27-1 on the season and Matt Marino fired a CG with 7 Ks pic.twitter.com/CGkUbiN9Z4 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 29, 2023 Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Week after week, Division took care of business. They nearly ran the table and completed a perfect season until they were finally defeated in the playoffs by Bethpage. When the two teams matched up again, Division promptly took care of them and kept rolling all the way to a Nassau County Class A Championship over fellow powerhouse, Calhoun. Division ...
Holy Trinity Ready to Defend Their Title
Dan Luisi helped Holy Trinity win a title as a player in 2003 and now as a coach 20 years later pic.twitter.com/icx3H70hBO — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 30, 2023 Holy Trinity turned back the clock to 2012 as they captured the NSCHSAA for the first time in 11 years this past season. They weren’t content there, however, as they proceeded to defeat St. Peter’s and St. Francis to capture the New York State Catholic League Championship. That team had a remarkable transformation from 2 wins in 2021 to a 14-7 finish in 2022 and then to a 21-8 record and championship run in 2023. Coach Dan Luisi had a plan in place and it worked out perfectly. It should be noted that Luisi was also on Holy Trinity’s 2003 championship team for legendary coach Robert Malandro. Congratu...
Smithtown West Aims To Build On 15-Win Season
by Mike Merolle Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Smithtown West is coming off of an impressive 2023 season going 15-7 and making a strong playoff run with two wins. The team is returning 13 players in 2024. Head coach Al Nucci is excited about what this year’s group brings to the table. “Many of them competed at a high level and were major contributors in 2023,” Nucci told Axcess Baseball. “Having had success last year and understanding the grind of a varsity season, I expect them all to be more confident, exhibit more leadership, and bring an intense atmosphere to our daily practices.” Some key fielders returning for their senior season are Jason Zeller (16 runs, 10 RBIs), Chris Theofield, and Connor Catania (11 inn...
East Islip Enters Season With Dominant Pitching Staff
by Max Edelman Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. East Islip 4, Hills West 3 (9innings) WP: Jaden Schmidt Nick Rizzo (8 innings, 8k’s, 3 earned, 3 walks) Rizzo: walkoff single in the 9th Thomas Costarelli: 2-3, RBI triple pic.twitter.com/Q0JXJu5sje — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 8, 2023 Whenever a varsity roster is dominated by freshmen and sophomores, it means that a bright future is ahead. And for the East Islip Redmen, the future is now. Despite only having two seniors on their roster last season, head coach Sal Ciampi was encouraged by the team’s season last year, as well as the progress he saw in many of his younger players. “Last year went pretty good.” Ciampi said. “We were a very young team. By ...
Mineola Looking to Build Off Last Year’s Playoff Season
by Max Edelman Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Mineola 8 Roslyn 3 WP: Andrew Basel Andrew Basel 2-2 HR 4RBI Jack Ryan 3-3 RBI 5 SB Mike Duda 2-3 2 RBI pic.twitter.com/1t8nTgQfVL — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 17, 2023 In Helms Bohringer’s 28th season as head coach of the Mineola Mustangs, his team was loaded with a senior class that had spent the last number of years playing under him. Although the team didn’t accomplish its preseason goal of winning a county championship, Bohringer was still proud of what his team was able to accomplish last year. “Last season wasn’t bad.” Bohringer said. “We finished 11-7 in the league, third place, made the playoffs, and unfortunately were eliminated after the third gam...
Islip Looking to Build on Magical Run to Postseason
by Aaron Diaz Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Islip qualifies for playoffs for 1st time since 2017. Islip 15 Harborfields 6 WP: Shawn Ryan George Trimigliozzi hit a 2 run HR pic.twitter.com/3FOptDT6he — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 12, 2023 2023 was an exciting one for Islip. After hitting a 2-9 record, Islip had to win out with eight games left in the season. Islip unraveled eight wins in a row to squeak into the playoffs. Their unbelievable win streak put them head-to-head against Kings Park where they defied the odds at the Kingman’s ballpark and pulled off the upset. Heading into 2024, head coach RJ Going knows his team can achieve much more with the experience they gained from an incredible 2023...
Comsewogue Eyeing Playoff Redemption In 2024 Led by 8 College Commits
by Mike Merolle Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Comsewogue 3, East Hampton 2 WP: Carson mccaffrey Kevin Schnupp: 1-3 HR Joe Perri 2-3 2 Singles Matt Nowlan throw out at plate to win game pic.twitter.com/i13tMOM2cn — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 24, 2023 It was a playoff season in 2023 for Comsewogue as the team finished 11-9 in their league but 0-2 in the playoffs. East Hampton officially ended their season after defeating Comsewogue in the loser’s bracket elimination game. Head coach Joe Caltagirone is entering his eighth season as the Comsewogue manager and will look for an improving year in 2024. Caltagirone is returning 11 seniors this year. As of now, eight of them are committed to playing college...
Seaford Enters 2024 as Reigning Nassau Class B Champs and With Brand New Turf Field
Here’s the final out for Seaford as they captured the first County Championship in program history 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IY6F0pRDCj — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 27, 2023 Seaford captured the first County Championship in program history in 2023 as they defeated Wheatley without allowing a run. It was a truly special year for Michael Milano‘s club, who dropped down from Class A, and are right back up there this year. They finished with a record of 22-2, losing to Wheatley in a regular season game and Babylon in the Class B Long Island Championship at St. Joseph’s University in a game that they led 5-2. Coach Milano, who has been at the helm since 2004, spoke to Axcess Baseball about their incredible season. “When you have a group like that, there is a whole new l...
East Meadow Looking to Improve on Last Year’s .500 Season
by Max Edelman Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. East Meadow 10, Carle Place 3 WP: Danny Ratkewitch (3 IP, 0 R) Brandon Tauber: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs Joe Lanza & Devin McQuillan: 2 RBIs each pic.twitter.com/g7A2DjshoO — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 31, 2023 The 2023 season was a year of ups and downs for the East Meadow Jets. Vinny Mascia, who is entering his third year as head coach of the Jets, led his very young team to a .500 season. “Last year we were a very average 11-11.” Mascia said. “We were very young, and we got knocked out in the first round against Plainview.” Being a young team, East Meadow was not a group that was made up of very many seniors, as only five of the Jets last season gradu...
Calhoun Looks to Maintain Their Spot Among Nassau County’s Best
by Max Edelman Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Are you kidding !! Trailing 5-2 and down to their final out, Joey Goodman crushes a walk-off grand slam to send Calhoun into the Nassau Class A Finals against Division! Calhoun 6, Mepham 5 pic.twitter.com/zSdoxrlY4S — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 26, 2023 Entering his 10th season as head coach of the Calhoun Colts, Art Canestro along with 2023 Nassau assistant coach of the year, Steve DeMarco, has built the program into one of Nassau County’s elites. In 2022, Calhoun reached the mountain top, winning the Class A Long Island Championship over Rocky Point. Although the Colts were unable to defend their title in 2023, his Colts still charged to a 24-4 overa...
Babylon Enters Season as Reigning Class B Long Island Champions Following Magical Run
A stunning comeback by Babylon as they overcame a 5-2 deficit in the Class B Long Island Championship with the winning run coming in on a walk-off walk Babylon 6, Seaford 5 pic.twitter.com/dN02nDZ6RG — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 1, 2023 Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. In a way, last year was many years in the making for Babylon, as the team took their lumps the first few years under head coach Michael Birnbaum, but with the understanding that it would eventually be worth it. When he took over 2020, the season was cancelled, but there was a core of several freshmen that were going to be up on varsity. That team faced a challenge in 2021, playing in a difficult league against teams like Mount Sinai and Sh...
