Andy Smith
Friday College Recap (2/17) Powered by Orlin & Cohen
by Andy Smith It’s the start of a new season ! And with the mild winter, it seems like it flew right by onto baseball season. The Division-Is opened up last night and Molloy will open up today. Without further ado, here’s how it went down… Division-I: St. John’s was the lone local team to get a W as they came out of the gate hot with an impressive 7-6 win in extra innings at Old Dominion. Paul Orbon‘s game-winning RBI single was the difference, as the Johnnies were able to erase a 4-run deficit. David Glancy picked up right where he left off last year, crushing a HR. Chuck Sanzio pitched two innings and earned the winning relief. Sony Fauci started and went four innings, allowing 4 runs (2 ER) and did not factor in the decision. He walked five and struck out 2...
Despite Losing Strong Group of Seniors Syosset Ready to Continue Success
by Andy Smith Syosset entered 2022 with high expectations. The Braves qualified for the playoffs and finished with the season with an 8-7 league record. After losing in the quarterfinals to Farmingdale, fifth year head coach Tom Morritt learned some valuable lessons. “We learned that it’s so important to be playing your best when your best is needed. We encountered a recent league opponent in the quarter finals (Farmingdale) and lost in the best of 3 games after winning game 1.” Morritt continued, “We had just played our regular season finale with the ‘Dalers the week before and ran into them in the first round of playoffs. Ultra competitive 2 weeks of high school baseball. A great experience, hard fought but ultimately fell short of the team and program goal.” The Braves are entering 2...
Lindenhurst Well-Positioned for Playoff Run Led by “Fab 5”
by Andy Smith Lindenhurst 4, Ward Melville 3 WP: Matt Clark (2 innings 4K’s) Donald Whalen 2-3 GW RBI Chris Carson scored game winning run from 1st base Thomas Charlwood (3 innings 6K’s)1-2 SF Thomas Walker 1-3 pic.twitter.com/cA5xG9i610 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 5, 2022 Lindenhurst made major strides last season. The Bulldogs finished with a 12-6 league record and a 14-8 overall record. Lindenhurst defeated a powerhouse in Patchogue-Medford in the playoffs last season, but suffered losses to Commack and Ward Melville which marked the end of their season. Head Coach Rob Moore reflected on how his team, especially the returning players, grew last season and what they can build on. “The returning players love the game, they work tirelessly and relentlessly, they do not ...
Shoreham-Wading River Prepared to Continue Success
by Andy Smith Postgame interview with Shoreham-Wading River RHP Billy Steele who fired 6 no-hit innings in a 4-1 win pic.twitter.com/dzwO45Ztze — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 4, 2022 Shoreham-Wading River had a very successful season last spring. The Wildcats qualified for the playoffs once again, a feat they have continued to accomplish for 36 straight seasons and finished the regular season with a 17-2 record. They were upset by Bayport-Blue Point in the postseason. Head Coach Kevin Willi is entering his ninth season as the skipper. Willi may sound familiar to fans of Stony Brook University, as he was both a pitcher and outfielder for the Seawolves. Willi credited his mentor, Sal Mignano, as a major catalyst to his success. Mignano, a member of the Suffolk County Sports ...
Sachem East Going for a 3-Peat
by Andy Smith Sachem East 14, Brentwood 5 WP: Patrick Krampasky Nick Oelcher: 2 HRs Richie Heyder: HR pic.twitter.com/MSSUno8Bp0 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 13, 2022 Kevin Schnupp, the only varsity coach Sachem East has ever had, is preparing his team for another season. Since 2005, Schnupp has led them to numerous successful seasons during his long tenure. Schnupp, a Sachem North alum, the only high school at the time, played college baseball at Dowling College. Sachem East finished 2022 with a league record of 15-3 and an overall record of 16-6. The Arrows won their second League 1 Title in a row but lost in the playoffs. Schnupp reflected on why the team fell short in their postseason run. “We wound up losing in the playoffs after some injuries to our pitching staff...
Port Washington Hopeful to Build On Playoff Appearance
by Andy Smith Port Washington 10, Syosset 5 WP: Michael Andrew. 4IP 2ER 6K Will Chu 3IP, 0ER, 2H, 4K Jake Spiryda 3 for 3, 2B, 2RBI Dylan Trenaman 2 for 5, 2RBI pic.twitter.com/p6DiuJUOf3 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 18, 2021 Port Washington took a step forward in 2022. The Vikings qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seed, a feat they did not accomplish the year before. In order to earn that seed, the Vikings had to play a tiebreaker series against Oceanside for the final playoff seed. However, Port Washington fell to a dominant Plainview JFK squad in the first round of the playoffs. Thirteen year Head Coach Matt Holzer reflected on how last season shaped his vision of building a championship team. “The season was a step in the right direction for us”, he stated. “O...
Island Trees Enters New Era With Head Coach Mike Valiando
by Andy Smith Vinny Giambona with a 3 run triple to put Island Trees up now 13-1 over Wheatley pic.twitter.com/HMTPFnAZO7 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 23, 2022 Island Trees had a down year by their standards. The Bulldogs won the Nassau County Conference 5 Title in 2021 but fell short of their goal in 2022. The Bulldogs finished with a 9-9 league record, but they were eliminated by Seaford in the double elimination bracket. Head Coach Mike Valiando, who will make his head coaching debut in 2023, reflected on how the team performed last season. “Last year was filled with a lot of ups and downs. We had some injuries, but our players battled, and the seniors gave us everything they had.” Although Valiando is entering his first season as the head coach he is quite famil...
A Young Comsewogue Team is Primed for the Next Step
by Andy Smith Comsewogue 3, East Islip 1 WP: Carson McCaffrey (CG, 1-hitter). He has allowed 3 hits through 3 starts Matt Nowlan: 2 solo home runs — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 13, 2022 Last season, Comsewogue finished just two games under .500, and two games out of a playoff berth despite sporting a young roster. Head Coach Joe Caltagirone reflected on the difficulties his team faced, and how his team responded and grew. “Last season we were a very young but a very competitive team. The players grew as the season went on and we won our last series, taking 2 out of 3 from Hills West, knocking them out of the playoffs.” Caltagirone, who played college baseball for St. Joseph University LI was a varsity assistant and middle school coach before being named head coach of the Wa...
West Islip Enters 2023 With Young, Talented Roster
by Andy Smith West Islip Lions head coach Shawn Rush is no stranger to winning. He is now entering his 14th season as the head coach, Rush has seen it all during his long and successful tenure. Rush led West Islip to County Titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The Lions finished with a 15-8 overall record, 14-4 in league play and earned the title of League IV Champions. This upcoming season, however, West Islip will be without many key contributors from last year. “A senior heavy group” was a major component of last season’s squad, and a big part of their outstanding results in 2022. However, Rush is prepared to lead the next core of Lions to success. West Islip LHP Jake Rivera strands the bases loaded in the third, no score pic.twitter.com/rjtGjdCISQ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbasebal...
First Year Coach Prepared to Continue Success at Wheatley
by Andy Smith Longtime Wheatley head coach, Paul Paino, stepped down after 38 seasons in which he led the Wildcats to: ⚾️ 10 Nassau County Championships ⚾️ 3 Long Island Championships ⚾️ 434 career wins David Burke is the new head coach pic.twitter.com/bzPqh0nruc — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 27, 2022 Wheatley High School is coming off another fantastic season with a 19-3-1 record and winning the Nassau County B Championship. However, they fell to Center Moriches in the Long Island Championship. First year Head Coach, David Burke, is prepared for the challenges ahead, and hopes to continue the success of this program. He is taking over for legendary Paul Paino who retired with 434 career wins and 10 Nassau County Championships. Burke, a former Diamond Award winner (1993...
Centereach is Looking to Build on Last Year’s Success
by Andy Smith Congratulations to Centereach who defeated Smithtown East in extra innings to clinch their first postseason berth since 2010 pic.twitter.com/xX8F8V0Ap1 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 4, 2022 The Centereach Cougars had quite the notable run last season. The Cougars finished with a 10-8 league record and 2-2 in the playoffs. Head Coach Pete Cammarata reflected, “Last season for us at Centereach was special. It ended with a deep run in the playoffs, and got us back to the winning ways of the past – overcoming the pressure of making the playoffs after not making it in a few years.” This was the first time since 2010 that Centereach High School qualified for the playoffs. Not only did they qualify – but they defeated two rivals in the playoffs – at ...
Pierson Looks to Continue Success with Strong Pitching Staff
by Andy Smith Pierson captures the Suffolk VI Championship with a 5-4 win over Southold – they will face Wheatley on Sunday in the Long Island Championship pic.twitter.com/EH0FQ8SHwJ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 18, 2021 Pierson High School of Sag Harbor took on all competition last season finishing 13-5 in league play and 15-8 overall. Pierson reached the Class C County Championship before losing to Port Jefferson two games to one. 6th year Head Coach Jonathan Schwartz reflected on last season and what lessons were learned. “Last year we had 6 seniors, so although Port Jefferson had more firepower than us, our experience took us farther than maybe we should have gone. We were a scrappy team, built on pitching, catching and speed. We relied on getting guys on, over...
