Bayport-Blue Point
Bayport-Blue Point Ready to Begin New Era Under Victor Manzella
by Aaron Diaz Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. For the past quarter century, Long Island baseball fans could count on Bayport-Blue Point making the postseason. Under longtime coach Jim Moccio, they did so in 25 straight years and won the Class A New York State Championship in 2013 and 2014. He decided to step down following the season, and he is replaced by Victor Manzella, who just led West Babylon to the Class A Long Island Championship, beating Bayport in the County Finals. “Coach Moccio, who had won 383 games and 2 state titles, decided to retire,” Manzella said. “ I happen to live in Bayport Blue-Point, so when the opportunity came up to interview for that position, I took the opportunity and was blessed to get t...
Where Are They Now Powered by BK7 Brand: Jack Piekos
In 2013-’14, there was no team more dominant than Bayport-Blue Point and on that team, there was no more dominant player than Jack Piekos. The Phantoms became the first Suffolk County program to capture back-to-back State Championships (that has since been duplicated by Center Moriches). They went a perfect 27-0 in 2013 and followed that up by defending their crown and winning it again in 2014. Piekos was the biggest reason for that success. The menacing left-handed pitcher won every award you can – League VII MVP, All-County, All-Long Island, All-State, Class A Player of the Year, Fred Biangardi Playoff MVP, MSG Varsity Pitcher of the Year, All-Northeast Honor from Perfect Game and 2x Paul Gibson Award winner. With a fastball touching 90 MPH and an unflappable demeanor, he committed to t...
Ken Kortright State Farm Agency Game of the Week: Bayport-Blue Point RHP Liam Stemmler Fires 4-Hit CG
Final: Bayport-Blue Point 3, Miller Place 1 WP: Liam Stemmler (CG, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 Ks) BBP improves to 8-0 on the season, they’ll face Sayville next week pic.twitter.com/1tjYP9nxkE — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 14, 2023 One of the key tenets of Bayport-Blue Point’s 25 consecutive postseason appearances is their ability to grind out at bats, beat high-end pitchers with timely hits and, of course, outstanding pitching. Their starting pitching has been lights-out this year and they are now 8-0 on the season and on the verge of another postseason berth after their 3-1 victory over Miller Place. Today’s starting pitcher, FDU-Florham commit Liam Stemmler was efficient and effective. He out dueled sophomore LHP Nick Frusco, who was overpowering at times but made just ...
Bayport-Blue Point Looks Towards 2023 With Hopes of a Deep Playoff Run
by Nick Cipolla Final: Bayport-Blue Point 9, Center Moriches 1 WP: Ryan Costa pic.twitter.com/PPIIEIDcnV — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 19, 2022 2022 was just another normal year of Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms baseball. A second place finish in their league with a 14-6 overall record while making it to the playoffs is per the status quo for the Phantoms as they have made it to the Suffolk County playoffs for 24 consecutive seasons. The one blemish on this season was that they would see their season end against the team from the next town over, Sayville. The Phantoms are led by head coach Jim Moccio. The Phantoms will have some big shoes to fill in 2023 as they unfortunately lost a trio of studs to graduation following the 2022 season. All-County infielder Trey McGowan (‘22) w...
Where Are They Now Powered by BK7 Brand: Jack Piekos
In 2013-’14, there was no team more dominant than Bayport-Blue Point and on that team, there was no more dominant player than Jack Piekos. The Phantoms became the first Suffolk County program to capture back-to-back State Championships (that has since been duplicated by Center Moriches). They went a perfect 27-0 in 2013 and followed that up by defending their crown and winning it again in 2014. Piekos was the biggest reason for that success. The menacing left-handed pitcher won every award you can – League VII MVP, All-County, All-Long Island, All-State, Class A Player of the Year, Fred Biangardi Playoff MVP, MSG Varsity Pitcher of the Year, All-Northeast Honor from Perfect Game and 2x Paul Gibson Award winner. With a fastball touching 90 MPH and an unflappable demeanor, he co...
Ryan Costa Goes the Distance, Bayport-Blue Point Cruises to 9-1 Victory
Final: Bayport-Blue Point 9, Center Moriches 1 WP: Ryan Costa pic.twitter.com/PPIIEIDcnV — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 19, 2022 It felt more like a December afternoon but Ryan Costa pitched like he was in midseason form. He went the distance, striking out six and allowing just an unearned run in a 9-1 victory for Bayport-Blue Point against Center Moriches on Tuesday morning. He was matched up against Joey Hiller and the teams traded zeros for the first two innings, before Center Moriches got on the board in the top of the third. After Leyton Pulsipher dribbled one out in front of home plate and reached to lead off the inning, he stole second and scored on an RBI single by Gavin DeRosa. At that moment, it appeared that it might be a pitcher’s duel, but the game complete...
Ken Kortright State Farm Game of the Week: Billy Steele Fires 6 No-Hit Innings in 4-1 Win
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 has grown accustomed to no-hitters over the past several years. Between Brian Morrell‘s record-setting six no-hitters in 2016-’17 and then Aidan Crowley‘s back-to-back-to-back no-hitters in 2019, maybe there isn’t the same allure there once was. Billy Steele, their 2022 version of those aforementioned pitchers took a no-hitter through six innings, but was lifted in favor of LHP Nick Stella. He was one strike away from finishing it off, before Bayport-Blue Point ruined the bid and got on the board on an RBI double, briefly putting a scare into the hometown faithful....
Despite Graduating League MVP, Bayport-Blue Point Returns 13 Players from 15-Win Season
by Mike Anderson Final: Bayport-Blue Point 3, Mattituck 2 WP: Brady Clark S: Charles Aurandt pic.twitter.com/xJsKWJIpXg — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2021 Led by League V MVP Luke Schartner in 2021, Bayport-Blue Point varsity baseball made the playoffs for the 24th consecutive year. They went 15-3 and captured the third seed in the league’s playoff picture. Turning the page now to this year, the Phantoms still have reasons to expect success in 2022. The team will be returning 13 players this year after only graduating seven. However, replacing Schartner’s bat from the three-hole and his arm from the rotation will not be easy. They also lost pitcher Charlie Aurandt, who is now playing Div-III ball at St. Joseph’s College. However, they have the bullets to help fill in their...
Where Are They Now: Jack Piekos
In 2013-’14, there was no team more dominant than Bayport-Blue Point and on that team, there was no more dominant player than Jack Piekos. The Phantoms became the first Suffolk County program to capture back-to-back State Championships (that has since been duplicated by Center Moriches). They went a perfect 27-0 in 2013 and followed that up by defending their crown and winning it again in 2014. Piekos was the biggest reason for that success. The menacing left-handed pitcher won every award you can – League VII MVP, All-County, All-Long Island, All-State, Class A Player of the Year, Fred Biangardi Playoff MVP, MSG Varsity Pitcher of the Year, All-Northeast Honor from Perfect Game and 2x Paul Gibson Award winner. With a fastball touching 90 MPH and an unflappable demeanor, he co...
Brady Clark, Charles Aurandt Hold Off Mattituck, 3-2
Final: Bayport-Blue Point 3, Mattituck 2 WP: Brady Clark S: Charles Aurandt pic.twitter.com/xJsKWJIpXg — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2021 With the bases loaded, two outs and Bayport-Blue Point clinging to a 3-1 lead, HC Jim Moccio made a call to the bullpen. He brought in senior RHP Charlie Aurandt in relief of sophomore Brady Clark, who got off to a great start but began to lose the strike zone and Moccio wanted to end any chance of a Mattituck rally. The senior came on and after initially walking the first batter to bring in a run, he struck out SS Connor Fox to strand the bases loaded and end the threat. Aurandt wound up staying in the game, firing up scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings – despite allowing the first two batters to reach in the sevent...
Bayport-Blue Point Returning Just 1 Starting Player from 2019
When the season was shutdown in March of last year, Bayport-Blue Point was in the middle of an intersquad game. “They told us to make sure we clean up good – it might be the last time we’d be playing,” said Head Coach Jim Moccio, who is entering his 22nd season at the helm and won Class A State Championships in 2013 and ’14. “I didn’t tell the guys that,” he said knowing that it would be deflating for them to hear it. Their team was comprised of 12 seniors, four of which were entering their fourth season of varsity baseball and were poised for a deep playoff run. “We felt really good with that group,” said Moccio. “We were playing really well going into the shutdown. When you have seniors, they’re just more relaxed. We...
Who Was The Best Team of The 2010s?
When it comes to being considered the best–the bar is set high. Over the course of the past 10 seasons, there have been undefeated seasons, there have been back-to-back state champs, there have been pitching staffs loaded with Division-I talent and pro pitchers. But there can only be one team considered the best. I have watched a lot of baseball, but I didn’t trust my own instinct so I solicited the help of some trusted sources to put together my definitive list of the best teams of the decade. To make it a bit easier, we narrowed it down to teams that have won a Long Island Championship, because plenty of talented teams have made it to the finish line only to come up short. We also did not list any school more than once on purpose because many of the back-to-back champions featured the sa...
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