Brian Morrell
Brian Morrell Caps Outstanding Career With Second Carl Yastrzemski Award
The bar was already set pretty high for Shoreham-Wading River athletes when Brian Morrell stepped foot on the high school field for the first time. They already had Keith Osik (1987) and Mike O’Reilly (2012) win the coveted Carl Yastrzemski Award. Even with that, Morrell re-wrote the school’s record books during his remarkable five-year career. He graduates as the program-leader in career games played (123), at bats (476), hits (164), doubles (34), triples (8), home runs (26), RBI (124), runs scored (134) and total bases 292). He won 23 games on the mound with 295 K over 213 IP and a 1.15 ERA. Head Coach Kevin Willi stated that while he was “clearly the best player the program has ever had”, you would never know it by how he carried himself. “For a five-year v...
Suffolk Powers Past Nassau, 10-4, in Annual Blue Chip Prospect Grand Slam Challenge
The annual seniors-only classic began with an early lead for Suffolk, who hosted the event. St. Joseph’s stands could hardly hold the mostly-Suffolk crowd that supported their run manufacturing team, who scored in all but two innings. Rocky Point Head Coach Andrew Aschettino was part of a coaching staff that included two other notable Class A head coaches in Bayport’s Jim Moccio and Mount Sinai’s Eric Reichenbach. “This was a team of studs, this was fun. I told them before the game that they are here for a reason, and go out there and do what you do,” Aschettino said. Kenneth Gordon set the tone for Suffolk working a four-pitch walk to lead off the game. After a couple of fielder’s choices, Brian Morrell busted a line drive single up the middle to drive in Peter Theodorellis from sec...
Wantagh Gets to Morrell Early, Repeats As Long Island Champions
THE WANTAGH WARRIORS ARE BACK TO BACK CLASS A LONG ISLAND CHAMPIONS! FINAL: Wantagh 4 Shoreham-Wading River 2 pic.twitter.com/JFdQ2tqOgN — aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) June 3, 2017 Much like they have for the past two seasons. Wantagh‘s star players shined when it mattered most. This time it was in the Long Island Championship, defeating the 24-1 Shoreham-Wading River WIldcats 4-2. From the first pitch of this championship contest, the atmosphere could’ve been mistaken for a Wantagh home game. The first pitch of this game was driven for a lead off double over the left fielder’s head courtesy of Anthony D’Onofrio. This was just the beginning. When the first inning was all said and done, Morrell was forced to throw 32 pitches an...
Previewing Saturday’s Mega Match Up Between SWR and Wantagh
Well, this is what the people wanted. The locomotive versus the immovable object. The reigning New York State Class A champion Wantagh Warriors (21-5) against Shoreham-Wading River (24-1). The reigning New York Class A Player of the Year (Jimmy Joyce) against the reigning Carl Yastrzemski Award winner (Brian Morrell). Two Div-I pitchers in the midst of great seasons going head-to-head in a winner-take-all. How do they stack up? The way I measure how potent a high school offense is, is by how many Div-I players they have. Wantagh has Joyce, Anthony D’Onofrio, Trevor Fagan and Anthony Fontana. They have several other key pieces such as John Conroy, Charlie Interrante, Pat Willix and Jake Castellano–who had a big game in the County Championship. D’Onofrio might be the best p...
Axcess League MVPs Honored at Battle of the Border
During the seventh inning stretch of today’s Battle of the Border, we honored the high school aXcess baseball League MVPs during a ceremony. Below is a list of the winner’s from each conference: Nassau County: A1: Bobby Lewis, MacArthur A2: Tyler DeMeo, Carey A3: Jimmy Joyce, Wantagh A4: Nick Tuzzio, Lynbrook A5: A.J. Cain, Seaford AA1: Brendan McFall, Oceanside AA2: Mark Faello, Plainview-JFK Suffolk County: League 1: Brad Malm, Pat-Med League 2: Pete Theodorellis, Commack League 3: Mike Ruggiero, Smithtown East League 4: Greg Tsouprakos, West Islip League 5: Matt Overton, Hauppauge League 6: James Weisman, Rocky Point League 7: Brian Morrell, Shoreham-Wading River League 8: Kenneth Gordon, Babylon League 9: Luke Hansen, Southold
Wantagh Overcomes Early Deficit To Repeat As Class A County Champions
THE WANTAGH WARRIORS ARE YOUR BACK TO BACK CLASS A CHAMPIONS!!!!! FINAL: Wantagh 4 Garden City 2 pic.twitter.com/zX5QpNE4Uh — aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) May 30, 2017 Despite the struggles, despite the losses, despite the deficits, Wantagh overcame every single obstacle in their path and are now back-to-back county champions. Although winning may seem like a normal day at the office for the Wantagh Warriors, this wasn’t just any other victory. This was a victory with a great amount of emotion that solidified their team’s legacy. On the mound for game 3 of the county championship, southpaw Brendan Haas got the start in the most significant game of his young career. He struggled early with his command, allowing 2 earned runs in the 1s...
Shoreham-Wading River Takes Suffolk Class A Title For First Time Since 2012
by Julian Guevara For the first time since 2012, Shoreham-Wading River is Suffolk County Class A champs. Led by their ace and MLB draft hopeful Brian Morrell, they took down Bayport-Blue Point 8-1 for their 20th consecutive win. Morrell was a force to be reckoned with on the hill (complete game allowing one earned run, a couple of hits, four walks and 11 K’s) and at the plate where he set the down with a second inning grand slam, for his eighth HR of the season. “This is what we have all been looking forward to–all the way back in January at winter workouts, I told the guys that this is the goal for the season,” said SWR head coach Kevin Willi. “We took it game-by-game in the playoffs and really put ourselves in good position to win.” SWR was on base often and early, which has been p...
Can Anybody Beat Shoreham-Wading River?
It has been three years since a team as dominant as Shoreham-Wading River has been in Suffolk Class A. That year, the Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms were in the midst of an undefeated 27-0 season led by stud LHP Jack Piekos. Those Phantoms will be hoping to curtail this locomotive that the Wildcats 2017 has become. They are riding an 18-game winning streak entering the day. Their stats are pretty mind-boggling. They have hit 32 home runs on the season, led by Nick Manesis‘ eight, Brian Morrell is right behind him with seven and Dean Stalzer is on his heels with six. Morrell is leading the charge with 33 RBI, but Manesis has 29, Stalzer has 28 and Thomas Brady has 26. That is some serious production in a 23-game season. On the mound, Morrell is leading the pack with a 9-0 record and 0.90...
Morrell, SWR Hold Off Harborfield’s Late Rally, Win 8-5
It’s always good to have a team led by upperclassmen. Shoreham-Wading River advanced with an 8-5 win over Harborfields in the Class A bracket by their lineup of seniors, including RHP and MLB draft prospect Brian Morrell. The flame-throwing RHP was credited with the win for his five innings of work with five strikeouts, 0 earned runs, two hits, and a walk. The Notre Dame-commit finished the day 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run at the plate. The Wildcats crushed three home runs to account for six of their runs. The first of the three HRs came in the second inning as senior catcher Thomas Brady crushed a two-out three-run shot over the left field fence to give the home team a 3-0 lead. “It always helps when you hit those home runs and get some instant runs like that,” said SWR...
Joe Francisco: Who Are the Top Hitters on Long Island Right Now?
(Editor’s Note: Joe Francisco is the owner of Performance Factory where he works with many of the top hitters on Long Island of all ages. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd round of the 1999 MLB Draft out of Wagner College. The following words are his own.) by Joe Francisco Top Hitter in SUFFOLK COUNTY Brian Morrell Height: 6’1” Weight: 195 Bats/Throws: R/R Poistion: SS/RHP High School: Shoreham Wading River College Commitment: University of Notre Dame (ACC – NCAA Division I) Profile: The reigning Yastrzemski Award winner and Newsday Player of the Year hasn’t skipped a beat coming off of last years .405 AVG, 12 HR, 28 RBI performance. He’s hitting .500 with 5 HRs despite being pitched around all season with (8) intentional walks. Morrell is explosive in the batt...
Neal Heaton: Who Are the Top 3 Arms in the Class of 2017?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with a lot of great pitchers over the years. The group of arms in the 2017 class gives them all a run for their money. Here are my top three based on what I’ve seen. Brian Morrell (Shoreham-Wading River, Notre Dame-commit) The thing I like about Brian Morrell is he pounds the strike zone. Electric arm and his curveball is flat-out nasty–it’s a knuckle-curve. Change up is way above average and of course, his velocity is 88-92 AVG. He’s a competitor, and he’s also a great hitter. 2. Ben Brown (Ward Melville, Siena-commit) Tremendous work ethic. Fastball anywhere from 88-91 MPH with a great overhand curveball and great change up. He pounds the strike zone too and he’s a very tough competitor. Being 6̵...
Brian Morrell Fires Fifth Career No-Hitter, Fans 15 in 7-0 Win
Move over Nolan Ryan, you have someone on your heels. Shoreham-Wading River RHP Brian Morrell struck out 15 in his fifth career no-hitter on the way to a 7-0 victory over rival Bayport-Blue Point. The Notre-Dame commit struck out the final batter with a wicked curve ball to send his dugout into a frenzy. He hit 95 MPH with his fastball on two occasions. Morrell does it again! His fifth no-hitter is a 15 strikeout performance against Bayport-Blue Point pic.twitter.com/1tRBkfUJcy — aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) April 27, 2017 He allowed only three base runners–all on walks–but was electric for the duration of the game. He did so in front of a hand of MLB local scouts and regional cross checkers. He has a chance to get drafted in the top 5 rounds in the Jun...
