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		<title>Islip Looking to Build on Magical Run to Postseason</title>
		<link>https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2024/02/28/islip-looking-to-build-on-magical-run-to-postseason/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=islip-looking-to-build-on-magical-run-to-postseason</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vinny Messana]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:23:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2024 Season Previews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dylan Broschart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dylan McKenna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dylan Ruland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RJ Going]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.axcessbaseball.com/?p=50367</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>by Aaron Diaz Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year&#8217;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&#8217;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 playoff push.  “It was exhilarating for the team,” Going said. “It was massive for what is to come for Islip. Being able to make the playoffs and having guys come back this year to know what that playoff feels like. It was super important to go on that eight-game win streak and to win a game in the playoffs and that set up for what the offseason was going to be like.”  Despite winning eight in a row last year, Going understands what league his team is in and believes it will be a hard challenge for them to be a good team among others like Kings Park, Mount Sinai, Sayville, and Miller Place. But their experience will elevate their level of play, so 2024 will be a season full of competitive teams. “We got a tough league,” Going explained. “It’s going to be a little bit of a dog fight for second, third, and fourth. It’s going to be a competitive league.”  Although it’s a new season, Islip will return most of their team, specifically juniors with only a couple of seniors. In 2023, Islip graduated two seniors who elevated their play in their magical season.  Three-time All-League player Dylan McKenna graduated in 2023. “He was our workhorse and our ace for the past three years,” Going said. “He crept up to being a 1-2 hitter.” McKenna is playing his 2024 season at Lockhaven University. McKenna batted .315 while compiling 63 strikeouts in 2023.  They also lost two-time All-League player Ethan Ferrara. “He was a middle-of-the-lineup guy and had right field down on lock,” Going said. “Everyone would gravitate around him and he had those leadership roles and qualities. He worked hard and the team appreciated that.” Ferrara had 21 RBIs with a .310 average.  Now in 2024, Islip will be anchored by a junior heavy-core. Leading that core will be catcher Collin Haug. Haug is a two-time All-League player who batted .352 with nine doubles and 24 runs scored. “That kid is special,” Going said.  Center fielder Lou Poulos will contribute a lot to both sides of the ball also pitching from the mound. Dylan Broschart will also man the outfield with Poulos but his left arm will be reliable as a three-year starter.  On the infield, three-year starter AJ Giel will play all around the infield in 2024 and Dylan Ruland will round out the pitching rotation as a two-year starter and a steady arm after an impressive 2023 season for Islip.  Their junior-heavy lineup will face a tough test in 2024 with the team’s goal set on playoff expectations after their magical run last year. “Once you make the playoffs, that becomes the expectation,” Going said. “That’s always been our standard, the wins and losses will come but as long as we compete and be competitive, everything will fall into place as it should be.  And now that everything seems to be falling into place, Coach Going and his staff feel the culture change within their program. “Now that COVID has passed we feel that we have the culture that we’ve wanted to build for the past few years,” Going explained. “It’s fun showing up to practice when you feel that way.”  With the offseason turning into the spring, Going talked about what his team has been training mentally all offseason. “We have to trust ourselves and when you talk about core values…trust, love and grit have to be at the top,” Going said. We have to love and trust each other and I think that’s going to create that culture change for us.”  Ready for the 2024 season, Islip will have their game of the year against Miller’s Place. &#160;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2024/02/28/islip-looking-to-build-on-magical-run-to-postseason/">Islip Looking to Build on Magical Run to Postseason</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>by Aaron Diaz</strong></p>
<p><em>Special thanks to <a href="https://metalandscapedesign.com">Metamorphosis Landscape Design</a> for sponsoring this year&#8217;s season preview series.</em></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Islip qualifies for playoffs for 1st time since 2017.</p>
<p>Islip 15<br />
Harborfields 6<br />
WP: Shawn Ryan</p>
<p>George Trimigliozzi hit a 2 run HR <a href="https://t.co/3FOptDT6he">pic.twitter.com/3FOptDT6he</a></p>
<p>— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/axcessbaseball/status/1656826525923135495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">2023 was an exciting one for <strong>Islip</strong>. 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&#8217;s ballpark and pulled off the upset. Heading into 2024, head coach <strong>RJ Going</strong> knows his team can achieve much more with the experience they gained from an incredible 2023 playoff push. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was exhilarating for the team,” Going said. “It was massive for what is to come for Islip. Being able to make the playoffs and having guys come back this year to know what that playoff feels like. It was super important to go on that eight-game win streak and to win a game in the playoffs and that set up for what the offseason was going to be like.” </span></p>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-50361 aligncenter" src="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_2296-300x174.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="174" srcset="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_2296-300x174.jpg 300w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_2296-1024x595.jpg 1024w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_2296-768x446.jpg 768w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_2296.jpg 1127w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite winning eight in a row last year, Going understands what league his team is in and believes it will be a hard challenge for them to be a good team among others like Kings Park, Mount Sinai, Sayville, and Miller Place. But their experience will elevate their level of play, so 2024 will be a season full of competitive teams. “We got a tough league,” Going explained. “It’s going to be a little bit of a dog fight for second, third, and fourth. It’s going to be a competitive league.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although it’s a new season, Islip will return most of their team, specifically juniors with only a couple of seniors. In 2023, Islip graduated two seniors who elevated their play in their magical season. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Three-time All-League player </span><b>Dylan McKenna</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> graduated in 2023. “He was our workhorse and our ace for the past three years,” Going said. “He crept up to being a 1-2 hitter.” McKenna is playing his 2024 season at Lockhaven University. McKenna batted .315 while compiling 63 strikeouts in 2023. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They also lost two-time All-League player </span><b>Ethan Ferrara.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> “He was a middle-of-the-lineup guy and had right field down on lock,” Going said. “Everyone would gravitate around him and he had those leadership roles and qualities. He worked hard and the team appreciated that.” Ferrara had 21 RBIs with a .310 average. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now in 2024, Islip will be anchored by a junior heavy-core. Leading that core will be catcher </span><b>Collin Haug</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Haug is a two-time All-League player who batted .352 with nine doubles and 24 runs scored. “That kid is special,” Going said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Center fielder</span><b> Lou Poulos</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will contribute a lot to both sides of the ball also pitching from the mound.</span><b> Dylan Broschart</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will also man the outfield with Poulos but his left arm will be reliable as a three-year starter. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the infield, three-year starter</span><b> AJ Giel</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will play all around the infield in 2024 and</span><b> Dylan Ruland</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will round out the pitching rotation as a two-year starter and a steady arm after an impressive 2023 season for Islip. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their junior-heavy lineup will face a tough test in 2024 with the team’s goal set on playoff expectations after their magical run last year. “Once you make the playoffs, that becomes the expectation,” Going said. “That’s always been our standard, the wins and losses will come but as long as we compete and be competitive, everything will fall into place as it should be. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And now that everything seems to be falling into place, Coach Going and his staff feel the culture change within their program. “Now that COVID has passed we feel that we have the culture that we’ve wanted to build for the past few years,” Going explained. “It’s fun showing up to practice when you feel that way.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the offseason turning into the spring, Going talked about what his team has been training mentally all offseason. “We have to trust ourselves and when you talk about core values…trust, love and grit have to be at the top,” Going said. We have to love and trust each other and I think that’s going to create that culture change for us.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ready for the 2024 season, Islip will have their game of the year against Miller’s Place.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2024/02/28/islip-looking-to-build-on-magical-run-to-postseason/">Islip Looking to Build on Magical Run to Postseason</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Led by Strong Junior Class, Islip Poised for Improved Year</title>
		<link>https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2022/02/15/led-by-strong-junior-class-islip-poised-for-improved-year/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=led-by-strong-junior-class-islip-poised-for-improved-year</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vinny Messana]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2022 22:01:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 Season Previews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dylan McKenna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Trimigliozzi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RJ Going]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shawn Ryan]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.axcessbaseball.com/?p=47240</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Islip fielded a very young team in 2021 &#8211; they graduated three impact players &#8211; Connor Ruland (Mercy College), Matt Flood (Farmingdale State) and Nick Classie. The benefit of that is that their younger players took their growing pains and that typically bodes well for the future. Head Coach RJ Going is optimistic about their program considering their talented young players that earned valuable experience last year &#8211; specifically the 2023 class. RHP/OF Dylan McKenna was named All-League last season after batting .380, but he is also a talented pitcher and he should be an impact player for them. OF Ethan Ferrera was up on varsity last year as well and he batted .300 during his time. Today we will have coverage of Harborfields @ Islip Here&#8217;s sophomore George Trimigliozzi warming up. He struck out 16 in his first varsity start last week pic.twitter.com/Ue6itGAvxt — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 22, 2021 One player I&#8217;m looking forward to watching is RHP George Trimigliozzi. He is a bulldog on the mound and he struck out 16 batters in his first varsity start last year. With his velocity sitting in the mid 80s, he is a tough customer out there. When he&#8217;s not pitching, he plays various positions and will help with his bat as well. Junior Shawn Ryan sits in the low 80s as well and commands his change up. He should provide some rotation stability as well. Nice change up from Shawn Ryan (Islip 2023) at 73 MPH. Fastball 80-82 pic.twitter.com/X4LXVPG9PN — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) November 7, 2021 They do have a senior that they will be counting on and that&#8217;s shortstop Joe Urban &#8211; he is a three-year varsity player and is a top-of-the-order type of hitter. The Bucs compete in a difficult League 6 which features Sayville, Mount Sinai, Miller Place, East Hampton, Harborfields and Amityville. Mount Sinai is the reigning Long Island Champs. Going stated that the team has been doing their winter workouts &#8211; which is normal for this time of year for them. He stated that they will be leaning on their talented core of juniors this season and that they are &#8220;looking to flip the narrative and be much more competitive than in year&#8217;s past.&#8221; He stated that while it was challenging to play an 18 game season in just over a month last year with inexperienced varsity players, they all gained valuable experience from it. They open up with a non-league game against Mattituck and their first league game will be on March 29 against Miller Place.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2022/02/15/led-by-strong-junior-class-islip-poised-for-improved-year/">Led by Strong Junior Class, Islip Poised for Improved Year</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Islip fielded a very young team in 2021 &#8211; they graduated three impact players &#8211; <strong>Connor Ruland</strong> (Mercy College), <strong>Matt Flood</strong> (Farmingdale State) and <strong>Nick Classie.</strong></p>
<p>The benefit of that is that their younger players took their growing pains and that typically bodes well for the future. Head Coach <strong>RJ Going</strong> is optimistic about their program considering their talented young players that earned valuable experience last year &#8211; specifically the 2023 class.</p>
<p><iframe title="Dylan McKenna - RHP - Central Islip, NY - 2023" width="730" height="411" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXpelRT0Swk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>RHP/OF <strong>Dylan McKenna</strong> was named All-League last season after batting .380, but he is also a talented pitcher and he should be an impact player for them. OF <strong>Ethan Ferrera</strong> was up on varsity last year as well and he batted .300 during his time.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today we will have coverage of Harborfields @ Islip</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s sophomore George Trimigliozzi warming up. He struck out 16 in his first varsity start last week <a href="https://t.co/Ue6itGAvxt">pic.twitter.com/Ue6itGAvxt</a></p>
<p>— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/axcessbaseball/status/1396104397638311940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>One player I&#8217;m looking forward to watching is RHP <strong>George Trimigliozzi</strong>. He is a bulldog on the mound and he struck out 16 batters in his first varsity start last year. With his velocity sitting in the mid 80s, he is a tough customer out there. When he&#8217;s not pitching, he plays various positions and will help with his bat as well.</p>
<p>Junior <strong>Shawn Ryan</strong> sits in the low 80s as well and commands his change up. He should provide some rotation stability as well.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nice change up from Shawn Ryan (Islip 2023) at 73 MPH. Fastball 80-82 <a href="https://t.co/X4LXVPG9PN">pic.twitter.com/X4LXVPG9PN</a></p>
<p>— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/axcessbaseball/status/1457418517393850377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>They do have a senior that they will be counting on and that&#8217;s shortstop <strong>Joe Urban</strong> &#8211; he is a three-year varsity player and is a top-of-the-order type of hitter.</p>
<p>The Bucs compete in a difficult League 6 which features Sayville, Mount Sinai, Miller Place, East Hampton, Harborfields and Amityville. Mount Sinai is the reigning Long Island Champs.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-46886 aligncenter" src="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IMG_1119.jpg" alt="" width="262" height="152" /></p>
<p>Going stated that the team has been doing their winter workouts &#8211; which is normal for this time of year for them. He stated that they will be leaning on their talented core of juniors this season and that they are &#8220;looking to flip the narrative and be much more competitive than in year&#8217;s past.&#8221;</p>
<p>He stated that while it was challenging to play an 18 game season in just over a month last year with inexperienced varsity players, they all gained valuable experience from it.</p>
<p>They open up with a non-league game against Mattituck and their first league game will be on March 29 against Miller Place.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2022/02/15/led-by-strong-junior-class-islip-poised-for-improved-year/">Led by Strong Junior Class, Islip Poised for Improved Year</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Islip Building the Foundation for a Strong Future</title>
		<link>https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2021/03/27/islip-building-the-foundation-for-a-strong-future/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=islip-building-the-foundation-for-a-strong-future</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vinny Messana]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:15:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connor Ruland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RJ Going]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.axcessbaseball.com/?p=45731</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>RJ Going was a part of three County Championships while playing for Islip from 2007-2011 including two Long Island Championships. Now the Head Coach, he is tasked with re-building the program after some lean years while playing in the shadow of some strong Class A programs. The future of the team appears to be in good hands, especially considering they may have six sophomores playing roles on this team which usually bodes well for the ensuing years. Beyond that, they have eight 8th graders that could wind up playing JV &#8211; another sign that there&#8217;s some significant players on the horizon. In the interim, they will be led by three returning varsity players. Connor Ruland, a Mercy-commit, was named All-League in 2019. He is a definition of a versatile player as he can play any infield position and pitch. At Mercy, he was recruited to catch, so he is a swiss-army knife for Islip. Going stated that he will be pitching and playing all positions, mainly out of team need. Connor Ruland (Islip 2021) with a double to left. He comes around to score on an E1. Ducks lead 3-0 in the fifth. pic.twitter.com/5XJIH2A1yZ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 18, 2020 Nick Classie is another returning player from 2019. The senior will catch and play right field. The third returning player is junior Joe Urban. Going mentioned that he will play SS and he will surprise a lot of people. &#8220;He&#8217;s an under-the-radar kid,&#8221; said Going. &#8220;He was going to start for us last year. He&#8217;s a high-academic kid. I think he&#8217;ll play in college and make a school happy, he has a high IQ &#8211; that&#8217;s why he&#8217;ll play SS for us. He&#8217;s a kid you love to root for,&#8221; he added. The pitching staff is a question mark at this moment, simply due to the inexperience. There is a chance that two of those spots will be occupied by sophomores. &#8220;We have some good young arms, we&#8217;re going to be a pitch-to-contact team. With our defense, I think we&#8217;ll be better than we&#8217;ve been,&#8221; he added. Going noted that the team played in some close games in 2019 that they lost, but when they played together this summer, they were able to reverse those fortunes and win a lot of close games. &#8220;Our team chemistry is at an all-time high,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Everyone gets along &#8211; everyone works hard. We&#8217;re trying to change the culture here,&#8221; he added. They will open up on May 8th at 5pm against Rocky Point at Diamond in the Pines.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2021/03/27/islip-building-the-foundation-for-a-strong-future/">Islip Building the Foundation for a Strong Future</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>RJ Going</strong> was a part of three County Championships while playing for<strong> Islip</strong> from 2007-2011 including two Long Island Championships. Now the Head Coach, he is tasked with re-building the program after some lean years while playing in the shadow of some strong Class A programs.</p>
<p>The future of the team appears to be in good hands, especially considering they may have six sophomores playing roles on this team which usually bodes well for the ensuing years. Beyond that, they have eight 8th graders that could wind up playing JV &#8211; another sign that there&#8217;s some significant players on the horizon.</p>
<p>In the interim, they will be led by three returning varsity players. <strong>Connor Ruland</strong>, a Mercy-commit, was named All-League in 2019. He is a definition of a versatile player as he can play any infield position and pitch. At Mercy, he was recruited to catch, so he is a swiss-army knife for Islip. Going stated that he will be pitching and playing all positions, mainly out of team need.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Connor Ruland (Islip 2021) with a double to left. He comes around to score on an E1. Ducks lead 3-0 in the fifth. <a href="https://t.co/5XJIH2A1yZ">pic.twitter.com/5XJIH2A1yZ</a></p>
<p>— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/axcessbaseball/status/1317947758704316420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Nick Classie is another returning player from 2019. The senior will catch and play right field. The third returning player is junior Joe Urban. Going mentioned that he will play SS and he will surprise a lot of people.</p>
<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s an under-the-radar kid,&#8221; said Going. &#8220;He was going to start for us last year. He&#8217;s a high-academic kid. I think he&#8217;ll play in college and make a school happy, he has a high IQ &#8211; that&#8217;s why he&#8217;ll play SS for us. He&#8217;s a kid you love to root for,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>The pitching staff is a question mark at this moment, simply due to the inexperience. There is a chance that two of those spots will be occupied by sophomores.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have some good young arms, we&#8217;re going to be a pitch-to-contact team. With our defense, I think we&#8217;ll be better than we&#8217;ve been,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>Going noted that the team played in some close games in 2019 that they lost, but when they played together this summer, they were able to reverse those fortunes and win a lot of close games.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our team chemistry is at an all-time high,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Everyone gets along &#8211; everyone works hard. We&#8217;re trying to change the culture here,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>They will open up on May 8th at 5pm against Rocky Point at Diamond in the Pines.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2021/03/27/islip-building-the-foundation-for-a-strong-future/">Islip Building the Foundation for a Strong Future</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
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		<title>Islip Looking To Rebound In Year 2 Under RJ Going</title>
		<link>https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2020/02/28/islip-looking-to-rebound-in-year-2-under-rj-going/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=islip-looking-to-rebound-in-year-2-under-rj-going</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Vinny Messana]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Feb 2020 01:57:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Archive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEWS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2020 Season Preview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connor Ruland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Matt Flood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RJ Going]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.axcessbaseball.com/?p=43908</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>by Zevan Shuster Heading into the 2020 season, Islip head coach RJ Going expects a much improved team from the campaign prior.  “Last year, I thought we were just going to take off. We had a bunch of seniors, we had a few kids going to college (to play baseball), but we had to deal with a few injuries early in the season, including to one of our  better pitchers,” Going said.  Out of the 20 games Going’s club played last year, a staggering 16 were a one or two run game heading into the sixth. Clearly, the margin for error is small, and the need for execution is extraordinarily high.  Islip wound up compiling a record of 4-16.  “The expectations for us this year is to just win those one or two-run games. We have to flip the script,” said Going. “This year, we set up seven scrimmages before we play a non-league game. We just want to get out there and go against competition as much as we can, to see what we really have.” “I should know how we’re going to fair against the other teams after the scrimmages.” The keys to winning close games may just come down to some of the younger guys gaining experience, but the execution on the field will have to come along for the ride. “The real key for us is going to be timely hitting. Last year, we would get runners on base, but we would never get them in. We had lots of runners left on base, and we didn’t hit in the clutch. Hitting better with runners in scoring position will be key,” said Going. Several things should be able to contribute to that improvement. Both returnees, stability, and perhaps most importantly, leadership.  “We had three All-League guys last year, but only one of them was a senior. One was a junior, and one was a sophomore. We have a really, really good sophomore class. We are a little bit thinner in the senior class this year, but that means our leadership is going to come from other places, like our starting shortstop, Connor Ruland,” said the head coach.  The upcoming season will be Ruland’s fourth year on varsity, and he can be trusted to play anywhere; he is expected to catch in college, yet that is not the position he will primarily play for his team this upcoming season. Ruland has been on varsity since eight grade, and will certainly have to be a cornerstone for Going’s teams to take a major step forward.   As for any designated leadership roles, Going does not appoint captains, but rather, he believes in letting leadership come naturally, and in a presence being felt, instead of a label being assigned.  “You can give someone a title, but it matters more to have that presence. With this being Connor’s fourth year on varsity, even though he’s only a junior when he walks into the gym, you feel the presence with him being there,” said Going.  Beyond leadership being an intangible that could have been better, stability was not in place in order for that leadership to be able to be effective. Going was Islip’s 4th coach in four years, so for those many seniors, they had a new voice in their ear every year of their high school career.  Needless to say, it is very difficult to gain momentum, and to build a cohesive unit that can build and improve from year to year if the infrastructure and the leadership of the team isn’t reliable, nor consistent.  “This is the first time in five years that a coach is going in for a second season,” said Going. Citing the contrast in stability and consistency between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, Going felt as if that was parallel with the team’s success, or lack thereof, in the last several years.  With stability, leadership, and cohesion, more wins should come. In the outfield, Going will rely on Greg Warnokowski, who made the all-league team  in center field last year, and junior Matt Flood in left field, to heavily produce, and make plays to keep their team in games, and eventually help them win them. The right field spot is entirely up for grabs.  Even though, “we don’t have anyone who can throw 86 (miles an hour),” Going has tremendous confidence in pitcher Brandon Schaller to lead the way on the mound.  The middle infield will be counted on heavily as well. Ruland, who Going calls “his utility player,” is the team’s best shortstop, and will likely play there, while Jack McDonald will be his double play partner over at second base.  Going’s optimism comes not only from confidence in his players, but also from confidence in himself. He is competitive, and energetic, but he is also accountable. The second year coach will have to step up his own game, in order for his club to follow suit.  “I’ve always been told, losing one and two runs games comes down to coaching. So, I have to do a little bit better myself, and that starts in practice,” he said.  As for this club’s makeup and intangibles? “I feel like this year we just have much better chemistry than we had last year,” said the second year coach. Going’s hope, is that leadership, execution, and accountability, are what will lead to a season full of victories.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2020/02/28/islip-looking-to-rebound-in-year-2-under-rj-going/">Islip Looking To Rebound In Year 2 Under RJ Going</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>by Zevan Shuster</em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heading into the 2020 season, <strong>Islip</strong> head coach <strong>RJ Going</strong> expects a much improved team from the campaign prior. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Last year, I thought we were just going to take off. We had a bunch of seniors, we had a few kids going to college (to play baseball), but we had to deal with a few injuries early in the season, including to one of our  better pitchers,” Going said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Out of the 20 games Going’s club played last year, a staggering 16 were a one or two run game heading into the sixth. Clearly, the margin for error is small, and the need for execution is extraordinarily high. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Islip wound up compiling a record of 4-16. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The expectations for us this year is to just win those one or two-run games. We have to flip the script,” said Going. “This year, we set up seven scrimmages before we play a non-league game. We just want to get out there and go against competition as much as we can, to see what we really have.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I should know how we’re going to fair against the other teams after the scrimmages.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The keys to winning close games may just come down to some of the younger guys gaining experience, but the execution on the field will have to come along for the ride.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The real key for us is going to be timely hitting. Last year, we would get runners on base, but we would never get them in. We had lots of runners left on base, and we didn’t hit in the clutch. Hitting better with runners in scoring position will be key,” said Going.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-35232 aligncenter" src="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LI_JrDucks_color-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LI_JrDucks_color-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LI_JrDucks_color-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LI_JrDucks_color-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LI_JrDucks_color.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several things should be able to contribute to that improvement. Both returnees, stability, and perhaps most importantly, leadership. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We had three All-League guys last year, but only one of them was a senior. One was a junior, and one was a sophomore. We have a really, really good sophomore class. We are a little bit thinner in the senior class this year, but that means our leadership is going to come from other places, like our starting shortstop, <strong>Connor Ruland</strong>,” said the head coach. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The upcoming season will be Ruland’s fourth year on varsity, and he can be trusted to play anywhere; he is expected to catch in college, yet that is not the position he will primarily play for his team this upcoming season. Ruland has been on varsity since eight grade, and will certainly have to be a cornerstone for Going’s teams to take a major step forward.  </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-39858 aligncenter" src="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_0919-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_0919-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_0919-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_0919.jpg 708w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for any designated leadership roles, Going does not appoint captains, but rather, he believes in letting leadership come naturally, and in a presence being felt, instead of a label being assigned. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can give someone a title, but it matters more to have that presence. With this being Connor’s fourth year on varsity, even though he’s only a junior when he walks into the gym, you feel the presence with him being there,” said Going. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond leadership being an intangible that could have been better, stability was not in place in order for that leadership to be able to be effective. Going was Islip’s 4th coach in four years, so for those many seniors, they had a new voice in their ear every year of their high school career. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Needless to say, it is very difficult to gain momentum, and to build a cohesive unit that can build and improve from year to year if the infrastructure and the leadership of the team isn’t reliable, nor consistent. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is the first time in five years that a coach is going in for a second season,” said Going.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-42635 aligncenter" src="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/yeti-300x293.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="293" srcset="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/yeti-300x293.jpg 300w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/yeti-768x750.jpg 768w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/yeti-1024x999.jpg 1024w, https://www.axcessbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/yeti.jpg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Citing the contrast in stability and consistency between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, Going felt as if that was parallel with the team’s success, or lack thereof, in the last several years. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With stability, leadership, and cohesion, more wins should come. In the outfield, Going will rely on <strong>Greg Warnokowski</strong>, who made the all-league team  in center field last year, and junior Matt Flood in left field, to heavily produce, and make plays to keep their team in games, and eventually help them win them. The right field spot is entirely up for grabs. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even though, “we don’t have anyone who can throw 86 (miles an hour),” Going has tremendous confidence in pitcher <strong>Brandon Schaller</strong> to lead the way on the mound. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The middle infield will be counted on heavily as well. Ruland, who Going calls “his utility player,” is the team’s best shortstop, and will likely play there, while <strong>Jack McDonald</strong> will be his double play partner over at second base. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Going’s optimism comes not only from confidence in his players, but also from confidence in himself. He is competitive, and energetic, but he is also accountable. The second year coach will have to step up his own game, in order for his club to follow suit. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve always been told, losing one and two runs games comes down to coaching. So, I have to do a little bit better myself, and that starts in practice,” he said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for this club’s makeup and intangibles?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I feel like this year we just have much better chemistry than we had last year,” said the second year coach.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Going’s hope, is that leadership, execution, and accountability, are what will lead to a season full of victories.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com/2020/02/28/islip-looking-to-rebound-in-year-2-under-rj-going/">Islip Looking To Rebound In Year 2 Under RJ Going</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.axcessbaseball.com">Axcess Baseball</a>.</p>
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