Jason Zizza
Despite Losing Eight Starters, Long Beach Looks to Compete in 2025
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series by George Caratzas Following a 17-7-1 campaign in 2024, the Long Beach Marines saw eight starters graduate, with six of them going on to continue their respective careers in college. However, head coach Jason Zizza has no problem utilizing his team’s youth in the upcoming season. “In my time here as the head varsity baseball coach at Long Beach, I have always created a lot of in-house competition,” Zizza told Axcess Baseball. “We’re going to allow the younger players to compete for spots at the varsity level.” Among the Marines’ largest losses were pitcher Christian Parisa, outfielder Troy DeFrancesco and catcher Dan DeFonte. DeFrancesco and DeFonte spearheaded a Long Beach offense that led Nassau Co...
Long Beach Returns Several Key Players as They Eye a Return to the Playoffs
by Mike Merolle (Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.) Long Beach 4, New Hyde Park 2 WP: Dylan Cantwell (complete game, 4 hits, 1 ER, 8 strikeouts) pic.twitter.com/M249yTzNJ6 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 10, 2023 Last season didn’t go as planned for Long Beach as the team went 7-10-1 with a quick exit in the playoffs. Head Coach Jason Zizza expects a better outcome this time around with some changes in the roster. A key player that Long Beach lost to graduation last year is RHP/OF Jake Scafa (2023). He currently plays for Francis Marion University in South Carolina. Scafa was a four-year varsity player for Zizza. In his 13th season as the head coach, Zizza understands how to adjust when players come and go...
Long Beach Returning Several Impact Players from Last Year’s Playoff Team
Long Beach walk-off in the bottom of the 7th to win 7-6 over GNN Christian Parisa scored Aidan Cardo. The win clinched a playoff spot for Long Beach pic.twitter.com/FzN25ArZ5H — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 13, 2022 It was a bittersweet ending to the 2022 season for Long Beach, as they were able to qualify for a postseason berth but they let a 4-0 lead slip away in the 7th inning against Roslyn in the play-in round. They finished with an overall record of 9-11 on the season. They graduated two impact players from last year’s squad. They are Connor Nooney, who was named All-League, and is now playing at Dean College. He led the team in innings pitched with 30.1 and he also compiled a record of 3-3 with 1 save and a 3.90 ERA. Peter DiGiorgio was their captain and catcher, a...
