Kellenberg baseball
Get to Know Xavier Cruz
Xavier Cruz is a 2020 graduate of Kellenberg HS. He announced his verbal commitment to SUNY Maritime this week. Cruz is a talented outfielder and will be a critical part of the Firebirds team this upcoming season. I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say… Can you explain your experience with the college recruiting process and why you chose SUNY Maritime? My college recruiting process was very long and stressful. At the beginning of my process, I had big name schools who were recruiting me from the end of my sophomore year. I developed relations with a lot of coaches and scouts. I had the opportunity to play all over the country and be seen on a national level. But as time went on, schools just went in a different direction. Other kids were getting r...
Alfalla Closing In On 200 Wins As Kellenberg Looks to Bounce Back From Last Season
If you are judging programs on their ability to win championships and get players to the next level, there’s no question that Kellenberg is right there with any program including Nassau and Suffolk public schools. Since 2016, they have won two CHSAA titles and have sent 21 players to the collegiate level. Chris Cappas (Pittsburgh), Robert Weissheier (Hofstra) and Terrence Murray (Fordham) are all playing at the Division-I level while Kevin McCarthy is in the Major Leagues with the Kansas City Royals. Last year was certainly a down year by their standards, falling to 8-13 after winning back-to-back CHSAA championships and being named Axcess Baseball’s Team of the Year in 2017. “During the previous two years we found ourselves in a lot of one-run situations where we would b...
Who Were the Top Players in Attendance at Monday’s Showcase
On Monday, 67 players and 24 coaches braved the cold and made the trek to Massapequa for the Diamond Spikes Showcase. Plenty of talented players were in attendance and I wanted to do a recap of the event with the top 10 players, but I couldn’t limit it to 10 so here it goes… Robbie Manetta, Farmingdale (2020) Manetta put himself on the map as a freshman hitting a three-run home run at Port Washington. He’s continued to develop and he is one of the best players in the 2020 class when you consider the full package; he’s a catcher, he has a smooth left-handed swing, he can run a 4.1 down the line and he can still grow. He displayed his ability during BP and his athleticism in the infield. Additionally, his brother is the SS for SUNY Old Westbury, so he comes from an at...
Catching Up With 2016 CHSAA Player of the Year Matt Martino
(Photo Credit: Vassar Athletics) Although Kyle Young and Chris Cappas were the players that generated all the headlines in 2016 in regards to the Catholic League, neither of them actually won the CHSAA Player of the Year. That’s right, that honor was bestowed upon St. Anthony’s senior 3B/RHP Matt Martino, who hit three HR and won six games for the Friars. From there, he went on to Vassar College, where he was named First Team All-Conference as a freshman. The injury bug, however, bit him quite hard. Not only did he tear his meniscus but he also went under the knife to undergo Tommy John Surgery which caused him to miss all of 2018. I had the chance to speak with him, and here’s what he had to say… What are your fondest memories of your time at St. Anthony’s? Playing...
Jason Diaz Ks 10, Drives in Run in 3-1 Victory over Chaminade
Our @DigmiNation Player of the Game is winning pitcher Jason Diaz who struck out 10 and allowed just two hits and an unearned run. He also hit an RBI single to lead the Firebirds to a 3-1 victory. #TipYourCap pic.twitter.com/1YeATNSo7Q — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2018 Jason Diaz knows his days with a baseball bat in his hands are numbered. The junior RHP is regarded as the top pitching prospect on Long Island. He verbally committed to the University of Miami during his sophomore year and more-than-likely will not get an at bat while playing in the ACC. That doesn’t mean he can’t make the most of his at bats before that moment comes. He helped himself with an RBI single in the bottom of the first against Logan Koester, in what proved to be a pitching duel betwe...
Axcess Baseball Weekly With Jason Diaz
On this episode we are joined by RHP Jason Diaz, a 2019 graduate of Kellenberg HS and a University of Miami commit. Jason led the Firebirds to the CHSAA championship over St. John the Baptist with a 1-0 complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts. Diaz has a fastball that has been clocked as high as 93 MPH. The junior spoke about his experience with the college recruiting process, why he admires Long Island native Marcus Stroman, what he did to improve this offseason and what it will take for Kellenberg to stave off their rival and win a third CHSAA title in 2018.
Jason Diaz: What I Am Thankful For
(Editor’s Note: Jason Diaz is a 2019 graduate of Kellenberg HS. He fired a CG shutout of St. John the Baptist to clinch the CHSAA championship earlier this year. He has a fastball that sits 90-91 MPH and tops at 93 MPH. He is committed to the University of Miami. The following words are his own.) Thanksgiving really brings out the positivity in people and it makes me think about what I’m thankful for. To me baseball is the greatest thing on this earth and it’s not even close. What kid growing up didn’t want to throw a ball as hard as they can and what kid didn’t want to hit bombs over the fence? The game of baseball has showed me that success isn’t just given to you and it makes me thankful for when the times are tough because it just encourages me to ov...
Chris Cappas Reflects on Successful 2017
(Editor’s Note: Chris Cappas is a 2017 graduate of Kellenberg Memorial HS. He just led the Firebirds to a consecutive CHSAA championship and he was named Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. He batted .438 with 2 HR, 22 RBI and struck out only once. On the mound, he compiled an ERA of 0.18 with 53 strikeouts in 39 innings. He did not allow a run over his final 25 innings of the season. There was much-speculation that he would be selected in the MLB Draft in June, considering the southpaw’s velocity had touched 90 MPH at times. Although he was not, he is now at the University of Pittsburgh and figures to be a major factor right away. The following words are his own.) Winning the NSCHSAA baseball championship my senior year at Kellenberg is something that I think about alm...
Who Is Terrence Murray?
Grand slam by Fordham-commit Terrence Murray (Kellenberg ’18). Feature story on him coming tomorrow ? pic.twitter.com/ritVl5q501 — Axcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) August 21, 2017 In many ways, 2017 was a banner year for Kellenberg Memorial HS. They rode an historically dominant pitching staff and a core group of seniors to a consecutive CHSAA championship. One of the unsung contributors on that team was junior Terrence Murray. He hit a respectable .280 and played a strong defense in outfield. He turned his play up a notch early on in the summer season. Murray was able to parlay that success into something much bigger. He was one of the first incoming seniors this summer to commit to a Div-I program when he verbally committed to Fordham University. He spoke with Vinny Messana a...
Jason Diaz Pitches Kellenberg to Back-To-Back CHSAA Championships
Final: Kellenberg 1, St. John the Baptist 0 WP: Jason Diaz (4-Hit Shutout, 10 K) Kellenberg wins CHSAA Championship for consecutive year pic.twitter.com/SVUCaB11Be — aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) May 29, 2017 It was the year of the strikeout for the Kellenberg Firebirds. Their rotation of Chris Cappas, Jason Diaz and Andrew Williams combined for a sub 1.00 ERA. Fittingly, it ended with a strikeout and a dog pile on the mound. Today it was the youngest of the trio–sophomore and University of Miami-commit Jason Diaz that stepped up and fired a four-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over St. John the Baptist to deliver the Firebirds to a consecutive CHSAA Championship. He struck out 10 and walked two, looking mature beyond his years. The only offense needed was senior and CHSAA Play...
Chris Cappas Dominates Again in Kellenberg’s 2-0 Shutout of Chaminade
The firebirds shutout the Chaminade flyers 2-0 at Mitchell Feild pic.twitter.com/UytNg7G9dZ — aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) May 24, 2017 By Johnny Vaccaro Pittsburgh-commit Chris Cappas did it all for the Kellenberg Firebirds at Mitchel Field in tonight’s 2-0 shutout over Chaminade in the CHSAA playoffs. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 25.1 IP in the process. At the plate, he went 2 for 3 with a triple, an RBI, and 1 run scored. On the mound, he pitched 6.2 IP, allowing no runs on 5 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. It was a stellar performance by the MLB Draft hopeful Cappas. “I want it really bad,” he said in regards to wanting to repeat as CHSAA champs. “We won last year and we’re gonna repeat this year. It’s a great feeling and I...
Chris Cappas Strikes Out 10 in 6-1 Victory Against St. Dominic
The bats of Kellenberg struggled for the first few innings against St. Dominic freshman Carlos Hidalgo. Fortunately, they had their ace, Chris Cappas, on the hill to throw up zeros while the offense figured it out. “We really put it together as a team,” said the Pittsburgh-commit Cappas. “The whole lineup, front-to-back-is just hitting really well right now so it’s working out for us,” he added. Jack Delaney got them on the board in the third inning with an RBI double to score Terrance Murray. The Bayhawks tied it up in the fourth on an RBI single by Kevin Duffy, but the Firebirds responded back with a three-run fifth inning thanks to a fielder’s choice and a two-run single to left field by Cappas. The flamethrowing LHP fanned 10 batters over f...
