Mike Merolle
Plainedge Looking to Build on Season Which Featured Road Playoff Win
by Mike Merolle Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Final: Plainedge 11, Clarke 1 WP: Dom Pannitti (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 Ks) Zach Rosenzweig: 3-for-4, 3 RBIs, 1 Run Plainedge eliminates Clarke and will face Mepham tomorrow pic.twitter.com/b5ol2TJbt5 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 18, 2023 Plainedge had reason to be proud of 2023 in which they went on the road against a tough Clarke team and won a playoff game. Their season was cut short, however, by Mepham in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Head coach Colin Fratrik looks for another successful season in his 11th season managing Plainedge. This year’s squad is missing a few key players that graduated in 2023. Marcelo Licata played third base for Fratrik pro...
Center Moriches Hopes to Build on Championship Appearance
by Mike Merolle Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the 7th against undefeated Babylon, Center Moriches has pulled off the improbable comeback and they scored 5 times with the walk-off hit coming off the bat of Gavin DeRosa Game 3 tomorrow ! pic.twitter.com/62mTZYUsgd — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 24, 2023 It was a bittersweet ending to 2023 for Center Moriches. The team made the Suffolk County Class B Championship and led for the majority of the game until Babylon scored on a walk-off, winning the championship 6-5. Nonetheless, it was still a successful season considering Center Moriches’ 10-8 league record and their strong playoff run. Head Coach Paul Gibson is entering his fif...
South Side In the Mix To Be Top Team In Nassau County
by Mike Merolle Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. South Side’s Sean Britt is the Axcess Baseball Player of the Game powered by @GCsports. He went 2-2 with 2 IB, an RBI double and a 3-run homer in the first that set the tone early for the Cyclones. pic.twitter.com/Bx5EpHUDGN — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 15, 2023 South Side finished another successful season last year with a record of 18-6, including the playoffs. Their season came to an end after a quarterfinals knockout by Garden City. Head coach Tom Smith looks to get across the finish line in his 11th year managing South Side. “There’s big shoes to fill,” said Smith. “For the last couple of years, I’ve had a [good] lineup. I graduated four All-County gu...
Riverhead Expects Major Improvement In 2024
by Mike Merolle Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. Riverhead 2, Longwood 1 Mark Gajowski threw a complete game 2 hitter. He brought a no hitter into the 7th inning. 0 earned runs, 6 K’s, 2 walks. Senior Luke Pilon went 2-3 at the plate with a key RBI. pic.twitter.com/ek1ThaNPXc — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 27, 2023 The 2023 season did not go as planned for Riverhead. The team finished with a record of 1-19. It was head coach Kevin Kerman’s first season taking over the role but he sees the positives in a season of negatives. “In an extremely competitive league, we had a disappointing season last year. We are going to use that season as motivation to push this group forward to improve. We have to work extr...
Whitman Looks To Compete For League Title In 2024
by Mike Merolle 🚨 Upset Alert Whitman 8, Commack 7 WP Jaden Grose (4.1P 6Ks) Paul McNally 3-4 HR Johnathan Matthew 2-3 rbi Kevin Brown 1-3 2rbi pic.twitter.com/1SvvIlyRfB — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 26, 2023 Whitman is poised to redeem themselves in the playoffs in 2024. After finishing the regular season with a 13-7 record, the team came up short in two close postseason games. In their first playoff game in 2023, Whitman led by the score of 4-1 with four outs to go but Smithtown West rallied and stole the win. In their second game, Whitman lost 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning to West Islip. Keith Barrett is entering his 12th season as Whitman’s head coach and he’s confident that this year’s squad can make it a special one. “This year, we’re basically looking to t...
Hills East Looks To Reach Playoffs In 2024
by Mike Merolle (Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.) Hills East plans for a better year in 2024 after finishing 6-12 last season and missing out on the playoffs. The Thunderbirds finished 10-10 in the season prior. Head coach Tim Belz intends to turn things around in his 16th year managing Hills East. “Our league is very good. Every week is going to be a tough matchup for us. We’re going to have to come out and play our best baseball,” said Belz in an interview with Axcess Baseball. Belz has been dealt tough cards. Hills East’s varsity squad has the “lightest number” of varsity players this year than he’s ever had. This makes team depth one of Belz’s concerns coming into the season. He plans to rely on his team leaders...
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...
Bellport Looks To Succeed With Young Roster In 2024
by Mike Merolle (Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.) Final: Bellport 7, Newfield 0 WP: Danny Rubin (CG shutout, 6 Ks) pic.twitter.com/aRKqeZR4bN — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 13, 2023 The Bellport Clippers once again finished with 10 wins (10-10 record) in their schedule last season. However, head coach Joe Murphy’s team this year has an entirely different look than last year’s. Bellport will play with zero seniors in 2024. “It will be a very challenging year in the sense that we don’t have any seniors on the squad. I only have two returning players from last year’s squad that are going to be juniors. The rest of the squad will have to come from juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, they will be very young ...
Wheatley Looks To Reach Finals Again In 2024
by Mike Merolle (Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.) In his first year as head coach for Wheatley, David Burke led the team to the Nassau County Class B Finals. It came down to a one-run game where Seaford only allowed one hit and prevailed. Although Seaford came out on top, it was still a season full of positives for Burke and the Wheatley Wildcats. The site of Game 1 of the Nassau County Class B Finals between Seaford (20-1) and Wheatley (19-6). First pitch coming up at 4:30 pic.twitter.com/mTBGROwkZv — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2023 “The season went how I expected. I expected to be competitive and to be in the hunt for a county championship, but we just came up one run short,” said Burke. Burke is...
Roslyn Planning On A Bounce Back 2024 Season
by Mike Merolle (Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.) Roslyn 8, Great neck North 0 WP- Fliegler (no-hitter, 12 K’s) Reinstein 2 RBI’s Giordano 2 RBI’s Giordano 4th straight game with an extra base hit pic.twitter.com/Gs7vPVMSn3 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 4, 2023 Despite having their season cut short by Mineola in the playoffs last year, the 2024 season looks bright for the Roslyn Bulldogs. Roslyn finished 8-8-1 in their league schedule in 2023. However, with a balanced lineup consisting of seniors and improving underclassmen, head coach Dan Freeman is optimistic for the team in the new year. Mineola 8 Roslyn 3 WP: Andrew Basel Andrew Basel 2-2 HR 4RBI Jack Ryan 3-3 RBI 5 SB Mike Duda 2-3 2 RBI pic.twit...
Joe Mancini Takes Over as Miller Place’s Head Coach, Expects Competitive Season
by Mike Merolle (Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series.) Miller Place 15, Hampton Bays 3 WP Nick Frusco (5IP 1H 0R 10Ks) Tyler Lopez 2 for 3 2-2bs 3RBI Joey Citrangola 1 for 3 3RBI pic.twitter.com/XHHuAWzHNk — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 9, 2023 Miller Place had a strong 16-8 campaign until it was cut short by Sayville in the playoffs last season. This year, the Panthers are under new leadership. Joe Mancini is taking the reigns from former head coach Ricky Caputo. Mancini served as Miller Place’s assistant coach for eight years under Caputo. In terms of coaching style, Mancini plans to focus on the fundamentals. “I learned a lot from Rick. I’m very grateful for the time we had together. We grew a bond, he’s a...
Oceanside Looking to Take Next Step in 2024
by Mike Merolle Oceanside 10, Port Washington 2 WP: Patrick Pallentino (6ip 1ER 4 Ks) Luke Villella: 3 for 5 3 singles 3 RBIs Jake Lunenfeld: 3 for 4, 2B and 2 singles 2 RBIs Justin Alvarez: HR, 2 RBI’s Sean Varon: 2 for 3 pic.twitter.com/tFPbm2Oaor — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 17, 2023 After having their season cut short by Massapequa in 2023, Oceanside plans to bounce back this upcoming spring. Though the result did not favor Oceanside, there was a positive in their Nassau County Class AA playoff experience. The Sailors developed a young, inexperienced 2022 core into a 2024 college-bound group. Head coach Mike Postilio highly praises his two junior leaders, Luke Villella (‘25) and Kyle Scheurer (‘25). “When I watched them as freshmen, you wouldn’t tell they were freshmen. ...
