Head Coach Frank Catalanotto on NYIT’s rapid ascension in his first season pic.twitter.com/le2EN2ND3e — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 18, 2019 One year ago, NYIT closed out their regular season with a loss to Queens College to finish their campaign at 13-25-1. On June 7th, they made waves by hiring 14-year MLB veteran and Smithtown native Frank Catalanotto. The move was a positive step forward for a program that had suffered through 13 straight sub .500 seasons. In less than one year, the program has rapidly ascended into becoming a 35-win team that will now participate in the NCAA Division-II Super Regional next weekend either at Southern New Hampshire or neighborhood-rival LIU Post. The 35 wins is a program record, previously set in 1987. Today they continued their fairy...
Brett Malm talks about his 2-Run HR that jump started the scorching hot Adelphi offense. pic.twitter.com/Gg803ldSBk — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 20, 2019 Adelphi had no problem handling the talented NYIT pitching staff, as they cruised to a 9-3 victory on Wednesday afternoon. After putting up a ten-spot yesterday against Molloy, Adelphi wasted no time getting back in the run column. To start things off, Brett Malm launched a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning, giving them an early lead. Malm finished 3-5 on the day with 2 RBI. “We had a good jump out of the game today with a 2-run home run in the 1st inning that helped my team get on the board early,” said Malm. “We kept it going from yesterday and we’re going to keep this momentum going ...
(Frank is a 14-year MLB veteran. He is a 1992 graduate of Smithtown East HS, where he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round of the MLB Draft. He compiled a .291 AVG in over 3,800 at bats. He is the Head Coach of NYIT and gives lessons for Steel Sports Academy at Baseball Heaven. This article originally was published in 2017.) by Frank Catalanotto The truth is that everyone is different, so when it comes to baseball and hitting drills, you need to find out which ones work for you and which ones don’t. The repetition of the drills is so important. Part of getting better is teaching muscle memory–especially for younger kids. Here are some that worked for me. One arm drills might be my favorite because each arm gets strengthened individually. I would get a small, lightweight bat...
Frank Valentino (NYIT ’17) has extended his baseball career for at least another season as he signed a pro contract with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League. The 23-year-old RHP attended West Islip HS and graduated in 2013. Last season, he played with the Vallejo Admirals in the Pacific Association, going 5-8 with 5.05 ERA and striking out 92 in 98 innings in 16 starts. The 6’3″ RHP has a low-to-mid 90s fastball which helped him dominate at Suffolk CC before transferring to NYIT and leading the rotation for two seasons along with fellow RHPs Elias Martinez and Matt Diaz. During his senior year, he suffered from some extremely difficult luck. His seasons defied all logic by going winless at 0-9, despite pitching two complete games and pitching deep into every game....
(Photo Credit: NYIT Athletics) The NYIT baseball team was treated to a nice surprise this morning when 14-year MLB veteran and New York Mets legend David Wright made an appearance at practice. He spoke to the team and also did an interview with SNY. David Wright’s motivational words to the @NYITBears ? pic.twitter.com/zc0OBLutg8 — SNY (@SNYtv) January 25, 2019 David spoke of the importance of getting your work in when nobody is watching or telling you what to do, he also spoke about finding the motivation to work regardless of the weather conditions, which he feels is a major reason he was able to get to the big leagues and find success as a corner infielder that is 6’0″ and roughly 205 lbs despite obvious size disadvantages from guys like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and ...
With the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers capturing the Game 163 tie-breakers, the 2018 MLB Postseason is officially set. It will begin on Tuesday with the NL Wild Card match up between the Chicago Cubs and the visiting Colorado Rockies. The winner will face the Brewers on Friday in Milwaukee. The Yankees will host the surprising Oakland Athletics in a win-or-go-home with the winner taking on the 108-win Boston Red Sox on Friday. We took to Instagram to capture predictions of the local ballplayers. Below are some of their responses. Richie Cimpric- Cleveland Indians “They have the energy plus they have one of the best infields with Donaldson, Lindor, Ramirez and Encarnacion.” Dom Camera-Boston Red Sox “The Red Sox are way too stacked with offense this year and th...
This is the first installment of our Fall Ball Series Presented by The Greene Turtle in which we visit the local colleges and provide an in-depth, inside look at how their 2019 teams will look featuring photos, videos and interviews with players and coaches. First up is NYIT with their first-year Head Coach and 14-year MLB veteran Frank Catalanotto. It is impossible to ignore the change in culture at NYIT under 14-year Major League veteran Frank Catalanotto. Coming off a disappointing 13-win season during their first year competing at Division-II level, the Bears decided to start fresh with an entirely new-look coaching staff beginning with one of the best Major League baseball players to come from Long Island. Catalanotto, 44, batted .291 over 4,292 at bats and certainly brings an incred...
Luke Oliphant is named the MVP of the All Star Game. He spoke with Justin Paura following the game pic.twitter.com/fCdWA8uJTy — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 10, 2018 The atmosphere at the 2018 HCBL All-Star Game could be summed up with just one word: fun. “Everybody is doing really well out here and we’re having a lot of fun playing together,” Tyler Becker of the Westhampton Aviators said before the first pitch. “It’s been really great so far.” “It’s awesome receiving this honor and getting to play with some great players,” Long Island’s Marcos Perivolaris said. “We’re going to have fun and play the game it’s meant to be played.” “It’s really fun playing ball with guys from all over the country,” Perivolaris’ Road Warriors teammate Ben McNeill said. “I’m just looking forward t...
NYIT has hired 14-year MLB veteran Frank Catalanotto to be their new Head Coach. The Smithtown native was drafted by the Detroit Tigers out Smithtown HS in the 10th round of the 1992 MLB Draft. He chose to forego his scholarship to Seton Hall to begin his professional career. The decision proved to work out well, as he compiled a career AVG of .291 over 3,824 at bats with several teams including Detroit, Texas, Toronto, Milwaukee before ending his career with the New York Mets in 2010. He has been the lead hitting instructor at Baseball Heaven for several years and last year he contributed hitting articles to Axcess Baseball as well. NYIT began their coaching search right after the conclusion of their season on May 6, with rumors beginning to circle that they were aiming high with their co...
Our reporter, Nick Vecchione, was on the scene Saturday for NYIT-Adelphi double header. Here are his scouting observations from a former Div-I player for our Premium Axcess Members. So it was a much anticipated wait to finally get to see the surging Panthers of Adelphi in action, and on Saturday they did not disappoint. On a gorgeous sunny day, that I thought would never come, on the beautiful Westbury campus of New York Tech, a 6 Foot sophomore out of Eastport-South Manor sets the tone out of the 2 hole for the rest of the lineup. Tyler Becker is the prototypical top of the lineup stick, possessing versatility as to what he can do in the box. Being a situational hitter seems to be a strength of his, and something he takes pride in. He throws his personal success to the side, making it se...
NYIT records the final out in game two of the double header, defeating Adelphi 6-1. pic.twitter.com/Qa9lRlutwu Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 29, 2018 NYIT held off Adelphis late attempt at a comeback, defeating the Panthers 14-13 in game one of the double header. After the Panthers grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Bears struck back in powerful fashion. In the top of the fourth, a wild pitch with the bases loaded helped plate NYITs first run of the game. Dominic Paolo then drove in another runner with an RBI single. Starter Ed Baram began to struggle in the fourth after a solid start. Following the Paolo single, Baram gave up an infield RBI single to Nic Lombardi. He then proceeded to walk the next two batters with the bases loaded, plating ...
Several teams were in action on Friday. The teams went 5-3 on the afternoon. Take a look at who stood out: Division-I Hofstra: Hofstra defeated Delaware 9-0 behind ace John Rooney. The LHP continued his impressive season, putting together a complete game, two-hit shutout. He notched 11 strikeouts making it the third time this season he’s put up double digit strikeouts in a game. The bats did plenty of work as right fielder Teddy Cillis went 4-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI while Matt Siedem had three hits and smacked his first career HR. The Pride banged out 17 hits on the afternoon, good enough to put them at 13-9 on the season. Fordham: Fordham was defeated by Rhode Island, 6-2. Rhode Island struck first in the seventh inning on a Brett McManus three-run double down the line. They pi...