Rocky Point
OTD: Rocky Point and Mount Sinai Come Together for Annual ‘Live Like Susie’ Game
A constant drizzle on this cloudy Saturday morning could not detract from an otherwise fantastic day, as Rocky Point and Mount Sinai met for their annual Live Like Susie fundraiser game. The game, played each year since 2014, is in honor of a Rocky Point alumna, Susie Facini, who passed away suddenly in 2011. The proceeds from this game fund a scholarship in Susie’s name that is awarded to a Rocky Point student each year who exhibits many of the qualities that Susie did. Susie was described as the kind of person who’s presence could just light up a room. In a pre-game ceremony, Rocky Point head coach Anthony Anzalone said “it just epitomizes, in a world of craziness, how you’re supposed to live your life. She just made things so much better when she walked into a room.” Both Rocky Point an...
Q & A With Frankie Moscatiello
Who were some influential people in your life growing up? A lot of people influence me. Mom and dad always helped me with no matter what I needed to do – getting to the gym, getting to lessons, getting to practice games every day. They were always there for me. My grandfather was at every practice, every game, everything that I ever had. If my parents couldn’t bring me somewhere, he would bring me there. They were a big influence on me, and I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for their support. Back when Coach [Andrew Aschettino] took over, [Rocky Point] was a lacrosse town. When you were in high school, did it become more of a baseball town at that point? Yeah, while Aschettino was the coach of Rocky Point, he had a pretty good resume. I can’t remember how many years ...
OTD: Kevin Sambuco Shines in 2-Hit Shutout Over Rocky Point
Final: Hauppauge 2, Rocky Point 0 WP: Kevin Sambuco (2-hit shutout) pic.twitter.com/CuxDipp61g — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 3, 2018 With the forecast calling for heavy rain beginning at 1pm, there was a 3-hour window to get in the game. Hauppauge starter Kevin Sambuco did it in less than half. The senior RHP carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but settled for a two-hit shutout in Hauppauge’s 2-0 victory over new League 6 rival Rocky Point, needing only 69 pitches to record 21 outs to improve the Eagles’ to 3-1 on the young season. He was starting opposite Bridgeport-commit Joey Grillo, who was named to our Preseason All-Long Island list last month. Grillo and Sambuco traded zeros for the first five innings; doing so in different ways. Hauppauge made Grillo work; they...
Rocky Point Looking to Return To the Class A Finals With a Young Core
by Zevan Shuster As Rocky Point baseball looks ahead to its 2020 season, one thing is on its mind: redemption. “Coming off a championship loss last year, we brought some returners back. And that left a sour taste in their mouth,” head coach Anthony Anzalone said. “They got a chance at a decent amount of success last year, especially the younger guys. I think those guys that are returning are definitely hungry to make it to that point again,” said Anzalone. Unequivocally, the goal for this season is to get back to the championship game, and to finish the job this season. Whatever motivation lingers from last season’s painful defeat may certainly help this year, but when it comes to on the field, they likely will have to grind to return to the Class A Finals. “We do have a pretty young te...
Frank Moscatiello Motivated For a Huge Year
When it comes to being a 5’8 RHP from Long Island, it goes without saying that there are some inherent obstacles during the climb to professional baseball. Rocky Point 2014 graduate Frank Moscatiello heard all the doubters and skeptics along the way. At each level, he overcame the cynics and continued to perform well. After compiling a 20-7 record with a 2.52 ERA over 232.1 IP at St. Thomas Aquinas, he built up a strong case to get drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft. Although he was not drafted, he wound up signing a pro contract with the Rockland Boulders – who happen to share a stadium with St. Thomas Aquinas. In his first pro season, all he did was compile a 2.79 ERA across 61.1 IP, striking out more than a batter per inning. He also won four games for the Boulders. Following a s...
Andrew Aschettino Joins St. Joseph’s Coaching Staff
One year after stepping away from high school baseball with a County Championship, Andrew Aschettino is back. The 17-year Head Coach of Rocky Point has joined an already sterling coaching staff St. Joseph’s College to be the first base coach. The staff features Head Coach Rick Garrett, former Dowling Head Coach Tom Caputo and assistant coach Joe Benkert. “It was always a goal of mine,” said Aschettino. “It was always in the back of my mind to face a different type of challenge or opportunity. I don’t know if I thought it would be immediate. But Tom Caputo was one of my first assistant coaches at Rocky Point and we’ve been friends over 20 years. Rick being a friend as well, it happened pretty quick,” he added. While this may seem like an insignifica...
Up Next Powered by The Yard Sports Academy: Dominick Carbone
(This is the final installment of our popular series titled ‘Up Next’ in which we highlight the next crop of superstars on Long Island. Previously, we have featured Tyler Cook, Charles West, Jayden Stroman, Liam Stemmler, Paul Napolitano , Sadier Vicioso , Frank Kelly, Matt Gileno . None of these players have appeared in a varsity game, but we are confident that they will soon. The series is Powered by The Yard Sports Academy, which you can check out here.) When it comes to the quickest path to the upper levels of baseball, there is nothing quite like the hard-throwing southpaw. Besides the fact that only 10 percent of the population is left-handed, an even fewer percentage of that is capable of firing a fastball above 85 MPH. So the ones that can do it are often rewarded for ...
Brock Murtha Goes the Distance in Game 1 of Suffolk A Finals
Brock Murtha on Sayville’s Game 1 victory. pic.twitter.com/SccMR2zoGo — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 31, 2019 Sayville took Game 1 of the Suffolk Class A finals, beating Rocky Point in eight innings by a score of 4-2. Right off the bat, it looked to be a pitchers’ duel, with Rob Milopsky getting the start for Rocky Point, facing off against Brock Murtha for Sayville. It certainly lived up to expectations, as the game required extra innings, with both starters each only allowing one run through the first seven innings. The hard throwing right handers traded zeroes for the first three innings, with Murtha particularly dominant, recording six strikeouts and only allowing one hit the first time through the order. He also contributed at the plate, leading off the top of the fourth ...
Kyle Callahan’s Walk-Off Single in 10th Delivers Rocky Point to 9th Straight Win
Walk-off single by Kyle Callahan and Rocky Point defeats Shoreham-Wading River, 4-3, in 10 innings ! pic.twitter.com/520eBR5wGZ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 23, 2019 Kyle Callahan ripped an RBI single to score Sean Hamilton in the bottom of the 10th inning to propel No. 2 Rocky Point to a 4-3 victory over No. 3 Shoreham-Wading River in the Suffolk A winner’s bracket. “I’m so stoked,” said Callahan. “I believed the whole time that we were going to get it done. We came, we were waiting, we had opportunities but we finally came and got it done,” he added. Equally as important to his walk-off hit was the gutsy performance of Mike Gunning. The senior who was voted Axcess Baseball‘s League VI MVP earlier this week was outstanding in this ga...
Rocky Point and Mount Sinai Come Together for Annual ‘Live Like Susie’ Game
A constant drizzle on this cloudy Saturday morning could not detract from an otherwise fantastic day, as Rocky Point and Mount Sinai met for their annual Live Like Susie fundraiser game. The game, played each year since 2014, is in honor of a Rocky Point alumna, Susie Facini, who passed away suddenly in 2011. The proceeds from this game fund a scholarship in Susie’s name that is awarded to a Rocky Point student each year who exhibits many of the qualities that Susie did. Susie was described as the kind of person who’s presence could just light up a room. In a pre-game ceremony, Rocky Point head coach Anthony Anzalone said “it just epitomizes, in a world of craziness, how you’re supposed to live your life. She just made things so much better when she walked into a room.” Both Rocky Point an...
Rocky Point Baseball: Blood is Thicker Than Water
Rock Point is coming off a banner season in 2018 in which they captured their first Suffolk County Class A title under Head Coach Andrew Aschettino. The most interesting story line of this years team, however, might not be the quest for a title defense but the fact that on a team with 13 players, there are only 10 last names. The 2019 Eagles field a team with three sets of brothers; Trey and Cody Miller, Eric and John Maier as well as Connor and Sean Hamilton. I had a chance to speak with Trey, Eric and Connor about the dynamic of playing with their brother on a varsity baseball team, the impact that Aschettino had on the Rocky Point program prior to retiring as well as a host of other topics. The Millers Trey and Cody Miller were born in Louisiana and came here when Trey was 13 for their ...
Rocky Point Looks to Defend Their First Title in Program History Under New Head Coach Anthony Anzalone
Year after year, Rocky Point puts a strong, competitive team on the field, fighting their way to the playoffs. At long last, they won the Suffolk County championship in the 2018 season, the first in program history. In his first year at the helm, Anthony Anzalone, recently named Head Coach, looks to continue the tradition of success at Rocky Point. Anzalone is excited for the opportunity that lies ahead. He feels comfortable leading this team, attributing that to his many years of being around former head coach Andrew Aschettino, as well as Eric Strovink. He added, “It helps to still have Strov beside me on this journey. He’s constantly learning himself, and really allows me to elevate my coaching.” Although the Eagles graduated several starters from their championship season, such as Joe ...
