Shawn Rush
Talented Pitching Staff Makes West Islip Formidable Once Again
by Max Edelman Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series. West Islip: 3 Walt Whitman: 2 Jake Romeo: 2-3, RBI Erick Burciaga: 2-3, 2 R Alex Burciaga: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER pic.twitter.com/OeQurUfNOX — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 20, 2023 The regular season was a strong one for the West Islip Lions in 2023. The Lions roared to a 20-5 overall record, a 17-3 league record, and sixth league title in seven years. However, the season did not end in a championship. Despite winning three of their playoff games, the Lions lost two games to Lindenhurst, which ended their season. Head coach Shawn Rush, who is entering his 14th season as West Islip head coach, looked back on last season and looked ahead to what should be an exciting...
GAME RECAP: West Islip’s Offense Strikes Early & Often in 8-0 Win
Sophomore Evan Byrnes was outstanding for West Islip as he fired six shutout innings and he was backed by an offense that posted 3 runs in the first inning and continued to tack on. He’s our Player of the Game @GCsports pic.twitter.com/QPX89aGq4e — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 21, 2023 There’s no question that West Islip is on the short list of top baseball programs on Long Island. They solidified that status last decade when they captured Suffolk County Class AA Championship in 2014, 2016 & 2018. In 2016, they were one win away from winning the New York State title. They nearly added to that list in 2021, but fell short in the County Championship to Newfield. They are in pursuit of adding another banner to the right field fence. They moved ever so closer to that go...
West Islip Enters 2023 With Young, Talented Roster
by Andy Smith West Islip Lions head coach Shawn Rush is no stranger to winning. He is now entering his 14th season as the head coach, Rush has seen it all during his long and successful tenure. Rush led West Islip to County Titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The Lions finished with a 15-8 overall record, 14-4 in league play and earned the title of League IV Champions. This upcoming season, however, West Islip will be without many key contributors from last year. “A senior heavy group” was a major component of last season’s squad, and a big part of their outstanding results in 2022. However, Rush is prepared to lead the next core of Lions to success. West Islip LHP Jake Rivera strands the bases loaded in the third, no score pic.twitter.com/rjtGjdCISQ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbasebal...
West Islip Looking to Return Back to the Top
By Michael Malaszczyk Final: West Islip 3, Smithtown West 2 WP: Piht Walk-off hit by Anthony Riviezzo pic.twitter.com/ral4RDgk2U — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 14, 2021 Coach Shawn Rush of West Islip is prepared to take on 2022. West Islip had a great season in 2021. They bounced back from having lost the 2020 season to make it to the Conference Four Finals. In the Finals, they ended up losing a nail biter of a game to Newfield. “Newfield broke a 0-0 tie in the sixth to take the championship,” said Coach Rush. Pinch-hitter Josh Jacobs ripped a bases-clearing double to give the Wolverines a 3-0 lead, which was the final. Their starting pitcher, Jake Rivera, was outstanding matching Kendall Kendrick pitch-for-pitch for 5 innings but ultimately the Newfield lineup was too tough to...
Coming Off Three Titles in the Last Decade – West Islip Returning Entirely New Team
Final: West Islip 5, North Babylon 4 (13 Innings) WP: Brad Battaglini (5 IP, 1 R) Mike LaDonna: Wall-off sac fly pic.twitter.com/ogXGg6gd4Q — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 24, 2019 Over the course of his tenure, Shawn Rush has established West Islip as the model of consistency in terms of Suffolk County baseball programs. Since 2008, they have captured four Suffolk County Championships and two Long Island Championships. They won Suffolk Class AA Championships in 2014, 2016 and 2018. They were looking to continue their “even year” trend last year and appeared to have a decent shot at it with a starting rotation consisting of three college-bound seniors – Bobby DiCapua (Bentley), Brad Battaglini (Cortland) and Brian Lundie (Farmingdale). That alone would’...
Can West Islip Continue Their ‘Even-Year’ Trend?
Over the course of his tenure, Shawn Rush has established West Islip as the model of consistency in terms of Suffolk County baseball programs. Since 2008, they have captured four Suffolk County Championships and two Long Island Championships. Last season, they once again captured their league title and made a deep postseason run but ran into a terrific Ward Melville team led by the Carl Yastrzemski Award winner, Max Nielsen. “I’m pretty proud of the group – the seniors did a nice job,” said Rush. “The ultimate goal is to win a county championship every year but that’s not always attainable. We reached the semifinals, it was a disappointing ending but we just got beat. We faced the Yastrzemski Award winner and he showed why,” he said, referencing th...
