Stephen Woods
LI Field House Hosts 3 Team Italy Pitchers
Tuesday was an exciting day as a bevy of talented pitchers threw bullpen sessions in Hauppauge at the brand new LI Field House. The most notable name was former big leaguer Matt Harvey, who came down to prepare for the World Baseball Classic, which will take place in early March 8 and Harvey will participate for Team Italy. Matt Harvey getting a bullpen in @LIFieldHouseNY pic.twitter.com/czM55W93Ps — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 21, 2023 Two other pitchers with local connections will participate on Team Italy as well – Stephen Woods (Hills East 2013) and Nick Fanti (Hauppauge 2015). Woods, an 8th round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2016 out of SUNY Albany, is currently a free agent but has reached as high as Triple-A. He was also traded for Evan Longoria in 201...
Familiar Faces Prepare to Represent their Nation on the World Stage
by Andy Smith Long Islanders will certainly recognize many of the players in the World Baseball Classic next month. These are the MLB superstars or international sensations. However, a few names may be locally familiar. Jacob Steinmetz, currently in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, is a member of the Israel pitching staff. The Woodmere native started seven games in the Arizona Complex League in 2022 after being drafted in the third round (pick 77) of the 2021 MLB Draft. He will play alongside outfielder Joc Pederson (San Francisco Giants) and pitcher Dean Kremer (Baltimore Orioles) under manager Ian Kinsler. Amazing moment as Long Island native Jacob Steinmetz becomes the first Orthodox Jewish athlete to get selected in the MLB Draft pic.twitter.com/giZgs8GELh — Axcess Baseba...
Tim Belz Confident Team Chemistry Will Pay Off for Hills East
Reis Henderson wins it for Hills East with a walk-off single to score Nick Gavilla ! pic.twitter.com/yyZVfPV9MN — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 29, 2019 by Ben Diamond After losing last season, Hills East had a big senior class graduate. But, Head Baseball Coach at Hills East, Tim Belz, believes that the core of his team is still intact. Led by junior shortstop Nick Farnacci, who has been with the team since freshman year. Senior catcher Aiden Limerick, who he expects big things from this coming season, and senior RHP Kyle Cavataio. Belz said that Cavataio would’ve been a big part of his pitching staff had the season not been cancelled last year. Belz feels as though the hole left by the departing senior class isn’t as big as other schools. Uncommitted Kyle Cavataio (Hills Eas...
Recapping A Busy Week
Typically mid-December does not feature much in the way of college or high school baseball news, but this was an atypical week. There was some college commitments, some announcements and great news for a Long Island native. Let’s start with the college commitments… Ryan Schechner (Bellmore JFK 2020) commits to Division-I Towson University. He is a LHP that works in the low 80s. We named him to our Preseason All-Long Island list back in March and followed it up with a great season. Had a 15-K, 1-hit shutout in his best start of the season. Justin Doskoez (Eastport-South Manor 2020) commits to Division-III SUNY Purchase. He’s a RHP and the younger brother of Alex, who had an incredible 2018 season for ESM in which they appeared in the Suffolk AA Finals. Charlie O’Brie...
Stephen Woods Named Second Team All-Conference
Photo Credit: University of Abany Athletics Stephen Woods, a 2013 graduate of Half Hollow Hills East and a sixth round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays, was named second team All-Conference of the America East. Woods, a sophomore at the University of Albany, led the team in ERA at 3.98. He appeared in 11 games, starting nine, while compiling 54.1 IP, allowing only 39 hits while striking out 55. He held the opposition to a .203 AVG. During his senior year of high school, he was virtually untouchable. Woods compiled a 5-2 record but struck out 100 batters in 50 innings while allowing just 13 hits. His ERA was 0.63. During one stretch he threw consecutive no-hitters and two one-hitters. He will be eligible for the draft again next season.
