Team Beast
Tyler Cox: What Christmas Means To Me
(Editor’s Note: Tyler Cox is a 2021 graduate of Clarke HS. He helped Clarke capture the Nassau County Class A Championship in a thrilling series win over Division. Last month, he announced his verbal commitment to West Virginia of the Big-12. He is among the elite hitters in the 2021 class. The following words are his own.) Christmas to me isn’t as much about the presents I receive and the week off from school, but more about the time I get to spend with family and friends. Every Christmas my family and I take the time to open presents and spend the day together, but I feel like the holiday is most enjoyable because of the people I am able to spend my time with. This Christmas I was able to throw with one of my teammates from our county championship team last year, Brendan Turton, w...
Where Are They Now: T.J. Pecoraro
In 2009, Centereach was experiencing a renaissance, enjoying their best season in 18 years. Entering the postseason as the No. 5 seed, surely they would be in position to advance into the winner’s bracket of Suffolk Class AA. As luck would have it, they were stuck facing No. 12 ranked Half Hollow Hills West, a team led by ace T.J. Pecoraro. Centereach matched their ace up against the hard-thrower. It turned out to be a classic game with Hills West winning 4-3 in 10 innings in front of a packed crowd. I remember this game vividly because I was starting opposite of Pecoraro. Even in the midst of the greatest season of my life, I had a feeling we weren’t going to beat the future MLB Draft pick. Hills West also happened to have a really good offense and they were able to take an ea...
Up Next Powered By The Yard Sports Academy: Frank Kelly
(This is the seventh installment of our popular ‘Up Next’ Series in which we spotlight the next wave of superstars on Long Island. Previously, we have featured Charles West, Jayden Stroman, Liam Stemmler, Paul Napolitano , Sadier Vicioso and 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.) “How do they do it?” That’s a common question you hear when discussing Massapequa‘s unprecedented run of success. They’ve won the past three Class AA Long Island Championships. They also had a streak of four in a row from 2006-2009. The easy answer is that it starts at the top with some terrific coaching from Tom Sheedy and...
Paul Gibson III Named New Head Coach of Center Moriches
The two-time defending New York State Class B Champs have a new Head Coach. Paul Gibson III will be the new Head Coach of Center Moriches, according to sources. He replaces Dennis Donovan, who led the Red Devils to an undefeated record of 26-0 this past season in what we deemed to be the greatest team of the decade. “Very fortunate to have been an assistant, teammate and most importantly lifelong friend of Dennis,” said Gibson. He is an absolutely amazing coach and a better role model. I look forward to this opportunity and the continued growth of this storied program.” Gibson was on staff as an assistant last year, so he is familiar with the program. He is also a coach of one of the premier travel organizations on Long Island, Team Beast and is the son of former New York...
Get to Know Tyler Cox
Tyler Cox led the team in virtually all offensive categories as a freshman. Coach Abruscato is counting on him for production in the middle of the lineup pic.twitter.com/2rm2r3zgyd — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 27, 2019 One thing I noticed from scouring the internet is that West Virginia University loves their northeast players. Their 2019 roster was composed of three New Jersey, three New York, three Pennsylvania and one New Hampshire native. Long Island baseball fans may be familiar with Sam Kessler, a Mt. Sinai-native who was drafted out of West Virginia University by the Detroit Tigers this year. Another Long Island native is soon to join that roster. Clarke HS junior Tyler Cox announced his verbal commitment to West Virginia University on Thursday. The Mountaineers wo...
Seven Tool Catching Clinic to Return December 1
7Tool Catching clinic getting underway pic.twitter.com/pdzReEtWa6 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) December 17, 2017 The highly-anticipated third year of the Seven Tool Catching clinic is set to return on December 1. Former Milwaukee Brewers farmhand and Axcess Baseball’s All-Decade member Charles Galiano began the company in 2017 and it has quickly grown to the point that the 12-week clinic has two venues and is separated into three age groups (elementary school, middle school and high school). “Electric is the only way to describe it,” said Galiano. “We are really working on continuing to build the atmosphere. That is really what guys love about the program,” he said. The clinic is unique in the sense that it does not resemble the slow tempo or feel of...
Get to Know Connor Smalley
Connor Smalley is a 2020 graduate of Sayville HS. He contributed to their first Class A Long Island Championship in program history this past season. He announced his verbal commit to Division-II powerhouse Franklin Pierce University. I had a chance to speak to him and here’s what he had to say… Who are your biggest role models in life and why? My biggest role models in my life are definitely both of my parents. They have lways taught me hard work pays off in the long run and have made me into the person I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am without them today and I am so grateful to have them in my life. Who is your favorite player in Major League Baseball and why? One of my favorite players is definitely Christian Yelich because of how much I admire his work ethic from b...
Offensive Clinic Topped off with Clutch Defense in Beast’s Win over Owls
By James Ryder It was a chilly night Thursday at Baseball Heaven. However, the bats were hot for both 11u teams playing on Field 5. It was an offensive clinic for most of the game that ended with Team Beast besting the Islip Owls, 9-8. The Beast opened the game by hitting back-to-back doubles, courtesy of Adrian Cruz and John Albert Franco respectively, that put them up 1-0. In the bottom of the first, the Owls started with three straight hits, including two doubles of their own. Gregory McSweeny’s leadoff double and Luis Poulos’ single led to Matt Waters’ 2 RBI double down the 1st base line for the lead. Dylan Broschart’s groundout to shortstop and James Terhune’s single to center field each scored one run each to go up 4-1. Once again, the lead wasn’t had for long. The Beast answered wit...
Up Next: Shaun McMillan
One of the main reasons Beast United has compiled a record of 83-12-4 over the past two seasons is the presence of Shaun McMillan. Prior to coming to the Beast, he played with Camelot Knights and was a home run hitting machine–crushing 31 and driving in 123 runs over 109 games with them. Despite being the youngest player on the team, he has made his impact felt in a big way contributing as the No. 4 hitter, catcher and also on the mound. “As the youngest player on our team, he has a very mature style of play, he always shows up ready to work hard. He is a big part of our pitching staff and lineup,” said his Head Coach James Labartino. He is currently at the Progressive School of Long Island in Merrick, which does not field a baseball team. The family is still deciding whi...
Seven Tool Catching Winter Clinic Returning This December
Former Milwaukee Brewers farmhand and Commack native Charles Galiano will be bringing back his Seven Tool Catching Clinic this off-season, after a wildly successful first year. “It’s a product I was extremely proud of,” said the 2012 graduate of Commack and two-time MLB Draftee. “The kids learned a ton, we had a blast and there was great camaraderie between the catchers and the trainers,” he added. The clinic will begin on December 2 and conclude on March 3 for a span 12 weeks. Players will receive baseline test numbers on the first day and track their progression. The clinic is for players grades 3-12. The younger group (grades 3-5, 6-8) will be at Team B.E.A.S.T. facility in Commack while the high school players will be at All Pro Academy in Bellport. The pl...
Jake Griffin Fires No-Hitter to Clinch Super 25 Northeast Championship
It’s hard enough to perform at full strength as an athlete in competition. After all, your opposition has a job too. It makes it even more impressive, then, when an athlete is able to overcome an illness and their opposition at the same time–which is precisely what Jake Griffin (Kingston, PA) did last night in the championship of Perfect Game’s Super 25 Northeast Championship in Staten Island. The 14-year-old fired a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 9-1 victory for Team Beast United over the Diamond Jacks. The young hustler hit 84 MPH with his fastball, mixing in a sharp breaking ball, which proved to be too much for opposing batters. His offense provided plenty of support, too. They broke through with four runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by RBI singles by Dylan S...
