by Tucker Terranova Rickey Henderson, widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players in history, has passed away at the age of 65. The Athletics confirmed his death on Saturday, releasing a statement that read, “Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, and his records will forever stand atop baseball history. He was undoubtedly the most legendary player in Oakland history and made an indelible mark on generations of A’s fans over his 14 seasons wearing the Green and Gold.” A true titan of the sport, Rickey Henderson’s career stands as a testament to excellence. Spanning 25 remarkable seasons from 1979 to 2003, he played for nine different franchises, capturing two World Series titles, 10 All-Star selec...
by Tucker Terranova (Photo Credit: Ron Esposito) Championship MVP Ty Gilligan talks about the adversity-filled season that the Breakers have faced, along with his hot-streak that catapulted the offense during their recent winning streak. pic.twitter.com/cEBcY2MVYI — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 30, 2024 If you’ve been following the 2024 Southampton Breakers, nothing about this season should surprise you anymore. Starting with a dismal 1-6 record through the opening week of HCBL action, it seemed Southampton’s season could quickly spiral downward. However, they never lost confidence in their group, finishing the season on a 10-0-1 tear to secure their spot in the dance. “We started off a little slow, but we saw it from the first day of practice. We have a very talented te...
by Tucker Terranova Beau Durbin played a large role in Southampton’s 9-6 win, going 4-4 with 2 RBIs and reaching base in all five appearances. He spoke with Axcess Baseball about a full-team effort that has the Breakers one win away from their first HCBL Championship since 2014. pic.twitter.com/0cvYiJIJQn — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 28, 2024 The Southampton Breakers acknowledge that their recent run has been nothing short of extraordinary. Undefeated since July 16th, they’ve averaged an impressive 8.6 runs per game during this stretch and hold a record of 9-0-1. After dominantly upsetting the top-seeded Sag Harbor Whalers last week, Southampton turned their focus to the HCBL Championship series against the Shelter Island Bucks, aiming to finish their Cinderella story...
by Tucker Terranova Aden Soroca discusses his great outing and the recent hot streak that has catapulted the Southampton Breakers to the HCBL Championship after a 8-0 win pic.twitter.com/FqlUAjyQia — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 26, 2024 The Southampton Breakers’ season has been defined by adversity from the get-go. After winning their first game against the South Shore Clippers, they faced a challenging stretch, dropping their next six contests and finding themselves at the bottom of the HCBL standings. With nine games remaining, they needed six victories to reach the playoffs and responded with an impressive 6-0-1 run to secure their spot. One of the most thrilling aspects of the playoffs is that every team starts with a clean slate; regular season accolades fade away, and s...
by Tucker Terranova Nick Pratt walk-off 3-R HR in the bottom of the 9th propels the Blue Team to a 9-6 win in the @HamptonsLeague All Star Game pic.twitter.com/w6D7oq9rVn — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 13, 2024 The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League’s brightest stars descended upon Mashashimuet Park on Saturday for the annual HCBL All-Star game. In a contest showcasing 49 of the finest players the Hamptons has to offer, Nick Pratt (UMBC) stole the show. Pratt launched a dramatic walk-off three-run homer, capping off an improbable six-run rally and earning him the game’s Most Valuable Player award. He is the first North Fork Osprey to achieve this honor since Austin Miller in 2014. Pratt’s heroics secured a victory for Team Blue, who entered the sixth inning trailing 4-0...
by Tucker Terranova Charlie Aurandt discusses his complete game outing that led the Westhampton Aviators to a 7-1 win over the Sag Harbor Whalers pic.twitter.com/lI2tGk1a0U — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 11, 2024 The first half of the 2024 HCBL season has been anything but smooth sailing for the Westhampton Aviators. After finishing atop the 2023 regular season standings and falling one game short of their first championship since 2019, the Aviators have struggled to find their footing early on. In their last game before the upcoming All-Star Break, the Aviators sought to ignite a spark for the remainder of the summer. Fueled by a stellar complete game from Charlie Aurandt (St. Joseph’s LI) and a barrage of seven unanswered runs, the Aviators soared past the Sag Harbor Whalers...
by Tucker Terranova Anthony Scarabino anchored the @ClippersHCBL offense today with 4 RBIs. He spoke with Axcess Baseball after a 10-0 win about his performance pic.twitter.com/9oRckCy76b — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 5, 2024 The formula for winning has been simple for the South Shore Clippers this summer. Allowing the second-fewest earned runs in the HCBL, the Clippers’ quest for a title defense starts and ends with their pitching staff. After splitting their Independence Day doubleheader with the first-place North Fork Ospreys, the Clippers aimed to rebound Friday afternoon against the Westhampton Aviators, calling upon Bobby Finn (St. Bonaventure), the anchor of their staff, to get the job done. Finn continued his early-season dominance, delivering four innings of shutout ...
by Tucker Terranova Bobby Jellison delivered six shutout innings for the Ospreys in a 11-0 win. He talked with Axcess Baseball about what was working for him, his offense’s big inning, and discussed being in first place pic.twitter.com/mk0OWzyhyS — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 27, 2024 The 2023 season was a forgettable one for the North Fork Ospreys, compiling an 11-22 record that left them at the bottom of the standings. They struggled in all facets, ranking last in runs scored and first in runs allowed. However, 2024 has ushered in a fresh start for North Fork under new head coach Vinnie Morelli. With a nearly complete roster overhaul, retaining only two players from last year, North Fork has surged to the top with an impressive 8-4 record heading into today’s game. In...
by Tucker Terranova Final: Aviators 11 | Breakers 9@WHAviators survives a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to win pic.twitter.com/daCIz2C35i — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 21, 2024 The Westhampton Aviators’ lineup has struggled to score first in the early stages of this season, allowing the game’s first run in every matchup except their Opening Day 11-8 win over South Shore. This issue has plagued them all season long, a major contributor to their lackluster 2-4 start. Determined to turn things around, the Aviators made it their goal to get a head start on the scoreboard in this evening’s contest against the Southampton Breakers. Today marked a turnaround for the Aviators. In the top of the first inning, they batted around and scored four runs agai...
Luke Fisher discusses what today’s 3 hit, 4 RBI day meant to him in a 14-6 Opening Day victory for the Breakers pic.twitter.com/XHNianAmrJ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 14, 2024 The Hamptons, renowned as one of the most sought-after summer destinations on the East Coast, offers more than just a perfect escape to kick back, relax, and soak up the sun. For the region’s top collegiate baseball players, a summer in the Hamptons offers a different challenge. Swapping metal bats for the more traditional wood lumber, these athletes flock to the Hamptons yearly to compete against the best and hone their skills along the scenic coast. For Southampton native Luke Fisher, the HCBL holds a deeper meaning. Swapping the customary William & Mary green and gold for royal blue, Fish...
by Tucker Terranova (Photo: Catherine Scarantino) The final Saturday game of our coverage of the Nassau County Championships featured a pitching duel between A-1 #1 Wantagh and A-2 #1 Clarke in the opening game of their best-of-three set. Christian Danzilo describes his gutsy save to lock down a 4-3 win for Wantagh. pic.twitter.com/s2cKMy3zyW — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2024 How they got here: After winning their division with a 20-3-1 record, Wantagh has taken care of business in the playoffs, currently possessing a 4-1 record in postseason play while defeating North Shore and Plainedge. Also winning their division with a 20-3 record, Clarke’s playoff run can only be described using one word: domination. Possessing a +35 run differential coming into game 1 and only allo...
by Tucker Terranova (Photo by Catherine Scarantino) The Nassau County AAA Championship kicked off Saturday at Farmingdale State College, with No. 4 Port Washington facing No. 3 Farmingdale on a picture-perfect day to start Memorial Day Weekend. Angel Cartagena breaks down his impressive day at the plate and a 6-3 win for Farmingdale. pic.twitter.com/FPQVQylvYw — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 25, 2024 How they got here: Port Washington faced arguably the toughest challenge on the island in the semifinals: ending No. 1 Massapequa’s six-season title streak. After dropping Game 1 in eight innings, Port Washington fought back to win the next two games, toppling the reigning champions. They now aim to capture their first County Title since 1970. Similarly, Farmingdale was shut out in ...