(Editor’s Note: This is the third stop on the annual Fall Ball Series in which we check in on the local colleges to preview the upcoming season and hear from the head coach on how the team is shaping up. Special thanks to Max Effort Baseball for sponsoring this year’s series.)
Farmingdale State is your 2025 Skyline Conference Champions with a 2-1 win over USMMA ! pic.twitter.com/hg6Sh3IISp
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 11, 2025
It was a magical playoff run for the Farmingdale State Rams, who not only overcame a 1-5 start to the season but also entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed and found a way to go 5-1 in the Skyline Conference playoffs and defeated top-seeded USMMA twice to capture their first championship since 2019.
During Farmingdale’s incredible run last decade, they often entered the postseason as the top-seed, needing to just win three straight games to receive their automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. They took the far more difficult path, needing to win a play-in game, playing on their rivals’ turf, and even losing once in the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
After winning 6-1 to force a winner-take-all, they played an absolute thriller. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th, pinch hitter Chris McGuggart ripped a go-ahead RBI single to center to score Matt Flood. Reliever Dennis Kelly fired 1.1 shutout innings to earn the win. They turned to 2-time Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year Johnny Dougherty to lock it down, and he did just that – firing a 1-2-3 inning to slam the door.
Bottom 8: Pinch hitter Chris McGuggart comes through with a clutch, 2-out go-ahead single and Farmingdale takes a 2-1 lead pic.twitter.com/ECB8dZEd8k
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 11, 2025
At their workout on Tuesday afternoon, longtime head coach Keith Osik had the following to say on last year’s team:
“They shouldered a lot of the burden in terms of them hearing how good we used to be and how tough it is to win a conference championship. You can definitely feel the moment that they wouldn’t be denied, they finally got the hit-and-runs down, they bonded the way all the championship teams in our history have done. They finally bought in – it was almost too late. But the pitching really came together. We had uncharacteristic outings, where guys went seven or eight innings who only only thrown one or two innings at a time. They wouldn’t be denied that championship against a tough USMMA team that beat us earlier.”
Osik went on to add that a big turning point for the turn was their series against Maritime on April 29 where they needed to win both, and it didn’t go as planned.
“We got swept and we could’ve been a 1-seed. That was a big turning point for us. They let what they were working for slip. They understood the gravity of playing down the stretch and being ready for playoffs. The Skyline is different because you don’t want to be in a the play-in game. You’re going to face a Number 1 pitcher that might send you home.”
Fortunately for the Rams, they had their own aces who were able to get the job done. Their pitching was lights out in the playoffs, allowing just 11 runs over the 6 tournament games.
They ultimately had their season end in the NCAA Regional against Johns Hopkins and RPI. Nevertheless it was Osik’s ninth Skyline Conference Championship.
From last year’s team, they graduated 11 players; including the aforementioned Johnny Dougherty who was named Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. He had a 2.85 ERA over 60.0 innings in which he struck out 79 batters. His presence will certainly be missed atop the rotation. The Kings Park native pitched three seasons for the Rams after transferring from Queens College, he compiled a 2.39 ERA over 162 innings.
Some other notable graduates include Tyler DiRocco (Skyline Tournament MVP), Jordan Lambert (.376 AVG, .933 OPS), Chris McGuggart, Michael Camardi (4-0, 1.39 ERA), Roman Dorosh and Matt Flood (.305 AVG, .855 OPS). Lambert, Dougherty and Camardi were all first team All-Conference.
In terms of the returners, they have several impact players. Headlining that group is OF Richie Heyder, who was named 1st team All-Conference after batting .441 with 5 HRs and 35 RBIs. He led the team with an 1.170 OPS and was second with 34 runs scored over 40 games. The Sachem East grad will hit in the top three spots in the order and be a crucial part of their success.
They also return second team All-Conference SS Kaolis Delacruz. The Division grad had an outstanding season for the Rams, batting .376 with a 1.012 OPS over 40 games. He led the team with 40 runs scored and walks (21). The sophomore will be a steady presence at shortstop and atop the lineup.
Utility player Ryan Wasserman will be a critical piece they will get back after he suffered an injury in the first game of last season and missed the remainder of the year. The Kellenberg grad batted .403 with a team-leading 50 hits and 40 runs scored and was second team All-Conference in 2024.
A few other notable returning players include Christian Villaci, Christopher Sais, Mike Kocovic and Aiden Mehmel.
They return two key pieces to the pitching staff – Derek Watts and Dennis Kelly. Watts was 1st team All-Conference after going 7-1 with a 2.59 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He pitched 59.0 innings including a CG gem to force the winner-take-all game. Kelly, who fastball is now up to 90 MPH, was basically their fireman last year – entering in the high-leverage spots of games and often finding his way out of it. Coach Osik noted it remains to be seen whether he will be transitioned to the starting rotation, but “we would love to have him start the 7-inning games.”
LHP Derek Torres compiled a 2.78 ERA over 32.1 innings last year and they are hoping he will match or exceed that in his senior season. RHP TJ Cox is another returning arm that they hope will have a big impact. The Mineola native has pitched 57.1 innings over his three year collegiate career.
STAC-commit Thomas O’Neill (Farmingdale 2023). 3-pitch mix with command. T85. Very reminiscent of Justin Rosner pic.twitter.com/XlDFKQqEVy
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 27, 2022
They brought in a very large crop of freshmen and transfers. Some of the transfers are very familiar names such as RHP Thomas O’Neill (Farmingdale 2023) who transferred from St. Thomas Aquinas. When healthy, he possesses top of the rotation stuff. 3B Jack Friend (Ward Melville 2023) transferred from Lackawanna CC after originally attending the University of Maine. 1B Dom LoFroscia (Sayville) transferred from St. Joseph’s LI and could have an immediate impact in the middle of the lineup. They also have 3B Carmine Scardina (Farmingdale) who transferred from Nassau CC and is coming off a big season for the Lions.
In terms of the freshmen, coach was impressed with catcher Joe Lanza (East Meadow). He will be competing with Sean Maldonado and Ryan Plocker for playing time.
They also brought in RHP Robbie Malvino (Glen Cove), RHP James Minutillo (Pat-Med), RHP Anthony Gerbasio (West Babylon), RHP Jacob Kouba (Plainview JFK), RHP Tyler Lynch (Deer Park), OF Matt Farraone (Longwood).
They will open up the season on March 10 at Lehman College. They’ll also face CCNY, Baruch and John Jay before heading south for their annual Spring Training trip in Florida.
