Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Ryan Manno
Final: North Babylon 5, Hills East 2
WP: Ryan Camier (CG, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks)Jordan Konig: 2-3, 3B, RBI, run
TJ Oppedisano: 2-3, RBI pic.twitter.com/fiCt7PygSX— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 2, 2025
It was another successful season for the North Babylon Bulldogs who reached the postseason for the 7th consecutive season after a late season surge allowed them to clinch with a win over Smithtown East.
After defeating Northport, they were eliminated by Sachem East.
“Our main goal is to make the playoffs,” head coach Steve Corrado said. “It’s important to our program to get back there. Once we qualify, we strive for higher goals.”
That mindset comes as the Bulldogs look to replace several key contributors from last year’s roster. North Babylon graduated four major impact players, including All-County right fielder Jordan Konig, who hit .463 with 19 RBIs. The Bulldogs also lost pitchers Tim and Ryan Camier, both now at Old Westbury. Catcher Daniel Goodis also departed after two strong seasons, finishing last year batting .320 in the cleanup spot with multiple home runs and 21 RBIs.
“We lost a few guys offensively and on the mound,” Corrado said. “They were big pieces for us.”
Leading the effort to fill those gaps is senior captain Tristan Garcia, a four-year starter and two-time All-League selection.
“Tristan leads by example,” Corrado said. “We feel the team will follow him. We expect him to be one of our top pitchers and one of our best hitters.”
Garcia hit .443 last season with 27 hits and is expected to anchor both the lineup and rotation.
Pitching figures to be a major strength for North Babylon this spring. Corrado expressed confidence in his staff, which includes standout Tommy Morton, who earned All-League honors as a 10th grader, along with left-hander Josh Arteaga, who transitioned from reliever to starter late last season.
“We feel pretty good about our pitchers,” Corrado said. “Tommy had a great year, and we expect him to have an amazing season. Josh really stepped up, and we’re excited to have him in our rotation.”
Additional depth comes from Dominic Houser and Toby Young, both of whom posted sub 1.50 ERAs at the JV level, giving the Bulldogs flexibility, youth, and reliability on the mound.
Defensively, North Babylon returns much of its core, though there will be adjustments behind the plate. Junior Christian Fernandez steps in at catcher following Goodis’ graduation.
“He’s got big shoes to fill behind the dish,” Corrado said. “But we feel comfortable defensively.”
Offensively, replacing the middle of the order remains the biggest challenge.
“Losing our 3, 4, and 5 hitters is the big issue,” Corrado said.
Several returning players are expected to help fill that void. TJ Oppedisano, who hit .361 last season, will move into a bigger role in the lineup. Shortstop James Mieszerski, brings consistency at the top of the order after posting a .460 on-base percentage.
“TJ is going to be in more of a power spot,” Corrado said. “James did a great job getting on base for us.”
The Bulldogs also feature strong athleticism across the field, led by seniors Aidan Walsh and Jake Walsh, both multi-sport standouts committed to college programs.
“We have quite an athletic team,” Corrado said. “They’re competitors all around the diamond.”
Beyond Garcia, leadership is another area where Corrado feels secure. He pointed to Oppedisano and the Walsh brothers, all of whom serve as captains in other varsity sports.
“I feel comfortable with our leadership,” Corrado said. “Between Tristan, TJ, and the Walsh brothers, we have guys who know how to lead and set the tone.”
Several younger players are also poised to make an impact. Junior outfielder Aiden Torres impressed during summer ball, while sophomores Xavier Collins and Chandler Como add depth to the infield.
“Aiden had a great summer,” Corrado said. “With his defense and hitting, we think he’ll thrive. The younger guys are setting us up for now and for the future.”
Overall, Corrado is confident in both the talent and character of his roster.
“I’m confident in their ability to compete and the character the boys have,” he said. “We’re in a competitive league with strong teams at the top, but our kids have experience. We know we’ll compete.”
North Babylon will benefit from an expanded preseason schedule, allowing the coaching staff more opportunities to evaluate the roster.
“We’ll have more scrimmages, which will really help us,” Corrado said.
The Bulldogs open their season at home on March 26 against Centereach, a familiar and respected opponent.
“They’re scrappy and well coached,” Corrado said. “They won the league two years ago, and it’s always a battle. They’re good kids, and it’ll be good baseball.”
With experienced leadership, strong pitching, and a focus on postseason success, North Babylon enters 2026 determined to reestablish itself as a playoff contender.
