Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
By Anthony DiCocco
Andrew Mandelbaum had 2 hits including a 2-R HR that capped a 7-run inning for West Babylon in a 9-5 win over East Islip @GetGameChanger pic.twitter.com/Zb4IOgz8Is
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 23, 2025
A year removed from hosting two playoff games, the West Babylon Eagles will attempt to put together a championship-caliber season despite losing two of its stars.
West Babylon finished 2025 with a 14-8 record and were eliminated from the playoffs following a 11-5 loss to Rocky Point. In his second season as head coach, Shaun Kaminski heavily leaned on All-County and Second Team All-Long Island studs Anthony Gerbasio and Elijah Outlaw, who graduated at the conclusion of the school year.
Now Kaminski will have to find a way to replace their production.
“We graduated six players from last season and three of which got consistent playing time,” Kaminski said in an interview with Axcess Baseball. “So we don’t lose a lot in terms of quantity, but the quality we lost is going to be tough to replace.”
Outlaw, who was Nassau Community College’s starting quarterback in the fall, was a Second Team All-State member after slashing .390 with a .513 on-base percentage (OBP) in the heart of the Eagles’ lineup. The center fielder also swiped 19 bags, hit two homers and drove in 18 runs.
Gerbasio will continue his baseball career as a pitcher at SUNY Farmingdale. Last year, the right-hander did it all for the Eagles, as he racked up 17 runs batted in (RBI) at the plate while going 6-2 with a 1.64 earned run average and 59 strikeouts on the bump.
On top of his on-field play, Gerbasio was named West Babylon’s lone captain for the 2025 season, leaving a hole when it comes to leadership.
“[Gerbasio] was a guy that’s been around for four years,” Kaminski said. “He was on our Long Island championship team. Emotionally, he will be missed as a leader just as much as the stuff he brought to the mound and the great at-bats he gave every time he was in the box.”
Fortunately for Kaminski, West Babylon’s senior class this year consists of 13 student-athletes, giving him a boost in the experience department. One of the strongest aspects of the Eagles will be their pitching staff, which will feature a trio of senior right-handers in Matt Critchley, Josh Gomez and Nico Milani.
Critchley — a SUNY Maritime commit — earned All-League honors a season ago by piecing together a stellar campaign. While matched up against the opposition’s top starter for each series, Critchley accumulated 35 punchouts and posted a 0.95 ERA and 0.96 walks plus hits per innings pitched.
Before heading to Caldwell next year, Gomez will become the team’s No. 2 starter after missing the end of last season with a back issue. When healthy, Kaminski described Gomez as “electric,” as he struck out 41 batters across 29 innings.
West Babylon’s starting rotation will be rounded out by a Curry College commit in Milani, who primarily pitched out of the bullpen last spring. Like Gomez, Milani also produced a strong punchout rate, striking out 29 hitters in his 21 innings pitched.
RHP Dylan Mannino will chip in while coming on in relief.
In the field, senior Vinny Iorio (Mount Saint Vincent) will slide over to center after getting an All-League nod while covering left field last year. As a junior, Iorio got off to a slow start at the dish, but batted .303 following a move to the leadoff spot in mid-April. Additionally, he scored 12 runs and stole 13 bases.
“I think putting [Iorio] in the leadoff spot really boosted his confidence and that’s when he started to turn it up,” Kaminski said. “He’s a great defender and I’m fully confident he’s going to get the job done in center.”
A mix of Timmy Erwig, Tylan Edwards and Dean Geiger will flank Iorio in the outfield. Erwig is a senior and an experienced starter in right field, while Edwards is a junior. Kaminski trusts both players to give him solid innings out of the bullpen.
LHP Dean Geiger (West Babylon 2028) FB T80 MPH
CB 65-66
CG: 74-75 pic.twitter.com/JPGabzrNTj— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 11, 2025
Geiger joined the team as a freshman last season and is expected to push for more playing time this spring. Like Edwards, Geiger also pitches and Kaminski is excited about his potential.
“Out of all of our pitchers, [Geiger] probably has the most jump out in his arm,” Kaminski said. “His fastball just kind of flies out. We’re working on building his muscle … because I think he could be a guy that gets up to 90 [miles per hour] by the time his high school career is done.”
Reprising his role at third base will be senior Steve Gervasi (College of Staten Island). Gervasi produced a .328 average, .425 OBP, 11 RBIs and 30 stolen bases en route to being named an All-League player in 2025. He may also see some time on the bump.
Steve Gervasi (West Babylon 2026) commits to the College of Staten Island @TeamFrancisco pic.twitter.com/n71Iu9GTyu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 11, 2025
Up the middle, Critchley will see time at second base while sophomore Xavier Estevez will man shortstop. In the box, Critchley slashed .281, and for Estevez, Kaminski envisions him being a key cog in his lineup.
“I’m very excited about [Estevez],” Kaminski said. “He had some growing pains last year, which is expected, but he’s got a big bat and I’m expecting him to take the jump up. I’m going to rely on him to be a run producer.”
Senior C Dylan Cousins will serve as the Eagles’ starting backstop after performing well last season. Kaminski was impressed with the way the John Jay-commit handled West Babylon’s pitching staff last spring, as well as his pitch and spot calling.
Nice two out RBI from Five Star catcher Dylan Cousins (West Babylon 2026). Five Star now leads 3-0 after four innings. pic.twitter.com/8x20JyHvLq
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 27, 2025
At first base, Kaminski is still searching for a starter after Andrew Mandelbaum graduated alongside Outlaw and Gerbasio. When he’s not pitching, Milani will man first and senior Brandon Criollo will also vie for playing time there.
With an athletic crop of veteran players, Kaminski feels his team can capture a county title by focusing on basic fundamentals and playing some small ball.
“High school baseball really comes down to who throws the most strikes and makes the least amount of mistakes,” Kaminski said. “If we can do both of those things, we have a good shot. We had 98 stolen bases as a team in 22 games last year so we want to utilize our speed as a tool to help us win games.”
West Babylon will begin its 2026 slate on the road against West Islip on March 26.
