Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Max Edelman
For the first time in a long time, the William Floyd Colonials made the playoffs in back to back seasons. Keith Kobaisuk, the head coach of the team for the last eight seasons, looked back fondly on a season in which his program continued to take steps in the right direction.
“We finished 10-8 and got into the playoffs.” Kobaisuk said. “It’s the first time in a long time we’ve been in the playoffs back to back years. We went 1-2, we won the first game against Walt Whitman and lost to Smithtown East 3-2, and then lost to Riverhead to be eliminated. I was happy to make the playoffs, so we’re trying to build to be a playoff team every year.”
Nine members of last year’s Floyd team were seniors, and of those nine players, three of them are playing college baseball. Jack Molini is playing at Le Moyne, Jonathan Bowden is playing at Bridgeport, and Paul Cucuzzo is playing at CCNY. While not a college baseball player, AJ Cannet, a member of last year’s team, is continuing his football career at the University of New Haven.
When it comes to returning players, the Colonials have a number of players ready to make an impact this year. At the top of the list is Aidan Dobrie. He is entering his junior season fresh off of a very strong sophomore campaign. Dobrie hit .344 with an OPS of .829. Dobrie recorded 22 hits and was an All-League player last year.
The ball was jumping off of Aidan Dobrie’s bat today. The 2027 William Floyd grad has fantastic bat speed and uses his lower half well to generate power pic.twitter.com/8bJ7FdBzxr
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 8, 2026
Also returning is three-year varsity player Jacob Cooke. Across 52 at-bats last year, Cooke recorded a .732 OPS, with four doubles and a pair of home runs. A three-year varsity player entering his senior season, Kobasiuk expects a big year from Andrew Marino. Last year, Marino, a SUNY Oswego commit, hit .317 with a .767 OPS and three doubles. Also committed to SUNY Oswego is Gabe Beta.
Entering his sophomore season is Kiernyn Mehmal. Mehmal mashed as a freshman, and the Colonials hope there is more to come as he enters his sophomore campaign. Mehmal hit .333 last year across 57 at-bats, and recorded three doubles, a triple and a homer as a freshman. On the mound, the Colonials will rely heavily on CJ Burkhardt and Andrew Winter.
Kiernyn Mehmel (William Floyd 2027) had a solid bullpen today. Is described by coaches as a high IQ player with a strong work ethic and all five tools. 4.0 GPA pic.twitter.com/iKFzeycOPr
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 8, 2026
“Those two were pitchers last year for us.” Kobaisuk said. “They were juniors last year, and are going to have key roles for us again this year. Molini was a big pitcher for us last year, so we’re going to have to figure out who replaces him, and we’ll have to piece it together.”
Other potential key contributors for Floyd include Cayden Doll, Spencer Link and Carter Poetman.
When it comes to his team’s biggest strength this year, Kobaisuk believes that his team will come ready to play each and every day, and be ready to grind out tough games.
“Our greatest attribute is going to be that grinding mentality.” Kobaisuk said. “I think we’re going to be hard to play against. Not because we’re super deep, but because our kids play. They want to play, they want to be there. Our kids are going to grind at-bats, our pitchers are going to be around the zone. I do think our defense is going to be pretty good. I think we have that ability to grind out at-bats and be scrappy is going to be where we’re successful.”
The Floyd Colonials will open their season on March 26 against Whitman.
