Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Ryan Manno
Uncommitted SS Lucien Saint Cyr with a grand slam for Walt Whitman. Was featured in our “Up Next” series pic.twitter.com/eQpHsXxG15
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 29, 2025
The Walt Whitman Wildcats enter the 2026 season with a clear mission and standard. After reaching the playoffs in each of the last three years, head coach Keith Barrett says the goal is simple: make it four straight. For this group, success starts with another postseason berth, but the Wildcats are determined to go further than they did a season ago.
Last spring, Whitman finished 12-6 in league play and 12-8 overall. The season included a playoff win and valuable experience in high pressure games. The Wildcats defeated Commack in the playoffs before their run came to an end with losses to William Floyd and Sachem East. According to Barrett, the final game was a tough matchup in which the team simply ran out of pitching, a lesson that still resonates as the new season begins.
The Wildcats do face the challenge of replacing key seniors from last year’s roster. Highlighting that group is Michael Orgera, a three-year varsity player, All-League selection as a sophomore and junior, and an All-County player last season. Orgera was the team’s leader, and his absence will be noticed. Whitman also graduated All-League contributors Andrew Buckshaw and Daniel Ryan, along with four other seniors. Barrett acknowledges the hole those players leave behind but believes competition and opportunity will define this year’s team. Additionally, many younger players are eager to step into expanded roles.
Whitman’s identity this season will be shaped by experience, particularly from three seniors entering their fourth year on varsity. Barrett believes that their valuable experience is a major strength and a driving force behind the Wildcats’ confidence heading into the spring. Those three seniors also anchor the offense and bring production back to the lineup.
Top 1: JD Duffy (Walt Whitman 2026) puts Ghost on the board first with a two-run knock.
South Shore 0, B1 Ghost EO 2 pic.twitter.com/BahZIFvvhR
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 22, 2025
Shortstop Lucian Saint Cyr, committed to Bucknell University, is coming off an All-County season in which he hit .493 with a 1.384 OPS, three home runs, and 37 RBIs. Saint Cyr has been a varsity player since his freshman year and his consistency and leadership will be central to Whitman’s success. Two-way standout JD Duffy, committed to Bentley University, also returns after an All-League season in which he hit .360 with a 1.092 OPS, two home runs, 14 RBIs, and 32 runs scored. On the mound, Duffy added three wins and a 2.33 ERA, serving as a reliable starter, reliever, and competitor wherever the team needed him. Joining them is Jaden Grose, one of the top pitchers on Long Island, who will play first base this season. Grose went 5-2 with a 1.31 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 37 innings while also contributing offensively with a .273 average, nine RBIs, and 18 runs. He is committed to Florence Darlington Technical College.
Another key piece is sophomore Robby Halfon, who already has a playoff moment under his belt. Halfon threw a complete game win against Commack in the postseason, allowing just one run on four hits. While he was primarily used as a pitcher as a freshman, Barrett expects him to make an impact offensively as well after hitting .333 in limited at bats. On the mound, Halfon logged 33 innings with two wins and a 3.18 ERA, and he is expected to be one of the leaders of the pitching staff alongside Duffy.
While Halfon and Duffy return with significant varsity innings, the rest of the rotation and bullpen remain open. Barrett says several players from JV will compete for starting and relief roles and those battles will play a major role in shaping the Wildcats’ season, especially after last year’s postseason highlighted the importance of pitching depth.
Leadership will also be a point of emphasis. With Orgera graduated, the Wildcats are counting on Saint Cyr, Duffy, and Grose to fill that role. If Whitman reaches the playoffs again, those three seniors would become the only players in school history to make the postseason four straight years.
The season begins with a statement opportunity on March 26, when Whitman travels to face William Floyd. The matchup has become a recent clash, with playoff results swinging both ways over the last few seasons. Barrett describes the teams as very similar and expects another exciting game, making opening day a measuring stick for where the Wildcats stand.
With experience and the motivation of unfinished business, the Walt Whitman Wildcats enter 2026 focused on continuing their playoff streak and turning hard learnedlessons into a deeper postseason run.
