Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Max Edelman
Jaden Alvarez (Holy Trinity 2026) hits a double to the LF wall. pic.twitter.com/o2Eeu7wFRo
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 28, 2024
Led by head coach Dan Luisi, the Holy Trinity Titans finished the 2025 season with a 13-9 record, despite only having one senior in their starting lineup. Although they failed to reach their ultimate goal, Luisi, who is about to begin his eighth season in charge of the Titans, looked back fondly on 2025.
“I thought last year we made a lot of really great strides.” Luisi said. “We had a really young team. Our whole lineup, with the exception of only one senior, was all juniors, sophomores and freshmen. Which presented some challenges at times for our guys but I think our guys grew throughout the season and helped them prepare to have a better season this year. Our league is really tough and every week, whoever we’re matched up against, everybody’s one, two and three are really good pitchers. I think we got a lot of good experience out of that with our younger guys.”
Despite fielding such a young team in 2025, Holy Trinity had seven seniors that are continuing their college baseball careers at the college level this year. They include Joey Lascala (University of Bridgeport), Aidan Glynn (University of Mount St. Vincent), John Perino, (St. Joseph’s University), Matthew Czyz (Misericordia), Aidan Annello (Vassar), Christian Balkom (Virginia State University) and Johnny Hernandez (USC Salkahatchie). They will also be tasked with replacing last year’s CHSAA Player of the Year, Victor Acosta Jr, who transferred to Georgia Premier Academy in November.
In terms of key returning players, Luisi mentioned three guys that he expects to be the centerpiece of his team in 2026. They include Jaden Alvarez, a Towson University commit, who hit .333 with a .531 OBP. Alvarez also hit three homers, drove in 15 runs and stole 15 bases.
The second player is Jalen Josey. He is a Stony Brook University-commit who hit .297 with three home runs and 20 RBIs a season ago. The third and final player is Christian Poveda, an American International College-commit.
Tied again! Jalen Josey comes through with a 2-out, 2-strike RBI single and it’s 3-3 as we head to the 9th pic.twitter.com/cSDmQT8C5G
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 27, 2024
“I think their experience is most valuable.” Luisi said. “I’ve been able to watch them grow into college ready ball players, but also great young men. Each one of them has an ability to slow the game down and play in the moment. I think it’s because of their experience on the field that allows them to have that unique trait about the way they play. I’m really proud of who they have become as young men and excited to watch them have great senior seasons.”
Another key player for the Holy Trinity Titans is Joey Maxwell. He had a very strong season in 2025 as the team’s center fielder. Maxwell hit .383 with a .560 OBP. He also drove in 11 runs, scored 24 and stole 11 bases.
Congratulations to Dominic Longardino (East Meadow 2027) on capturing the 2024 Axcess Home Run Derby (HS Division). He defeated Anthony Carlo in the finals pic.twitter.com/E9tHTFKOBR
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 13, 2024
Other younger guys that Luisi is excited about include juniors Dom Longardino and Pat Annello, as well as a sophomore, who started for Holy Trinity as a freshman last year in SJ Garneau.
“We’ve got a lot of good pieces.” Luisi “You know, we gotta keep getting better and better, and then I think we have a lot of great things to look forward to this season.”
Steven Garneau Jr (Holy Trinity 2028) looked great today. His fastball hovered in the mid 80s, and he mixed in a nasty breaking ball, creating whiffs with ease. Watch for Garneau to become a highly sought after arm in the coming years. pic.twitter.com/WYwVTG59Qe
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 3, 2025
Playing in the Catholic League is always a challenge, but Luisi believes that his team will be ready to bring its best and play at the level needed to compete in one of Long Island’s toughest leagues. They were able to defeat Chaminade in the CHSAA Finals in 2023, before losing to St. Anthony’s in the finals in 2024.
“The CHSAA is such a talented league from top to bottom.” Luisi said. “There is a lot of parity in this league. Each team has college-skilled players scattered all around the field. It makes for a really competitive environment and it brings out the best in all of the players. I think what’s a little bit different about this league is that on any given day, if you don’t play at a high level you will lose. At the end of our season, we all go into the playoffs knowing that each team in our league has a real chance and making a run and winning it all.”
When it comes to his strength entering this year, Luisi believes it will be the growth of his team. With nearly his entire lineup returning, Luisi is looking forward to seeing how they developed over the offseason, and how they will continue to grow this year.
“I’m excited to see how our lineup grows from last year.” Luisi said. “We only had one senior in our lineup. I think the guys I mentioned earlier (Jaden, Jalen and Christian), as well as guys like Joey Maxwell, Dom Longardino, Pat Annello and SJ Garneau have worked really hard this offseason to be ready to perform at their best. We also have a lot of newcomers from our junior varsity team, transfers and some freshmen that will have opportunities to be key contributors and lead to the success we hope to have this season.
The Holy Trinity Titans will open their season on March 24 against St. Dominic’s.
