Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
By Anthony DiCocco
Final: Hills West 13, Hauppauge 7
WP: HockCasey: 3-5, 4 R, RBI
Massa: 3-5, R, 3 RBIs
D’Amico: 2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs
Saintjean: 2-4 HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs pic.twitter.com/jwNRW9oH1U— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 16, 2025
With a young pitching staff ready to take a big leap forward, head coach Tom Migliozzi and the Hills West Colts are confident in their ability to compete in 2026.
After missing the playoffs by a game in 2024, the Colts went 12-12 overall last year and 10-8 in League 5 play to return to the dance. Though Hills West did not go the distance, the team was able to win a pair of postseason games, providing valuable experience for a team on the younger side.
“[Our young kids] learned a lot,” Migliozzi said. “The taste they received in the first round against Eastport was literally the excitement of a Long Island Championship game. The place was packed and the game went back and forth for 11 innings with all of our young kids playing. They weren’t going to get a better experience than that and they had a really gutsy performance. They’re ready and they’ll be extremely dangerous for years to come.”
When examining their losses, the Colts lost some key contributors from last year’s squad. All-League C Mike Massa (Hendrix College), All-County OF Alex Casey (Bridgeport) and utility players Aman Aery (SUNY Plattsburgh) and Royale Baker (Lancaster Bible College) all graduated at the conclusion of last season.
Coming into the new season, Hills West plans to rely on its pitching staff despite featuring an ample amount of youth. Freshman Charlie Cascio, along with sophomore Gavin Hock and Tyler D’Amico will make up the Colts’ starting rotation.
Hock is a hulking figure on the bump, standing at 6-foot-6, and went 4-2 with a 2.70 earned run average in 2025. D’Amico, who Migliozzi tabbed as his “breakout guy” as he looks to reach his full potential, will also help at the plate and in right field.
Though Cascio is the youngest right-hander in the trio, he pitched at the varsity level as an eighth grader last year alongside both Hock and D’Amico.
Sophomore LHP Jack Buckley will also be in the mix to see time on the mound. Senior RHP Ryan Szypula will help out in relief.
“With that pitching staff, we’re pretty deep on the mound,” Migliozzi said.
For the lineup, Migliozzi has a pair of All-League players at his disposal in 3B Ethan Saintjean and LF Christian Rivera, who will likely hit leadoff and No. 2 in the order, respectively. Saintjean, who is committed to play at Brown University next spring, was described as a “very good hitter” by Migliozzi after hitting .325 with two homers last spring. He is also the Colts’ main source of leadership, as he is the team captain.
Congratulations to Ethan Saintjean (Hills West 2026) on capturing the 2025 Axcess Home Run Derby ! Ethan put on a show , hitting 7 home runs in the finals to defeat Michael Garcia (St. John the Baptist 2028). He hit 18 homers across the three rounds pic.twitter.com/Ua5YfZ7dhm
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 12, 2025
Rivera was a staple in the outfield as a sophomore a season ago and will be another impact player in terms of both anchoring the offense and flashing the leather. Last year, he slashed .371 with eight doubles.
Junior Alejandro Rodriguez will slide in next to Saintjean as the team’s shortstop.
Though the left side of the diamond is fairly set in stone, Migliozzi expects to see a carousel on the right side. When not pitching, Cascio can play the middle infield while Hock and Buckley can both play first base. D’Amico will primarily post up as a corner outfielder, but he can step in at first if needed as well.
With Massa leaving a hole behind the dish, Migliozzi is examining four players for the role varying across all different classes. However, he is keeping who they are under wraps for now as they compete.
As for center field, Migliozzi is still looking for a starter, though it may even be someone who currently occupies another position since he believes a plethora of players are capable of manning the position. Regardless of who it is, Migliozzi wants them to do damage at the dish.
“The formula out there is whoever shows offensive promise, will play that position,” Migliozzi said.
After getting a taste of postseason play last spring, the Colts are eager for more with their quest for a championship starting on Friday, March 27, at Westhampton. Despite entering his 32nd year, Migliozzi still shares the same hunger as his players and feels Hills West can beat any team in its loaded league on any given day.
“I feel like we stack up against anybody,” Migliozzi said. “That’s the best part about baseball. We’ll play anyone because you can beat anyone in baseball; it’s just the day. I’m excited and I got a great group of kids.”
