by Nolan Locke
James Migliore gets the strikeout stranding runners on first and second as Hauppauge hangs on to defeat West Islip 1-0!
Giuseppe Calabrese: WP, 5.2 IP, 6 K’s, 1 H, 0 R
James Migliore: 1.1 IP, 2 K’s, 1 H, 0 R pic.twitter.com/tPBNJ6SBZU— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 28, 2026
In a pitching duel, Hauppauge Eagles starter Giuseppe Calabrese emerged victorious in a 1-0 Suffolk County Class AA semifinal win, despite an impressive performance from West Islip Lions starter Conor Kenefick.
The two squads faced off at West Islip High School in a crucial consolation bracket matchup, with both teams looking to keep their seasons alive.
For the home team, Ramapo College-bound Kenefick took the mound and was greeted with a leadoff single by Hauppauge shortstop Tucker Brown. Kenefick settled in quickly, striking out the next two batters he faced before a pop-up from second baseman Nick Lombardi ended the top of the first. Calabrese did much of the same in his first inning of work, allowing just one walk in his scoreless frame.
In the top of the second, Kenefick came back to the mound and sat down Hauppauge’s heart of the order, striking out two on his way to a 1-2-3 inning.
Calabrese faced some traffic after issuing back-to-back two-out walks in the bottom of the second, but was able to get out of the jam, striking out two in another scoreless inning. From here, both Kenefick and Calabrese continued to trade scoreless frames, with Calabrese carrying a no-hitter heading into the sixth.
In the sixth, a leadoff double by Brown–his second hit of the game–would give the Eagles offense a chance to open the scoring. A well-placed bunt by left fielder Magill moved the runner over 90 feet, putting runners at the corners for Hauppauge, before catcher Roman Dixon grounded into a fielder’s choice double play, scoring the lone run of the game and putting the Eagles ahead.
Giuseppe Calabrese is our GameChanger Player Of The Game, going five and two thirds scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out 6! pic.twitter.com/HiYYBKGhCm
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 28, 2026
The Lions offense came into the bottom of the sixth searching for their first hit and facing a 1-0 deficit. West Islip shortstop Matt Tomasello led off, coming up to the dish and singling up the middle to break up the no-hitter for Calabrese. An error by Hauppauge third baseman Brendan Magill would put runners at the corners for West Islip with no outs, giving the home team an opportunity to tie the game. Calabrese was able to settle in quickly, striking out the next two batters he faced to make a path to get out of the sixth-inning jam and keep the Eagles ahead, but his day would come to an end after issuing a two-out walk to load the bases. Calabrese would finish his dominant outing with five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six.
“Giuseppe was outstanding,” said coach Josh Gutes. “For a sophomore in that spot to just figure out a way to get out of every single inning, even though he was in a little trouble–what a performance by him.”
James Migliore, a sophomore who hadn’t pitched until just two weeks prior, entered the game in relief with the bases loaded, looking to end West Islip’s rally. In a pinch-hit game-tying opportunity, Derek Kolman would step up to the plate for the Lions, scorching a ball to the first-base side, but Hauppauge first baseman Matthew Oliveto would flash the leather, making a crucial diving catch to keep his team in front and end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Kenefick returned to the mound looking to keep the score the same and give his team an opportunity to tie it up, following his 1-2-3 inning while striking out two and finishing his complete game, surrendering just 2 hits and one run while fanning eight.
West Islip’s offense would come to bat in a 1-0 hole in the bottom of their seventh with their season on the line. A leadoff single by Will Delanoy would get the inning started, before Migliore would strike out the next batter looking. Left fielder Anthony Azzarti would then walk, putting runners in scoring position with just one out as the Lions looked to keep their season hopes alive. Migliore got Tomasello to pop up, leaving the Lions down to their final out. Migliore then struck out Kenefick to end West Islip’s hopes of advancing as his teammates ran onto the field and quickly began to form a dogpile on top of the young pitcher.
“I just had to be a dog and fight,” said Migliore. “This is what we practice for, these big wins.”