NEWS
Locust Valley Baseball Looks to Build Daily Growth and Return to Playoff Form
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series by Ryan Manno After several seasons of laying the foundation, the Locust Valley baseball program enters the 2026 campaign focused on steady improvement, leadership, and re-establishing itself as a playoff contender. For head coach Brian LoRusso, the vision is clear: growth first, results second. “Our main goal is to continue to get better every day,” LoRusso said. “We hold the program to a very high standard and want to keep growing not just as ballplayers, but as young adults as well.” That daily mindset has become a cornerstone of the program. Locust Valley consistently emphasizes the importance of getting “1% better” each day while also building strong relationships within the team and school commun...
Bridgehampton Aims to Break Through After Back-to-Back Regional Runs
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series by Ryan Manno Final: Bridgehampton 11, Amityville 1 WP: Kai Alversa (CG, 1 R, 1 R, 2 BB, 16 Ks) Foard: 2 hits, 2 R, 3 RBIs pic.twitter.com/EjVnK6mYHe — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 4, 2024 Bridgehampton baseball enters the 2026 season with high expectations after establishing itself as a consistent postseason contender in just five years since reviving the program. Following an impressive 11-5 campaign in 2025, which included capturing the Suffolk County Class C championship and advancing to the quarterfinals of the New York State tournament, where they fell, 7-6, in a nine-inning thriller to Burke Catholic, the Killer Bees now transition to Class D due to a drop in school enrollment. The c...
Coming off 15-3 Regular Season, Smithtown East Looks to Replace 11 Seniors
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series by Max Edelman ‼️ Andrew Amarando comes through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 8th to send Connetquot to the Suffolk AAA Finals against Sachem North ! ‼️ pic.twitter.com/PDbUi3eFqt — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 28, 2025 A spectacular regular season ended with a premature postseason exit for the Smithtown East Bulls in 2025. Head coach Rob Christensen, who is entering his fifth year as the head coach of the Bulls, summed it up: “It was excellent and disappointing.” Christensen said. “We went 15-3 in league play and won both of our non-league games. We were the three seed but ultimately lost to Sachem North in a tough game, and Connetquot walked us off to end our season.” Last y...
North Babylon Baseball Sets Sights on Playoffs in 2026 Season
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series by Ryan Manno Final: North Babylon 5, Hills East 2 WP: Ryan Camier (CG, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks) Jordan Konig: 2-3, 3B, RBI, run TJ Oppedisano: 2-3, RBI pic.twitter.com/fiCt7PygSX — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 2, 2025 It was another successful season for the North Babylon Bulldogs who reached the postseason for the 7th consecutive season after a late season surge allowed them to clinch with a win over Smithtown East. After defeating Northport, they were eliminated by Sachem East. “Our main goal is to make the playoffs,” head coach Steve Corrado said. “It’s important to our program to get back there. Once we qualify, we strive for higher goals.” That mindset comes as the Bulldogs look to...
Up Next Powered by Ken Kortright State Farm: Nate Lewis
(Editor’s Note: This is the 14th installment of the Up Next series in which we highlight the top underclassmen on Long Island. Previously, we featured Jack Mulligan, Alex Pagano, Quincy Gibbs, Michael Cotto, Charlie Edwards, Evan Picciano, Nick Lawrence, Robbie Mascia, Jacob Abran, Tyler Camastro, Jason Davis, Michael Garcia and Vincent Bourne. Special thanks to Ken Kortright State Farm for sponsoring this year’s series.) Clutch bases clearing double by Nate Lewis (Sayville 2028) for Blue Line Rangers pic.twitter.com/esZi4xyfq1 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 29, 2024 It was the perfect storm for Sayville in 2025. The combination of a veteran-heavy team plus a few exceptionally talented underclassmen and a very difficult League VI prepared them for the gauntlet of th...
Where Are They Now Powered by Complete Sports Performance: Patrick Cantwell
When you win at every stop you’re at, it is no coincidence – winners win. West Islip-native Patrick Cantwell has won championships for his little league, high school, college, minor league and major league teams. He was the ultimate field general and stop sign behind the dish. But first, let’s turn the clock back. The Early Days Patrick was born and raised in West Islip. He was the second child, he has a sister named Kim. They are a family of athletes – his mother played softball, bowling and was a cheerleader. His father played high school baseball. His sister played soccer, track and gymnastics. From a young age, he was drawn to professional athletes that not only won but held themselves to a high standard such as Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey Jr and Mi...
St. Dominic Returns Talent-Laden Roster Looking to Compete for Championship
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series by Max Edelman For the second consecutive year, the St. Dominic’s Bayhawks won the catholic league regular season championship, and for the second year in the row, they fell just short of their goal of a championship at the end of the playoffs, falling in the semifinals to eventual champions Kellenberg. “We got knocked out in the semifinals for the second straight year.” Head coach Joe Fusco said. “Back to back conference champions, and both years we were knocked out a game before the championship.” The main loss for the Bayhawks heading into 2026 will be the graduation of superstar pitcher Luke Lang, who posted a 6-0 record with a 1.57 ERA across 44.1 innings pitched, a two-time catholi...
North Shore Returns Talented Young Core Primed to Take Step Forward
Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s season preview series by Max Edelman 2025 was a year for growth and development for the North Shore Vikings and head coach Rob Gates. Although they missed the playoffs with a 7-13 overall record, it was not a wasted season for the Vikings. “We had eight underclassmen playing on a regular basis.” Gates said. “We fell short of the playoffs, but that’s a good thing when you had eight ninth or tenth graders that played a lot. They all played on a regular basis last year.” 16 out of 20 of the players on North Shore’s varsity team are returning from last year. Of the four seniors who graduated, the biggest losses are Ryan Lau, who was an all-conference player last season, and Mateo Rincon, who went to Nichols Coll...
Where Are They Now Powered by Complete Sports Performance: Steve DiMarco
Steve DiMarco received a letter in the mail stating that he was nominated for a newly formed award given to the top baseball player in Nassau County. The award would be called the Doubleday Award. DiMarco, a senior at West Hempstead, was a finalist along with Desi Wilson of Glen Cove. DiMarco was announced as the winner during the award ceremony at the Coral House in Baldwin. The Doubleday Award was later named the Diamond Award and is the highest honor for Nassau County baseball players. His career would ultimately reach professional baseball, but first let’s turn the clock back. The Early Days DiMarco was born and raised in West Hempstead, NY. He is the youngest of three children – one older brother and sister. His father was a minor league player in the New York Yankees farm...
Up Next Powered by Ken Kortright State Farm: Vincent Bourne
(Editor’s Note: This is the 13th installment of the Up Next series in which we highlight the top underclassmen on Long Island. Previously, we featured Jack Mulligan, Alex Pagano, Quincy Gibbs, Michael Cotto, Charlie Edwards, Evan Picciano, Nick Lawrence, Robbie Mascia, Jacob Abran, Tyler Camastro, Jason Davis and Michael Garcia. Special thanks to Ken Kortright State Farm for sponsoring this year’s series.) Next Level scores six runs during a huge first inning, two scoring on this RBI single by Vincent Bourne (Lutheran 2026) Next Level 6 – MVP 0 Mid first pic.twitter.com/LqFHpXr5Wp — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 27, 2025 It was a terrific season for the Long Island Lutheran Crusaders, who reached the NYSAIS Finals in their first season as an independent school...
What Are The Major Storylines for 2026?
The calendar has flipped to 2026 and it’s time to shift our focus to the upcoming baseball season. Last year was another magical season filled with terrific County Championships and another 1st round draft pic but it is in the rearview mirror now. Without further ado, here are the major storylines for 2026. Who’s this year’s Michael Oliveto? We’ve been spoiled the last few years with our top-tier players getting national recognition. First it was Josh Knoth, then it was Jayden Stroman & Michael Oliveto last year. Stroman’s strong commitment to attending college ultimately resulted in him not getting selected and he’s currently at Virginia. It’s easy to forget he was among the top two-way prep prospects in the country. Oliveto stole the show wit...
Where Are They Now Powered by Complete Sports Performance: Thomas Roulis
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2025) Chaminade has had many dominant seasons in their program’s rich history. You don’t have to turn back the clock too far to look at their 2022 season as possibly their greatest season. If that’s Number 1, then right behind it is their 2011 team. They won the CHSAA Championship over St. Dominic in a thrilling 3-game series and had 13 players that went onto play collegiately. They finished the season 21-5. It was a team that was accustomed to winning, who had won their championship as freshmen and sophomores but came up short in the 2010 playoffs. While the years have gone on, their legacy will go down as one of the best teams that Long Island has seen. Their starting shortstop, Thomas Roulis, would be named Co-Player...
