Archive
Dowling Baseball: Where Are They Now?
by Vinny Messana When Dowling closed its doors on June 3rd–two days prior to the Battle of the Border, we were not the only one to get a raw deal. A total of 22 of the 28 players were still in the midst of continuing their education, which means they were forced to transfer to a new school. Here’s their 2016 ECC Championship roster with their new schools they are currently attending: Chris Cepeda-St. Tomas Aquinas Tim Going-Franklin Pierce Rob Costanzo-Farmingdale State Jack Laudani- Chris Tessitore-Molloy Anthony Raucci-St. Joseph’s Chris Russo- Kenneth Fils-Aime-St. Rose Dwayne Page- Dylan Piscitelli- Vinny Orlando-St. Joseph’s Chris Mott- Jonathan Tenaglia- Robert Morse- Dennis Buckstein-Queens Dominic Danetti-Molloy John Parisi-Marist Cody McPartland-Franklin Pi...
Brendan Butler on His Terrific 2016 Season
(Editor’s Note: Brendan is a graduate of Dowling College. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 30th round of the 2015 draft) by Brendan Butler Showing up to Arizona in March for spring training was one of the most surreal feelings in my baseball career. I was finally starting my first full professional season, which I knew was going to be a grind, but I knew I could handle it because I have the best job. On the first day of spring training I was told I was going to remain in the bullpen, which is what I did during my first summer in rookie ball and in instructs. Spring was a great learning experience for me, as I was around guys from higher divisions than myself. I got to watch their sequences to hitters and I took notice of their techniques. Spring training was a lot of fu...
Shea Spitzbarth On His 2016 Success
Photo Credit: ECC Sports (Editor’s Note: Shea is a 2015 graduate of Molloy College. He just completed his second minor league season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He reached Triple-A this season at just 21-years-old) by Shea Spitzbarth I got to Camelback Ranch, AZ (Spring Training Complex) in the morning for extended spring training practice and my pitching coach pulled me out of the clubhouse and said get dressed and pack your bag because your going to Triple-A. They said they were hurting with arms up there and the way I was throwing in Spring Training and extended that it was great. I had a flight two hours later to Fresno. I pitched 2.1 innings up there and it didn’t go as I planned but this was to help the pitching staff. I learned so much up there from the older guys who ...
Who Is Johnny Castagnozzi?
by Vinny Messana, Editor With the rapid ascension of showcases and travel organizations, we are now able to identify the top players at a much younger age. No longer do we have to hear through the grapevines about a slugger from the other side of town and be forced to wait until spring time to see him in action. Thanks to national databases like Perfect Game, we know that Johnny Castagnozzi, the 14-year-old freshman from Massapequa, is ranked No. 1 in the state for the 2020 graduating class. We also know that he has excellent measurables. His 77 MPH throw across the infield was well above the 69 MPH average for players his age. At the plate, he recorded an 86 MPH exit velocity which is 5 MPH above the average 14-year-old. Additionally, we know that the 6’0″ shortstop has treme...
Long Islanders React to Jose Fernandez Tragedy
(Photo Credit: Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) by Vinny Messana, Editor Major League baseball has spent the past day mourning the shocking loss of Miami Marlins ace and two-time All Star Jose Fernandez. Fernandez, 24, was killed in a boating accident in Miami early on Sunday morning. As expected, the baseball world is shaken up over the loss of such an effervescent and talented individual. In Monday’s home game against the New York Mets, the team paid tribute to its late star with an emotional ceremony. Bigger than baseball.#JDF16 pic.twitter.com/VAnZXVBh1j — Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 26, 2016 The Marlins took the field with every player wearing Fernandez’s No. 16. One of his best friends, Dee Gordon, led the game off in the most unbelievable way–his first home...
Jonathon Mulford on His First Professional Season
(Editor’s Note: Jonathon was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 34th round out of Adelphi University. He is a 2012 graduate of Massapequa HS) by Jonathon Mulford The 2016 baseball season was roller coaster experience to say the least. Going into my senior year I had high expectations that I would repeat what I accomplished in my junior year. I had a lot to prove to the teams that passed up on me the year before. I wanted to show the teams that didn’t draft me what they were missing. In my personal opinion I didn’t think I’d even scratch the surface of reaching my goals and feared that teams wouldn’t take a chance on me in the upcoming draft. All along I thought I was going to be getting drafted by the home town team–the New York Mets. The Mets have been scou...
Top 2017 Uncommitted Prospects
by Vinny Messana While this summer was very exciting in terms of the top 2017 graduates choosing their colleges, there’s still a bevy of players undecided. Among this list are a number of guys that could still wind up with Div-I scholarships. Here’s the list, in alphabetical order. Adamo, Blake-catcher Amato, Anthony-RHP Aufiero, Matt-RHP Brust, Rob-catcher Butigan, Matt-INF Cain, AJ-OF Crispyn, Tom-RHP Dimauro, Paul-RHP Espo, Mike-LHP Fanduiz, Damien-RHP Gatz, DJ-INF Giovanella, Rob-Inf/RHP Kenney-McGowan, Gannon-RHP Lambroia, Anthony-catcher Lawlor, Matt-RHP Liberatore, Jake-INF Lollo, Chris-LHP LoVorio, Matt-OF Marooney, Rich-OF Mirando, Mike-RHP Nagel, Andrew-LHP Needleman, Tyler-RHP O’Brien, Brandon-RHP Pike, Chad-INF Pohlman, Johnny-RHP Roselli, Joey-OF Ryan,...
Nick Fanti Pitches GCL Phillies to Brink of Championship
by Vinny Messana, Editor You won’t get much emotion from him. Not even when he pitches his heart out and delivers his team to the Gulf Coast League championship in his first full pro ball season. It’s exciting,” he said mustering up some faux bravado. “It’s hard to believe last year I was pitching in high school games.” Nick Fanti, just one year removed from graduating from Hauppauge HS and winning the coveted Carl Yastrzemski Award, fired 5.1 shutout innings of relief with six punch outs in a 3-2 victory over the GCL Cardinals. With the victory, Fanti–who is just 19-years-old still–improves to 8-0 on the season with a 1.42 ERA. He pitched opposite of Mike O’Reilly, who was selected by St. Louis this year out of Flagler College i...
Coltrane Calloway Smacks HR, Throws CG in 3-2 Win over Titans Gold for Championship
by Vinny Messana, Editor Going into the game, Coltrane Calloway knew the opposition would soon be his teammates. The 13-year-old will be playing with the Long Island Titans during the 2017 season, but for tonight he showcased what makes him such a terrific player. He went 2-for-2 with a walk and the go-ahead solo HR in the top of the fourth which ultimately was the deciding factor in Team Beast’s 3-2 victory over the Titans Gold in the championship of the 12U summer league at Baseball Heaven. Team Beast took an early 2-0 lead off starting pitcher A.J. Joya with a bases loaded two-run single by Jack Vallario to right field. Joya got the runs right back with a two-run shot off Trane to left field. Calloway noted that Joya is the one player he really feared in the lineup. “I was m...
Tim Ingram on the Emotional Roller Coaster of 2016
Photo Credit: Harris Rappel (Editor’s Note: Tim is a RHP for the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He was drafted out of SUNY Old Westbury in 2015 and currently has seven saves with a 3.93 ERA over 34.1 IP with 31 Ks and only five BBs.) by Tim Ingram My first full year of professional baseball has been a roller coaster of emotions. From leaving my family, friends, and girlfriend, to coming close to home to play in Hudson Valley only to get moved up to Bowling Green Kentucky. One of the hardest parts about professional baseball is never knowing where you’re going to wind up. I went into spring training with a great attitude and confident that I was going to a full season team. I even played a few games with the Double-A squad, which I thought was a good ...
Tyler Honahan Enjoying His First Pro Season
by Vinny Messana One of the aspects that makes Stony Brook a perennial contender is their propensity to recruit top-notch players from–not just the northeast–but the west coast as well. By getting the players that already competed against the nation’s elite, allows the Seawolves to beat the best programs in the country. In the case of Tyler Honahan, he was a cross-country recruit that did not need to be sold on the program due to the fact that he grew up in Rocky Point and as a senior in HS, watched closely on the program’s World Series run in 2012. Four years and 20 wins later, Honahan stamped his place in Stony Brook folklore by getting selected in the 36th round by the New York Yankees. He’s gotten off to a terrific start with the Pulaski Yankees of the App...
The All-American That Nobody Wanted
(Editor’s Note: Nick is an outfielder for Nassau Community College) by Nick Marino Throughout my whole life I’ve mostly played for my dad. I played one year with the Long Island Titans but I knew that he enjoyed coaching me and I also just like playing for him. Maybe that cost me in the long run with connections and so on but the time playing for my dad is irreplaceable. So fast forward to junior year of HS at Bethpage –probably the biggest year for someone trying to get attention from college coaches and I flat out played terrible. That year I was just mired in a season long funk and I just couldn’t get out of my own way. I wound up losing my starting spot, and for someone who was supposed to lead the team, I felt beyond embarrassed. After that year I said y...
