Next Level
Where Are They Now Powered by Complete Sports Performance: Mike Ambort
Getting the opportunity to play professional baseball is a dream for millions of kids around the world. Most never consider the possibility, however, that your organization could have a future Hall of Famer blocking you at your position. Rockville Center-native Mike Ambort was selected not once, not twice but three times in the MLB Draft. The third and final time came in 2007 in the 6th round by the San Francisco Giants. The following year, the Giants selected Florida State catcher Buster Posey and handed him a $6.2 million signing bonus (the largest in team history at that point) with the 5th overall selection in the ’08 draft. The two were roommates in High-A, but before long Posey was solidified as the franchise catcher and would go on to win Rookie of the Year, NL MVP and was the...
Up Next Powered by Ken Kortright State Farm Agency: Michael Cotto
(Editor’s Note: This is the fourth installment of the 2025 Up Next Series in which we highlight the top underclassmen on Long Island. Previously, we highlighted Jack Mulligan, Alex Pagano and Quincy Gibbs. Special thanks to Ken Kortright State Farm for sponsoring this year’s series.) Mike Cotto (Kellenberg 2026) smashes an RBI triple during a big first inning for Next Level Next Level 5 – Five Star 1 End first pic.twitter.com/mh5l5gQHYJ — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 7, 2025 In the 38-year history of Kellenberg baseball, they had never called up a freshman to the varsity team. Part of it was the school administration’s strict guidelines, but also because the school’s strong enrollment meant it wasn’t necessary to make such an aggressive...
Next Level Sandlot Captures 18u Championship at Antonia Agostinelli Memorial Tournament
by Trevor Dugan We spoke to tournament co-MVPs Andrew Caramico and Matthew Muzikant following their championship win and final game as members of Next Level Sandlot pic.twitter.com/w64UVkwBhh — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) October 19, 2025 It was a pitchers’ duel between two Division-I bound hurlers in the Sunday evening matchup between Next Level Sandlot and the Baseball Warehouse Grizzlies Black to decide the Antonia Agostinelli Memorial Tournament 18u championship. St. Johns-commit Andrew Caramico pitched five scoreless innings for Next Level, recording seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits. Warehouse Grizzlies starter Luke Malamug matched him with five scoreless innings of his own, striking out five. Malamug will play Division-I baseball at Fairleigh Dickinson Univ...
NL Brewers Sandlot 2026 Captures Axcess World Series
by Trevor Dugan Next Level Brewers Sandlot 2026 dominated this weekend in the Axcess Baseball World Series, winning every game via run-rule including the championship on Sunday afternoon. Richie LaVacca and Jack Regan were named co-MVPs of the tournament, as both players batted over .500 this weekend. The Bloomsburg University-commit Regan went 6-for-10 with two singles, three doubles, one triple and five RBIs with three stolen bases in four games for Next Level. Richie LaVacca, who is committed to Adelphi, went 7-for-11 with five runs scored, four RBI and five stolen bases. After winning their semifinal matchup against Five Star National Gold, Next Level took on the Long Island Huskies in the tournament championship. The Huskies played their way into the championship after defeating th...
15u Five Star Mafia NY Terry Earns Walkoff Victory at PG Northeast Select Championship
by Trevor Dugan Axcess spoke to 15u Five Star Mafia after their dramatic walkoff victory at the Perfect Game Northeast Select Championship pic.twitter.com/iOXPiujJN9 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) August 10, 2025 Next Level and Five Star Mafia NY Terry faced off on the second day of the 15u Perfect Game Northeast Select Championship. The teams were locked in a bona fide pitchers’ duel, ending with a dramatic walk off hit to break a 0-0 tie. Owen Pollock took the mound to start for Five Star Saturday afternoon, and gave them everything they could have hoped for. The right handed pitcher from Eastport South Manor High School pitched into the sixth inning, allowing no runs and just four hits. On the other side, Next Level started Jake Lau, a right handed pitcher from North Shore Hig...
Up Next Powered by Ken Kortright State Farm Agency: Fred Klauck
(This is the sixth installment of the popular “Up Next” series in which we highlight the top underclassmen on Long Island. Previously, we featured Dylan Weinstein, Jaxson Torres, Richie Roberts, Joe Maxwell and Dom Muccia. Special thanks to Ken Kortright State Farm Agency for sponsoring this year’s series.) All 15 strikeouts from Fred Klauck’s no-hitter pic.twitter.com/eBMLf8gkF0 — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) December 9, 2024 Fred Klauck burst onto the scene this fall when he fired a no-hitter with 15 Ks for Next Level in the Northeast Elite finals against a very talented Blue Line Rangers team. Klauck is a sophomore at Mineola HS with his sights set on making the varsity club in the spring. With a high-octane fastball that touched 85 in the fall, that is certain...
Jayden Gigante Commits to St. John’s University
24 hits as an 8th grader. 26 hits as a 9th grader and 40 hits as a 10th grader. That is some rarified air for any player. Carey OF Jayden Gigante has had a tremendous start to his high school career, and he still has a full 2 seasons left. This week he recently announced his verbal commitment to St. John’s, where he will join his summer ball teammate, Andrew Caramico in 2 years. He also received interest from UCONN, Boston College, Stony Brook, Rutgers and North Carolina. His school ball coach, Doug Robins, had this to say about his young star. “He is a fiver tool player. Jayden has become a tremendous player through hard work and dedication. His range in the outfield is off the charts – he covers the gaps.He has been a starter since 8th grade. He’s a gamer and rise...
RHP Andrew Caramico Commits to St. John’s University
Andrew Caramico (‘26 NY) flashing a solid FB/CB mix today up to 90 mph, did not allow a hit in 4.2 IP. Lots of whip to the AA, high ceiling for future w/ proj remaining in 6-foot-3, 170 frame #NESelectChamp@PG_Scouting pic.twitter.com/uYWa7Eu6TJ — PG Mid Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA, MD,DE,DC) (@PGMidAtlantic) August 12, 2024 Andrew Caramico, a rising junior at Chaminade HS, burst onto the scene this summer for Next Level Brewers. He fired 71 innings, he notched a stellar 1.57 ERA and struck out an incredible 108 batters while yielding just 36 hits – just over 4.5 per 9 innings. He has yet to pitch in a varsity game, but that is not unusual in this era. He will certainly be a player to watch over the next two season as the Chaminade Flyers attempt to regain their status as the premier Cathol...
Q & A With US Naval Academy-Commit John Carroll
A playoff no-hitter ! Chaminade 1, St. Dominic 0 WP: John Carroll (6.2 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 R) S: James D’Alessandro (.1 IP) Chaminade will face Holy Trinity tomorrow at 4pm in the winner’s bracket pic.twitter.com/93SKLSAU4r — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 21, 2023 When it comes to the hierarchy of baseball achievements – firing a no-hitter in the playoffs ranks right near the top. In Major League Baseball, only Don Larsen, Roy Halladay and the Houston Astros (combined no-hitter started by Cristian Javier) have accomplished the feats. While it certainly wasn’t a big league game, Chaminade junior southpaw John Carroll did his best impersonation of them on his May 30 start against St. Dominic. Since that time, Carroll has continued to excel. He pitched 32 innings during su...
Steven Hardiman On Overcoming Adversity to Become a College Pitcher
Steven Hardiman (Kellenberg 2022) was recently named Hampton Collegiate Baseball League’s Pitcher of the Week. The Bentley southpaw went six innings for the Southampton Breakers, allowing two unearned runs, two hits and one walk with 8 strikeouts as his team clinched a playoff berth. For the season, he struck out 30 batters over 24.1 innings. While every athlete faces some type of adversity along the way, most of those hardships pale in comparison to what Hardiman faced. When he was just five years old, he had an ABC tumor in his right femur bone that caused a multitude of problems. He broke his femur bone three times, needed two rods, four screws and a plate put in his leg which necessitated five surgeries. The doctors told his family they didn’t know if he was going to be abl...
Orlin & Cohen Game of the Week: CPD Baseball Grinds Out a Win Over the B1 Seminoles
by John Sullivan Josh zambrano is the muddy locker player of the game. He had a 2 RBI single as well as a scoreless inning on the mound pic.twitter.com/JZCMzefxkp — Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 19, 2023 On Wednesday night, CPD Baseball and the B1 Seminoles faced off in a 14u matchup at Holy Trinity High School. From the jump, the game was very competitive and it was clear that both teams brought their ‘A’ game. CPD got things started on offense immediately in the first. After Casey Gates hit a one-out single and advanced to third base on an error, Nicholas Sweeney drove him in with a single up the middle and CPD led 1-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the first, Fred Klauck tossed a scoreless inning for CPD, despite giving up a walk and...
Q & A With Blue Chip Collegiate League Player of the Week Kenny Hirschfeld
Kellenberg has been a consistently strong program over the past several years. The highlight was certainly the back-to-back CHSAA Championships in 2016-2017 but they also made it to back-to-back finals in 2021 and 2022 where they ran into Chaminade both years. One of the man contributors on those teams was catcher Kenny Hirschfeld, who is now at New Haven. Kenny is playing in the Blue Chip Collegiate League where he was named Player of the Week after batting .500 with 2 doubles, one HR, 7 runs scored, 4 RBIs and he threw out 2 runners. I had a chance to speak with him and here’s what he had to say… Can you discuss your decision to attend New Haven and how you’e enjoyed your time there? One of the reasons why I chose the University of New Haven was because I knew that the ...
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