Crafty lefthander Ed Macaluso, above, joins exchange student Edvardas Matusevicius...

Crafty lefthander Ed Macaluso, above, joins exchange student Edvardas Matusevicius on a talented pitching staff at Islip. (File photo, 2009) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan

Edvardas Matusevicius threw his first pitch and Islip baseball coach Pete Blumenauer was expressionless. A few more pitches and Blumenauer became more animated. The righthander had more than enough on his fastball and plenty of snap in his curve. Moreover, the 6-1, 185-pound Lithuanian exchange student joins an already polished pitching staff and an experienced Islip club that has won three consecutive Suffolk Class A championships.

CLASS A

"It's a tremendous surprise when someone comes in unexpected and they can play," Blumenauer said of Matusevicius. "Our strength was in our pitching and he just slides right into the rotation. He's an all-around excellent athlete."

Matusevicius joins Iona-bound Eddie Macaluso, who has 17 career wins and had a 1.02 ERA as a junior. Macaluso is a crafty lefty, keeps batters off-balance and has great location. Senior lefty Matt Espinal, a four-year starter who also plays centerfield, has a big curveball and will fill the other spot in the starting rotation.

"It's never easy when Hauppauge and Eastport-South Manor are both in our league," Blumenauer said. "Those are six tough league games."

Junior infielder R.J. Going, who hit .343 with 20 RBIs, and senior catcher Stephen Provenzano, who hit .370, will key the Islip offense.

Hauppauge reeled off a school-record 22 wins in 2009 and the Eagles bring back senior Tim Trimarchi, a a three-year starter, who was 7-2 with a 2.93 ERA, and senior Derek Labarbera, who was 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA. "Our lineup will put a lot of pressure on opposing pitchers," coach Kevin Giachetti said. "We're deep offensively. It's a struggle to get playing time for some of our guys. Our bench will have plenty of depth."

The Eagles' balanced lineup starts with senior catcher Matt Reistetter, who is Hofstra-bound and was the League V MVP and an All-Long Island selection who batted .557 with 49 hits. Senior first baseman/catcher Steve Dill had 34 RBIs and batted .410 last season. Senior leftfielder Angelo Biondo had six home runs and senior shortstop Bobby Vitulano batted .395 in the leadoff spot.

Shoreham-Wading River in League VI will contend for the county title. Senior righty Jim Luppens, who committed to Canisius, is one of Long Island's top power hitters.

Sayville coach Ryan Cox developed a young core of players who won seven straight games late in the season to reach the playoffs for the sixth straight time. The Golden Flashes are led by senior catcher Keith Hilton.

CLASS AA

Lindenhurst, which hasn't won a county crown since 1963, is loaded with experience. Senior first baseman Jon McGibbon, junior shortstop Steve Skon and senior outfielder Jimmy Briggs, who led Long Island with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs as a junior, give Lindy an intimidating lineup. The Bulldogs dropped into League II, where Connetquot, the defending champion, returns three All-County outfielders in seniors Kenny Jackson and Joey Russo and junior Jimmy Guiliano.

The team to watch is Longwood. The Lions have senior J.J. Bessel on the mound and a bevy of hitting. They had seven players homer in the League I opener.

"Don't count us out," Half Hollow Hills West coach Tom Migliozzi said. "We'll be right there at the end." Colts ace T.J. Pecoraro could hook up with Smithtown West's Anthony Gatto, the League IV player of the year, in an interesting showdown.

Errick Allen not guilty … Sloth encounters … What's up on Long Island Credit: Newsday

Fallen NYPD cop wake ... Suffolk water rates ... Nissan settlements ... Female winemaker

Errick Allen not guilty … Sloth encounters … What's up on Long Island Credit: Newsday

Fallen NYPD cop wake ... Suffolk water rates ... Nissan settlements ... Female winemaker

Newsday LogoSUBSCRIBEUnlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months
ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME