Suffolk League VIII baseball preview

BABYLON PANTHERS

Coach: Victor Manzella

2015 Record: 18-6

Key players

Kenneth Gordon, SS, 5-9, 170, Jr.

Anthony Vano, P, 5-11, 160, Sr.

Sean Flynn, P/OF, 5-8, 175 Sr.

Brandon Beierle, C, 5-9, 170, Sr.

Cole Middleton, OF, 6-1, 165, Sr.

Outlook: Gordon hit .467 and stole 23 bases for the Class B runner-up.

CENTER MORICHES RED DEVILS

Coach: Dennis Donovan

2015 Record: 8-12

Key players

Stephen Bryant, SS, 5-10, 170, Sr.

Anthony Maag, C, 5-9, 160, Sr.

Liam Pulsipher, P, 5-11, 160, So.

Ryan Adell, P, 5-11, 165, Jr.

David Franchi, 2B, 5-8, 150, So.

Outlook: Senior leadership will help a team looking to be more consistent in the field.

GREENPORT PORTERS

Coach: Mike Sage

2015 Record: 5-15

Key players

Jake Skrezec, P/CF, 6-1, 170, Jr.

Keegan Syron, C, 6-1, 225, Jr.

Jordan Fonseca, P/SS, 5-9, 160, So.

Matt Tuthill, P/3B, 5-9, 160, So.

Ryan Costello, P/IF, 6-1, 165, Sr.

Outlook: Porters hope to combine solid pitching with improved fielding.

MATTITUCK TUCKERS

Coach: Steve DeCaro

2015 Record: 27-1

Key players

Joe Tardif, CF/P, 5-8, 165, Sr.

Mike Onufrak, C, 6-0, 185, Sr.

Jon Dwyer, OF, 5-11, 175, Sr.

Victor Proferes, 3B, 5-10, 185, Sr.

Christian Figurniak, P, 6-1, 180, Sr.

Outlook: Tardif hit .356 and struck out 69 in 62 innings for the Class B state champions.

MERCY MONARCHS

Coach: Ed Meier

2015 Record: 1-18

Key players

Joe Pavelchuk, LF, 5-10, 175, Sr.

Nic Kursk, SS, 5-10, 175, Sr

Mike Chilick, P, 6-2, 180, Sr.

Sean Tuthill, P, 6-1, 165, Jr.

Matt Raynor, C/P, 5-10, 185, Jr.

Outlook: Pavelchuk and Kursk lead a group looking to improve in the win column.

PIERSON/BRIDGEHAMPTON WHALERS

Coach: Jonathan Tortorella

2015 Record: 12-6

Key players

James Sherry, P/SS, 5-8, 158, Jr.

Ryan Chisholm, P/3B, 6-0, 165, Sr.

Sam Warne, P/OF, 5-11, 140, So.

Angelo Toscano, C, 5-10, 183, Jr.

Matt Burke, 2B, 5-9, 140, Jr.

Outlook: Sherry hit .420 and struck out 53 and had a 2.67 ERA in 49.2 innings.

PORT JEFFERSON ROYALS

Coach: Jesse Rosen

2015 Record: 11-9

Key players

Sean Griffin, 6-2, 190, P/C, Jr.

Kris Cheslock, SS, 6-2, 170, Jr.

Jack Collins, P/C, 6-2, 175, So.

Ryan Walsh, P, 6-1, 190, Sr.

Mike DiCalogero, OF, 5-9, 170, Sr.

Outlook: Griffin hit .425 for the Class B semifinalist.

STONY BROOK BEARS

Coach: Jon Imbriani

2015 Record: 2-18

Key players

Ben Tutuska, OF, 6-0, 185, Jr.

Stefan Kim, P/1B, 6-1, 165, Fr.

Rob Sparacio, 3B, 5-9, 170, Sr.

Seamus Scanlan, P/INF, 5-10, 150, Fr.

Aidan Mega, C, 5-8, 155, Fr.

Outlook: Eighth-grader Emmanuel Ajewole joins an underclassmen-laden squad.

SMITHTOWN CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS

Coach: Chris White

2015 Record: 13-10

Key players

Jimmy Seviour, P, 5-11, 190, Sr.

Austin Sala, P/CF, 5-11, 180, Jr.

Zach DiBlanda, C, 5-11, 180, Sr.

Glen-Luke Middendorf, P/3B, 5-9, 180 Sr.

Caleb Setrran, IF/OF, 5-11, 190, Sr.

Outlook: Seviour struck out 75 and had a 1.10 ERA for the Class D state champions.

SOUTHAMPTON MARINERS

Coach: Scott Johnson

2015 Record; 10-10

Key players

Chad Pike, SS/P, 5-10, 165, Jr.

Nick Marano, OF/P, 6-0, 170, Sr.

Aidan Roughan, 2B/P, 5-11, 165, Sr.

Andrew Wesnofske, OF/P, 6-0, 165, Jr.

Nick Petty, C/P 6-0, 195, Sr.

Outlook: Pike hit .355 and is one of three returning all-league players.

SOUTHOLD FIRST SETTLERS

Coach: Mike Carver

2015 Record: 21-3

Key players

Pat McFarland, P/SS, 5-9, 175, Jr.

Greg Gehring, C/P, 5-10, 175, Sr.

Dylan Clausen, P/1B, 5-11, 180, Jr.

Noah Mina, SS/2B, 5-8, 165, Sr.

Luke Hansen, P/OF, 5-11, 170, So.

Outlook: McFarland hit .427 last year and will lead a potent offense.