Suffolk League VIII baseball preview

Mattituck's Joe Tardif starts the game off with a single against Rye Neck in the Southeast Regional Class B final at Mamaroneck on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Credit: Daniel De Mato
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.