Bellport varsity baseball players prepare themselves at All-Pro Sports Academy for the 2017 season.

This past Monday, the World Baseball Classic was underway, with Israel playing South Korea. Not only that, but school-wise, the tryouts for spring sports — lacrosse, tennis, track and baseball — began.

Bellport Varsity Baseball for the 2017 season, looks to once again do damage, as they have dedicated time and preparation since the beginning of January to accomplish the same goals they’ve accomplished in the last few years. In the 2015 season, Bellport managed to net a 10-8 record sweeping rivals like West Babylon and Huntington, enough for them to reach playoffs. Unfortunately, they would fall to Sachem East 2-0. Last year in the 2016 season, Bellport finished with a 10-10 record. After beginning in a slump with a record of 2-5, Bellport managed to win eight of their last 13 games to reach playoffs, but once again things would not go their way, as they fell to Connetquot 8-5. 

This year they’re looking forward to reaching the playoffs and even more, bringing home that banner by winning League IV. They will try to accomplish that with seniors Michael Sangiamo, Michael Francomano and Ian Hampson, who have all had varsity experience with last year. They will also have Adam Colon (six-year varsity player, committed to Citadel), Matthew Mulligan (committed to SUNY Purchase) and Joseph Greco (committed to Sacred Heart University). They have the addition of Ryan Kane, Rafael Vargas, William Romano, Trevor Virno, Kareem Holloway and the likes of Ryan Baumann and Anthony Jacabacci, who will both be entering their third year as varsity baseball players. Lastly, the roster will include sophomores Justin Maler and Andrew Veit. “Hopefully, we’ll maintain the success over the past couple of years, which is making playoffs and hopefully come out with a banner,” said Greco, who will be entering his fourth year of Bellport varsity baseball. “We just have to keep grinding and we’ll be in a good position to accomplish those goals.” 

“I’m looking forward to getting back to right where we were — we have unfinished business,” said Jacabacci. Bellport will dispute in League IV with schools like Centereach, Deer Park, Huntington, North Babylon and West Islip. Teams like Centereach (4-16 in 2016), Deer Park (6-14) and Huntington (3-16) will look forward to bouncing back this year and reaching playoffs. On the other hand, teams like North Babylon (13-7 in 2016) and West Islip (17-3) will look forward to reaching playoffs and doing more damage. West Islip won the Class AA Long Island Championship this past year. For the players, they all have the same mentality, to win League IV and bring the banner home. “We want to win a championship for the first time in 51 years,” said Baumann. “We are determined to put another banner up on the wall; the team chemistry definitely stands out. This is a group of guys that are all really close on and off the field and really want to go out and compete with each other,” said Mulligan, who enters his second year as a varsity player. The first game for Bellport will be at home on March 27 against North Babylon.

By Andres Rivas, reprinted courtesy of Long Island Advance 3/9/2017