V845 baseball all-star team
TYLER MAYO
School: Minisink Valley Year: Senior
Position: Catcher
Credentials: Mayo came through in the clutch, as he hit .462 with runners in scoring position, finishing with 12 RBI. He had a .368 batting average, three doubles, one triple and a .482 on-base percentage. Defensively, Mayo handled Minisink Valley’s potent pitching staff and made just one error in 155 innings behind the plate.
The highlight: “The quarterfinal round of sections against Washingtonville (was played over three days due to rain). ... We were down the whole game and Connor Romano wound up winning the game in the bottom of the seventh. Then we beat Middletown 11-0 in the semis and we made it to the finals. We grew up playing doubleheaders, but you never play doubleheaders in high school, so it was a weird, crazy and fun experience.”
The future: Will play baseball at Salisbury (Md.) University, a Division III member of the Capital Athletic Conference.
The player: “Tyler meant so much to our team, not just on the field but off as well. His leadership and his ability to make his teammates better was so important to our success. Players looked up to him and his work ethic. Tyler is a captain in every sense of the word. He is very competitive and plays the game the right way. You could count on Tyler to be at his best everyday and we looked to him in many crucial situations this season and he came through. He will run through a brick wall to help his team win and is one of the toughest kids I've coached. Tyler's passion and love for the game is evident. He leaves everything he has on the field, pure heart and hustle.” – Minisink Valley head coach Dave Benedetto
JOE VanRIPER
School: Washingtonville Year: Junior
Position: First base
Credentials: One of the top power hitters in Section 9, VanRiper had four doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI. He hit .391, got on base at a .451 clip and finished with a .710 slugging percentage. Van Riper, a lefty, was also a key member of the Wizards’ pitching staff.
The highlight: “When we beat Kingston on the road to know that we were going to sections this year. It just pushed us over .500, so it was a big game for us. Kingston’s been a tough team, so we knew we were going to have to play a good, solid game. We started hitting the ball and playing good defense and we came out on top.”
The future: Will return for his senior season.
The player: “He was our cleanup hitter. He has one of the best swings for a high school player that you’ll see. He was great bat speed and he’s got power to all fields. He hit a couple of home runs to left field this year. He doesn’t hit the ball, he hurts the ball, I think. The ball just jumps off his bat. Even his outs, they’re hard outs.” – Washingtonville head coach Bob Bauer
CHRIS SKERMO
School: John S. Burke Catholic Year: Junior
Position: Second base
Credentials: Skermo, who’s been a key player on the Burke Catholic varsity teams for three seasons, continued to improve his all-around game in his junior season. A .469 hitter, he scored 23 runs and added nine doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI. A solid defender at second base, Skermo also stole 11 bases.
The highlight: “Beating Goshen in the senior game. It’s a cross-town rivalry and it’s always fun beating them and playing against them. It’s always a competition when we play them. I also hit a home run in that game, so that was pretty sweet.”
The future: Will return for his senior season.
The player: “He’s a good player and he can play any position we put him at. He’s one of the core group of guys who started with us as freshmen and have started to rebuild the Burke Catholic program. He’s an integral part of our program.” – John S. Burke Catholic head coach Al Trezza
SCOTT OLIVER
School: Marlboro Year: Senior
Position: Third base
Credentials: One of the leaders on a relatively young Marlboro team, Oliver paved the way with a .407 batting average and 18 RBI. He also scored 15 runs and hit nine doubles to go along with his sharp defense at the hot corner. Oliver also served as one of the Dukes’ top starting pitchers.
The highlight: “Playing against FDR. I felt like those were highly competitive games and it really brought out the best in both teams, and they were great games.”
The future: Will play at the University of Tampa, a Division II member of the Sunshine State Conference. Tampa won the 2015 NCAA Division II national championship.
The player: “He grounded our infield when he was there because when he was at third, it was our best defensive unit on the field. He supplied us with leadership, range and consistency all year long.” – Marlboro head coach Dave Onusko
JOHN MOORADIAN
School: Marlboro Year: Junior
Position: Shortstop
Credentials: Mooradian rarely made a mistake this season, both at the plate and in the field. A .475 hitter, Mooradian struck out just once in 71 at-bats. He added six doubles, one triple, 14 RBI, stole 10 bases and scored 22 runs. Defensively, his range and hands saved runs. Mooradian made one error all year at the game’s most important position in the field.
The highlight: “Probably when we played the first time at Spackenkill. That game seemed to be a pivotal moment in our season. We strung together a lot of hits and we put up 18 runs, which was pretty good for us. (Marlboro catcher) Cole Nicolis hit two grand slams and we just started to click offensively and score runs.”
The future: Will return for his senior season.
The player: “John made all the routine plays and on the opportunities to make big plays, he came through and made those also. He had great range and really good hands. When we needed a big play, if John got that opportunity, he made the play.” – Marlboro head coach Dave Onusko
FLETCHER SZABO
School: Valley Central Year: Junior
Position: Outfield
Credentials: With a golden glove in center field, Szabo made tracking down line drives in the gap look easy. He also came up big at the plate time and time again for the Vikings, finishing with a .412 batting average, three doubles, one triple and 21 RBI. He scored 16 runs and stole eight bases, helping lead Valley Central to a second straight Section 9 Class AA championship.
The highlight: “Winning sections for the second year straight. It was a great experience. Being on the road against Pine Bush and FDR, those were great games and we came out on top. Winning the championship was another great feeling.”
The future: Will return for his senior season.
The player: “He’s very good getting a jump on the ball off the bat. He’s very athletic so he’s able to run balls down in the gaps. Whenever we had a rally or needed a big hit, it seemed like he was always in the middle of everything, especially at the end of the year. He had a couple of big hits in the championship game.” – Valley Central head coach Eric Bartle
CHRIS MORGESE
School: Warwick Year: Junior
Position: Outfield
Credentials: Morgese is drawing interest from college coaches as a pitcher – he went 5-3 with one save and a 2.61 ERA this season – but he can also get the job done with the bat. A .443 hitter, Morgese had four doubles, one triple and one home run to go along with 22 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
The highlight: “Almost throwing a no-hitter against Pine Bush in the second-to-last regular-season game. It was broken up by a bunt single. (Warwick catcher) Trevor Pinkham called a great game behind the plate and all my fielders made great plays behind me to make that happen. It was a special moment for me.”
The future: Will return for his senior season.
The player: “When you have a player as talented as him, everybody else strives to get to that level. They look up to him and they see his work ethic and his talent and they want to get there, too. There have been a lot of college coaches looking at him and a lot of them said the same thing. They like his toughness and the way he battles. He’s a talented kid. He’s throwing near 90 (mph) from the left side as a junior and he has a pretty good upside if you think about it.” – Warwick head coach Chuck Todd
DOMINICK MARZIGLIANO
School: Cornwall Year: Sophomore
Position: Outfield
Credentials: The top hitter on one of Section 9’s most potent offenses, Marzigliano was a terrific table-setter for the Green Dragons this year. He reached base 51 percent of the time – striking out just twice in 77 plate appearances - and finished with a .468 batting average and 27 RBI. In center field, he played error-free defense and made one assist that led to a double play.
The highlight: “When I got the triple off Goshen. It was a Section 9 semifinal game. The bases were loaded and it was a 4-3 game, a close game, and I came up big in a tight spot.”
The future: Will return for his junior season.
The player: “This kid just loves the game and works at it all the time. I’m always saying, “Dom, go home once in a while.” He’s the kind of kid who stays after and asks if I can hit him more fly balls.” – Cornwall co-head coach Guy Maisonet
CONNOR ROMANO
School: Minisink Valley Year: Junior
Position: Designated hitter
Credentials: Romano swung a big bat for the Warriors, leading the team in home runs (four), doubles (seven), RBI (22) and slugging percentage (.554). He was also Minisink Valley’s ace on the mound, going 7-1 in eight starts with a 1.34 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 47 innings. Romano allowed just 30 hits, holding opposing batters to a .165 average.
The highlight: “The Section 9 playoffs where we beat Washingtonville and Middletown on the same day. They were two tough wins and we came out in the end to take a shot at the section championship. It was like a doubleheader. That was the most fun I had all year.”
The future: Will return for his senior season.
The player: “Connor can be summed up in two words: game changer. He is a threat and is capable of changing a game in a big way with one swing of the bat. Whenever Connor was up, you knew at any given moment something special was about to happen. We saw it many times in clutch situations. He has incredible bat speed and power, and hits the ball harder than anyone else, it's scary. He is similar on the mound where again he can determine the outcome of the game. When Connor is on, he is a shutdown pitcher. He throws the ball very hard and is difficult to hit. His growth potential is high. He will only get better.” - Minisink Valley head coach Dave Benedetto
ALEX MACK
School: Cornwall Year: Senior
Position: Utility
Credentials: Not only was Mack Cornwall’s No. 1 pitcher, he also had responsibilities as the Green Dragons’ first baseman and designated hitter. On the mound, Mack went 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA, striking out 50 and allowing 37 hits over 41 2/3 innings. At the plate, he was a .394 hitter with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 18 RBI. He helped lead Cornwall to a 12th consecutive OCIAA Division III title.
The highlight: “Getting the complete game win in a pitcher’s duel against Goshen. It gave us great confidence moving forward.”
The future: Will play baseball at St. Thomas College in Sparkill, a Division II member of the East Coast Conference.
The player: “He really hit the weights hard this winter and was at all the winter workouts. He really invested a lot of time. He could always swing the bat but this year he hit. He became a much smarter hitter this year. He was a lot more disciplined and when we moved him to the No. 2 spot in the order, that took some pressure off and he was able to feel like he didn’t have to hit home runs every time. He developed into an above-average hitter, which was really good.” – Cornwall co-head coach Tom Fanning
KASHAUN CURRY
School: Middletown Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Credentials: In his seven starts – aside from one game in which he pitched just the first inning – Curry went the distance and earned the win in each. He finished with a 7-1 record and a 1.04 ERA, striking out 58 over 53 2/3 innings, allowing 42 hits and walking just seven batters. Curry’s one loss came in a relief appearance in an early season game against Red Hook. As Middletown’s leadoff hitter, he played first base or outfield on days when he didn’t pitch, he had a .280 batting average and led the Middies in stolen bases (15), walks (15) and on-base percentage (.434).
The highlight: “When we clinched the division and beat Kingston and took the series. We were home and all I could remember was the last out and everyone throwing their gloves in the air, going crazy because we just found out we had won the division. Parents were going crazy, coaches were going crazy. It was a fun time.”
The future: Will play at SUNY Cortland, a Division III member of the SUNY Athletic Conference. Cortland won the 2015 NCAA Division III championship.
The player: “At the plate he’s impressive enough. It’s every day. It’s not just every third game where he’s making an impact, it’s every day. He just knows what he’s doing.” – Middletown head coach Justin Sturge
COLE WHITNEY
School: Goshen Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Credentials: Perhaps the hardest-throwing pitcher in Section 9 from the right side, Whitney went 5-2 with a 0.76 ERA. In 55 innings pitched, he struck out 69 and walked 13 batters. Whitney threw three shutouts, one of which was a no-hitter against Monticello on April 28. When he wasn’t pitching, Whitney played shortstop. He hit .271 with five doubles, two triples, one home run and 16 RBI.
The highlight: “Beating Warwick. We had to win four games to make it to the playoffs and we won all four of them. Warwick was our biggest win.”
The future: Will play at St. John’s University, a Division I member of the Big East Conference.
The player: “There’s no question we relied on him heavily. He was such a gamer. He wanted to pitch against everybody. We usually lined him up against the tougher (Class) AA teams we faced and he was able to hang in there with them. Not only that, at the plate he just drove the ball for us. He was just that top-tier player that put the team on his shoulders and got us where we needed to be.” – Goshen head coach John Mardyniak
SECOND TEAM
C, Justin Tuey, Kingston, Jr.: One of the area’s top defensive backstops, Tuey also led the Tigers in hits, finishing with a .314 batting average.
1B, Drew Guerra, Monroe-Woodbury, Soph.: Guerra reached base in all 21 games this season, having at least one hit in each of those. He finished with a .400 average and had five doubles, one triple and 13 RBI.
2B, Kyle O’Brien, Minisink Valley, Sr.: A .400 hitter, O’Brien also had six doubles and 12 RBI, reaching base at a .512 clip. In the field, he made just two errors in 89 chances.
3B, Tyler Kelder, Kingston, Soph.: Kelder was a mainstay in the middle of the Tigers’ lineup, hitting .276 with four doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI. He also pitched and played first base.
SS, Jason Bailey, Cornwall, Jr.: Bailey drove in 24 runs, scored 14 and finished with a .431 batting average. On the mound, he went 4-0 with one save and a 0.27 ERA over 25 2/3 innings.
OF, Killian Bloat, Liberty, Sr.: An all-around talent, Bloat had a .493 batting average, 19 extra base hits, scored 31 runs, drove in 22 and stole 10 bases. As a pitcher, he struck out 55 and allowed 24 hits over 39 innings, pitching to a 1.80 ERA. He was also a strong defender and a big arm in center field.
OF, Kenny Gray, Valley Central, Jr.: After years of playing lacrosse, Gray returned to the diamond without missing a beat. He was a .342 hitter with 18 RBI, 14 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. As a pitcher, he went 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA.
OF, Chase Prairie, James I. O’Neill, Jr.: Prairie was a major offensive threat for the Raiders, hitting .473 with 22 RBI and seven stolen bases. He also pitched, leading O’Neill with a 4-1 record and he posted a 2.77 ERA with 22 strikeouts.
DH, Nick Gomez, Wallkill, Sr.: One of Section 9’s top pure hitters, Gomez set a school record for doubles in a single season (10) and finished his four-year varsity career with a .340 batting average. In 80 plate appearances, Wallkill’s shortstop stuck out just four times.
Utility, Kyle Marco, Chester, Sr.: Marco did a bit of everything this season. He threw a no-hitter, and also caught and played shortstop. He was 5-2 with a 2.33 ERA, striking out 36 in 42 innings. His biggest contributions came at the plate, where he hit .538 with five doubles, five triples and 33 RBI.
P, Jared Bulson, Monroe-Woodbury, Sr.: Bulson pitched 57 innings as the Crusaders’ ace, allowing 41 hits and 10 earned runs. He struck out 64 and finished with a 1.23 ERA, leading Monroe-Woodbury to big regular-season wins over Minisink Valley, Kingston and Newburgh Free Academy.
P, Nick Mongelli, Marlboro, Jr.: The Dukes’ No. 1 starter, Mongelli went 6-1 with a 1.88 ERA, holding opposing hitters to 42 hits over 56 innings. He struck out 45, leading Marlboro to a No. 1 seed in the Section 9 Class B tournament. Mongelli played the outfield when he didn’t pitch, finishing with a .347 average, five doubles and 16 RBI at the plate.
