Brooklyn didn’t crown any city champions this season, but that doesn’t mean the borough wasn’t brimming with high school baseball talent.
The squad from the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology surprised just about everyone, making a Cinderella-run as the No. 14 seed in the AAA postseason and reaching the semifinals before falling to eventual city champ James Monroe. Midwood clinched a divisional championship during the regular season and Grand Street Campus also recorded a strong showing.
Xaverian led the charge in the Catholic league, bouncing back from an early-season skid to win the Brooklyn–Queens AA regular-season title. Nazareth once again dominated in the A-division, but came up short of defending its city title, falling to LaSalle in a two game series.
Of course, none of that success would be possible without the players. Here are the best of the best:
Player of the Year: Oliver McCarthy, Poly Prep
Coach of the Year: Matt Roventini, Poly Prep
The long-time Blue Devils coach, once again, led his team to a state title as Poly notched a second-straight New York State Association of Independent Schools title. Roventini and Poly, once again, hit their stride early, competing in Florida and finding a rhythm despite some serious youth on this year’s roster.
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Alan Sorokin, Midwood
The right-hander was the ace of the Hornets staff this spring, posting a 6–1 record on the mound. He led Midwood to a AAA Southeastern title, posting a 1.56 earned run average, while also notching 36 strike outs and giving up just eight earned runs.
Pitcher: Frank Campanelli, Senior, Telecommunications
The southpaw helped lead the 14-seeded Yellow Jackets to an unexpected Class AAA semifinals berth this season. Campanelli, a multi-year starter at Telecom, finished his final year with a 6–3 record, a 1.47 earned run average and recording 65 strikeouts in 54 innings of work.
Pitcher: Nick DeSalvo, Senior, Xaverian
The senior, who will head to Long Island University next year, bounced back from an early-season injury to hit his stride when it mattered most. DeSalvo finished the year with an 8–2 record and an 1.65 earned run average. He frequently left opposing batters frozen at the plate, racking up 72 strikeouts in 59.1 innings.
Infield: Xavier Vargas, Senior, Xaverian
A versatile player who could excel anywhere on the field, Vargas was the foundation of a Clippers squad that clinched the Brooklyn/Queens AA division this season. The Rhode Island-bound senior hit .333 this spring, leading the team with 22 runs batted in, a .527 slugging percentage and 13 doubles. He committed only two errors at first base.
Infield: Randy Flores, Junior, Grand Street Campus
Flores boasted incredible speed around the base paths and, most importantly, on the defensive side of the ball, anchoring the Wolves’ infield this spring. He hit a division-leading .519 during the regular season, connecting on eight extra-base hits and driving in 11 runs. Flores racked up 49 stolen bases and struck out just five times 54 at-bats.
Infield: Julian Jaume, Junior, Telecommunications
Jaume’s strength at the plate was a big part of the Yellow Jackets’ postseason run this spring and he constantly found a way to get on base. The junior posted a .581 on-base percentage during the regular season and .500 during the postseason, connecting on 28 hits this year and working 15 total walks. He struck out just twice all season.
Infield: John Sutera, Senior, Brooklyn Tech
The multi-year standout was a force at the plate this year, hitting .537 during the regular season and .444 during the playoffs. He connected on 26 hits, including seven extra-base hits, and drove in 14 runs, while only striking out three times. Sutera also notched eight stolen bases.
Utility: Nick Storz, Senior, Poly Prep
Storz was the center of a young Blue Devils offense this spring, hitting .320 with a .520 slugging percentage, three home runs, 21 runs batted in. The Louisiana State-bound standout also worked 20 walks as opposing teams did their best to throw around him at the plate. He also excelled on the mound and, despite missing two months to rest an arm injury, pitched Poly to another state championship, striking out nine in six innings of work in the Independent Schools final.
Outfield: Domenick Castiglione, Senior., Fort Hamilton
The multi-year standout did his best work at the plate this spring, batting a division-leading .563 during the regular season. He also posted a .632 on-base percentage and a blistering .792 slugging percentage, notching nine extra-base hits. Castiglione struck out just once in 54 at bats, driving in 11 runs and connecting on 29 hits.
Outfield: Shamariah McCullough, Nazareth
A consistent presence on the Kingsmen roster, McCullough was once again the emotional leader of the squad this spring. The senior connected on a team-best 25 hits and scored 20 runs, leading Nazareth back to yet another city championship appearance.
Outfield: Jonathan Pena, Senior, Grand Street Campus
A multi-year standout with an exceptional arm, Pena was a force for the Wolves on both sides of the ball this spring. He hit .447 during the regular season, second best in the division, with a .553 slugging percentage and drove in 14 runs. Pena also notched seven stolen bases and struck out just three times in 38 at-bats.
Catcher: Nick Cardieri, Senior, Midwood
A wall behind the plate, the Hornets senior was a defensive force who also excelled with a bat in his hand and served as the leader of his team for four years. Cardieri hit a team-best .439 this season, leading Midwood to the Class AAA quarterfinals. He also drove in 22 runs, worked 21 walks and struck out just five times in 48 at-bats. Cardieri, who is committed to Stetson University, also recorded four home runs and chipped in 20 stolen bases.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitcher: Alexander Reyes, Junior, Grand Street Campus
Pitcher: Ethan Ehrenerg, Junior, Poly Prep
Infield: Matthew Eng, Senior, Midwood
Infield: Christophe Catoire, Senior, Fort Hamilton
Infield: Edison Acevedo, EBC/Bushwick Leaders
Infield: Angel Quezada Rodriguez, Prospect Heights
Infield: Anibal Baez Miguel, Cobble Hill
Outfield: Lavernson Elliott, Junior, Harry Van Arsdale
Catcher: Angelo D’Acunto, Junior, Poly Prep
Utility: Raldy Gomez, Sophomore, Sunset Park
Utility: Anthony Olivia, Senior, James Madison
