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Baseball: Meet the 2024 lohud Nine Who Shine and best of the rest

eugene rapay, rockland/westchester journal news
·5 min read

Baseball is back in full swing in the Lower Hudson Valley. Let's take a look at some of the top returning talent in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties with the lohud Nine Who Shine.

Past success and future potential are taken into account, as well as a history of winning.

Ryan Bailey

School: Iona Prep

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher/outfielder

What makes Ryan shine? The Maryland commit returns to the list after another standout season. The four-year starter was named CHSAA Player of the Year as a junior, recording a 1.88 ERA with 78 strikeouts across 44.2 innings. He gave up 19 hits last season and helped the Gaels reach the CHSAA Archdiocesan finals. Bailey was also a threat at the plate, batting .408 with a .500 on-base percentage and .929 OPS.

Mahopac celebrates Tyler Castrataro's (1) solo home run. Arlington defeated Mahopac in the regular season finale on May 10, 2023.
Mahopac celebrates Tyler Castrataro's (1) solo home run. Arlington defeated Mahopac in the regular season finale on May 10, 2023.

Tyler Castrataro

School: Mahopac

Year: Senior

Position: Shortstop

What makes Tyler shine? The Hofstra commit excels in big moments and big games. A spark plug for the WolfPac, he batted .479 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He also had a .571 on-base percentage and 1.568 OPS. Castrataro was also named Player of the Year in one of the toughest leagues in the section and delivered a few standout performances on the mound, including six no-hit innings in a win over eventual-state champ Ketcham and a 17-strikeout shutout against John Jay-East Fishkill.

Tappan Zee's Ben Fishel hits a triple during a game with Pearl River at Tappan Zee April 18, 2023. Tappan Zee won 10-2
Tappan Zee's Ben Fishel hits a triple during a game with Pearl River at Tappan Zee April 18, 2023. Tappan Zee won 10-2

Ben Fishel

School: Tappan Zee

Year: Senior

Position: Outfielder/pitcher

What makes Ben shine? The Columbia commit earned league Player of the Year honors last season. Blessed with a strong arm and great defensive instincts in center field, Fishel is an all-around player who makes an impact in nearly every facet of the game. He batted .386 last season with five doubles, two triples, three home runs, 19 RBIs, 25 runs, and a .545 on-base percentage. Fishel also helped out on the mound, recording a 3.33 ERA and 34 strikeouts through 21 innings.

Mamaroneck catcher J.J. Grimes was named all-section and league player of the year this past season.
Mamaroneck catcher J.J. Grimes was named all-section and league player of the year this past season.

J.J. Grimes

School: Mamaroneck

Year: Senior

Position: Catcher

What makes J.J. shine? An all-around contributor and standout catcher, the Amherst-committed senior was named league Player of the Year and runner-up for Conference 1 Player of the Year. He led the Tigers in extra-base hits (9), hits (30), RBIs (25) and runs scored (19). He batted .492 during his all-section junior campaign and played solid defensively behind the plate.

Iona's Marcel Kulik (2) pitching against Stepinac during baseball action at Iona Prep in New Rochelle April 20, 2023. Iona won the game.
Iona's Marcel Kulik (2) pitching against Stepinac during baseball action at Iona Prep in New Rochelle April 20, 2023. Iona won the game.

Marcel Kulik

School: Iona Prep

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Marcel shine? One of the Gaels' go-to arms, Kulik provided quality starts and key innings in relief. The Virginia Tech commit throws some heat on the mound, and his fastball has been measured at 94 mph. He is primed to build off of his junior season and take an even bigger role following some player graduations and departures. Kulik put together 2-0 record, 2.88 ERA and 25 strikeouts through 26.2 innings last year.

Eli Negron

School: Kennedy Catholic

Year: Senior

Position: Outfielder/shortstop

What makes Eli shine? A versatile player, Negron will be one of Kennedy Catholic's leading men this season. He primarily plays out in center field, but he has also lined up at shortstop when needed. Last season, he batted .326 with a .450 on-base percentage. He also had seven extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, 20 runs, 21 walks and 11 stolen bases. Negron is set to continue his career at the Division I level for Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Fox Lane standout Tyler Renz was named Conference 1 pitcher of the year this past spring. The rising senior is committed to St. John's.
Fox Lane standout Tyler Renz was named Conference 1 pitcher of the year this past spring. The rising senior is committed to St. John's.

Tyler Renz

School: Fox Lane

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Tyler shine? A game-changer when he takes the mound, the St. John's commit went 7-1 last season with a 1.30 ERA. He racked up a program-record 109 strikeouts as a junior, while giving up just 10 walks across 53.2 innings of work. He played a major role in helping the Foxes make a run to the Section 1 Class A final four as the No. 12 seed last season. He was also named Conference 1 and league Pitcher of the Year.

Blind Brook's Andrew Rogovic pitched a 14-strikeout shutout in a 4-0 win over Croton-Harmon on May 21, 2023.
Blind Brook's Andrew Rogovic pitched a 14-strikeout shutout in a 4-0 win over Croton-Harmon on May 21, 2023.

Andrew Rogovic

School: Blind Brook

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Andrew shine? He turned plenty of heads last season in a breakout junior year that culminated in becoming the Trojans' first Conference 3 and league Pitcher of the Year. The Northeastern-bound ace finished with a 0.78 ERA and a school-record and Class B-best 115 strikeouts. The strikeout machine surrendered only six earned runs and 20 hits last season.

Suffern's Connor Southwell (9) makes contact for a hit during a game against North Rockland on April 27, 2023.
Suffern's Connor Southwell (9) makes contact for a hit during a game against North Rockland on April 27, 2023.

Connor Southwell

School: Suffern

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher/first base

What makes Connor shine? After an injury compromised his first two varsity seasons, Southwell enjoyed a breakout junior season last year. The Boston College commit took the mound for all of the Mounties' big matchups and delivered. The southpaw delivered a 4-1 record, 1.98 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 41.2 innings of work. He was named league Pitcher of the Year. He also batted .305, with 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

Best of the rest

E.J. Betances, Sr., 2B, Iona Prep (Lehigh); Wally Briganti, Sr., C, Stepinac (Swarthmore); Cris Cespedes, Sr., P, North Rockland (Maryland); Marco Citro, Sr., P, Harrison; Jax Colacicco, Sr., SS/P, Tuckahoe; Tim Denet, Sr., 3B, Iona Prep (LeMoyne); Devin Diaz, So., C/OF, Iona Prep (Miami); Nick Fassert, Sr., SS/P, John Jay-Cross River (Amherst); Matt Fitzgibbon, Sr., P, Iona Prep (Saint Joseph's); Jordany German, Jr., P, Port Chester; Michael Goodman, Sr., P, Clarkstown North (Delaware); Shep Griffiths, Sr., P, Rye; C.J. Griggs, Sr., 1B/C, Kennedy Catholic (Hofstra); George Handal, Sr., P, Brewster (Rice); Mike Iannicchino, Sr., P/OF, Stepinac; Andrew Kapica, Jr., SS/OF/P, Somers (Fordham); Logan Mammola, Jr., C/3B, Fox Lane; Will Plunkett, So., SS/P, Mamaroneck; Aidan Proctor, Sr., 1B/DH, Clarkstown South (Susquehanna); Ben Raspanti, Jr., 3B/C/P, Pearl River; Luke Reagins, So., 2B/OF, Mamaroneck; Logan Scholl, Sr., SS/P, Albertus Magnus (Marist); Ben Schulman, So., P, Horace Greeley (Virginia); Ryan Strnad, Jr., C, Kennedy Catholic (Seton Hall); Pat Veintimilla, Sr., P, Albertus Magnus (Saint Joseph's); Mike Weninger, Sr., OF/P, Stepinac; Randy Wiesner, Sr., OF/DH, Panas (Georgia Highlands)

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Baseball: Meet the 2024 lohud Nine Who Shine and Best of the Rest