Coming off an 18-win season and an appearance in the Nassau Class AA baseball semifinals, Carey opened what promises to be an interesting Conference AA-II slate by salvaging one of three games against Garden City.
The Seahawks rallied from eight runs down with nine runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the middle game of last week’s series, 9-8, behind senior pitcher Jack Degnan’s seven strikeouts over four innings of relief and two RBIs apiece from himself and junior Tristan Hicks on the road April 9. Both senior Nick Medoro and junior Jayden Gigante scored twice in the outburst.
“Crazy game,” Carey coach Doug Robins said. “We don’t win that game without Jack. He gave us great work in relief and got the game-winning hit.”
The Seahawks upset top-seeded MacArthur in last year’s playoffs and returned four starters, three of which are part of a talented junior class that gained valuable experience down the stretch. “We had a strong season in probably the toughest conference in the county,” Robins said.
Gigante earned All-County honors in 2024 and appears well on track to do the same this spring. The centerfielder and No. 2 batter hit .444 with 33 runs and 21 RBIs as a sophomore. “He’s a five-tool player who’s always looking to get better every day,” Robins said. “He was All-Conference for two years before being All-County. He’ll be a five-year starter and he just loves the game.”
Junior Mark Vera moved to third base from second and is locked in at the plate so far with a .438 batting average through five games. He homered in a 2-1 non-league win over Kennedy April 1 as the Seahawks (3-2 overall) got some revenge from last year’s semifinal series defeat. “Mark is a gamer and has an outstanding baseball IQ,” Robins said.
Hickis, a starting pitcher who plays first base when he’s not on the mound, is dialing up the fastball in the low-to-mid 80s, Robins said, and is an excellent fielding pitcher swinging a much-improved stick. As of now, Hickis is projected to pitch the middle game of each series.
Medoro is another returnee and he’s been setting the offensive tone from the leadoff spot and starting in left field. “Nick is patient at the plate with a good eye and good wheels,” Robins said.
Senior Jacob Daddino, a relief pitcher last spring, is now a starter and pitching the opening game of each series. A hard-throwing lefty, Robins said his velocity is up 8 mph from 2024 thanks in large part to offseason dedication. Another southpaw, Michael Agostino, is also a reliever-turned-starter and features a wicked pickoff move.
Degnan is an arm the Seahawks will rely on and also their cleanup hitter and an option at first base. Senior Nick Taranto filled Vera’s void at second base, and both junior Don Peluso and sophomore Brody Kennedy are contributing behind the plate. The shortstop situation is in flux with junior Jon Carlo Carbone dealing with an injury. Senior John Millan’s steady glove will be counted on to get the job done in the interim or long term.
