Varsity Baseball Slugs Their Way to the Postseason

Bryson Anderson ‘26, who batted .448 this year, makes solid contact against John Jay Campus on April 29. *Photo: Anaya Mcleod*

By JOEMI QUIROZ ORTIZ, ANAYA MCLEOD, and CHLOE CHO

Varsity Baseball’s playoff run ended with their second game of the postseason, a 8-6 loss to Grand Street Campus High School at American Legion Field One on May 26. The game marked the end of a season that showcased the team’s undeniable hard work and talent.

The match-up had moments of drama. In a tie game with the bases loaded, junior Brandon Sanchez sprinted across the wet turf to make a clutch catch by inches.

“It was crazy to see that; it just shows that we deserve to be in the place that we are right now,” said junior catcher William Copenny, who batted a whopping .585 this year.

The Hornets fought hard to the last inning, but a walk-off home run from Grand Street sealed their defeat.

Despite the tough end to their season, the team has made one thing clear from the very first pitch—they were playing with confidence. Copenny says the secret was simple: “Play with swagger instead of playing scared.”

“Over the years, we’ve tended to be afraid of high-level opponents, but this season I’ve seen a really gritty, ‘dawg’ mentality that’s been super inspiring,” said leadoff hitter Jackson Scott-Luib ‘25.

The team was triumphant in their first playoff game, beating Gregorio Luperon High School 4-3 on May 21. Patrick Devesin ‘26 led the charge at the plate, smashing a triple and a double. Copenny and Bryson Anderson ‘26 had two hits apiece, while senior captain and ace pitcher Rui Edelman brought the heat on the mound with 8 strikeouts.

With a season record of 9-5, the team finished second in the division to Abraham Lincoln High School. The Hornets split their last two games against Lincoln, falling 2-1 on May 15 despite a strong outing from pitcher Antonio Moran ‘25, but winning 5-4 on May 12 behind two RBI each from Copenny and freshman shortstop Elliot Ross, who batted .405 this year.

“Originally we were losing, but then we came back and had to hold on to the lead,” said Head Coach Nicolas Cardieri. “We made all the plays when it mattered, threw strikes when it mattered.”

“We started to put more pressure on Lincoln and they definitely felt it,” Ross said.

The Hornets began the season with a dominating 10-0 victory against Fort Hamilton High School, paving the way to an exciting 6-0 winning streak that featured two lopsided wins over James Madison, 22-2 and 12-2, as well as smackdowns of Brooklyn Tech 12-3 and Harry Van Arsdale 18-5.

In that first game, “our energy was high from the first pitch, and everyone was locked in,” said junior Saulio Tolentino, who pitches and plays multiple positions. “Offensively, we were aggressive but smart at the plate, and defensively, we played clean, made routine plays, and backed up our pitcher.”

Mr. Saverio Nardone, one of the team’s other coaches along with Mr. Alonso Jay, praised the team's hot start. “They put it together really nicely,” he said. “Seeing the kids and all the coaches play together has really been something special.”

However, the team’s 10-0 loss against Tottenville on April 23 became a turning point, teaching them that mentality is just as important as skill.

"The game of baseball just humbles you,” said Tolentino. “Tottenville came and we thought because they won the championship two years ago, we couldn't beat them. We beat ourselves mentally.”

“One play can take you completely out of your emotions,” said Assistant Coach Jalen Robinson. “The work that you do becomes irrelevant when you play with emotion instead of trusting the preparation that you put in.”

Senior outfielder Michael Beauvil echoed that sentiment, noting that the team’s confidence wavered during midseason. “Over the last couple of games in May, we lost our edge,” he said. “I feel like we were indecisive.”

But their ability to bounce back was on display on May 6, when the Hornets took down Fort Hamilton for a second time, 11-5.

“Shout out to seniors Antonio Moran and Rui Edelman,” said Cardieri. “They've done a lot in terms of preparing the team and carrying responsibility.”

Edelman was 6-2 on the season, with three complete games, hurling 33 strikeouts and only giving up two earned runs in 34 innings pitched.

“Rui has been locked in and working very hard, and the results are showing,” said infielder Patrick Devesin ‘26.

“In every game that he has pitched, it's been with 100% intent and intensity,” said Copenny.

Copenny has been stellar, finishing the season with 24 hits, including 10 doubles and a triple. “He's leading us in batting average, hits, and doubles—which is a very impressive feat—something that not many people do,” said Mr. Cardieri.

The coaches have played a big role in the boys’ development, constantly pushing them to grow and stay motivated.

“Our approach has just been to trust in our coaches and ourselves,” said Edelman.

“Coach Nardone and Coach Jay fully believing in me was all I needed to thrive, and Coach Cardieri has helped me with my swing and mental approach,” said Devesin.

“Coach Cardieri has truly been a great person to listen to and learn from,” said Scott-Luib. “He’s extremely intelligent and lights a fire under all of us.”

“Our coach has been a huge factor in shaping both our team and my growth as a player,” said Tolentino. The coaches “are always offering advice on how to stay calm in pressure moments and trust our abilities.”

“They put faith in us and tell us the truth when we need to hear it,” said Copenny. “They also put in hours every weekday and weekend of their free time to help us get better.”

The team has fought through close losses, rough patches, and tough injuries. But through it all, they've built something stronger—the kind of energy that creates a bond in the dugout. The upperclassmen have been a big part of that winning recipe.

“That's just the reward of having a brotherhood—people that pick you up in tough times,” said Copenny.

As the team hangs up their gloves for the season, the signs are all here for that glue and that swagger to be back again next year.