The Trusted Home of Amateur Baseball on Long Island – From Travel through College

search icon
advertise with us

News

Port Jefferson Eyes Class C County Championship

Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series

by Ryan Manno

“Our expectation is to win a Class C County Championship this year,” Port Jeff head coach Jesse Rosen said.

There is no rebuilding phase. For a program that has already experienced championship runs and deep playoff baseball, the standard has been set and this group believes it’s ready to meet it.

Last season, the Royals finished 7-11 while competing as one of the smallest Class B schools. Because of school size, Port Jefferson routinely faces larger programs, creating a schedule that tests depth and resilience. It was also a young roster learning on the fly against significant competition.

“We were a pretty young team last year,” Rosen said. “The school size makes us play different schools. I’m looking forward to the competition.”

That youth, however, is no longer inexperienced.

In 2024, the Royals reached the county finals with a unique mix: five seniors and four freshmen starting in Game 3 of the championship series. Those freshmen: Sam Matvya, Derek Wonderland, Ben Amadio, and Jack Krause, were put on one of the biggest stages. Now, they are no longer underclassmen. They are upperclassmen, and this season is clearly their time.

Rosen made it clear that the moment belongs to them now. They have been starters since their freshman year. They have already played in county finals. They have already experienced both the thrill of championship runs and the sting of falling short. The foundation was laid early and now the expectation is that they carry the program.

“They’re hungry to make their mark,” Rosen said. “They’ve worked very hard.”

The Royals return six starters, all of whom have been at least two-year starters. Many play year round baseball and log significant innings as varsity pitchers. Rosen expects the team to be well rounded: experienced defensively, balanced offensively, and capable on the mound.

At the top of the lineup is Sam Matvya, the leadoff hitter since his freshman year. He brings a .415 career average into the season and remains the catalyst offensively. His speed changes games. His ability to put the ball in play and drive balls into the gaps forces pressure on opposing defenses from the first pitch.

“He had an immediate impact as a freshman,” Rosen said. “He hit the ground running and will never look back. I expect him to have a very big year.”

Behind him is Derek Wonderland, a three-year starting shortstop who hit .320 last season. A steady middle infielder with speed, he provides consistency at the top of the order and has already delivered big performances, including wins on the mound against Southampton and Mattituck last year.

Ben Amadio, another member of that freshman to upperclassman core, does “a whole lot of everything,” according to Rosen. A .315 hitter last year, Amadio can pitch, catch, and play infield, and he is expected to anchor the heart of the lineup. His versatility allows the Royals to adjust game to game, and his baseball IQ stands out.

“Having him on the field is like having a coach on the field,” Rosen said. “His awareness, whether it’s from us or his teammates, is elite.”

Jack Krause rounds out that group. After hitting .305 last season, he will start in center field while also leading the pitching staff. The left hander commands his fastball and mixes in a quality off speed pitch. He is what Rosen calls the “quintessential high school lefty.”

The significance of those four players cannot be overstated. As freshmen, they were supporting pieces in a lineup dominated by seniors. Now, the seniors are gone, and the responsibility shifts directly to them. It is no longer about potential. It is about production, leadership, and delivering in big moments.

One major departure is Joey Aronica, a five-year starter committed to Fitchburg State University. His leadership and presence were constants in the program.

“His leadership and presence will be missed,” Rosen said. “But the way the incoming upperclassmen have taken on the torch is very promising in the offseason workouts.”

Among the current seniors, catcher Evan Raymond enters his fifth year as a starter. He was behind the plate when the Royals captured the Long Island Championship in 2022 and remains responsible for guiding the pitching staff while producing in the middle of the lineup. Chris Diot, returning from an injury that sidelined him last year, is expected to contribute significantly both in the rotation and as a run producer after playing key roles in earlier playoff runs.

Sophomore Dylan Littman is a younger name to watch. He will be asked to eat innings on the mound and contribute in the infield after putting in substantial offseason work. Rosen believes he looks steady and ready to factor in.

While the Royals’ lineup and defense may be ahead of the pitching staff early in the season, largely because several arms are position first players, Rosen expects growth as the season progresses.

“Our lineup and our defense are more of a plus than our pitching to start the season,” he said. “The game experience as it progresses will make us comfortable and ready to go by May.”

The season opens March 27 at home against Pierson, a team that beat Port Jefferson three out of four times last year. The rivalry is familiar. The Royals defeated Pierson in the County Championship runs in 2022 and 2023. It’s always quality baseball between the two clubs which is why Rosen wouldn’t have chosen anyone else to start the year.

“If there was a way to pick, I would pick to play them,” he said.

For a team with championship aspirations, there may be no better test. The Royals are no longer the young group gaining experience. The four freshmen who once stepped into a county final are now upperclassmen expected to lead a run. The expectation is clear. The hunger is there. Now it is their time to deliver.