Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
FINAL: Fieldston 3 – LuHi 2
A bunt by Noah Nemirovsky scores the winning run, and secures the Eagles the NYSAIS championship! pic.twitter.com/kJo3uIqEmO
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 21, 2025
When Shaun Manning took the head coach position at Long Island Lutheran, he stated his goal was to win a State Championship within five years.
It was an aggressive goal as the school was certainly known for its basketball prowess as opposed to on the diamond. After four consecutive PSAA Championships, they became independent in 2025 and very nearly made his vision a reality.
The Crusaders won their home playoff match up against Riverdale, 6-1, before advancing to the NYSAIS against Fieldston. They played an absolute classic game, but unfortunately were defeated, 3-2, on a walk-off squeeze bunt by Noah Nemirovsky.
“It was a great group last year,” said Shaun Manning who is entering his sixth season at the helm. “We lost in the last inning on a suicide squeeze. Obviously, that’s our starting point now for our goal.”
They graduated catcher Tyler Persampire who is a catcher for CCNY.
“We have the same group, it’s a hungry group, we have 27 kids on varsity; that’s our biggest number we’ve had.”
The team will be led by a very talented pitching rotation of Monmouth-commit Matt Muzikant, Queens-commit Matthew Garib, senior Cole Thomas and junior TJ Borzumato.
MVP gets their first run on a bases loaded HBP, but Muzikant ends the inning with two straight strikeouts to limit the damage
Next Level 8 – MVP 1
End fifth pic.twitter.com/YrklgpgPtr— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 27, 2025
Whole Muzikant and Thomas are more of pitcher-only types, Garib will also be a mainstay in their lineup. He was the team’s leading hitter last season.
Borzumato, who’s been garnering Division-I looks will man the hot corner when he’s not pitching. Shortstop is in good hands as well with sophomore Vincent Bourne. He was featured as part of our ‘Up Next’ series. He started every game as a freshman and handled the role extremely well on both sides of the ball. Russell Sage-commit Fred Von Bargen will be their first baseman and will also contribute in relief.
Vincent Bourne (LuHi 2028) pic.twitter.com/L8JM8iaPGW
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 6, 2026
They have an exciting player in junior Kayden Bates. While he played infield last year, he has shot up and Manning noted he had “outgrown the infield.” He is a switch-hitter and he can really run; he stole over 20 bases last season. They will count on him once again. He’s another player that is on the radar of Division-I schools, according to Manning.
The Crusaders also have twins Cameron and Casey Coco. The juniors are super utility players that will impact the team in multiple ways.
He also mentioned Dylan Lancberg and Luke Martone as players that will contribute in various ways this season.
The team was dealt one bit of adversity already as they lost catcher and SUNY Purchase-commit Timmy Peguero to hamate surgery.
Manning challenged his team right off the bat with some difficult matchups against some of the premier teams in the region.
“We play one of the toughest schedules in the state. We have Chaminade, Holy Trinity, Kellenberg, St. Dominic’s and St. Anthony’s from the Catholic League and Garden City, Maine-Endwell, Poly Prep, Kennedy Catholic, Xavieran and Clarke in non-leaguers.
They have been working hard since the fall, when they began practicing three times per week. They began their season with a trip to Florida March 2-8.
“They’ve put in the time; the goal is simple.”