YORKTOWN, N.Y. —Yorktown enjoyed a winning campaign a year ago, finishing 12-10 and reaching the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class AA Tournament before losing as the No. 6 seed at No. 3 Clarkstown North, 7-6.
The Huskers enter this season with a roster filled with plenty of returning players, including four who earned postseason honors in 2024. Senior Brian White (All-Section Honorable Mention, All-League, Pace University commit), ran in the 60-meter dash in the Nike Indoor Nationals 2025 on March 15 and is expected to put that speed to use in center field. Junior shortstop/third baseman Alex Ornstein (All-Section Honorable Mention, All-League), senior right-handed pitcher/shortstop Derek Patrissi (All-Section, All-League, League Pitcher of the Year, Wagner College), and senior left fielder Joe Carucci (All-League, Monmouth University) are also expected to give the Huskers a strong core.
Yorktown fifth-year coach C.J. Riefenhauser is also looking for big seasons from senior left-handed pitcher Luke Esposito—another Husker headed to college baseball next year at Mercy University—and speedy junior right fielder Tyler Galante.
Riefenhauser said he is expecting breakout seasons from key returnees like seniors Jeff Nunez, second baseman Gabe Iavarone, right-handed pitchers Gavin Maher, Matt Cambareri, Rob Viglione, Dylan Katz, and Dylan Leitner, first baseman Aiden Flynn, and junior catcher Lirim Biberaj.
“Our goals are always the same, to get better every day, create a positive culture, and win the league,” said Riefenhauser, a 2008 Mahopac graduate who pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014 and ’15. “We have a lot of experience this year with this group. We need to do the little things right and play aggressive.”
Yorktown will play at Lakeland at 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 31—the opener for both teams.
Lakeland is coming off a campaign where it was 9-11-1 and as the No. 8 seed, lost to visiting No. 9 Pelham 6-2 in the opening round of the Section 1 Class A Tournament.
Leading the Hornets this spring are returnees, seniors, shortstop/pitcher Anthony Frobose (All-Section, All-League, League Pitcher of the Year, Rutgers University), infielder/pitcher Vinny Fusco, infielder/pitcher Sergio Hormazabal (Bard College), infielder/catcher Matt McDermott (Dominican College), outfielder Kaare Numme, catcher/first baseman John Sibiski (Utica College), and juniors, shortstop/pitcher Ramzi Done (All-League), outfielder/pitcher Alex Mautone, and catcher Mikey Santoiemma.
“I expect them to be a group of leaders, showing any new players the way things are done in our program,” said fourth-year Hornets coach Justin McCarthy, a 2010 Lakeland graduate. I’m hoping they are able to leave a lasting impression for years to come.”
McCarthy said there are no captains.
“All seniors will be looked upon to lead,” McCarthy said.
As for newcomers, that remains to be determined.
“The team is not made yet, so not sure who the new players will be on the team,” McCarthy said. “We will expect all first-year players to battle for starting positions and help round out our lineup.”
The Hornets’ goal each and every season is to win the sectional championship, according to McCarthy, who was an All-League pitcher/second baseman as a senior on the Lakeland squad that made it to the state Class A Final Four.
McCarthy was also an assistant coach for Bill Casey when the Hornets won the Section 1 Class A title in 2018 and 2019, with the former also including Lakeland’s first-ever trip to the state finals.
“In order for that (sectional title) to happen, we need to play together as a team and push each other to be the best that we can,” McCarthy said. “We have to come to practice every day ready to learn and get one percent better.”
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