Thursday, October 1, 2026
West Babylon baseball is off to a strong and competitive start, posting a 6-3 record through its first nine League 4 games under coach Shaun Kaminski.
With a veteran heavy roster and a mix of emerging young talent, the team is already showing signs of both consistency and growth as it eyes a return to the postseason.
“The goal is to make the playoffs after making it four years in a row,” Kaminski said, emphasizing the program’s standard of sustained success.
With 13 seniors leading the way, expectations are naturally high. Early on, those expectations have evolved into something even bigger. “Over the first two weeks, we’ve grown some championship aspirations,” he added.
West Babylon opened with an exciting three game set against West Islip. A 17-7 victory on March 26 showcased the offense at its best, with Vinny Iorio, Tylan Edwards, Mason Martinez, and Timmy Erwig each going 2-for-4. The momentum carried into a tight 4-3 win two days later before West Islip handed them a narrow 5-2 loss on March 30.
The offense erupted again in a dominant sweep of Bellport in April. West Babylon won 16-0 on April 7 behind a perfect 3-for-3 performance from Dean Geiger, who also drove in three runs. Xavier Estevez (2-for-3) and Steve Gervasi added to the offensive outburst. The following day, the team secured a 15-5 win, with Erwig, Iorio, and Gervasi each recording two hits. The series concluded with a 9-1 victory on April 10, further establishing West Babylon as a dangerous lineup.
More recently, the team faced a tough test against East Islip, dropping close games 4-3 and 5-0 on April 14 and 15 before winning the series finale 11-2 on April 17. Despite losing two out of three games, Kaminski views matchups like these as valuable opportunities. “Playing East Islip is a great test for our guys,” he said.
Leadership for West Babylon is spread throughout the roster, as the team does not designate captains. Instead, experienced players have naturally taken on key roles. Erwig, a three year starter, continues to improve each season, while shortstop Gervasi, an All-League selection last year and a Staten Island commit, anchors the infield. Pitcher Matt Critchly, also a three year starter, is committed to Maritime and provides stability on the mound.
Other contributors include Nico Milani and Josh Gomez, another pitcher, along with catcher Dylan Cousins, who has been particularly effective behind the plate with his framing skills. Iorio, now transitioned from left field to center field, has embraced his role as the leadoff hitter and is committed to Mount St. Mary’s.
The future is also bright, with younger players already making an impact. Estevez, a sophomore, has built on his varsity experience from last year, while Jadiel Adames has been swinging the bat well. Geiger, a hard throwing lefty, adds another dimension to the pitching staff.
Perhaps the most exciting moment of the season came from eighth- grader Martinez, who delivered a walk-off home run against West Islip March 28.
“A lot of guys were young when we won the Long Island championship [in 2023] so they saw that and want to replicate it.”
