Whether its the arm or the bat, or the handling of pitchers. A catcher can be the key to a great season. Who stands out among Long Island HS Catchers?

Top dog Parisi longwood

maybe best in suffolk for parisi but
nassau has stmarys alex falconi and calhoun guy jake thomas

Fair argument

agree with the Nassau selections but need to add Garry from Sachem North and Rizzitello from Connetquot as tops in Sufolk along with Parisi

Garry is solid behind the plate but cant hit out of a paper bag. Falconi and Parisi can handle it at the plate

do not forget the 2 catchers from westhampton beach

west hampton beach? you must be one of the catchers havent heard of 1 good catcher out of there ever let alone two

Is this Johnny Bench again?

Isnt that part of Connecticut?

The kid from Shoreham isn't so bad either.

Rizzitello

Keshon Lall, BACKS UP Rizzitello IS AWSOME

What about the kid who backs up Rizzitello?

btw..the kid from sachem hit a ball over 400 ft against longwood on opening day....i think that should qualify as a paper bag!

Next topic...Best catchers baby brother who comes to the games and looks cute..who gives a crap...how about Crash Davis...

riz is a really good player

How bout we start this thread up for the new season, let's keep it to seniors and juniors little Johnny who is 12 yrs. old need not apply!

agreed!!!!

Charles Galiano from Commack. All-County last year and hits with power.

The Best 2012 Grad Catchers on Long Island

Evan Soloman -Cold Spring Harbor
Anthony DaDonna- Bethpage
Mike Rizzotello- Connetquot
Brendan Sullivan- St Dom's
TJ Ricco- Comsewogue
Edwardo Castro-Upper Room
Mike DiCunti- St Anthony's
Charlie Galiano-Commack
Kyle Brennan- Ward Melville

Why do I think the above are all on the Long Island Titans?

There are Varsity Catchers that will be 2013 Grads also, the 2012 grad class seniors will get the most airplay are there some exceptional starting juniors also?

Because its cheaper for them to tout their players here than spending time and money else ware.

Best catchers are in longwood no question all of them play up in their own way

Best catchers are the ones who can catch

They are not all Titans.....Get a clue before reposting

How bout the kid from the 16U Storm? Watched him pick a kid off second and throw out three base stealers in a doubleheader.
Very smooth behind the plate.

For Nassau County, keep an eye on Brian Lau from Oceanside and the kid from Massapequa, who's name escapes me.

Any conversation about Varsity catchers in Nassau County has to include Brian Lau from Oceanside and the kid from Massapequa whose name escapes me at the moment.

Top Nassau County catchers have to include:
Nick Fanneron - Massapequa
Brian Lau - Oceanside

Jake Frankel-Kellenberg

RE:Post 23112; must have struck a nerve, now I have a clue!

Josh Brewster, One OF The Best Catchers In The 15u division. lol

josh brewster.. lol

Mike Napolitano Hauppage 2012 catcher made the underarmour team this year. Sat being a 5 year starter so nobody knew him. Great coaches solid defence but no pitching. Catcher will be important for them if Hauppage has any shot at county's. Best pitchers this spring will be 9th grade lefty and a 10th grade righty and a senior lefy. Look for Napolitano

so.....DAD......you actually paid the $4500 to "make" the Underarmour team? did you go to arizona for the big tournament and everything?
L M F A O !!!!!

Where is the Brewster? He use to do a lot of JOSHING (self promoting) on this forum when he was under the illusion that he was really in the BIGGEST and BADDEST (self proclaimed) baseball organization on Long Island. I guess a summer of getting the crap knocked out of you transforms a person into a true believer of the proverbial saying Silence is golden.

Josh learn from it, keep playing, you have talent but talent without humility is likely to be looked upon as arrogance by people who have never had the pleasure of meeting you.

I bet your son tried out and did not makke it

I've seen Oceanside's Lau. Solid ballplayer. Chips Ahoy!

Is Nick Bottari at Shoreham-Wading River still catching??.. I know he was strong catcher with a big bat but had some injury problems??

NICK OSBORN EAST ISLIP

Top 2013 catchers-Nassau (all will start on Varsity as juniors this year)
Lennardi
Duarte
Gaffney
Shea
Fanneron

The players above are all good catchers.

But three of them play is Suff not Nassau. So please know your facts before posting.

Brian Lau (Oceanside) - also starting varsity as a junior - might be the best of the bunch

Leonardi, Gaffney & Shea are Suffolk and excellent players. Why post things that are blatantly incorrect? fyi - I live in Nassau.

Thanks for correcting that....I'm a nassau county dad and I've seen Duarte, Fanneron & Lau and they are all good looking players but I didnt recognize the other three.

Alex Rodriguez - Calhoun

Are there any stats recorded for any of these players Nassau or Suffolk? Batting Avgs., POP Times, Arm Velocity? Surely most of these up and coming 2013 Catchers would have been recorded at a showcase or by their HS or Travel Coaches.

Saw Castro @ a showcase late last summer. He has a 1.87 pop time and they said he had a strained elbow. Pretty damn good for a strained elbow!!!

Isn't Osburn East Islip's 3rd basemen??

How can you say a Calhoun catcher if Jake Thomas had the job the last 3 years and that kid never saw an inning of playing time?

Not to be rude, but what showcase did he attend (Castro) during the summer, where is it posted and why was he doing POP Times with a "strained elbow"? Not very familiar with Castro but I'm sure he is a fine player if his 1.87 POP Time is accurate that is an exceptional time. Maybe giving a litle more info about him would help. Is he 2012 or 2013? What school does he play for etc.

Saw Castro at the Long Island Baseball showcase.

Don't know why he would be throwing with a strained elbow, but over heard a couple scouts asking what was wrong with him because he wasn't throwing as well as normal, if you can believe that. I thought the same, a 1.87 is awesome and he wasn't throwing well???

I believe he is 2012 and attends Upper Room. Titans coach can give you more info. He plays for them as well.

Seems like he fits in the list of top catchers especially being a 2012 player as most on the list that were discussed were 2013. I think the crop of 2013 might also be some of the finest we have seen in many years. Thanks for the clarification on Castro and I'm sure there are others with stats.

Top Senior Catchers

Mike Dicunti, Kyle Brennan, TJ Riccio, Mike Rizzotello, Edwardo Castro, Brendan Sullivan, Charlie Galiano, Anthony Dedona, Evan Soloman

Top Junior Catchers

Rob Fiato, Chris Russo, Riley Shea, Billy Ridel, Andrew Durte,

Not to say each one is not an excellent catcher, but aren't most Titans?

I see Titans, LI Whalers and CGI Braves guys.

I guess since your jobless you couldnt afford to send your kid. Dont be a hater !!!!

I guess you meant you're ??? (the first one was incorrect)
Dumbass doesn't even know the proper word to use in a sentence.

all these guys have POP times in the 1.9-2.0 range and pretty good hitters, not just defensive.

Top Nassau Catchers in my view -----and I have seen all:
Fanneron
Duarte

Top Suffolk:
Gaffney
Leonardi

next best Suffolk catcher might be Fiato or Shea, Lau in Nassau.

Duarte (Under Armour) and Leonardi (Perfect Game) have videos done at National Showcases (the videos can be checked out at Under Armour's or Perfect Game websites) and both have pretty impressive write-ups and stats. Have seen every one of these Catchers just mentioned and all will make fine choices for any college.

gotta disagree with you here......I havent seen Duarte in awhile but I saw both Fanneron and Lau numerous times last year......both are excellent catchers but Lau is by far the better hitter..........gotta give the nod to Lau for Nassau County

One of the write-ups is solid and the other says thank you for attending.

Which one did you see?

Seen Fanneron and Lau and Lennardi and Lennardi is better than other two defensively with a very quick release-only think that makes Fanneron perhaps stand out a bit is the lefty bat which colleges like in catchers. He can hit for some average but not a lot of power yet. Duarte has the biggest bat potential in the bunch, and will attract attention because of his size (He looks like 6'2 and like 210 LBS)-Lennardi is the best defensively-Fanneron and Lau come up in the top 5 and all these kids are pretty good. Its a strong class.

I agree Duarte does have potential because of his size, but still has to act on the potential. Fannernon can still use work at bat, Lau hits the ball pretty well. Yet you did not mention that Leonardi can also hit, his defensive skills are very good but is a great gap hitter who also has plenty of power.

Lennardi may be best defensively now but will be undersized at the next level and will be a defensive catcher mainly in college, Duarte has most potential but he has yet to translate his size into his at bats which I have not seen him do consistently but has good receiving and blocking skills yet he may be too big to play catcher in college. Fanneron has lefty bat which is a plus also has good receiving and transfer skills but has a below average arm. All catchers are missing something but are all young and have time to develop. Have not seen Lau recently.

As I read these posts, I've got to chime in with my two cents worth. First of all, I am an Oceanside guy and I've got to comment on Brian Lau who alot of people don't seem to know alot about. Played mostly first base as a sophomore last year because Oceanside had a solid senior catcher but the coach wanted his bat. Great fastball hitter, sprays line drives all over the field. Superb catching skills that will be evident as the season goes on. POP time under 2.0 at a DeMarini showcase and Univ. of Virginia showcase last year. Didnt play on a big travel team but will be with the Prospects this summer and will hit some of the big tournaments. Nothing against the other kids mentioned on here, they are all good, but dont leave this kid out of the mix.

Wasn't Charles Galiano (Commack) All-County last year as a junior? The kid can hit with power and is strong defensively.

Galliano is good but we are talking 2013 class of catchers

Seems you know that Leonardi will be undersized... You have a crystal ball?? Galiano might be the best senior out there, but Leonardi and Gaffney are more polished than the rest mentioned. Remember colleges project out and unless you have a crystal ball future size is only guessed at this point. All of these boys have futures as long as they don't get hurt. As long as their grades are good they have a chance to go far.

St John The Baptist catcher. Name unknown. Saw him throw out 2 steal attempters, neither one would be considered slow, while throwing with both knees on the ground, Very impressive.

You can always polish a catcher with raw tools and size.....d1 catchers are generally 6 feet plus and hit for power...have not seen either gaffney or lennardi
do that.....

^ Both knees on ground?

Is he Santiago?

Kids attitude is poor.

Come on "polish a Catcher???" Catcher is one of the hardest positions on the field, makes no sense what you are saying. I guess you can "polish" a pitcher to throw 90 when he normally throws 80? There are plenty of D-1 Schools without that one huge Catcher, 6"-185 is a great size for a Catcher. And both Gaffney and Leonardi CAN hit for power although they are better gap hitters which is what D-1 coaches look for.

Gap hitters?? Coaches at the D-1 level want catchers that display much more than good gap hitting at this level. They want power numbers at this level which will then translate to good gap hitters at the next. Things may have changed but when I played D-1 baseball catchers were small and were mainly catch and throw guys now every top college program has catchers at 6 ft or taller , 200lb or more level and they hit. Size will matter at the next level.

I have coached on the Island and now have a kid coming up the ranks, I have given lessons to a lot of kids that are now about to graduate HS or juniors and I see the class of 2013, especially in catchers, being a good one. But if I am recruiting a kid today I still go with the kid that can project better over a couple of years instead of a kid that may be a little more polished today.

Wouldn't a kid who's skills are "polished" now only get better as he gets older? Or at 16 its all over with these boys that worked extra hard to hone their skills and become the best NOW have no shot at the next level,( that rings familiar) because as you say the kid with the big body now projects better later than the more talented and honed player? Bizzare, to say the least. Yes there will always be a place for the big framed kid but the real question is How many Joe Mauer's are in the big leagues and how many Buster Posey sized catcher's are there? There is a LOT LESS Joe Mauer sized catchers out there because most switch their position in college when they get so large. Than the other question is, How much Desire and Heart do these boys have? If they have these qualities,along with talent there is no telling how far any one of them will go.

Pat- Med Tom Palmese is really good. Got hurt last year will put big numbers this year.

Don't forget about Napolitano for seniors and as for juniors theres Luke Leonardi, Austin Adamo, Paul Britt, and im sure theres plenty more.

Chris Gaffney St. John the Baptist

Chris Russo, Junior, William Floyd.
Chris Gaffney St. John the Baptist

Chris Russo, Junior, William Floyd is a great defensive catcher
along with Chris Gaffney from St. John the Baptist

Brian Lau- Oceanside

Best 2013 hitting catcher I have seen on Long Island is Nick Duarte, I think he plays at Chaminade. Played on that Titans-Storm team in the fall. He caught my son, most of the kids were from Chaminade. This kid can flat out hit and calls a great game. The coach let him call his own games which he normally didn't let other catchers do. good arm but great blocking and receiving skills. Rob Fiato is another good catcher who can also hit, same team. They will be good again, not sure if he is playing with them in the summer though.

Fiato can't move

I've seen Fiato many times and although he is big can move very well and has a good bat and arm. Rob Fiato not only is one the better juniors on LI. He is also a respectful young man who shows a lot of character. Keep your negative comments to yourself, these boys DO read this stuff.

Its not negative.

Don't say things and be so pro people and hype up one team.

The kid can't move period, also seen him throw his gear all over the place after a loss.

You can't bring up someones name and only want your side to come out.

Are you kidding...these boys read this stuff????....they are the ones writing this stuff!!!!!!

first off never have been affilliated with Titans or Next Level just making a point if you aint got anything to say positive dont say anything. Have a slight bit of class.

I have coached Rob Fiato, he is a great kid and a class act. He moves well, and will play college baseball and get money to do so. He does need to get himself into better shape, but the kid is a player , so these can't move comments are ridiculous.

I agree that Duarte is probably best of 2013 class on Long Island overall, my son played with him a few years back, he has been on several diff teams since then, he is a very nice kid and well mannered but why do these kids bounce around so much on summer teams? is it their fathers? or kids just moving to play with friends? There was lot of movement this year with kids going from one team to another, this can't be good for these kids? what will they do in college- transfer out?

I don't know Fiato but all these catchers I have heard of. Lau is probably the next best catcher I have seen for that class...2013

^ We aren't in school.

This website is filled with negativity. So chalk it up or find another place.

Fiato is a big strong kid, and very good catcher, he will be looked at by D-1 schools and will play.

A few years ago my son pitched to Duarte. Unless he has improved dramatically (which is possible), referring to him as the "2013 Best" is a far, far reach. In answer to the question of why kids hop around from team to team, blame the fathers who are unrealistically ambitious and controlling, and always searching for "the team" that is worthy of their sons.

The movement with all these kids is almost always based on the fathers. They are all afraid of missing out on something or the next best thing. Problem there are a ton of guys out there promising them the world and no one wants their kid to miss out. Bottom line is hit the books , get good grades, and remember that this is a game.

Good luck to all this season.

The "ambitiious fathers" out there is certianly one reason. Another reason is as these "so called BIG organizations keep trying to get bigger" the money it costs to be on them grows also. Parents are finding it hard enough to pay bills let alone crazy money for their kids playing baseball so they find alternatives to paying crazy money to the Big organizations and sometimes the alternatives workout and sometimes they do not. But if your son is good enough he will be found, so don't always believe the "Drink Our Kool Aid" that these big organizations are spewing such as "without us no one will look at your kid". That is simply nonsense! First, make sure your kid gets good grades, then attend some tourney's and showcases in front of the schools he aspires to attend and that will certianly help.

Top catcher out there is Tom Palmese from Pat-Med.....kid is really good by far better than kids mention here.

haven't seen Palmese play, it seems like the 2013 class of catchers on LI is pretty strong?

You know how good he is,,if you haven't seen him then you're blind.

who does Palmese play for in summer? is he 2012 or 2013?
2013 talent on island is probably the best in a long time if not ever, a lot of catchers and a lot of pitching and some very good hitters and position players. college coaches will have a lot to choose from with this talented class.
2013 will see the most kids recruited D-1 in a long time on Long Island.