Talented Trio Paces Blue Devil JV Baseball
A talented trio of players paced the Huntington High School junior varsity baseball team this past spring. While the Blue Devils struggled to win games, the roster included many players who performed well and appear to have bright futures with the program.
Freshmen Nicholas Haupt and Justin Italiano and sophomore Ethan Copp combined to lead Huntington.
Haupt batted .356 and led the team in extra base hits. The teenager starred at third base and as a pitcher. Italiano pitched, played shortstop and hit a team-high .412. “Justin played great up the middle,” said Rob Cappas, the Blue Devils’ head coach. “He had the best batting average on the team and as a first year pitcher, threw the ball very well.” ‘Copp, who captained the team, split time at shortstop and on the mound, batting .333 over the two month seasaon. He threw especially well in a game against North Babylon.
The highlight of the spring came when Huntington rallied to top Half Hollow Hills West in a slugfest, 24-17. Another memorable moment came when Copp smacked a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning on his birthday to topple visiting West Babylon, 12-11.
“The team never gave up, even when down by many runs or when calls were not in our favor,” Cappas said. “The boys always showed great sportsmanship.”
Huntington’s Big Three all enjoyed standout seasons. Italiano fanned only four times on his way to batting .412. Haupt banged out four doubles and Copp connected for a pair of two-baggers.
“This year’s team was very young, mostly freshmen and with them all returning and new additions from the middle school, the JV team’s future looks bright,” Cappas said. “Competing with West Islip and other schools [next spring] will bring about an interesting year.”