Seaford secures conference title

Seaford clinched a league title last week and is now geared up for playoff run in a deep Nassau Class A baseball tournament.

The Vikings took two-of-three from neighborhood rival Island Trees to sew up a first place finish in Conference A-IV. Seaford (15-3) had a bye the last week of the regular season as it awaits the start of postseason play this weekend as one of the top seeds. 

Seaford head coach Mike Milano attributes much of this spring’s success to his pitching staff, which tossed six shutouts and gave up only one run in five games. Ace Matt Pugliese went 6-0 with a nearly perfect 0.28 earned run average while A.J. Cain was 5-0 with one save in relief. Third starter Anthony Pristera also has been reliable on the mound with a 4-0 regular season including a complete-game one-hitter in a 10-0 win against Island Trees May 5 that clinched the conference title.

“The pitching has been key,” Milano said. “It has been so effective.”

Catcher Vincent Pecora has helped lead Seaford’s top-flight pitching staff in addition to being a force offensively with a .405 average heading into May. Cain has also been an offensive threat in the batter’s box with a .405 average entering May with 18 RBIs and three home runs. Mike Tito and Keith McHugh had big first months of the season as well with .370 and .333 averages, respectively.

Milano credits two new volunteer assistant coaches for much of Seaford’s success this spring. Sgt. Dan Cheatham, an active member of the U.S. Marine Corps. and Robert Maloney, a former Mineola High School baseball player now teaching at Seaford, have had positive influences in the dugout, according to Milano.

“It’s great having those guys around the team everyday,” Milano said. “They really connect well with the players.”

Seaford will enter the playoffs well-rested with no games over the final week of the regular season. Milano said the extra rest should be a positive for his team and he isn’t considered about the time off hurting momentum.

‘I think it will be good because we get a chance to take a look at some of the playoff teams we might be facing,” said Milano of gap. “We also can give some guys some rest.”

Seaford, which finds out its first playoff opponent later this week, will be in front of its home fans for the start of the double-elimination playoffs as a result of winning Conference A-IV. Milano said he anticipates Class A being wide open as it traditionally is come playoff time. The Vikings reached the third round last year before being eliminated by Floral Park.

“Class A is very difficult,” said Milano, who guided Seaford to three semifinal appearances in four years from 2011 to 2014. “There is no day off in Class A baseball.”