Mepham (15 wins) second to Calhoun

Behind an offense led by hot-hitting Kieran Kehoe, Mepham lost just two of 18 Conference A1 baseball games but 15 wins weren’t enough to overcome defending Nassau and Long Island Class A champion Calhoun for the top spot.

The Colts avenged an opening-series loss to the Pirates May 8 with back-to-back victories to claim the conference title. In a winner-take-all finale May 10, Calhoun prevailed 12-3 behind Charlie Imhof’s four hits and seven RBIs.

“We’ve had an incredible season and maybe we’ll see Calhoun again in the playoffs,” Mepham coach Eric Passman said. “They’re very good and played a better series and deserved it. We just kind of ran out of pitching, but it’s hard to complain when you go 15-2-1.”

The Pirates, who last season reached the Class A quarterfinals, averaged better than eight runs per game against conference rivals and earned the No. 5 seed in this year’s playoff tournament.

Kehoe, a junior first baseman and returning starter, is expected to be among the finalists for the Nassau County Diamond Award, given to the top player. He ended the regular season with an eye-popping .650 average with 5 homers and 36 RBIs. The 6-foot-7 three-sport athlete has struck out only three times in more than 70 plate appearances.

“He had a nice season as a sophomore but I think I batted him sixth or seventh to start this year,” Passman said of Kehoe. “That quickly changed. He’s a confident athlete who works really hard. He’s pretty much been in the clean-up spot where we can protect him better.”

In the opening game against Calhoun, Kehoe went 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs to lead an 11-6 victory. Senior center fielder and leadoff hitter Michael Cucinella drove in three runs and pitched three innings in relief, striking out five to save the win for senior starter Bryce Bowers. “Cucinella has been exceptional out of the bullpen and is just a gamer,” Passman said.

Bowers, an All-Conference selection in 2022, went 5-0 with a no-decision in six conference starts. “He got the ball every Monday and is a big righty pitcher with a big lefty bat,” Passman said.

Senior Kyle Knowles stepped up as a third-year varsity pitcher and held the No. 2 spot all spring. He’s a southpaw with good pop and movement, Passman said. “Kyle improved during the offseason and has done a really nice job getting ahead of hitters,” the coach noted.

Junior Kiran Paingankar was the third regular in the starting rotation and earned some quality wins, including one on the road against MacArthur.

Senior Thomas Coyne has enjoyed a bounce-back season behind the plate, Passman said, and batted .350 while also being one of the team’s emotional leaders. In addition to Kehoe, the infield features seniors Troy O’Neill, who made a smooth transition from second base to shortstop, Sean Seligman (second base) and Nick Walker (third.) Senior Jeff Decina (right) and junior Steven Mulqueen (left) flank Cucinella in the outfield.

The Pirates swept three games from New Hyde Park, Jericho, Long Beach and MacArthur and had two wins and a tie against Great Neck South prior to the Calhoun series.