A Perfect Season in Rockland
Kaleb Hetzel, a senior pitcher for Tappan Zee, capped his high school career with a season that seemed almost untouchable. He finished the regular schedule with a 0.00 earned run average, allowing no earned runs while his team rolled to a 19‑1 record.
The team’s only setback came in the playoffs when Pearl River handed them a rare defeat, but the setback did little to tarnish Hetzel’s dominance. He closed the year with a 6‑2 record, a save, 73 strikeouts and just 11 walks, underscoring his control.
Looking Ahead to Division I
Next fall Hetzel will join the Stony Brook University baseball program, where he hopes to continue his trajectory of excellence on a Division I stage. The commitment reflects both his personal ambition and the growing pipeline of talent from Rockland County.
Coach Mark Sanford, who guided the team through the remarkable run, was recognized as Coach of the Year for his strategic acumen and ability to develop pitchers like Hetzel.
All‑Star Honors Across the Board
The Rockland all‑star selections highlighted the depth of talent on the squad. The first team featured Connor Buckley, Nick DeFelice, Quinn Miller, Haris Cucaj, Justin Amodeo, Rob Spilotras, Luke Viviano, Thomas Campanella, JD Santulli and Joe Moliterno, each of whom contributed significantly throughout the season.
The second team included Dylan Kim, Matt Purvis, Drew Wooster, Chris Ariola, Conor Mullin, Nate Cantor, Trevor Harrington, Jake Lipson, Max Martinez, Alex Koprowski and Jack Kavanagh, underscoring the breadth of emerging talent.
Beyond individual accolades, the season reinforced Rockland’s reputation as a hotbed for baseball excellence, drawing attention from college scouts and local media alike.