By Tucker Terranova/Axcess Baseball

With one half of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League (HCBL) schedule in the books and the league’s top talent set to face off against the Atlantic Coast Baseball League (ACBL) this Saturday, now is the perfect time to highlight a few standout performers from the first month of play.

Collin Quintano, 1B, Southampton Breakers

In his second stint with Southampton, Quintano has looked right at home. After a 2024 season in which the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Villanova product batted .344, Quintano is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons in HCBL history.

Quintano is currently slashing an otherworldly .422/.506/.822, holds a 1.350 OPS, and leads the HCBL in home runs (9) and RBIs (32) – both by a significant margin. He is already tied for Southampton’s single-season home run record and has a real chance to break the league record of 16 if he continues his pace. His chase for 17 will certainly be a storyline to follow in the second half.

Mikey Brunetti, OF, Westhampton Aviators

After two seasons at Bradley University, Brunetti is putting together a standout summer at the plate. The incoming junior transfer to Queens University leads Westhampton in batting average (.344), home runs (4), and RBIs (16).

Brunetti has also posted a 1.135 OPS, flashing extra-base power with nine of his 21 hits going for doubles or home runs. Splitting time between the outfield and designated hitter, Brunetti has thrived in the leadoff spot, reaching base in 19 of his 22 games, making him one of the HCBL’s most reliable table-setters.

Brunetti will represent the Aviators at the upcoming All-Star game, joining teammates Tim Ford (Fordham) and Andrew Yanez (Queens College).

Thomas Matuszewski, 2B, North Fork Ospreys

The heartbeat of the HCBL’s best team, Matuszewski has put together an impressive campaign for the Ospreys.

Following a freshman season at Jefferson where Matuszewski earned Division II Freshman Position Player of the Year, NCAA Division II Co-Freshman of the Year, and All-American honors, he has stayed hot this summer. Matuszewski leads the HCBL with a .448 average, has hit two home runs, and ranks third in RBIs with 19.

He’s been a hit machine, currently riding an eight-game hitting streak and recording seven multi-hit games.

If North Fork captures its first title since 2013, Matuszewski will be a major reason why.

Brody Minder, RHP, Southampton Breakers

Leading the Southampton rotation, Minder – a West Chester product – has delivered an excellent start to the summer for the defending HCBL champions.

Allowing one or fewer runs in every outing, Minder is currently holding an HCBL-leading 1.80 ERA (among qualifiers) while striking out 15 batters and walking nine.

Minder is a key member of arguably the HCBL’s best and deepest pitching staff, which includes four All-Stars: Minder, Marco Citro (Holy Cross), Andrew Houghton (Cornell), and Drew Slikowski (UMass Amherst).

If the Breakers repeat as champions, look for Minder to be a big reason why.

Dylan Joseph, RHP, Shelter Island Bucks

The ace of Shelter Island’s rotation, Joseph, is in the midst of a stellar summer campaign that has put him squarely in the mix for Pitcher of the Year.

The senior right-hander from RIT has been excellent in five starts, leading the HCBL in strikeouts (40) while posting a 3.25 ERA and tying for second in wins (2).

Joseph has allowed nine earned runs on the season – but if you take away his June 19 outing, where he surrendered eight, he’d hold an HCBL-best 0.41 ERA.