Photo Credits: Olivia Daddona (Top) and Greg Diener (Bottom)

The North Fork Ospreys and the South Shore Clippers, when they begin play in the 2025 HCBL Championship Series on Monday Night, will both try to become the third team in HCBL history to have at least three HCBL championships. 

The winner of this series will join the Westhampton Aviators and the Southampton Breakers as the three teams with at least three league titles (Westhampton and Southampton are tied for the most at four).

Top-seeded North Fork enters the championship round riding a wave of postseason momentum, having outlasted the Sag Harbor Whalers in a dramatic two-game Semifinal series capped by an 11-inning walk-off in Game 1 to advance to their first HCBL Championship Series since 2013. 

Third-seeded South Shore, meanwhile, comes in rested and red-hot after sweeping the defending champion Southampton Breakers in two games. South Shore is trying to win their second HCBL title in three seasons having won it in 2023 against the Westhampton Aviators in three games.

Ospreys Soar Into Finals

The Ospreys, finished the regular season with the league’s best record at 21-13-1. The franchise aims to win its third league title, following championships in 2010 and 2013.

At the heart of North Fork’s potent offense is Thomas Matuszewski (Jefferson), who captured the HCBL batting title with a scorching .403 average and drove in 24 runs. Matuszewski made history in Game 2 of the Semifinals, setting a single-game postseason record with seven RBI in a 14-1 rout of Sag Harbor in Game 2 of the HCBL Semifinals.

Backing up Matuszewski is fellow middle-of-the-order standout Nick Pratt (UMBC), who finished second in the league in batting at .398 with two home runs and 21 RBI. Pratt, a second-year Osprey who was the HCBL All-Star Game MVP in 2024, delivered the walk-off hit in Game 1 of the Semifinals and has been a clutch performer all season.

The Ospreys also bring speed and balance with Rocco Cimino (Pace) and Vincent Mariniello (Franklin & Marshall), who combined for 31 stolen bases in the regular season.

On the mound, North Fork will lean on AJ Mitchell (Dominican), who compiled a 3-2 record with a 3.37 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. Out of the bullpen, Brian Espinal (Pace) has been lights-out, finishing the regular season with a 2.25 ERA in nine appearances.

Clippers Ready to Make History

The South Shore Clippers are making their fourth trip to the HCBL Championship Series in their eighth season as a franchise. After finishing the regular season with a 18-16-1 record, the Clippers hit their stride at the perfect time, dismantling Southampton in two games behind an explosive offense and resilient pitching.

Anthony Armenia (Bridgeport), a second-year Clipper, leads the way for South Shore, batting .333 during the regular season with three home runs, 24 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He’s been a steady force at the top of the lineup all summer.

The Clippers’ lone All-Star, Larry Hotaling (Villanova), has been even better in the postseason. After hitting .330 with 17 steals and 22 RBI in the regular season, Hotaling exploded for eight RBI in the two-game sweep over Southampton in the Semifinals.

Also swinging a hot bat is Ryan Kiendle (St. John's), who was named HCBL Player of the Week after driving in 11 runs during the final week of the regular season. Ryan Hillery (St. Thomas Aquinas) has also contributed with a .304 average and 14 RBI during the season.

On the mound, the Clippers will likely give the ball to Conor Burns (St. John's). Burns went 3-2 with a 4.06 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 24.1 innings during the regular season. Closing games for South Shore is Joe Swinarski (New Haven), who led the league in saves with three and struck out 20 batters in 19.2 innings across six appearances.

A Clash of Styles

North Fork enters the series with the league’s most balanced lineup, anchored by high-contact hitters and power threats, while South Shore counters with speed, clutch bats, and the hottest offense in the postseason. The series is expected to be tightly contested and could come down to the bullpens, with both teams capitalizing on key opportunities.

The Ospreys won the regular season series against the Clippers 6-2; however, South Shore won two of the last three games against North Fork during the final week of the regular season.

Game 1 of the 2025 HCBL Championship Series takes place on Monday, July 28th at 7 PM at Cochran Park in Peconic, the home of the North Fork Ospreys.

Live audio coverage can be heard on Meridix.com by clicking the “LISTEN LIVE” link on the top right of the hamptonsbaseball.org front page.