By Tucker Terranova/Axcess Baseball

When you average 11.5 runs per game over a four-game stretch, it’s safe to assume the results often swing in your favor.

For the South Shore Clippers, who put together an otherworldly offensive performance across four Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League playoff games, the barrage couldn’t have come at a more clutch time.

Powered by a six-run third inning, the Clippers slugged their way past the North Fork Ospreys, 11-9, to complete the sweep and capture the 2025 HCBL Championship.

The win marks the Clippers’ third in team history (2017, 2023) and their second in the past three seasons. For Playoff MVP Larry Hotaling (Villanova), the title was a sweet ending to a season filled with ebbs and flows.

“After starting off 3-9, we believed we needed to take time to gel and get used to playing with each other,” Hotaling said. “There was a series in Shelter Island where we scored 35 runs in two games, which we felt was the turning point of the season. Ever since then, we’ve just been climbing.”

It seemed the Ospreys’ bats were the ones bound for a crooked number in the first inning before Clippers starting pitcher Kevin Brown (Wesleyan) settled in and kept North Fork scoreless.

His efforts were immediately rewarded in the bottom half, as the top of the Clippers’ lineup continued their momentum from last night’s opener. After the first two batters reached base, Hotaling continued his torrid postseason by recording his 13th playoff RBI on a fielder’s choice back to the mound.

Brown suffered an elbow injury in the second inning and was replaced by Dominic Carleo (Pace), who was tasked with covering the bulk of the remaining innings.

Although Carleo escaped the second unscathed, North Fork pushed across its first run of the afternoon in the third.

Nick Pratt (UMBC) doubled off the center-field fence to give the Ospreys their first runner in scoring position, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Brendan Duffy (SUNY Oneonta) had a chance to even the score — and did just that — flaring a double to left field to bring home Pratt.

The top of South Shore’s order went right back to work in the third, as Michael Prisco (Queens) came up with a runner on first and launched a two-run shot over the right-field fence.

After Anthony Armenia (Bridgeport) reached, Justin Wilkinson (Adelphi) continued the power surge with a two-run homer of his own, extending South Shore’s lead to 5-1 and marking the end of Sebastian Perez’s (La Salle) outing.

The Clippers kept adding on, rudely welcoming reliever Diego Martinez-Gomez (Riverside CC) to the mound.

James Eden (Adelphi) ripped an RBI double to keep the inning alive, followed by Sam Leonard scoring on a wild pitch to cap a six-run third.

Rocco Cimino (Pace) answered back for North Fork in the fourth, flaring a base hit to right field to cut the lead to 7-2.

The Clippers’ home-run barrage continued into the fourth, as Armenia took advantage of the wind for a solo shot to center, extending the lead to 8-2.

The Clippers and Ospreys exchanged bases-loaded walks before Thomas Matuszewski (Jefferson) made a significant cut into South Shore’s six-run lead with a bases-clearing double in the fifth.

With Matuszewski on second, Pratt continued his excellent afternoon, this time with a two-run shot which cut the deficit to 9-8. 

It wouldn’t take long for the Clippers to put runs back on the board. ‪Ryan Adams (St. John’s) gave two right back as he sent Matt Guido’s offering over the center-field fence for the Clippers’ fifth homer of the day.‬

“He’s been an emotional and determined player for us all summer,” Hotaling said of his catcher. “He’s helped us stay confident all year, and it was great to see him come up big there.”

The Ospreys added one in the ninth, but it was not enough as Sebastian Lippmann recorded the save.

The Clippers are the third straight team to win the championship after starting below .500 through 10 games, having opened the season at 3-7 (2024 Breakers: 4-6; 2023 Clippers: 4-5-1). They’re also the second consecutive team — and fourth since 2015 — to finish a perfect 4-0 in the postseason.

Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League Champions

2008: Hampton Whalers

2009: Westhampton Aviators+

2010: North Fork Ospreys+

2011: Westhampton Aviators

2012: Southampton Breakers

2013: North Fork Ospreys

2014: Southampton Breakers

2015: Shelter Island Bucks

2016: Westhampton Aviators

2017: Long Island Road Warriors

2018: Riverhead Tomcats

2019: Westhampton Aviators

2021: Southampton Breakers

2022: Sag Harbor Whalers

2023: South Shore Clippers

2024: Southampton Breakers

2025: South Shore Clippers

• ACBL Champion for that season also