Baseball: Nanuet's Aidan Kempf leads the 2024 lohud Rockland All-County team

2024 Rockland Baseball Player of the Year

Aidan Kempf, Sr., Nanuet: The comeback was greater than the setback. After being sidelined all of last season due to injury, Kempf enjoyed a memorable senior year, serving as a catalyst to help the Golden Knights bounce back from a 5-15 campaign in 2023 to capturing their first Section 1 title since 1995. Kempf accounted for more than half of Nanuet's wins on the mound. Through 11 starts, he posted a 9-1 record with a 1.04 ERA, 157 strikeouts and 23 walks over 80 innings. He averaged 13.7 punch-outs per seven innings and had a 0.75 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .132 batting average. As a hitter, he batted .318, with three doubles, six triples, seven RBIs, 19 runs and 10 steals.

As good as he was all year, Kempf elevated his play in the postseason. Through Nanuet's four-game playoff journey that ended in extra innings during the Class A regional semifinals against eventual state champ Maine-Endwell, Kempf had a 0.46 ERA, with 62 strikeouts and just six walks allowed over 30 innings. He was also hot at the plate, batting .467 during the postseason, with a .556 on-base percentage and 1.489 OPS.

Kempf was named all-section, Conference 2 and league pitcher of the year, league comeback player of the year and the Most Valuable Player of the Section 1 Class A championship game.

"I have to thank everybody − my family, friends, coaches − all helping me throughout the way and making me the player and the individual that I am today," Kempf said. "It was a lot of fun; I grew a lot. I was on varsity freshman year and I learned a lot from all those upperclassmen that were there my freshman and sophomore years. Obviously, I missed my junior year, but this was one of the best years I've ever had. It was so fun, every game we had was the best. It was awesome and crazy how well we played this year from going 5-15 last year. It showed how much we grew as a team since last year.

"I'll take everything Coach (Phil) Carbone taught me when he was the head coach my freshman and sophomore year, and everything Coach (Carlos) Fidalgo taught me. Coach (Chris) MacRobbie taught us a lot, too. He worked with us in middle school and worked with us for a long time, and he's seen everybody grow up. They're a big reason why I'm the athlete and man I am today."

The rest of the All-County first team

Cris Cespedes

Position: Pitcher

Year: Senior

School: North Rockland

Highlights: The Maryland-committed flamethrower was tough to crack on the mound. He didn't give up any earned runs in more than half of his seven appearances this season. Cespedes was 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 31.1 innings. He also held opponents to a .195 batting average.

Michael Goodman

Position: Pitcher

Year: Senior

School: Clarkstown North

Highlights: The Delaware-bound ace was named Conference 1 and league comeback player of the year. A crafty pitcher, Goodman went 2-1 through eight appearances, with a 2.22 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 34.2 innings.

Connor Southwell

Position: Pitcher

Year: Senior

School: Suffern

Highlights: The Boston College-bound southpaw posted a 1.24 ERA, with 69 strikeouts and 21 walks over 45 innings. He made eight starts this year and finished with a 4-2 record, which included five shutout innings in a 2-0 win over Arlington and a loss to Ketcham where he didn't give up any earned runs. A lohud preseason Nine Who Shine selection, Southwell also was named league pitcher of the year and earned all-section.

Patrick Veintimilla

Position: Pitcher

Year: Senior

School: Albertus Magnus

Highlights: The Saint Joseph's-committed senior went 6-1 through eight starts on the mound. He had a 1.85 ERA, with 62 strikeouts over 41.2 innings. He held opponents to a .146 batting average. The all-section standout also played at first base when he wasn't pitching.

Vincent Duffy

Position: Catcher

Year: Junior

School: Nanuet

Highlights: The Seton Hall-committed junior was named all-section honorable mention for the second year in a row. He was a threat from the leadoff spot of the batting order, and was also a defensive stalwart. Duffy batted .375, with a .600 on-base percentage. He hit four home runs this season and tallied 17 RBIs, 28 runs, 28 walks and 15 stolen bases. Defensively, Duffy also threw out seven base runners.

Connor Benvenuto

Position: Infield

Year: Senior

School: Albertus Magnus

Highlights: A core member of the Falcons' middle infield, Benvenuto was an all-around weapon. The Conference 3 and league player of the year batted .339, with two doubles, four triples, 21 RBIs and 34 runs scored. He provided a solid glove and a calming presence in the bullpen. Benvenuto finished with a 1.05 ERA after making 11 relief appearances. Benvenuto had 19 strikeouts and just three walks allowed over 20 innings, and he tallied four saves. He also went 19-for-19 in stolen base attempts.

Kaden Miller

Position: Infield

Year: Senior

School: Clarkstown North

Highlights: A dynamic player who held down the hot corners for the Rams, Miller had a solid all-around year. Miller was a threat whenever he stepped up to the plate and batted .456, with 31 hits, three home runs, 14 RBIs, .558 on-base percentage and 1.220 OPS. The three-year starter and two-year captain batted .390 over his three seasons on varsity, with 76 career hits and 48 RBIs. He was named league player of the year and earned all-section.

Aidan Proctor

Position: Infield

Year: Senior

School: Clarkstown South

Highlights: A consistent and sound hitter in the Vikings' lineup, Proctor also provided a solid glove at first base. He batted .391, with seven doubles, a triple, three home runs and 20 RBIs. The Susquehanna-bound senior also had a .517 on-base percentage and a 1.169 OPS.

Jaden Vasquez

Position: Infield

Year: Sophomore

School: North Rockland

Highlights: Vasquez enjoyed a breakout season where he batted a team-high .391, with six doubles, a triple, a home run, 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored. He also stole 10 bases and topped off his solid sophomore year with all-section honors.

Jake Ciorra

Position: Outfield

Year: Senior

School: Tappan Zee

Highlights: He saved his best for last and was a two-way contributor for the Dutchmen. Ciorra started at left field and batted .450, with a .563 on-base percentage and a 1.096 OPS. The all-section senior also had 25 RBIs, 13 runs scored and five stolen bases. On the mound, he logged a 4-0 record, 1.78 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 23.2 innings. He also landed on the Section 1 Diamond Nine Plus One.

Ben Fishel

Position: Outfield

Year: Senior

School: Tappan Zee

Highlights: The Columbia-committed standout wrapped up an impressive career with a standout senior year that included lohud preseason Nine Who Shine, Conference 2 and league player of the year, all-section and Section 1 Diamond Nine Plus One honors. A complete five-tool player, Fishel batted .603, with 16 extra-base hits, including two triples and two home runs. He had 23 RBIs, 42 runs scored, nine stolen bases, a .696 on-base percentage and 1.622 OPS. In addition to his impeccable defense in center field, he also played a crucial role as a go-to reliever, recording a 2-1 record with four saves, 1.42 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 11 total appearances and 24.2 innings.

Jacob Herrera

Position: Outfield

Year: Sophomore

School: North Rockland

Highlights: He built off a great freshman season with another solid year with the Red Raiders. The sophomore speedster batted .360 with a .595 on-base percentage. The also had three doubles, 22 runs scored, 22 walks, and nine RBIs. He only struck out four times through 79 plate appearances. The all-section standout also racked up 28 stolen bases and had an error-free year in the outfield.

Kaleb Hetzel

Position: Utility

Year: Sophomore

School: Tappan Zee

Highlights: A key contributor with his bat, arm and glove, Hetzel was named all-section after a breakout year on the mound and at first base. Hetzel batted .453, with a .512 on-base percentage and 1.192 OPS. He had 34 hits, including 13 extra-base hits and a home run, with 34 RBIs and 18 runs scored. As a pitcher, he went 6-0, with a 2.21 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 31.2 innings.

Charlie Moustakakis

Position: Utility

Year: Junior

School: Nanuet

Highlights: He had a knack for delivering the clutch and timely hits and upped his production in crucial moments. Moustakakis batted .444 in the regular season and finished with 30 total RBIs, with 18 runs and nine extra-base hits. He also chipped in 15 innings on the mound, recording 13 strikeouts, four walks, one save and a 1.70 WHIP. Moustakakis was named all-section.

Connor Nolan

Position: Utility

Year: Senior

School: Clarkstown North

Highlights: A catalyst for the Rams, Nolan made an impact at first base and on the mound. He batted .328 this season, with 13 RBIs, including a crucial seventh-inning game-tying home run in the Section 1 Class AA quarterfinals against Yorktown. Nolan was also a competitor on the mound, leading the Rams with 40 innings pitched. He recorded four wins, 37 strikeouts and a 3.85 ERA.

John Olivieri

Position: Utility

Year: Junior

School: Clarkstown South

Highlights: A do-it-all type player for the Vikings that could succeed at whatever situation his team needed him, Olivieri got the job done with his speed, glove, arm and bat. He batted .364, with four doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He also stole a team-high 14 bases and committed only one error this season, leading all everyday players with a .987 fielding percentage. He also pitched 31 innings on the mound, recording a 3.61 ERA with 26 strikeouts and one save over 10 appearances.

Ben Raspanti

Position: Utility

Year: Junior

School: Pearl River

Highlights: An all-around contributor for the Pirates, Raspanti made an impact wherever he was needed, whether it was at third base, as catcher, or pitching on the mound. Raspanti batted .340, with nine extra-base hits, including five home runs. He also had 18 RBIs, 14 runs scored and 14 walks. He also logged two wins and one save on the mound and had a 1.05 ERA. Raspanti was named all-section honorable mention.

Tyler Wein

Position: Utility

Year: Freshman

School: Albertus Magnus

Highlights: Wein made an immediate impact in his varsity debut. He led the Falcons in nearly every offensive category and was named all-section. Wein had a team-high .523 batting average, with eight doubles, three home runs, a grand slam, 30 RBIs and 18 runs scored. He also had an error-free season.

Coach of the year

Carlos Fidalgo, Nanuet: It was a big turnaround season for the Golden Knights in their second season under Fidalgo. Nanuet went 5-15 and didn't even qualify for the postseason last year, before storming back and winning its first Section 1 title since 1995 with a 1-0 win over Panas. The Golden Knights finished the spring with a 17-6-1 record, and they lost in extra innings to eventual state champion Maine-Endwell in the Class A state regional semifinals.

Second team

P — Connor Buckley, So., Pearl River

P — Aiden Iazzetti, Sr., Albertus Magnus

P — Ryan Maltbie, Jr., North Rockland

P — Alex Polombo, Sr., Suffern

P — Kyle Sperring, Jr., Clarkstown South

C — Andrew Briggs, Sr., Suffern

INF — Byron Arias, Sr., Nyack

INF — Jake Gronowski, Sr., Clarkstown South

INF — Joseph Rosario, Jr., Clarkstown South

INF — Ryan Trombley, Jr., Nanuet

OF — Michael Carlacci, Sr., Pearl River

OF — Jack Kavanagh, So., Clarkstown North

OF — Anthony Marsico, So., Tappan Zee

UTIL — Cooper Brogan, Sr., Suffern

UTIL — Thomas Campanella, So., Tappan Zee

UTIL — Joe Dwyer, Sr., Albertus Magnus

UTIL — Ryan Fowler, Sr., Pearl River

UTIL — Colin McGovern, Sr., Clarkstown North

UTIL — Paul Peterson, Jr., Nanuet

Honorable mention

Justin Amodeo, So., DH, Clarkstown South; Steven Barbosa, Sr., 1B/C, North Rockland; Mike Cesario, Sr., C/3B, Nanuet; Haris Cucaj, So., C, Tappan Zee; Nick DeFelice, So., SS, Suffern; Elliot Kleinman, Sr., RF, Clarkstown South; L.J. Macias, Sr., OF, Clarkstown North; Gabe Reyes, Jr., 2B, North Rockland; Michael Squillini, Sr., C, Pearl River; Logan Scholl, Sr., Albertus Magnus; Derek Sullivan, So., 3B, Albertus Magnus; Lukes Vukdedaj, Sr., C, Nyack.

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Baseball: Nanuet's Aidan Kempf leads the 2024 lohud Rockland All-County team