NEW YORK | For the second consecutive year, the Skyline Conference Player of the Year and league Rookie of the Year come from the same programs.  
 
The conference’s 11 head baseball coaches have voted on this season's all-conference team. Maritime senior third baseman Freddy Forgione has been named Player of the Year, while the Rookie of the Year nod goes to Purchase breakout freshman Brandon Gonzalez. 

Farmingdale State right-handed ace Johnny Dougherty has been tabbed as the Pitcher of the Year, while St. Joseph’s-Long Island mentor Tom Caputo was selected as Coach of the Year for a second straight year in voting by his peers.
 
Forgione follows Matt Milone, who shared the honor last year at Maritime with U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Tyler Reistetter. Reistetter returns to the all-conference first team in 2024, which also includes Forgione, Dougherty and Gonzalez. 
 
Forgione (below) had a record-setting season, breaking the program marks for home runs (21), RBI (62) and runs scored (54). His 21 home runs are currently the second-most nationally (first entering Skyline postseason play). Forgione also posted a .385 batting average and ranked first or second in the Skyline in eight different offensive categories, leading the Privateers to the third seed in the playoffs. On April 24 at Lehman, he became the third player in school history to belt three home runs in a game.
 
Dougherty (below), a senior, was a two-time Skyline Pitcher of the Week. He won the ERA crown in the Skyline (top-25 nationally), and tied for third overall in wins by the conclusion of the regular season. He was also tops in conference in strikeouts and ranked second in Skyline wins, posting a 1.08 WHIP – the third-best mark in conference play. His .214 avg. against ranked second in the league (40 H: 4th-fewest; 17 BB: 7th-fewest) as he led the Rams to the postseason. FSC reached the final championship game of the double-elimination tournament, falling to three-time champion St. Joseph’s-Long Island, 9-8, in a dramatic walk-off in the ninth inning.
 
Gonzalez (below) was a three-time Skyline Rookie of the Week and finished the campaign for the playoff-clinching Panthers batting .395 with 45 hits and 36 runs. He helped Purchase reach the playoffs with a late surge. In four Skyline games the second to the last weekend of the regular season, the third baseman went 8 for 15 with two home runs, a double, six RBI, eight runs, four walks (two intentional) and two stolen bases. He also collected his first win of his career during a relief appearance against Mount Saint Vincent on his way to his third Rookie of the Week and sixth weekly award on the spring.
 
Caputo (below) takes home the honor once again after the Golden Eagles claimed their third straight regular-season and championship titles. This spring, St. Joseph’s-LI went 18-2 in conference play to claim the first seed in the tournament, but the Golden Eagles needed every ounce of their dynastic squad to get past FSC in the championship, rallying from the losers bracket to win twice on Sunday and punch their ticket to the NCAAs.
 
Caputo, a Valley Stream, N.Y. native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Hofstra, where he played Division I baseball. He served as captain of the Flying Dutchmen and earned All-Conference honors for his performances. After college, Caputo played three seasons with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball from 2001 to 2003.
 
Four of Caputo’s players headline the first team, while three are among the second-team honorees (below). 
 
First Team

C - Jason Albert, Mount Saint Vincent
1B - Liam Daly, Purchase
2B - Jaime Barrios, Old Westbury
SS - Mike DiFilippo, St. Joseph’s-Long Island
3B - Freddy Forgione, Maritime
3B - Brandon Gonzalez, Purchase
OF - Anselmo Joya, St. Joseph’s-Long Island
OF - Anthony Madigan, Maritime
OF - Bobby Pollock, Farmingdale State
DH - Alex Bardi, Maritime
UTL - Tyler Reistetter, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
SP - Johnny Dougherty, Farmingdale State
SP - Peter Manger, St. Joseph’s-Long Island
SP - Tyler Reistetter, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
RP - Dante Morabito, St. Joseph’s-Long Island

Second Team

C - Rob Manetta, Old Westbury
1B - Jordan Lambert, Farmingdale State
2B - Ryan Wasserman, Farmingdale State
SS - Johnny Brucato, Mount Saint Vincent
3B - Jack Millen, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
OF - Richie Heyder, Farmingdale State
OF - Mike Petrucelly, Old Westbury
OF - Dom Porto, Mount Saint Vincent
OF - Jordan Ramlogan, St. Joseph's-Long Island
DH - John Lynch, St. Joseph’s-Long Island
UTL - Rob Copozzi, Maritime
UTL - Elian Pimentel, Farmingdale State
SP - Jack Kelly, St. Joseph’s-Long Island
SP - Ryan McCann, Manhattanville
RP - Rob Manetta, Old Westbury

Player of the Year: Freddy Forgione, Maritime
Pitcher of the Year: Johnny Dougherty, Farmingdale State
Rookie of the Year: Brandon Gonzalez, Purchase
Coach of the Year: Tom Caputo, St. Joseph's-Long Island (Second Season)