STATE CHAMPIONS: HORSEHEADS WINS 2ND STATE TITLE IN PROGRAM HISTORY IN COACH LIMONCELLI'S FINAL GAME (24 PHOTOS) (2025-06-14)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — It was 1999 when a second-year baseball coach at Horseheads helped lead the Blue Raiders to their first state championship.

Fast forward 26 years and Jeff Limoncelli wrapped up his coaching career with another state title, keyed by the son of one of his players on that first team as the Blue Raiders topped Fox Lane 6-5 in eight innings to win the Class AA championship at Binghamton University.

“I’m very blessed, because that doesn’t happen often,” Limoncelli said of going out as a state champion. “You have to have good players who a tight knit group who work hard for you to give you a chance and you get hot come playoff time and it goes quick.

“It seems like we got hot, we played well in all facets of the game. For this to happen, to go out like this, it’s surreal. Someone pinch me man, it’s great.”

For the players winning this for Limoncelli was something they really wanted.

“I know it means a lot for him, and it means just as much for us for him to go out like this,” senior Mason Holloway said. “He’s been a legend in the area for basketball and baseball and for him to finally win another one, I’m glad we can do it for him.”

In 1999 one of Limoncelli’s players was Bo Hays. On Saturday it was Bo’s son Micah who set up the game-winning run, and unexpectedly provided a boost on the mound.

Hays hasn’t pitched all season. Tests on his elbow weren’t conclusive, but he was told it was probably a sprain and to take it easy. Hays, who will play at Division I Holy Cross next year, didn’t want to risk anything before college, so he just kept building his way back up for college.

However, recently Hays threw a couple bullpens and felt good, and was given the chance to pitch in the state title game.

“Last week I threw about two bullpens, and they asked me if I wanted to close it out tonight and of course I wanted to,” Hays said. “No one really knew until tonight I was going to go out there and pitch.”

Limoncelli kept his secret bullpen weapon under his hat. He had said after Friday’s game it was all hands on deck on Saturday, and that meant his star left-hander as well.

“Nobody knew he was available,” Limoncelli said. “He was available a couple weeks ago, but I was afraid to use him a little bit. But, I said you know what, you are a D1 pitcher, go in there and give me a couple innings and he did.

“He hasn’t pitched all year. He wasn’t in the scouting report I can tell you that on the other side. And then Brendan Clark coming in a huge situation. Here is a kid, first year on our team and he’s the winning pitcher in a state championship game, so proud of him too.”

There were plenty of emotions and nerves for Hays as he pitched for the first time all year in the biggest moment of the season.

“It was definitely higher than ever before, because it’s just an unreal atmosphere with all the fans and everything,” Hays said.

Hays threw 2 2/3 innings of one-hit, shutout ball, striking out two. Hays left the game to Clark to get the last out after throwing more than 40 pitches.

“It was a little tight,” Hays said. “I was up to 45 and it was my first start, I didn’t want to risk anything.”

With Holloway not able to pitch in the final, after throwing a shutout in the semifinals, he was happy to see fellow senior Hays on the mound in his last game.

“He did his job,” Holloway said. “We knew coming into this if it got a little sketchy he was going to come into this. He was going to shut it down, which he did. We finally got it done. It was good to see him on the mound finally this year, especially his last game.”

In the bottom of the eighth inning it was Hays bat that got things started for the Blue Raiders as he crushed a long double to left that would have been out of most high school stadiums.

“It switched the momentum to our side definitely at that point,” Hays said of the double.

For Hays to be able to win a state title for the same coach that his dad won for is special.

“It means a lot,” he said. “My dad played for him when they won the championship in 99 and just to be a part of this team and him coaching it and doing it for the second time, it means a lot.

“Definitely crazy to be in the same family as someone else who won a state title. We were definitely talkin about it to see what it would be like if we won.”

Zac Giammichele was then hit by a pitch and after a second out was recorded, Fox Lane walked leadoff hitter Josh Stout to load the bases for Keegan Monahan.

Monahan delivered, hitting a ball to short, that the shortstop made a diving play on, but Stout beat the throw to second and pinch runner Ben Torgalski scored the game-winning run.

For Monahan the mindset was simple, put the ball in play.

“Don’t stake out,” he said. “Get a hit. I missed a bunt earlier, so come through in the moment.”

Coming through in big moments is something that Horseheads has done all year long.

“These kids are so resilient,” Limoncelli said. “We got down 4-1 and they just kept believing. We are fine, we have good enough pitching and defense. If we can somehow get a big inning, get some runs and tie things up we are going to win it. So, they believed it, they executed. A lot of pressure executions with Monahan coming through and Trevor Reidy with the safety squeeze. Little things like that aren’t easy, but they are used to it. They work at it. They slowed the game down and we got it done at the end.

“We do a lot of mental performance training where we slow things down. The kids are relaxed in certain situations. We make them uncomfortable in practice. It works. If anyone says it doesn’t they are full of it, because it works. These kids understand breathing and visualization and slow the game down like I said. And, when those situations come up, it’s just another game and that’s how they act and that’s why we won.”

 For Monahan there was a little extra motivation after Fox Lane walked Stout to get to him.

“A little bit extra, but you have got a job to do and I got it done,” he said. “Hit the ball on the ground, see ball, hit ball. Just see a fast ball and hit it.”

And, as soon as he hit it Monahan felt like it was going to be the game-winner.

“I thought it was getting through (the infield), so I started celebrating early, but second base was a little closer than expected, but Josh got there.”

Fox Lane scored two runs in the first, before Horseheads got on the board in the third to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Fox Lane then came back with two in the fourth to go up 4-1, that’s when Horseheads started to fight back.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth Trevor Reidy walked and pinch runner Chase Mashanic took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Lyncoln Bennett. Hays then walked with Bennett taking third on a wild pitch. A Giammichele sacrifice fly cut the deficit to 4-3.

Fox Lane got a run back in the top of the fifth, but again Horseheads battled back.

Stout singled and with one out Holloway singled. Cooper Ball hit an RBI single and and Reidy laid down the suicide squeeze to tie the game and set up the big finish.

“It’s unreal, just this whole team, we are so tight knit and to do this just feels great,” Hays said. “I think just knowing what’s at stake. It just put us over the edge. We were here to fight. There were no more games after this, so we were leaving it all out on the field.”

“This is really special,” Holloway said. “Especially with this group of guys that we have. This is the closest we’ve ever been as a team, so to win it with them it feels unbelievable.”

For Holloway the win at Binghamton University was a little extra special as it was at Binghamton University, where he’ll play next season.

“It’s a lot more special to do it here,” Holloway said.

The crowd support was special all day for the Blue Raiders, and that helped motivate them.

“I look up at the bleachers, look at the support we have,” Limoncelli said. “The community, we’ve got Little League teams. The families, everyone supports us. I looked up in the bleachers and I didn’t realize how many people were here. I looked up and I go I really hope we win it for them and it really ended up being a great day.”

The fan support has been there all year for the Blue Raiders, and Holloway noticed it on Saturday. The stands even included the softball team, who had just completed their own state final, a 3-1 loss  to Orchard Park and showed up to see the end of the baseball team’s win.

“It’s very special,” Holloway said of all the fans. “They come out, they support us in every sport we play, so you have to give a shoutout to the Rowdie Raiders and everyone who shows up. We really appreciate all they do for us, we love them all.”

As the players celebrated on the field, jumping into a huge dog pile and hugging everyone they could find, you could see Limoncelli near the dugout, with the biggest smile on his face as he hugged his fellow coaches.

“I haven’t been that happy before,” he said. “Not since marrying my wife and the birth of my kids. That was a good one.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES AND STEVE EDGERLY

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:


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