HCBL Championship Preview: Bucks, Breakers Meet Again with Title on the Line
The 2026 Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League season comes down to a familiar championship matchup as the No. 1 Southampton Breakers host the No. 2 Shelter Island Bucks on Sunday with the HCBL championship trophy at stake.
It’s the third championship meeting between the two organizations. Southampton captured the title over Shelter Island in both 2014 and 2024, and the Breakers will be looking to continue that perfect record in championship meetings. History is also on the line for Southampton, which is seeking to become the first franchise in HCBL history to win five league championships. Meanwhile, Shelter Island is chasing its second HCBL title and first since 2015.
Southampton’s Potent Lineup
Few offenses in the league were as balanced and dangerous as the Breakers’, who finished the regular season batting .302 while scoring 211 runs.
Leading the way is first baseman Chase Jones (West Chester), who put together an MVP-caliber season. Jones hit .413, the league’s highest average among qualified hitters, while posting a remarkable .547 on-base percentage. He also added 12 RBI, six stolen bases, and played stellar defense at first base.
Shortstop Sean Sailer (Villanova) was nearly as productive, batting .405 with 17 hits in just 42 at-bats while reaching base at a .569 clip. His ability to get on base at the top of the lineup has been a catalyst all season.
The biggest power threat belongs to designated hitter Nick Slogik (Rowan College at Gloucester), who slugged five home runs, drove in 23 runs, and posted a .687 slugging percentage while batting .403. Slogik has been especially dangerous during the postseason, highlighted by his six-RBI performance against Riverhead on July 17th.
Speed is another major weapon for Southampton. Zach Khozozian (Harvard) stole 15 bases, while Aidan Colasante (Harvard) added 13 steals and has become one of the club’s hottest hitters entering the championship after his three-run homer in the semifinal against North Fork. Hector Francia (St. John’s) led the club with 23 stolen bases, constantly putting pressure on opposing defenses.
Supporting the lineup are veterans Michael Caron (Assumption, .309, 23 runs scored), Alexander Apicella (Stony Brook, .301, four home runs), Vic Patel (Wallace CC, .304), Brendan Gardner (Holy Cross, .322, two home runs), Luke Ciminiello (Stony Brook, .271), and Owen Beatrice (.273, St. John’s) giving the Breakers quality production throughout the batting order.
Shelter Island’s Balanced Attack
The Bucks don’t possess quite the same home run numbers, but they may be the league’s most aggressive club on the bases and excel at manufacturing runs.
Everything starts with leadoff hitter Sam Ametrano (Quinnipiac), who has been one of the league’s most dynamic players. Ametrano finished the regular season batting .407, scored 35 runs, reached base at a .558 clip, and stole an incredible 40 bases, leading the HCBL this season, which set a league single-season record.
Behind him is versatile infielder Cayden Van Dolah (Holy Cross), who hit .329 with 22 runs scored and 13 RBI while drawing 15 walks.
The middle of the order features several run producers, led by David Swift (Bates), who drove in 26 runs, the highest total on the Bucks. Swift batted .291 with five doubles and two home runs while serving as Shelter Island’s primary RBI threat.
JD Stemhagen (Dickinson) quietly enjoyed an outstanding season; the third-year Buck hit .324 with 23 hits, while Ben Prince (Maine) hit .325, adding eight RBI and providing timely power.
Other key contributors include Jack Pitman (Bentley, .288, 14 RBI), Miguel Reich (Dickinson, two home runs), Sam Bradford (UMass Dartmouth, 13 RBI) and Jackson McBride (Bates, .275), giving Shelter Island quality depth throughout the lineup.
Clash of Styles
Sunday’s championship could come down to contrasting offensive philosophies.
Southampton combines patience and power, drawing 166 walks while hitting 22 home runs, the most in the league. The Breakers can score in bunches, as shown in their 15-run semifinal victory.
Shelter Island, meanwhile, pressures opponents with speed. The Bucks stole 99 bases during the regular season, led by Ametrano’s league-leading total, and thrive by putting runners in motion and forcing defensive mistakes.
Championship Stakes
Southampton enters the title game looking to cement itself as the most decorated franchise in HCBL history with a record fifth championship. The Breakers are looking to take their second title in the last three seasons and are seeking their third championship in six seasons.
For Shelter Island, the opportunity is equally significant. The Bucks have not claimed the HCBL crown since 2015 and can capture their second championship while having a chance to finally beat Southampton in the league final after falling in the championship round to them in both 2014 and 2024.
With the league’s most explosive offense meeting one of its most opportunistic teams, Sunday’s championship promises to be a fitting conclusion to the 2026 HCBL season.