How Babylon baseball became hottest team in New York
Babylon High School celebrates their win during the Class B Championship game of the NYSHPSAA Baseball Championships At Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton, NY on Saturday, June 14th of 2025. Credit: JORGE MARCANO
Babylon closed its season as hot as any baseball team in New York, securing its 15th straight win with a 2-0 triumph over Putnam Valley in the state Class B final last Saturday in Binghamton.
Along the way, it was a “next-man-up mentality” that coach Michael Birnbaum emphasized.
The Panthers’ season started on a low note with the losses of star senior pitchers Aidan Kistner and James Rugolo to Tommy John surgery. Kistner was able to play DH during the state title run.
But senior Gavin McDonnell, sophomore Jake Ostertag and junior Owen Killeen formed an ultra-reliable staff that navigated Babylon through the season and into program immortality.
Babylon (22-3) turned in eight shutouts and seven other games allowing only one run en route to the program’s first state title since 2007 and second in program history. It allowed just five total runs in five postseason games.
“I was coming back from an injury myself, so I was looking to get back into things,” said Killeen, who struck out eight in a four-hit shutout in the state final. “And while it sucks that that happened to my two friends, those injuries gave me an opportunity to really make a name for myself up here in the state tournament. And while I love those kids — I wouldn't want that to happen to any of them — but I feel like I made the best of a bad situation.”
Killeen missed his sophomore season after suffering a separated growth plate in his elbow and undergoing surgery. He stayed fresh in scrimmages during the spaced-out Class B postseason, but the last time he pitched in a competitive game before the state final was May 7 — 38 days prior.
“It was big for Gavin and Owen to step up,” shortstop Johnny Harkins said. “It’s really, really impressive the way that they carry themselves on the mound. It sucks losing Kistner and Rugolo, but they're cheering us on . . . They're just as happy as we are that we won the state.”
McDonnell twirled a one-hitter in a 6-0 win over Pierson in Game 1 of the best-of-three Suffolk Class B championship series. He also tossed a complete game in a 6-1 win over Carle Place in the Long Island Class B final.
In a 4-0 win over Pierson in Game 2 of the Suffolk finals, Ostertag struck out seven in a complete game. In a 5-4 comeback win over Section IV’s Maine-Endwell in the state semifinal, he relieved McDonnell and threw five innings of one-hit, shutout ball.
“He's got the stuff,” Birnbaum said. “He had a really good year. He threw for us a little last year. Comes in as a sophomore with a lot of varsity experience. The talent’s there. When everything checks in, he's as dominant as we get.”
THE PANTHERS’ ROAD TO THE TITLE
Suffolk Class B finals Game 1: Def. No. 2 Pierson, 6-0
Suffolk Class B finals Game 2: Def. No. 2 Pierson, 4-0
Long Island Class B final: Def. Carle Place, 6-1
State Class B semifinal: Def. Mechanicville, 5-4
State Class B final: Def. Putnam Valley, 2-0
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
