The Massapequa baseball program’s history is as rich as any on Long Island.

But what makes its 2025 team different?

“I think compared to where we were at the beginning of the season to where we are now,” coach Tom Sheedy said. “This team has come a long way in their maturity level. They've been resilient all year. But they got the maturity act together, the focus, all that stuff.”

Led by shutdown pitching and reliable lineup depth, Massapequa defeated Connetquot, 7-0, in the Long Island Class AAA championship game Sunday at Farmingdale State. Massapequa won its 11th LI title and first since 2022.

“We have a bunch of returning players, and last year we went out and lost in the [county] semifinals,” said senior lefthander Thomas Harding, who earned the win. “We've been working as hard as we could ever since, all offseason, starting from last May. We've really put it together, and we've figured it out.”

Harding, a St. John’s commit, struck out two, walked four and allowed three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Jack Scannapieco, who entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning and notched an inning-ending strikeout, pitched 1 1/3 innings. Jack Corrigan tossed a perfect seventh.

“(Scannapieco) has been a dog this playoffs,” Harding said. “He’s been the MVP, hasn't let up a run. He's been lights out. It was great for him to pick me up.”

Anthony Di Nello, the seven-hitter, went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Vincenzo Della Porta, the nine-hitter, went 2-for-3. Eight Massapequa starters recorded a hit.

“It doesn't matter where you're hitting in the lineup, how you're doing,” Di Nello said. “Every day is a new day. Show up to the field, do your best, and it shows.”

Sunday’s 11 a.m. start was initially scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday night, but the game was postponed.

Massapequa (19-8) will face Section I’s Ketcham in a state semifinal at 10 a.m. Friday at Binghamton University.

Di Nello hit an RBI triple, Christian George hit an RBI single and George scored following an infield error to make it 3-0 in the second inning.

Di Nello had a two-run single in the third inning. John Neary and Harding each hit fourth-inning RBI doubles.

Dylan Cerone had two hits for Connetquot (23-5). Starter Dylan Wilkinson struck out two and allowed five runs (four earned) in three innings. Justin Hendrickson struck out three and allowed two earned runs in three innings.

Connetquot won five straight elimination games to win the Suffolk AAA title.

“These guys did everything we asked them to do this year, and we just fell one game short,” Connetquot coach Rob Burger said. “It doesn't diminish what we did coming out of the bracket that we did and being Suffolk champions. We would have liked this one, but unfortunately it just didn't work our way.”