Bellport entered the 2026 season in rebuilding mode under new head coach William Romano, a former Bellport varsity player who graduated in 2018 and helped lead the Clippers to the Section XI Class AA playoffs that season. Eight years later, Romano has returned to guide a young Bellport program looking to reestablish itself.
The Clippers opened the season with a difficult schedule, facing strong East Islip and West Babylon teams in their first two series. Bellport dropped its first eight games as a young roster adjusted to varsity competition and learned a new system.
Despite the early record, Romano said the results did not tell the full story.“We’re a young group that’s still learning the game at this level, but the effort has been there every day,” Romano said. “We knew it would take some time to find our rhythm, especially with so many younger players stepping into larger roles.”
Bellport’s roster features 16 players, including just four seniors, with a number of underclassmen seeing major varsity action for the first time.Among the players expected to lead the Clippers this season are senior catcher Patrick Dunbar, senior pitcher and outfielder Robert Ariola, versatile utility players and pitchers Evan Comerford and Erik Anderson and Senior Preston Collins first baseman and pitcher.
After eight losses, Bellport finally began to show signs of progress Friday against Deer Park.The Clippers earned their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion, rallying from an early 5-0 deficit to defeat Deer Park, 7-6, on a walk-off double by Dunbar in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With the game tied at 6-6, Dunbar delivered the game-winning hit to score the winning run and send Bellport to its first win under Romano.
Bellport had fallen behind 5-0 in the first inning, but slowly battled back. The Clippers in the sixth inning tied the game behind doubles from Erik Anderson, Comerford, and a single from Troy Turuta with an 0-2 count that drove in the tying run by Comerford.
Anderson also pitched two scoreless innings in relief to keep Bellport in the game, while Comerford started on the mound and struck out five.
Bellport finished with 13 hits. Ariola, John Christie, Dunbar and Turuta each collected two hits. Ariola, Torres, Dunbar, Comerford, Anderson and Turuta all drove in runs.
Romano said the comeback victory reflected the attitude he has seen from his team all season. “We’re building something here,” Romano said. “The players never quit, even after the start we had. This was an important step for us because it showed the players what can happen when they stay together and keep competing.”
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