Justin Baiker of Next Level rounds third as single and error enabled him to circle bases for 2-0 lead.
By Sean Reilly
Andrew Caramico has an attitude similar to just about every other 16U pitcher competing at Diamond Nation at this point of the year.
As high school players, opportunities are generally limited because they are usually sophomores slotted behind older pitchers on their respective school teams.
But the summer travel season is a different story. Innings – and opportunities – are much greater. It’s a time where careers can blossom.
Such is the case this summer for Caramico, who competes for Next Level Baseball based in Freeport, N.Y.
The catch for Caramico is that his first summer start, at a tournament a week ago on Long Island, did not go to his liking.
That made the right-hander, a Class of 2026 player at Chaminade High School, eager for his assignment against Northeast Pride 16U Scout on Sunday morning at Diamond Nation, as part of the Super 16 Invitational.
Caramico delivered in a big way, allowing three hits over 4.1 scoreless innings, as Next Level gained an 8-0, six-inning victory in Flemington.
He also struck out 10 and walked one in his tidy 70 pitch, 52-strike effort.
“I had the fastball working, all of my off-speeds, and had a great defense behind me,” he said. “I felt great. I could have gone longer, but I get it. I got a little wild at the end. My first start was a little rough, but I worked it much better here. I was locating the pitches much better.”
Sebastian Castiello pitched the remaining 1⅔ innings for Next Level, retiring all five he faced with three strikeouts.
It was a great weekend at ‘The Nation’ for Next Level, which ended 3-0 with a 23-2 run differential.
The team started play with a 5-2 win over Heavy Hitters4 2026 on Saturday, and closed with a 10-0 triumph over Beast 2026 later on Sunday.
Next Level pounced on a couple of errors to defeat Northeast Pride 16U.
The first two runs came in the bottom of the second inning. Nicholas Sweeney reached on a one-out walk. He advanced to second on a ground out, and Justin Baiker hit a single to right field. The ball was misplayed, allowing Sweeney to score and Baiker to circle the bases.
Andrew Caramico struck out the side twice in a dominant performance for Next Level Baseball.
Next Level added four more runs in the third. Jaden Valdez ripped a one-out double past third base, and consecutive walks to Chris Desiderio and Jaden Alvarez loaded the bases.
Rich Lavacca was up next, and he hit a bases-clearing double to left field. He took third on the relay, and an error on that part of the play allowed him to score for a 6-0 lead.
The game ended via the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth.
Alvarez led off with a double and Lavacca walked. After a double steal, Sweeney hit a ball that dropped into shallow center field to score Alvarez. Shea Burns then hit a fielder’s choice grounder to second base that brought in Lavacca with the game-ending run.
Kenny Johnston went 2-for-2 for Northeast Pride 16U Scout, which finished the weekend with a 2-1 record.
Lavacca went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and triple in Next Level’s afternoon victory over Beast 2026. He went 4-for-5 on the weekend, with five runs and five RBI. Nolan Fernandez pitched a four-inning three-hitter for the final win over Beast 2026, with seven strikeouts and no walks.