Nutley Senior American Legion baseball team drops out of Essex County League; longtime coach Phil Agosta also leaves Nutley and will be greatly missed

NUTLEY – The Nutley Senior American Legion baseball team, consisting of Nutley High School players, withdrew from the Essex County Senior American Legion League right before the season started on June 13.

After many years of tireless dedication, Phil Agosta also has decided to leave the NHS baseball and Nutley Legion baseball programs. Agosta served as a volunteer varsity assistant coach with the NHS baseball program under head coach Bob Harbison in the spring. Agosta served as the Nutley Senior Legion head coach for the past several summers.

It was not immediately known whether Nutley is playing in a league this summer.

Agosta’s passion for coaching baseball was as strong as you will ever see. He worked diligently to help develop the tremendous baseball talent in the Nutley community. And the results showed it, as Nutley baseball, year in and year out, produced winning seasons.

In fact, the Nutley Senior American Legion team won the Essex County League championship last summer. Then this past spring, NHS advanced to the Greater Newark Tournament championship where they lost to Seton Hall Prep. The GNT is regarded as the Essex County tournament. In the game prior to the GNT final, NHS defeated SHP in a conference game. After winning the GNT, SHP went on to win the rest of its games and finished as the state’s No. 1 team. Thus, NHS was the last team to beat SHP this season.

Phil Agosta figuratively eats and breathes baseball, especially for Nutley.  He went above and beyond to make the NHS program better.

For Nutley baseball fans, it will be tough not to see Phil Agosta anymore coaching NHS and summer legion ball. His relentless drive has always been inspiring.

Nutley baseball and Phil Agosta are synonymous.

Indeed, Phil will be greatly missed.

He indicated that he will take this summer off, but has received strong interest from other baseball programs. Wherever Phil lands, that program will definitely be in great hands.

But what Phil has done for the Nutley baseball community is absolutely commendable.

Here’s hoping that the Nutley community does something nice for Phil in appreciation for all he has done over the years.