Bellmore JFK's Derek Yormack wins Nassau's Joe Corea Dual Diamond Award
Derek Yormack of Bellmore JFK poses with the Joe Corea Award Diamond Award, recognizing Nassau County's top dual threat player. Credit: Derrick Dingle
Bellmore JFK junior Derek Yormack may very well be both the single best hitter and pitcher in Nassau, all wrapped up into one body. So, that made him the obvious choice for this year’s Joe Corea Dual Diamond Award.
The award, named after the late, legendary former Calhoun baseball coach, is given to the best two-way player in Nassau, and was first issued in 2024 to Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK alumnus Michael D’Ambrosio. Last year, Wantagh alumnus Gavin Diegnan took home the honor. Yormack was a finalist each year, but he finally was able to take the plaque home this time around on Wednesday night.
“Joe Corea was a legend in the Bellmore-Merrick district, so just to see Derek get this well-deserved recognition, along with the connection it has to our school district, it’s very special,” Bellmore JFK coach Mike Gattus said. “I felt so much joy for him because he worked so hard and put so much into this. He really wanted this one.”
Not including the state final four, Yormack slashed .455/.589/.909 with a 1.498 OPS. He compiled 35 hits, nine doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 25 RBIs, 20 walks, eight hit-by-pitches, six stolen bases and 22 runs scored. Across both corner infield positions and centerfield, he posted a .986 fielding percentage with just one error in 70 chances.
On the mound, Yormack started nine games and pitched to the tune of a 0.49 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, a .133 batting average against and 83 strikeouts over 42 ⅔ innings. He has only walked 10 batters this year and owns a 7-0 record.
His dominance has helped lead the Cougars to Class AA titles in both Nassau and Long Island.
“He’s just so competitive and works so hard at every single aspect of his game,” Gattus said. “The strength training, the mental preparation . . . it pays dividends and has been the centerpoint of our team for the last four years.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
