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| No. 7 Cortland, the perennial favorite in the New York Region, has missed the D-III World series for the last three years. Cortland athletics photo by Darl Zehr |
by John McGraw
for D3baseball.com
A new decade brings sizeable changes to the Empire State-based region for 2020. Conference re-alignment finally takes hold both upstate and downstate with adjusted league line-ups in four of the five New York region conferences. The biggest change takes place in the Liberty League which increases to two five-team divisions and a new playoff format with Ithaca now becoming a baseball member. The Empire 8 drops to just four schools with the losses of Ithaca, Stevens (MAC Freedom) and SUNY Canton (NAC). There is good news on the horizon for E8 with the inclusion of Keuka from the NEAC beginning in 2020-21.
Downstate, Manhattanville returns to the Skyline Conference after departing following the 2007 season. The Valiants spent the last 12 years in the MAC Freedom. The Skyline remains the largest conference in the region with 11 members (12 all sports). In the Big Apple, the CUNYAC will consist of just four teams vying for the conference crown with Staten Island beginning the process of re-classifying to NCAA Division II. In addition, New York region schools and NEAC members Cazenovia, SUNY Poly and SUNY Cobleskill have announced they will be moving to the NAC beginning in 2020-21.
Overall, six region teams went to the NCAA tournament last year. But for the first time since 2011 and for just the third time dating back to 1991 (2003, 2006, 2011), New York was not represented at the World Series. Only one region team, SUNY Cortland, advanced to the Super Regionals in the new national playoff format.
As the curtain rises on a new season, SUNY Cortland is the lone team nationally ranked in the D3baseball.com Preseason Top 25, rated seventh. St. John Fisher, Oswego State and Ithaca are also receiving votes. Both Colin BeVard (Cortland) and Antony Mantova (St. John Fisher) were members of the 2020 D3baseball.com Preseason All-America second team. Allen Murphy (St. John Fisher), Justin Graham (St. John Fisher), Garrett Renslow (Rochester), Brendan Shamieh (Rochester) were honorable mention 2020 D3baseball.com preseason All-Americans.
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| The Cardinals will bring three D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans swinging a bat in 2020. St. John Fisher athletics photo |
SUNY Cortland stands out again as one of the top regional heavyweights. The Red Dragons made their 27th straight NCAA tournament appearance last spring which tied Marietta (1976-2002) for the longest NCAA playoff streak in Division III baseball. Only Division I member Florida State has made more consecutive NCAA baseball tournaments (42, 1978-2019). The Red Dragons bring back the majority of an offense that scored 8.4 runs per game last spring and belted 35 home runs en route to the NCAA super regionals.
While the nationally-ranked SUNY Cortland garners the headlines, a serious challenge will come from another offensively-minded team in St. John Fisher. The Cardinals led all 2019 New York schools with a .326 team batting average and St. John Fisher will open 2020 with three D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans in the batting order.
Both Cortland and St. John Fisher should be serious contenders to reach Cedar Rapids with overpowering offenses and strong frontline pitching. Not too far off the pace, two-time defending SUNYAC champion Oswego State and defending Liberty League champion Rochester lead the next tier of teams in the region. Oswego has established itself as a regional powerhouse with three straight trips to the NCAA tournament and World Series appearances in 2017 and 2018. The Lakers return a solid core of offense and their upperclassmen know how to win when it matters. Rochester captured its first Liberty League championship last spring and second conference regular season title in a row. There’s no reason to believe the Yellow Jackets will take their foot off the gas in 2020. U of R’s pitching should provide a spark behind a pair of D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans.
But while Rochester is the preseason favorite in the Liberty League, both division rivals RIT and Clarkson aren’t far behind.
The new New York kid on the block Manhattanville is a solid favorite to burst into the regional rankings. The Valiants, along with Farmingdale State, are the front-runners in the Skyline Conference. Manhattanville nearly returns everyone from one of the best batting orders in Division III that hit .344 last spring.
New Faces
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| The last time a Valesente was not at the head of the Bomber's baseball program was 1978. Ithaca athletics photo |
David Valesente, Ithaca: The Valesente name has been synonymous with Ithaca baseball over the better part of six decades. Moving forward into the 2020’s, it will continue to remain attached to Bomber baseball with the hiring of David Valesente, the son of the now retired longtime IC head coach George Valesente. The elder Valesente won 1,136 games at Ithaca over 41 seasons. The younger Valesente helped build the baseball program at Wells from the ground up over three years. His program building progress culminated last year with a school record for wins, a trip to the NEAC playoffs and an upset victory over top-seeded Keuka in the NEAC semifinals. Before stewarding the Express, Valesente worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Division I St. Joseph’s (Pa.) under former Ithaca All-American Fritz Hamburg and at Arcadia. On the field, Valesente was a four-year starter on Hawk Hill and graduated fifth on SJU’s all-time hits list (216). The Lansing, N.Y., native was an all-star in the independent Pecos League and went on to spend several seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system.
Ryan Stevens, Wells: Following the departure of David Valesente to Ithaca, Wells College tapped Ryan Stevens as just the second head coach in program history. Stevens arrives in Aurora after five seasons as head coach at NJCAA Division III member Tompkins-Cortland Community College. He piloted the Panthers to the NJCAA national playoffs in 2018, the school’s first postseason appearance in 10 years. In two coaching stints at TC3, one as an assistant (2006-10), Stevens saw over 40 players move on to four-year schools. The Dryden, N.Y., native also coached at the professional level. He was the Pecos League’s 2012 Manager of the Year and won over 200 games with the league’s Alpine Cowboys. Stevens played collegiately at SUNY Cobleskill and Frostburg State.
Games to Watch in 2020
February 22: Oswego vs. No. 3 Heidelberg: The Lakers travel to Berea, Ohio to open the season with games against Heidelberg, Baldwin-Wallace and La Roche. It doesn’t get any bigger for the Lakers than to start the season against one of the projected best teams in the nation.
February 22-23: No. 7 Cortland at No. 13 Salisbury: This is the biggest early season test for the Red Dragons as they travel to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for a top 25 showdown. An annual meeting of New York and Mid-Atlantic powerhouses.
March 13: Rochester at Chapman Rochester upset Wooster in the opening game of the NCAA regionals last year. This spring, the Yellow Jackets get a chance to face off with the defending national champions in a Golden State twin bill.
March 17: Cortland vs. Southern Maine, Lexington SC: Two Top 10 teams in the Preseason D3baseball.com Top 25 collide in South Carolina. .
March 21-22: Ithaca at Bard: Ithaca plays its first series as a full Liberty League member in the Hudson Valley at Bard’s Honey Field.
March 22: Manhattanville at Farmingdale: Conference play in the Skyline ramps up in late March with the two preseason favorites meeting on Long Island at a newly renovated Farmingdale State Baseball Field. The Valiants last played in the Skyline in 2007 and won the conference’s tournament title while the Rams are the league’s defending champ.
April 10-11: Cortland at Oswego: The two SUNYAC heavyweights square off in a series which will give the winner an inside track to the conference’s regular season title.
April 10-11: Rochester at Clarkson: This will be a re-match from last year’s Liberty League championship round. The projected top two teams in the Liberty League’s West Division square off in a set which should have division title and playoff top seed implications.
April 1, 14: St. John Fisher vs. Oswego: Both the Lakers and Cardinals are in Pool A conferences. This home-and-home series between the two regional heavyweights will go a long way in determining the alignment in the regional rankings released in mid-to-late April.
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| Baruch made their first trip to the NCAA playoffs in '19. Baruch athletics photo by Denis Gostev |
Conference Preview
City University of New York Athletic Conference: Four teams will vie for the CUNYAC title in 2019 with the step up to NCAA Division II provisional status by the College of Staten Island. CSI will remain on the schedule for all four league teams but the impending East Coast Conference member will not be eligible for the CUNYAC crown. The top two teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will compete in a best-of-three playoff to determine the league championship. The CUNYAC champ will advance to the second CUNYAC / NAC playoff with an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on the line. Staten Island will depart the CUNYAC after this spring having won 20 tournament championships including seven of the last 10.
Staten Island was the most dominant CUNYAC team in the 2010’s but it was Baruch that closed the decade on top of the CUNYAC heap. Baruch (17-20) swept CSI in the ‘19 CUNYAC title series before dispatching Husson in the CUNYAC/NAC playoff to earn the school’s first NCAA baseball tournament bid. Having now had a taste of the NCAA regionals, the Bearcats are ready to build on that experience this spring. Four starters and 15 players overall return on Lexington Avenue led by 2019 All-CUNYAC selections Paul Sirakowski (5-2, 2.77 ERA, 52 K) and Kemal Deljanin (.283, 19 RBI, 26 R). Other returnees of note include Conor McCabe (.287, 21 RBI), Liam O’Gara (.178, 20 RBI, 17 R) and Matt Lawlor (2-1, 5.28 ERA, 27 K). Baruch won last spring with pitching and defense ending second in the league in team ERA and first in fielding percentage. 2019 CUNYAC Coach of the Year Jose Torres is hoping that an infusion of young talent will help keep the Bearcats in the catbirds seat. Baruch’s stiffest challenge could come from 2019 CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year Jarret Oehler (5-3, 3.22 ERA, 91 K) and Lehman (11-23). Oehler ranked second among all 2019 NY region pitchers in strikeouts. The Lightning have a solid nucleus returning that includes All-CUNY utilityman Jeremmy Santos (.352, 5 HR, 29 RBI) as well as Anthony Riley (.373, 27 RBI, 11 DBL) and Fernando Polanco (.324, 6 RBI, 15 GM). Transfers Justin Nunez (Bronx CC) and Glennd Jarrin (Purchase, .292 BA) are projected to be impact newcomers at the plate. Jarret Oehler and fellow starting pitcher Rich Frommelt (2-9, 8.45 ERA, 38 K) combined to log 137.2 innings last spring, over half of Lehman’s total frames tossed.
CCNY (13-19) combined to go 4-2 last season against both co-first place finishers in Baruch and Staten Island. City College has the league’s top hitter in all-region swatter Stephen Peters (.414, 21 RBI, 37 R). Two-hundred game winner Steve Macias graduated three seniors, two of which were CUNYAC all-stars. The Beavers project to return eight offensive starters and most of their pitching staff. The hardest hit to graduation of the current CUNYAC four is John Jay (12-27). The Bloodhounds graduated CUNYAC Player of the Year Zach Hyde (.331, 23 RBI, 33 R / 3-1, 5.23 ERA, 12 K) and lost two of their top three hitters who combined to tally 58 of 103 stolen bases. Senior captain Sean Napier (.351, 25 RBI, 14 R /2-5, 7.02 ERA, 24 K) should slot into Hyde’s dual-threat role as the top returning hitter and pitcher on the team. John Jay brings back six starters to the west side of Manhattan and like CCNY, the bulk of its mound staff.
Favorite: Baruch
Empire 8: Of the five New York baseball conferences, the Empire 8 was hit the hardest by conference realignment as four baseball playing schools remain of seven that began 2019. Overall, the E8 has eight member schools though Alfred, Nazareth, Hartwick and Sage do not field baseball teams This spring, the Empire 8 will have a 15-game conference schedule and each team will play its three league opponents five times apiece. All four teams will participate in the league tournament hosted by the first-place finisher in the regular season. The tournament winner will receive a Pool A bid.
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| The Houghton Highlanders will bring to the field in 2020 with just one player from the 2019 team who graduated. experience Houghton athletics photo |
St. John Fisher skipper Brandon Potter is one victory away from 300. His Cardinal club will be the clear favorite in the Empire 8 in 2020 as one of the most experienced sides in the region. St. John Fisher (29-14) has 13 returning starters and 28 players back from last spring’s E8 runner up. The batting order will be an impressive one and include three 2020 D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans: Allen Murphy (.394, 9 HR, 42 RBI / 2-3, 7.08 ERA, 20 K), Antony Mantova (.377, 4 HR, 42 RBI) and Justin Graham (.350, 22 RBI, 48 R). Fisher also has three other returning boppers that posted a .300 or higher batting average, those include all-region infielder Thomas Pasquale (.362, 47 RBI, 50 R). St. John Fisher led the region in team batting average (.326) and finished second in runs per game (8.3) and third in dingers (31). Brandon Potter’s offense was so good last spring, the .326 team batting average was the highest in recent memory. And the pitching staff should provide great balance, with experience on its side in 2020. At the helm will be upperclassmen Anthony Brophy (6-1, 2.86 ERA, 31 K) and RJ Kuruts (4-4, 4.60 ERA, 2 SV, 64 K). Kenneth Westbook (6-0, 3.86 ERA, 37 K) went unbeaten in 13 appearances as a freshman, he’ll round out the rotation. Converted southpaw starter Tim Geissel (2-0, 2.39 ERA, 5 SV, 25 K) thrived in the Fisher bullpen last spring, he’ll again be the closer for the Cardinals and be joined on the back end by Brandon Roberts (3-0, 1.44 ERA, 24 K). The Cardinals appear poised for a deep postseason run.
Utica (15-24) posted a program record nine Empire 8 victories last year en route to its third E8 tournament in five seasons. The Pioneers accomplished the feat with a team featuring 13 seniors including four-time all-conference infielder Tim Quinlan (.360, 27 RBI, 23 R). A much younger team will take the UC diamond in 2020 that adds 14 freshmen and a mix of transfers. Matthew Leviton (.286, 14 RBI, 11 DBL) and Matthew Fitzgerald (.250, 15 RBI, 15 R) are back as the only two returning starters along with ace reliever Joe Palmieri (0-0, 0.69 ERA, 6 SV, 16 K). Joe Battista (SUNY Adirondack, .375, 28 RBI) and Sean Vanegas (Westchester, .325, 36 RBI) project to be the top transfer additions. Three-year starting pitcher Griffin Baur (4-6, 3.96 ERA, 1 SV, 47 K) will again be counted upon to take up the rubber in key situations. Thirteen of UC’s 15 total wins came last year after returning from Florida; Utica went 5-4 against its current conference mates.
Houghton (11-22) competed in 2019 with just one senior; that leads to a veteran team in 2020. The Highlanders are the only returning E8 team to have defeated St. John Fisher in 2019. Four All-Empire 8 selections dot Houghton’s 2020 roster topped by three-year starter David Wessells (.378, 16 SB, 21 R). Other returning all-league players include Wayne Rode (.279, 16 RBI, 20 R), dual threat Caleb Phillips (.263, 15 RBI / 2-4, 8.10 1 SV, 11 K) and starting pitcher Brandon Joslin (2-6, 2.50 ERA, 46 K). The offense will also get help from graduate student John Zamites (.333, 19 RBI, 26 R), who was All-Empire 8 in 2018. Brandon Joslin and fellow starting hurlers Griffin Tubbs (5-3, 3.44 ERA, 41 K) and Holden Deres (2-5, 6.44 ERA, 37 K) teamed up to total 176.2 of Houghton’s total 266 frames last year. Houghton’s pitching staff was second in the Empire 8 in ERA in 2019 and conceded the fewest home runs of the conference’s seven teams.
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| Elmira will bring experience to the field in 2020 on offense but will need to replace over 100 innings pitched by seniors in 2019. Elmira athletics photo |
Elmira (8-29) is entering year number six of baseball. The Soaring Eagles have been to the E8 tournament twice under skipper Corey Paluga, EC will field an experienced team in the Twin Tiers with eight position player starters returning and three starting pitchers. A team that included 19 combined freshmen and sophomores a year ago now features youthful experience. Three of EC’s top four hitters swing back in Jansen Crossley (.312, 21 RBI, 14 R), Sam Plaugher (.268, 14 RBI, 16 R) and Mason Ryan (.258, 17 RBI, 20 R). Three-year starter Tommy Fogarty (.250, 15 RBI, 19 R) should provide offense from the middle of the line-up; he had 47 RBI in his first two seasons. The Purple and Gold have to restock the pitching cupboard with over 115 innings lost to graduation. Taber Carter (0-2, 3.96 ERA, 16 K) and Garinder Singh Sarana (0-6, 6.06, 40 K) should take over the top two spots in the rotation. Elmira heads into 2020 on a strong note having soared to a 5-2 record over its final seven games last spring.
Favorite: St. John Fisher
Liberty League: For the last several years, the Liberty League has been a nine-team circuit with an unbalanced 24-game conference schedule, five teams making the conference tournament and a 4 vs 5 single elimination wildcard game to open postseason play. This spring, there will be two five-team divisions geographically split between East and West. Rochester, RIT, Clarkson, St. Lawrence and Ithaca will make up one division while Bard, Vassar, Skidmore, RPI and Union will be part of the other. The schedule will remain unbalanced with 18 conference contests, three against each division foe as part of a weekend series and then two other series against opponents from the other division. The final regular season weekend will set the stage for the conference tournament with a best-of-three series format pitting the first-place team in each division against the fourth-place team in the other and the 2’s will be paired off against the 3’s. The two fifth-place finishers will also meet in a series. The winners of the best-of-three ice hockey style format as (1-4, 2-3) will go on to play in a double elimination tournament the following weekend to determine the league’s automatic bid. Seedings will be determined by conference record.
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| Cole Paquin earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Liberty League in 2019. RPI athletics photo |
Teams from the Empire State’s Capital District dominated the 2010’s claiming seven of 10 Liberty League tournament championships – Union grabbed three while both RPI and Skidmore had two. Route 7 rivals RPI and Union begin 2020 as the co-favorites in the East. Rensselaer (20-19) had the edge in 2019 finishing a game ahead of Union in the standings and then ending Union’s season in the wildcard game. Second-year head coach Keith Glasser has nearly his entire offense back with eight starters, including his top three hitters, returning: Liberty League Rookie of the Year Cole Paquin (.331, 18 RBI, 26 R), Jake Defayette (.330, 22 RBI, 29 R) and Joe Curci (.324, 33 RBI, 20 R). On the mound, Christopher Palmiero (5-2, 4.19 ERA, 26 K) and Ryan Yerby (5-3, 3.88 ERA, 1 SV, 43 K) should compose two-thirds of RPI’s conference rotation. Much like their rivals, Union (18-21) should have nearly its entire starting batting order back in 2020. The Dutchmen project to have seven returning starters led by mashers Sean Cullen (.399, 6 HR, 27 RBI), Jack Koch (.338, 16 RBI, 17 SB), Elias Kuhns (.330, 6 HR, 21 RBI) and Colin Kelly (.343, 19 RBI, 14 R). One of last year’s highlights was head coach Paul Mound reaching 200 career wins. Pitching proved to be Union’s Achilles heel in 2019 with a team ERA of 5.25, up nearly 1.00 from 2018. The staff will be a year older this spring, Colin Nye (4-3, 2.77 ERA, 29 K) and Domenic Nardone (3-2, 3.51 ERA, 47 K) should again see the bulk of the innings workload. D3baseball.com All-American Patrick Geiger (.412, 9 HR, 29 RBI) helped lead Skidmore (19-16) to its first winning season since 2012 last spring. Head coach Ron Plourde graduated his two top hitters but projects to return seven starters, his top two starting pitchers and best reliever. Matt Chipkin (.290, 22 RBI, 20 SB) and Jay Gamboa (6-3, 3.65, 52 K) are returning All-Liberty League selections. Jonathan Kaiser (2-2, 1 SV, 2.95 ERA, 18 K) paced the ‘Breds in ERA last season. He was the top arm on a staff that conceded a league low 92 walks in 33 games. Skidmore’s newcomers in 2020 include new assistant coach Duke Beck. The newest assistant in the Spa City won 425 games over 23 years at nearby Greenwich (N.Y.) High School.
In the Liberty League’s Hudson Valley rivalry, Vassar (14-24) has had the best of Bard. The Brewers made the conference tournament four times in the 2010’s though a string of two straight ended last year. Matt Righter enters his fourth season in Poughkeepsie with an experienced but young team that lists 19 juniors and seniors but also 12 freshmen. Vassar returns two all-conference choices, its top two hitters in Daniel Bonfiglio (.350, 16 RBI, 17 R) and Matt Martino (.349, 28 RBI, 25 R). At least eight others with starting experience are back including 2017 Liberty League Rookie of the Year Evan Trausch (.292, 14 RBI, 15 R). Twelve Brewers tossed at least 15 innings last spring with no one arm going above 40 frames; nearly the entire staff returns. In addition, seven of VC’s 12 first years are also listed as pitchers or utilitymen. The last decade began with no baseball at Bard. The Raptors returned to the diamond after a 76-year hiatus in 2013. Entering 2020, Bard (13-22) begins its eighth season. Bard’s 2019 seniors graduated with the most wins of any senior class and the Raptors were in the postseason mix until the final weekend each of the last two seasons. The Annandale-on-Hudson crew graduated two all-conference selections. Six starters return led on offense by Esteban Rivera (.310, 19 RBI, 15 R) and Jordan Myers (.299, 18 RBI, 19 R). Bard used just nine pitchers last season, eight logged at least 13 innings. The biggest loss to graduation was three-time All-Liberty starting pitcher Evan Richardson (3-6, 3.67 ERA, 53 K). Evan Matthews (2-3, 4.83 ERA, 35 K), who finished third on the team in wins in 2019, should take over the top rotation spot. Newcomers are expected to fill in the open holes in the line-up, three are projected as starters.
Rochester (29-17) won its second-straight Liberty League regular season title last spring and its fifth (fourth outright) under head coach Joe Reina. U of R finally broke through the Liberty League glass ceiling in 2019 and won its first conference tournament title. The Yellow Jackets celebrated their first NCAA appearance by upsetting Wooster on day one of the regionals. Rochester’s biggest strength will be pitching as the staff includes 2020 D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans Garrett Renslow (6-3, 2.21 ERA, 1 SV, 62 K) and Brendan Shamieh (2-1, 9 SV, 1.79 ERA, 28 K). Renslow will lead the Rochester rotation in tandem with Jon Turk (7-2, 2.54 ERA, 40 K). Rochester has five returning pitchers that made at least 11 appearances last spring from a staff that finished first in the league in ERA and strikeouts. The biggest mound need will come in finding a third starter to pair with Renslow and Turk much like the offense will need to replace Liberty League Player of the Year Aidan Finch (.354, 36 RBI, 37 R) and Jack Herman (.288, 10 HR, 38 RBI) in the middle of the batting order. Eight hitters overall have rolled back to the Lilac City, three being all-conference selections: Jacob Matzat (.351, 18 RBI, 21 R) and 1-2 hitters David Rieth (.344, 29 RBI, 14 DBL) and Joseph Rende (.247, 8 RBI, 17 R).
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| Clarkson will need to replace a big part of their team that finished second in the Liberty League in 2019. Clarkson athletics photo |
Clarkson (23-17) was picked to finish fifth in the Liberty League Coaches Poll last spring. The Golden Knights clubbed their way to second in the league standings, posted a seven-win improvement overall and came a win away from going to the school’s first NCAA tournament since 2011. Reigning Liberty League Coach of the Year Jim Kane must contend with the loss of D3baseball.com All-American Brad Pearson (.371, 34 RBI, 42 R) and nine other seniors. Clarkson’s offense led the league in runs scored and RBI, six hitmen return including all-league outfielder Tommy Bianchi (.362, 18 RBI, 28 R), Michael Tito (.315, 17 RBI, 31 R) and Michael Mieczkowski (.429, 22 RBI, 24 R). Conference ERA champ Nate Burns (2-1, 1.69 ERA, 54 K) totaled 53.1 innings mostly from the Tech bullpen, he’ll move into the starting rotation this spring as the number one starter. Even with the graduation losses, Kane feels his incoming freshmen class will provide solid depth; the opening day line-up may feature three newcomers.
Since winning the Liberty League championship in 2017, RIT (22-18) has become a conference tournament staple under 500-game winner Rob Grow. The Tigers have advanced to the Liberty postseason four times in the last five years. RIT began last season 3-8 before going 18-8 between March 30 and May 5 to wrap up the 11th 20-win season under Grow. Six seniors graduated including D3baseball.com All-Region selection Daniel Zeglen (4-0, 4.89 ERA, 22 K / .324, 36 RBI, 25 R). However, an ambush of Tigers prowls to the Brick City headlined by Liberty League Pitcher of the Year Stevie Branche (5-2, 2.03 ERA, 66 K) and all-conference middle infielders Daniel Capra (.303, 22 RBI, 31 R) and Navada Waterman (.288, 19 RBI, 30 R). Seven starters are projected to return in the field for a Tiger team that batted .291 and averaged 6.4 runs per game. Masher Patrick Blackall (.321, 5 HR, 40 RBI) was one of the top power hitters in the conference as a freshman, he’s one of four returning .300 hitters
The greatest unknown in the West will be the newest member in Ithaca (31-9). First year head coach David Valesente will have his work cut out for him skippering a squad that graduated 13 seniors and lost 14 players overall. The Bombers are projected to return three position player starters and just one pitcher who threw more than 10.0 innings in 2019. In addition, IC graduated 26 of its 31 2019 pitching victories. All-conference choices Buzz Shirley (.392 / 27 RBI / 14 DBL), who played for David Valesente at Wells, and Tom Cosentino (5-1, 2.68, 29 K) are the top returning players. Ithaca has gone 8-4 against the Liberty League over the last five years. Clarkson’s North Country travel partner St. Lawrence (7-30) rounds the Liberty League West. The Saints return 23 players from a youthful squad that garnered league victories over conference tournament participants Rochester, RPI and Union. While SLU did graduate both of its 2019 all-conference honorees, two of the Saints top three hitters are back in Nicholas Butler (.316, 14 RBI, 43 H) and Andrew Circelli (.288, 27 RBI). The offensive line-up will also return two-time All-Liberty League selection Anthony Butler (.233, 18 R, 18 RBI), who is back as a graduate student. One interesting note in Canton, SLU will open up with three games on Valentine’s Day weekend in Virginia. After that, the Saints don’t take the diamond until their Spring Break trip to Florida in mid-March.
Favorite: Rochester
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| The Manhattanville Valiants are back in the Skyline after leaving in 2008. Manhattanville athletics photo |
Skyline Conference: The largest loop in the region gets even larger in 2020 as the Skyline grows to 11 members with the return of Manhattanville from the MAC Freedom. Manhattanville won the Skyline regular season and postseason titles in 2007 and made four Skyline tournaments. The conference will remain as one division with a 20-game league schedule, each team playing a single doubleheader against every other conference opponent. The top six teams in the circuit will make the league’s postseason tournament. Farmingdale State won its eighth Skyline Conference tournament championship last spring and first since 2014. The Rams had won seven straight Skyline crowns between 2008 and 2014. While the Rams should again contest for the conference championship, it is the new kid on the block that opens the 2020 season as the league’s favorite.
Manhattanville (24-18) finished second in the MAC Freedom in 2019, tied with DeSales. The Valiants made the MAC Freedom tournament 10 times in 12 seasons and are poised to carry over that success in the Skyline. Manhattanville’s 2019 offense was one of Division III’s best and it finished fourth nationally in team batting average (.344) and third in doubles (115) and on-base percentage (.447). Eight position players with starting experience that batted at least .300 return for head coach Jeff Caulfied. Among the top hitters back are All-MAC Freedom sluggers Jack Matero (.407 / 5 HR / 35 RBI) and Peter Iannarilli (.388 / 6 HR / 53 RBI) along with speedster Matt Lynch (.374 / 24 RBI / 20 SB). Five of the eight returners drove in at least 20 runs and scored 20 runs in 2019. The Valiants are also experienced in the pitching department with the entire starting rotation coming back; three of the four starting hurlers were freshmen or sophomores last spring. Under Jeff Caulfield between 2004 and 2007, the Valiants went 51-20 (.718) in Skyline regular season play.
Not only did Farmingdale State (32-9) claim its first conference tournament title since 2014, the Rams also tied their school’s single-season wins record. Both 32-win campaigns came under now 15th year head coach Keith Osik. The Rams graduated two of their top stars in Skyline Player of the Year Vincent Rice (.394, 26 RBI, 35 R) and All-Skyline workhorse Matthew Constantine (7-1, 2.51 ERA, 2 SV, 51 K). With Rice graduated, utility man Steven Burke (.316, 16 RBI, 18 R / 6-1, 1.93 ERA, 40 K), a 2019 all-region selection, vaults to the top of the list in the conference Player of the Year race. Burke is the Rams top returning pitcher and he’s one of six returning position players for the Nassau County school. Three other all-conference Rams are back in all-region catcher Ryan DePalma (.390, 22 RBI, 10 DBL), Michael Amandola (.290, 22 RBI, 25 R) and Vincent Napolitano (.281, 28 RBI, 25 R). Junior transfers Michael Iacobellis (.427, 47 RBI, 47 R) and TJ Toscano (.430 33 RBI, 33 R) from Nassau Community College should vie for playing time right away. What set out Farmingdale from the rest of the league last spring was pitching. FSC’s 3.09 team ERA was in the top 10 nationally. The bulk of the bullpen returns led by all-conference closer Joe Marino (1-1, 1 SV, 2.28 ERA, 17 K) and Thomas Messina (1-0, 0.33 ERA, 8 K).
Old Westbury (23-16) graduated five seniors off of a team that reached the conference tournament finals for the first time since 2015. Head coach Rod Stephen, who reached 200 victories last April, has eight starters and 19 players back in 2020 including all-region closer Joe Sarni (4-2, 1.85 ERA, 3 SV, 33 K) and all-conference shortstop Mike Manetta (.341, 17 RBI, 34 R). Other .300 hitters in the fold on Long Island are Peter Capel (.311, 41 RBI, 12 DBL) and Brandon Wilson (.310, 19 RBI, 37 R). However, the Panthers will have to replace clean-up man John Condon (.373 38 RBI, 26 R), the teams’ leading hitter each of the last two years. While the offense looks on paper to be solid, the Panthers graduated two of their three regular starting arms. Flamethrower Patrick Quinn (4-3, 4.65 ERA, 57 K) is projected to be the ace of the staff. Joe Sarni and Matt Bohenek (2-1, 3.72 ERA, 1 SV, 32 K) form a potent knockout punch from the bullpen.
USMMA (28-11) has made the Skyline playoffs three years in a row. The Mariners, after having won a school record 28 games in each of the last two seasons, are poised to make it fourth-straight postseason visit. Big swinger Vincenzo Alteri (.421, 33 RBI, 34 R) projects to be among the best hitters in the conference and the region. He is one of nine players returning with starting experience. USMMA graduated two all-region hitters but have back Alteri, who tied the school’s single-season hits record last spring, and Matt Mundorf (.387, 27 RBI, 30 R) as well as all-conference outfielder Garrett Aichele (.323, 15 RBI, 30 R). The Mariners had the best offense in the conference in 2019 leading the league in seven categories including batting average (.326) and hits (426). Over the last two years, USMMA’s pitching staff featured the top tier tandem of Andrew Spinnenweber (6-0, 1.31 ERA, 67 K) and Joey Raab (5-1, 3.29 ERA, 70 K). Spinnenweber has gone to sea and Raab is now the top gun in the rotation. And while closer Kyle Cunningham (12 SV) graduated, Andrew Hunt (5-1, 1 SV, 2.37 ERA, 18 K) should anchor the bullpen.
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| Michael Grisanti is part of the youth movement that should have the Mt. St. Vincent offense humming in 2020. Mt. St. Vincent athletics photo |
One of last spring’s biggest surprises was in the Bronx. Mt. St. Vincent (17-21) swatted its way into the Skyline tournament after a seven-win turnaround in the league and nine-win improvement overall. One of the biggest reasons was offense, the Dolphins bumped their overall batting average to .300, up more than 50 points from the previous year and CMSV increased its run total by more than 70. This came with a batting order comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores, the 2018 incoming class being the largest in program history. The ‘Phins two top hitters were first years in D3baseball.com New York Region Rookie of the Year Michael Grisanti (.398, 30 RBI, 26 R) and Jake Blinstrub (.344, 32 RBI, 35 R), both return. Eight hitters belted out a .270 batting average or better, all are back in the Bronx. The pitching staff also showed marked improvement, going from an 8.29 ERA down to 5.93. Peter Sanderson (4-3, 3.44 ERA, 50 K) and Amir Nitowski (4-4, 3.91 ERA, 26 K) should again swim at the front of the pitching pack after topping the staff last year. There’s more good news at CMSV. This spring, the school will open a dual baseball and softball facility within walking distance of campus
Maritime (22-18) and St. Joseph’s (Long Island) (20-17) completed out the six team 2019 Skyline tournament field. Maritime sailed to 20 wins for the fourth-straight season under Charlie Barbieri and made the Skyline playoffs for the seventh year in a row. The highlight of 2019 was a 10-game winning streak that lasted from March 17 through March 31. Maritime navigates back with the majority of last year’s team that had 22 combined freshmen and sophomores. All-Skyline honorees Matt Eng (.371, 33 SB, 30 R), Travis Zurita (.310, 6 HR 34 RBI) and Ryan Rockhill (.294, 14 RBI, 14 R) highlight the returning group of Privateers that projects to have back seven starters from a line-up that clubbed a league high 17 home runs. From the bump, Travis Bruinsma (4-2, 3.69 ERA, 22 K) and Niko Concha (3-4, 3.45 ERA, 41 K) should form a formidable 1-2 combination. Maritime’s Class of 2020 looks to finish out how they started, by winning the league as freshmen in 2017 and going to the NCAA tournament. St. Joseph’s (Long Island) had its season end against Maritime last May on a walk-off in the opening round of the conference postseason. The Eagles move forward after having graduated a 13-man senior class that was part of two Skyline tournament championships in 2016 and 2018. The heaviest losses come at the plate where the Eagles will have to rebuild after graduating seven starters. One of the remaining batsmen should be Tyler Sanderson (.325, 28 RBI, 28 R). Under Richard Garrett, SJCNY has had strong pitching and last year was no exception. All-region slinger Tim Woodford (6-1, 1.40 ERA, 49 K) projects to be one of the top pitchers in the conference.
Both Purchase (17-18) and Mount St. Mary (13-17) were grounded in an attempt to fly to the Skyline playoffs last spring; each finished two games out of the final playoff spot. For Purchase, All-Skyline selections Dylan Flynn (.359, 24 R, 21 SB) and John Fitzgerald (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 29 K / .345, 7 RBI) are projected to return as are the rest of the Panthers’ top four hitters and starting pitching rotation. A young Mount St. Mary team in 2019 is now a year more experienced with all nine hitters in the batting order coming back. This group will be led by utilityman John Santana (.367, 13 RBI, 12 R / 2-2, 4.15 ERA, 27 K), Nick Rizzo (.361, 12 RBI, 18 R) and Steven Mirra (.345, 12 RBI, 17 SB). The offense will need to improve after finishing ninth of 10 teams in runs scored; Dominick Marzigliano (.391, 4 RBI) should provide a shot in the arm. The Dominican College transfer ripped nine hits in MSMC’s first seven games before missing the rest of the season. Santana is one of several returning mound men for the Blue Knights along with Sal Rizzo (3-2, 3.41 ERA, 21 K) and Alexander Maher (0-2, 2.33 ERA, 15 K). Oswego State transfer Anthony Pacifico is one of the more intriguing newcomers.
St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) (15-21-1) and Yeshiva (3-28) conclude the Skyline’s 11-team roster. St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) won seven-straight games in March and opened the season on a 9-3-1 run. While the Bears struggled in league play, the Brooklynites still served up an eight-win improvement from 2018. The Bears graduated their top two hitters but project to return seven position players with starting experience. Andrew Watters (5-5, 1 SV, 3.91 ERA, 47 K), a three-year starting pitcher, should be the top bear in Brooklyn’s den. Yeshiva earned 2019 victories over John Jay, the College of New Rochelle and Vaughan (Ont.). The mightiest Macs hitter in 2019, David Hanelin (.323, 10 RBI, 13 R) was one of two to set a program single-season record with 32 hits. Hanelin is Yeshiva’s top returning hitter. Sonny Braha (2-2, 8.54 ERA, 29 K) is the top returning pitcher. He threw a one-hit shutout against New Rochelle and pocketed two of the Macs three wins. The Macs will enter the season with a heavy heart after the passing of assistant coach Bob Tufts in the fall. Tufts spent two seasons under current head coach Marty Craft.
Favorite: Manhattanville
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| Oswego State will be looking to earn a third straight SUNYAC tournament title since Cortland did it in 2014-16. Oswego State athletics photo |
State University of New York Athletic Conference: The only conference not impacted by the moving and shaking in the rest of the region was the SUNYAC. The conference’s current line-up of seven teams has been the same since 2009 after the departure of SUNYIT (now SUNY Poly) to the NEAC. The only sizeable change this spring in the SUNYAC is field related. Both SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oneonta have added artificial turf. Cortland will have a turf infield and natural grass outfield while Oneonta will play at a fully covered field turf ballpark.
Under head coach Joe Brown, SUNY Cortland (34-13-1) has won 19 SUNYAC regular championships and 21 overall going back to 1998 when the SUNYAC eliminated its divisional format in the regular season. The Red Dragons went 18-0 in conference play last spring to notch their first unbeaten league mark in just over 10 years. And while Cortland was upended by Oswego State in the SUNYAC tournament, the Dragons were the lone New York region team to advance to the super regionals. Looking forward to 2020, it’s again Cortland and Oswego looking down atop the SUNYAC mountain. Cortland brings back the majority of an offense that was 15th in the nation in scoring (8.4 runs per game) and belted a co-region best 35 home runs. Eight offensive starters return headed up by the heavy hitting triumvirate of 2019 D3baseball.com All-New York selections Scott Giordano (.326, 45 RBI, 61 R) and Colin BeVard (.359, 7 HR, 50 RBI) and Wyatt Myers (.306, 7 HR, 42 RBI). The only defensive change comes in the infield where the shortstop position will be up for grabs. While Cortland’s hitting projects again to be a strength, there are questions on the mound. All-region pitcher Zack Durant (7-4, 2.96 ERA, 63 K) should slot in to replace the graduated Matt Valin (9-0, 2.35 ERA, 92 K) as the team’s ace but the rest of the rotation will differ from 2019 with the loss of over 136 innings to graduation. An immediate shot in the arm should come from the west coast with the addition of Cal Lutheran transfer Scott Roberts (5-1, 3.34 ERA, 34 K). Roberts went 11-3 at Cal Lu over parts of three years and was a member of CLU’s 2017 national championship winner. Other immediate impact transfers on the bump should be Joseph Valentino (Suffolk, 8-0, 1.12 ERA, 92 K) and Brandon Buchan (Nassau, 1-1, 2.20 ERA, 53 K). Cortland’s bullpen will be held down by returning reliever Dan Hobbs (1-0, 2 SV, 3.30 ERA, 22 K). The Red Dragons officially open their season this weekend at Randolph-Macon though they’ll have a leg up on nearly everyone in the nation. Cortland has already had a test run; the Red Dragons played a series of games in the Dominican Republic between January 16-22.
Oswego State’s (29-14) senior class has never lost the SUNYAC tournament. The Lakers begin the 2020 season as the two-time defending SUNYAC tournament champions and Oswego has won three SUNYAC titles in a row. While the nucleus of Oswego’s back-to-back Division III World Series participants has moved on, the Lakers still should battle it out with Cortland for league supremacy with seven position player starters and the 2019 SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year back in the fold. In the middle of the line-up, former SUNYAC Player of the Year Mike Dellicarri (.306, 7 HR, 39 RBI) will be hard to replace. 2019 D3baseball.com All-New York selections Ryan Enos (.356, 38 RBI, 47 R) and Lukas Olsson (.329, 41 RBI, 35 R) should together fill that void. Enos and Olsson each belted five home runs last spring and were two of Oswego’s four qualifying .300 hitters. Five other starters will be back; among them all-conference selections Nick Chilson (.337, 20 RBI, 10 R) and Rocco Leone (.248, 15 RBI, 99 Assts) and SUNYAC Rookie of the Year Paul Tammaro (.252, 12 RBI, 31 R). Transfer additions Brendan Frank (St. Lawrence), a 2018 All-Liberty League honoree, Connor Stanton (FDU), a former Division I starter and Kyle Lauria (Ocean County, .459, 40 RBI, 48 R), a 2019 NJCAA Division III All-American should buoy the batting order further. Ace Nick DeMarco (6-3, 2.63 ERA, 64 K) returns to top the Oswego pitching staff, one that had seven arms with a sub 3.00 ERA last season and that was third in the region in team ERA (3.54). Jake Terrill (2-0, 3.97 ERA, 30 K) and Kieran Finnegan (3-2, 3.47 ERA, 23 K) both made starting assignments last year, they’ll see increased innings this spring. Ronald Loomis (0-2, 4.38 ERA, 2 SV, 11 K) tied for the team lead with 10 appearances, he will be among the favorites for the closer role along with transfer Jared Kwicinski (Ocean County, 4-2, 3 SV, 1.54 ERA, 49 K).
Brockport (16-20) missed the SUNYAC tournament last spring for the first time since 2013 and only the second time in Justin Beach’s 11-year tenure. The Golden Eagles picked up non-conference victories over regional heavyweights Ithaca, St. John Fisher and Oswego as well as OAC power Baldwin-Wallace but went 3-6 at home and triumphed in just one of six conference series. All-conference outfielder Tom Kretzler (.290, 24 RBI, 29 R) highlights a group of four returning position players that also includes Nicholas Pastore (.287, 16 RBI, 28 R) and number one starting pitcher Trevor McCarthy (3-5, 1 SV, 3.20 ERA, 40 K). Overall, Brockport will have a different look in 2020 with 12 total newcomers joining the roster through a mix of transfers and freshmen. The fresh faces include Division I transfers Dylan Hillabush (Niagara) and Nick Debrino (Canisius). Downstate transfers Chris Perich (Rockland, .427, 47 RBI, 47 R) and James Houlahan (Westchester, .362, 43 R, 26 RBI) should be immediate impact players.
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| Fredonia, New Paltz and SUNY Oneonta tied for fourth in the 2020 SUNYAC Preseason poll following Cortland, Oswego State and Brockport. Fredonia athletics photo |
Of the four teams jockeying for fourth place in the conference, Fredonia (12-22) should have the inside track with a squad that includes 11 seniors off a third-place finisher last spring. Fredonia nearly eliminated Cortland from the league tournament only to drop a 1-0 elimination game decision to the Red Dragons in 10 innings. The Blue Devils will have an experienced batting order with eight of nine spots holdovers from ‘19 including seniors Nicolas Fiore (.282, 16 RBI, 17 R), William Clifford (.321, 22 RBI, 11 DBL) and All-SUNYAC choice Russell Mistretta (.299, 14 RBI, 16 R). The only change will come at the designated hitter slot. Finger Lakes Comm. College transfer James Mitchell (.364, 6 HR, 45 RBI) should be a leading candidate to fill that slot. Four-year pitching ace Luke Kuczewski (4-6, 2.51, 68 K) will be hard to replace even though he stays on as an assistant coach. Kuczewski graduated as the school’s all-time leader in innings pitched and strikeouts. Sam Cestra (3-5, 3.72 ERA, 32 K) should slide into the top spot in the pitching rotation, he went nine scoreless innings against Cortland in last year’s playoffs. Nick Ciraolo (2-2, 2.97 ERA, 34 K) projects to be one of the top relievers in the conference.
New Paltz (13-19) kept Fredonia out of the conference tournament by taking two of three from the Blue Devils on the final weekend of the season but fell just a game short of a logjam for fourth place. The Hawks will be youthful with14 newcomers total and they project to have as many as four of those newcomers in the opening day line-up. Head coach Thomas Seay wants to rely on his veteran core of five returning starters to provide leadership. The strength on offense will be the heart of the order with the bulwark of Matt McGee (.384, 15 RBI, 26 R) and Dean Stalzer (.306, 18 RBI, 28 R). Impact newcomers include Division II transfer Matt Laurelli (LIU Post) and Ryan Geraghty (Orange CC, .327, 15 RBI). Jesse Keshner could also provide an offensive spark; he reached base four times in nine at-bats last March before missing the rest of the season. As like last season, the Hawks may have to out-hit opponents. Billy Moeller (1-1, 3.81 ERA, 18 K) is the only returning starting pitcher.
SUNY Oneonta (18-20) is looking to build on last year’s strong finish with a team that includes eight returning starters. The Red Dragons won a three-way tie for fourth and qualified for the league tournament for the first time since 2014. Oneonta went on to upset previous league unbeaten Cortland in the tournament opener before eventually succumbing to the top-seeded hosts in a one-run decision in the semifinals. Oneonta’s top three hitters are all back in the upperclass trio of all-conference choice Dominic Lamonica (.286, 17 RBI, .414 OBP), John Zinko (.284, 3 HR, 17 RBI) and David Deberadinis (.283, 16 RBI, 11 SB). The graduation of ace all-league pitcher Robert Ottaviano (7-4, 2.17 ERA, 67 K) leaves a hole at the top of the SUCO rotation. Steve Gerringer (2-4, 3.83 ERA, 39 K) and Dean Langman (2-2, 3.66 ERA, 17 K) should slide into the top two starting slots. Gerringer is the lone pitcher back that logged more than 30.0 innings last spring while Langman averaged nearly a strikeout per frame out of the bullpen.
One of the three teams involved in last year’s three-way tie for the fourth and final conference playoff spot was Plattsburgh State (12-20). The Cardinals cruised to seven wins in the final month of the regular season before a series loss on the final weekend of league play kept them out of the postseason. Head coach Kris Doorey’s team posted a four-win improvement in league play and won league series against both Brockport and Fredonia. All-SUNYAC shortstop Stephen Bryant (.327, 14 RBI, 20 SB) will anchor the offense and the Cards’ captain should again be in the all-conference conversation. JUCO transfers Steve Messerschmitt (.357, 34 RBI, 40 R) and Aaron Roman (.278, 22 RBI, 17 R) from NJCAA powerhouse Westchester Comm. College will add to the pop in the Plattsburgh bats. The biggest area of concern for Plattsburgh will be pitching, no hurlers with starting experience return. Matthew Triola (2-3, 5.65 ERA, 11 K) is the only pitcher back with more than 10.0 innings pitched. The Cardinals should be able to hit but their pitching will need to backbone the team if it wants to return to the postseason.
Favorite: SUNY Cortland
Independents: New York University (26-13) enters the school’s sixth year of baseball in 2020. NYU’s Class of 2019 compiled a 97-60 (.617) record over four years, set a program record with 28 victories in 2018 and last spring finished second in the UAA. It was the program’s best UAA showing in five seasons and the Violets were the only team to defeat league champion Washington (Mo.) in conference play. The Violets open 2020 without their top three hitters from a season ago due to graduation, all were all-conference selections led by three-time all-region choice Coleman Hendershot (.355, 8 HR, 45 RBI). Head coach Doug Kimbler has five starters returning, among them are Grant Berman (.308, 3 HR, 19 RBI) and 2018 all-region outfielder Coltrane Tait (.277, 22 RBI). While the Violets offense could be a work in progress with a starting line-up that projects to include three freshmen, Coach Kimbler will have his focus on pitching and defense. Mound men Ford Ladd (8-3, 3.51 ERA, 42 K), Sal Cammisuli (5-2, 2.56 ERA, 29 K) and Gabe Golob (5-1, 4.59 ERA, 39 K) all return to pace the pitching rotation. Closer Joseph Prisco (0-3, 2.35 ERA, 11 SV, 13 K) finished tied for fourth nationally in total saves in 2019. Defensively, NYU fielded at a .960 percentage, nearly 20 points higher than opponents. Year six at NYU also brings a meatier slate with five NJAC opponents, a two-game home series against UMass Boston and the usual UAA schedule.