| Cortland State will be looking for a consecutive trip to the D-III World Series, breaking a recent trend of winning the New York Regional in even years. d3photography.com by Larry Radloff |
By John McGraw
for D3baseball.com
Over a 20-year span between 1994 and 2014, no other team in Division III baseball made more appearances in the NCAA Division III World Series than the Cortland State Red Dragons. The 2010 national runners-up made their 12th overall World Series appearance last June and finished just two wins shy of returning the national championship game for the second time in five years. As the snow melts this spring in the New York region, not only does Cortland appear to be loaded up for another run to Empire State supremacy but the Red Dragons have the parts necessary to contend for a national championship.
The New York region is comprised of 41 teams spanning six leagues from the City University of New York Athletic Conference to the State University of New York Athletic Conference and all points in between. The region has seen some small growth over the last few years with brand new programs at Bard (2014), Elmira (2015) and New York University (2015). Cortland State, ranked fifth in the 2015 D3baseball.com Preseason Top 25, is the reigning regional champion. The Red Dragons claimed their 12th New York regional championship last May at Colburn Park in Newark. Cortland defeated regional interloper Kean, 10-1, in the championship game to complete an undefeated run through the Newark regional. The 2015 New York regional will return to Falcon Park in Auburn, N.Y., after a one-year absence. This year will mark the 10th time that the regionals will be held in Auburn at Falcon Park which is the home of the Auburn Doubledays, the short-season Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
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New York Regional winners in the last 12 years 2014: Cortland State |
The biggest opposition in Auburn could come from out of region as just three New York region teams headed to Newark last spring – Cortland, Farmingdale State and Union (N.Y.). In the past, teams from both the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions have been shipped to New York with non-region “New York” champions including Trinity (Conn.), Eastern Conn. State and Keystone.
While Cortland, the lone region team ranked in the D3baseball.com Preseason Top 25, stands alone as the favorite, there are several other sides that may surprise in 2015. Outside of Cortland, the next best team could be Rochester from the Liberty League. The Yellow Jackets won 25 games last year and paced all Liberty League teams in conference victories. Defending Liberty League tournament champion Union and rival Rensselaer (RPI), a two-time World Series participant, will battle with Rochester for Liberty League supremacy. Union and RPI have been the Liberty League’s last two representatives in the NCAA tournament.
After the Liberty League threesome of Rochester, Rensselaer and Union, one has to take a Hudson River Line and then the ferry to Hoboken to find another regional contender in Stevens. While Ithaca and St. John Fisher have dominated the Empire 8 since its inception, the Ducks earned an NCAA tournament bid last season by winning the CUNYAC conference tournament. Stevens, a full-time member of the Empire 8 that will compete against national foes for a Pool B bid this spring, tied a school record last year with 27 victories and nearly everyone will return for head coach Kristaps Aldins. The road to Auburn though for Stevens will be a tough one and it will have to go through Ithaca and St John Fisher as well as a very tough non-conference schedule that includes Kean, Farmingdale State, Eastern Conn. State and Rowan.
Ithaca and St. John Fisher, just like Stevens, will need to compile impressive resumes overall to punch their ticket to Auburn. Both Bombers (26-10) and Cardinals (31-11) were very good last year, but not enough to earn a Pool B bid to the NCAA tournament. D3baseball.com Preseason All-American pitcher John Prendergast anchors a strong Ithaca starting rotation that was the backbone of the team’s run to Wisconsin and the World Series in 2013.
Downstate, Keith Osik has built a powerhouse at Farmingdale State. The Rams finished second in the Skyline last year and then had to fight through the conference tournament as the three seed at Old Westbury to claim the automatic bid. Farmingdale State has made every NCAA tournament field since 2008. Given Farmingdale’s success in the Skyline, it’s hard to bet against the Rams to make it eight in a row.
The first New York region teams in action for the 2015 season will begin play on February 14.
New Faces
Charlie Barbieri, Maritime: Barbieri, a successful high school coach from Brooklyn with ties to Major League Baseball, was tapped to skipper the Privateers this past fall. The SUNY Maritime position is Barbieri’s first job at the collegiate level however he has previous head coaching experience with the Miami Marlins’ U17/U18 Scout teams and the Long Island Storm summer collegiate team. Barbieri has also been an associate scout for the Chicago Cubs. Prior to Maritime, he spent six seasons as the head coach at Brooklyn’s Midwood High School. He was named the PSAL Coach of the Year in 2010.
James Cisco, Lehman: Cisco is a newcomer to the collegiate coaching ranks though he is no stranger to college baseball. The new Lehman head coach was a four-year starter at Fordham and won an Atlantic 10 championship with the Rams in 1998. Cisco brings several years of prep coaching experience to the West Bronx school and most recently he was the head coach of the U-18 team at the Highlander Training Academy.
Frankie Delgado, Yeshiva: Delgado, a 2010 Purchase graduate, inherits a Yeshiva program that is looking to try and climb out of the Skyline cellar. He is the school’s third head coach in the last four years. Delgado has coached at the professional and high school levels. Last fall, he was part of the coaching staff for the 2014 Can-Am League champion Rockland Boulders.
Doug Kimbler, New York University: When NYU decided to bring back baseball after a 40-year hiatus, the Violets did not have to go far to find a new coach. Kimbler spent the last two years as the head coach at NYU-Poly. This past fall, the athletic departments of both NYU and NYU Poly were merged under one NYU banner. Kimbler, a 1990 draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, has an extensive resume with previous coaching stops at Hartwick (head coach 2004-2006), Castleton State (assistant, 2007-2008) and Rensselaer (assistant, 2000-2003). On the field, Kimbler was an NAIA All-American at the College of Saint Rose and he enjoyed a seven-year professional playing career.
| Vinny Todino takes over a program that posted 15 wins a season ago and made a return trip to the Skyline Conference Tournament. Mount St. Vincent athletics photo |
Jerry Sidman, St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn): As an associate head coach, Sidman helped the Bears to three-straight seasons of 20 victories or more between 2012 and 2014. He was promoted to the St. Joseph’s head coaching job last August. He is the third head coach in program history. The 1996 John Jay graduate helped guide Baruch to the CUNYAC championship in 2001 as an assistant coach and he has over 10 years of experience in downstate dugouts. As a player, Sidman was part of John Jay’s 1996 NCAA tournament team.
Vinny Todino, Mount St. Vincent. Vinny Todino played for Paul LaMarr as a senior at Mount St. Vincent in 2012. Three years later, the former Dolphin infielder has been named as LaMarr’s replacement as the CMSV head coach. Todino was an assistant under LaMarr last year as the Dolphins compiled 15 victories and qualified for the Skyline Conference tournament
Conference Previews
State University of New York Athletics Conference: Cortland State captured its 32nd overall conference tournament championship in 2014. Joe Brown’s Red Dragons have won the SUNYAC tournament title 13 times over the last 15 years and the two years that Cortland did not win the tournament, the Red Dragons were still the conference regular season champions. Cortland has also reached the NCAA tournament 22 years in a row, the longest active streak of any Division III team.
| Brandon McClain highlights one of the best starting rotations in D-III baseball. Cortland athletics photo |
Cortland’s pitching staff, which cobbled together a 2.87 team earned run average last season, may actually be even better in 2015. The starting rotation will be headlined by D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Brandon McClain (10-2, 2.16 ERA, 91.2 IP, 78 K) and 2014 D3baseball.com All-New York region pitchers Brandon Serio (9-3, 2.37 ERA, 83.2 IP, 68 K) and Alex Weingarten (5-1, 1.73 ERA, 57.1 IP, 39 K), a transfer from Farmingdale State. However the most intriguing addition to the pitching staff is Coastal Carolina transfer Seth Lomando, a 2013 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. Lomando is expected to pitch and play third base. He was an all-state choice in high school as a pitcher and an infielder. Reliever Cody Petre (2.18 ERA, 5 SV, 14 APP, 2013), the closer in 2013, returns to anchor the bullpen after missing the majority of last season due to injury. The biggest question mark for Cortland will be behind the plate where three players that shared the backstop duties last season all graduated. A trio of freshmen, each an all-state honoree as a high school senior, will compete for playing time. Offensively, the Red Dragons graduated each of their top two run producers from a year ago but return a strong offensive core led by designated hitter Vinny Bomasuto (.304, 39 RBI, 48 H), right fielder Donny Castaldo (.310, 39 H, 33 R, 13 SB) and 2014 D3baseball.com All-New York region outfielder Conrad Ziemendorf (.315, 21 RBI, 41 H, 34 R). Middle infielders Mark DeMilio (.361, 39 H, 31 R) and Anthony Simon (.396, 13 RBI, 19 R) are among five returning starters that batted .300 or higher in 2014. The sky is the limit for the Red Dragons in 2015.
| Brendyn Karinchak had four complete games in 2014. Oswego athletics photo |
Oswego State was one of the four conference tournament teams last year and Scott Landers’ Lakers downed the eventual league champion Red Dragons twice in three regular season contests. Oswego projects to have a terrific 1-2 punch at the top of the starting rotation in Brendyn Karinchak (5-1, 1.62 ERA, 61.0, 41 K) and Tim Cronin (5-0, 2.30 ERA, 43.0 IP). Cronin beat Cortland twice and limited the Red Dragons to three earned runs in 15.0 innings pitched. Offense is where Oswego will need help. The Lakers graduated their top two batsmen from one year ago, each had over 40 hits. Lead-off man Dan Saccocio (.293, 30 R, 29 H, 12 SB) and John Rauseo (.273, 19 R, 17 SB) should make Oswego dangerous on the base paths however the Lakers must find players drive those two home.
Since the turn of the calendar into the 2000’s, Brockport State (2004, 2010) has been the only team to unseat Cortland from the conference throne. However, the Golden Eagles have to replace just about their entire conference pitching rotation which included 2013 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Justin McCarthy. Returning starters Tyler Clifford (3-4, 5.24 ERA, 44.2 IP) and Zach Molino (1-0, 19.2 IP, 4 GS) will have larger roles this season while junior college transfer Derrick Fera (Finger Lakes C.C.) and Dakota Stackhouse (1-0, 4.62 ERA, 25.1 IP, 14 K) will attempt to fill the holes left by graduation. No returning pitcher for Brockport recorded an ERA under 4.00 in 2014. D3baseball.com All-New York region second baseman Wesley Burghardt (.351, 32 RBI, 54 H) provides Brockport a big stick in the middle of the batting order and he will be joined by big swinging transfer first baseman Chris Davis (Onondaga C.C.).
Oneonta State was a surprise entrant into the conference tournament last year. The Red Dragons finish ahead of Plattsburgh to grab the fourth and final playoff spot. The good news in the City of the Hills is that the majority of that team returns in 2015 for head coach Ben Grimm. The bad news is that pitching staff ace Steve Ascher, a 2014 D3baseball.com All-American, will not. Ascher, a junior in 2014, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 17th round (518th overall) of the Major League Baseball draft. That said, the Red Dragons have a decent mix of veteran players returning including second baseman Matt Mastroianni (.301, 22 RBI, 21 R, 32 H), and center fielder Casey Kies (.289, 37 H, 35 R, 17 SB).
Like Oneonta, Plattsburgh State also returns a veteran team, one that just missed qualifying for the league tournament in 2014. Seven one-run losses sealed the Cardinals’ fate. Plattsburgh has only missed the SUNYAC tournament three times in head coach Kris Doorey’s 12 years as the skipper. Plattsburgh just about has back a majority of its starting position players and three of four conference starters. Nicolas Lupo (.301, 40 H, 25 R, 11 SB), Brian Latulippe (.290, 36 H, 24 R, 17 SB), Frank Buska (.288) and Chris Pescetti (21 RBI) are Plattsburgh’s top returning hitters. Senior J.D. Jenkins (3-5, 2.44 ERA, 62.2 IP, 36 K) will lead starting pitching rotation for the second year in a row. Game experience won’t be an issue for Plattsburgh’s pitching staff, overall last season 16 pitchers made at least one appearance each.
| Mike Sparacino will take the field as a Captain for the New Paltz State Hawks in 2015. New Paltz State athletics photo |
Last spring, first-year head coach Matt Righter helmed his New Paltz State squad to an upset of 11th nationally ranked Salisbury on opening day. Overall, the former Johns Hopkins star guided New Paltz to 14 victories in his first season as a head coach. The Hawks welcome back from 12 players from last year’s team. The Hawks strength should be on the mound after posting a 3.47 team ERA last spring. The lefty-heavy starting rotation will be topped by converted reliever Roy Missall (1-1, 1.40 ERA, 1 SV, 19.1 IP), Christian Huertas (2-4, 2.54 ERA, 39.0 IP), the lone right-handed pitcher, Nyack College transfer Jamie Fox and 6-foot-7 southpaw Brian Solomon (0-1, 3.41 ERA, 37.0 IP, 27 K). Catcher Tyler Bell (.294, 15 RBI) is the top returning batsman. The Hawks may need to rely on speed to score runs – returning outfielders Richard Guido and Tom Dieckhoff combined to swipe 28 bases in 2014. New Paltz will have to find a way to score runs after having plated just 132 in 36 games last season.
While the weather was not kind to many in the New York region in 2014, Fredonia State was among the hardest hit. The Blue Devils played 18 games in April and during a 10-day stretch between April 11 and April 21, Fredonia played 11 conference games – eight of the 11 games were played as part of conference doubleheaders. From last year’s squad, six of nine starters return as does two of three conference starters. The biggest boost should come from redshirt junior Zachary Jordon (5-1, 3.95 ERA, 3 SV, 43.1 IP, 27 K, 2013). Jordon missed all of last season with an injury after posting six victories and five saves in his first two collegiate campaigns. The Blue Devils will rely on upperclassmen and transfers in 2015; the current roster includes 21 combined juniors and seniors.
| Jayson Yano, a dual threat player, led the Ducks in several batting and pitchign statistic catagories in 2014. Stevens athletics photo |
Empire 8: Even with the inclusion of first-year program Elmira, the Empire 8 is still on the outside looking in when it comes to Pool A automatic bids into the NCAA tournament. Each of the conference’s six teams are Pool B teams which means that they are competing against teams across the country to gain one of a very few non-AQ league spots into the national playoffs. Ithaca, a 2013 World Series participant, won the Empire 8 last year but did not qualify for an at-large NCAA tournament nor did St. John Fisher, a team that won over 30 games.
The battle for the top of the table as the snow melts appears to be between 2014 NCAA tournament participant Stevens and regional power Ithaca. The Ducks are attempting to be the first team other than St. John Fisher to wrest the conference crown from the Bombers since RIT won the league in 2000. Stevens graduated just four seniors from last year’s 27-win team. Empire 8 Player of the Year candidate and 2014 D3baseball.com All-New York region utiity player Jayson Yano (.342, 52 H, 22 RBI; 5-3, 1.62 ERA, 50.0 IP, 46 K) is one of the top two-year threats in the entire region. He is one of 24 Stevens returnees and six starting position players. Stevens won with pitching in 2014 – Ducks pitchers posted a 2.34 team ERA. Jayson Yano will again be the ace and he’ll be joined up front by strikeout artist Greg Jakusik (2-3, 2.74 ERA, 54 K, 46.0 IP), Pierce Marston (2-2, 2.43 ERA, 42 K), Gary Boardman (2-1, 1.93 ERA, 35 K, 32.2 IP) and Robert Robbins (4-2, 4.50 ERA, 36 K, 38.0 IP). The one open slot in the pitching staff is that of the closer, Zeph Walters (4-1, 1.87 ERA, 33.2 IP, 46 K) is projected to move into the closer role. Also look for 6-foot-6 freshman southpaw Andrew Hamel out of Central Catholic in Lawrence, Mass., to make an impact on the pitching staff. Jayson Yano topped the Ducks in several offensive categories last season. Yano cannot do it all alone and he’ll have help from Nick Sieber (.306, 30 RBI, 44 H, 11 SB), Brian Hennelly (.328, 39 H, 22 R) and lead-off man Jonathan Toro (19 SB, 15 R). While the most pivotal weekends of the season come back-to-back at home against St. John Fisher and on the road at Ithaca, the Ducks as a Pool B team must compile an impressive resume against a difficult schedule. Out of conference opponents include nationally-ranked Kean, Eastern Conn. State, Misericordia and Rowan along with Skyline power Farmingdale State and Trinity (Conn.).
Ithaca has won 12 of 15 overall Empire 8 baseball championships. The Bombers have won the last three league titles in a row and were just a few wins shy of advancing to the national championship game in 2013. Much like Stevens, the Bombers are loaded on the mound where the top arm is D3baseball.com Preseason All-American John Prendergast (9-1, 2.60 ERA, 69.1 IP, 56 K, 6 BB). Prendergast should go down as one of the top arms in school history when all is said and done. He’ll again get a bulk of the Bomber workload on the bump. Flamethrower Jimmy Wagner (4-1, 2.36 ERA, 26.2 IP, 28 K) will again pitch as both a starter and reliever while Prendergast’s partner in crime heading up the starting rotation will be Benji Parkes (3-4, 3.26 ERA, 49.2 IP, 32 K). Parkes appeared in just one game as a freshman in 2013 and then emerged last year as Ithaca’s number two with his top performance coming in a complete game three-hitter against Stevens in Hoboken. The durable Andrew Sanders (5-1, 3.82 ERA, 35.1 IP) and rounds out the starting rotation. The Bombers will need a reliable reliever outside of Wagner though to bolster the bullpen. Brandon Diorio (2-0, 5.03 ERA, 19.1 IP) and Logan Barer (1-1, 3.91 ERA, 25.1) were the most utilized relievers outside of Ithaca’s core group of arms.
At the plate in 2014, replacing 2013 D3baseball.com All-American Tim LoCastro proved to be a very difficult task and the Bombers saw their team batting average and run production decline from the year before. This season, Ithaca is again tasked with replacing its top hitters. Returnees John Stanley (.319) and Stephen Yanchus (.302) are Ithaca’s only .300 batters from last season. Matt Connelly (.291, 34 H, 21 R, 10 DBL, 22 RBI) and Christian Brown (.228, 28 H, 22 R, 16 RBI, 14 SB) should be Ithaca’s top offensive weapons. Brown has swiped 28 bases over the last two years and he posted a career best 62 hits and 49 runs in Ithaca’s World Series run. Should the veterans struggle to produce, impact freshmen Brennan McCormack from New York Class AA power Shenendehowa and Dominic Boresta out of Ridgewood, N.J., may vie for playing time. Ithaca head coach George Valesente will open the 2015 season just two wins shy of 1,000 in his storied career. Valesente took over the head coaching job at Ithaca in the late 1970’s and he has led the school to two national championships.
| St. John Fisher's Malcolm Kelsey was named a Top 20 Atlantic League prospect for his stellar performance in the wood bat league last summer. Empire 8 athletics photo |
St. John Fisher rounds out a strong group of top teams in the Empire 8 though the Cardinals may be in a re-loading mode after the graduation of school all-time great Justin D’Amato along with the rest of a senior class that won 114 games over four seasons in Pittsford. The cupboard isn’t completely bare on East Avenue though the Cards will boast 14 freshmen and just five seniors. All-around center fielder Joe Simmons (.329, 52 H, 30 R, 27 SB), 2014 D3baseball.com All-New York region shortstop Cody Wiktorski (.403, 54 H, 31 R, 33 RBI), second baseman Mike Roman (.329, 49 H, 34 RBI) and Malcolm Kelsey (.304, 42 H, 25 R, 20 SB) form a solid nucleus of upper-class weapons. Simmons, Wiktorski and Kelsey combined to steal 58 bases last year. The pitching staff will look completely different with the losses to graduation. Marc Iseneker (7-1, 2.05 ERA, 48.1 IP, 44 K) is the only returning starter. Converted closer Ryan Smith (2-0, 2.95 ERA, 6 SV, 29 K, 18.1 IP) will move into the starting rotation along with transfer Stephen Lewis (Finger Lakes C.C.). The Cardinals should pose a difficult challenge for both Ithaca and Stevens but a young St. John Fisher team will benefit from this year in the long term.
Utica, Houghton and Elmira round out the Empire 8 line-up in 2015. Elmira begins the first baseball season in school history in a few weeks. The Soaring Eagles will play their home games off campus at historic Dunn Field which has been in use since 1939 by various incantations of the Elmira Pioneers baseball club. Elmira will open the season with a 24-man roster that boasts players from around the country including Matt Van Muelken, an infielder from Fairbanks, Alaska. Elmira will play its first Empire 8 game against defending league champ Ithaca on March 28.
Utica, under first-year head coach Joe Milazzo, showed a three-win improvement in 2014. Utica’s wins last year included a 22-run explosion in a season-opening victory and triumphs over conference tournament participants Vassar (Liberty League) and SUNY Oswego (SUNYAC). Utica’s schedule ranked among the 20 toughest in Division III. The Pioneers open the 2015 preseason with a 46-man roster that includes 23 freshmen and 23 returnees. Utica graduated just five players from last year’s team; the majority of the newcomers should comprise Utica’s junior varsity squad which will play a 24-game schedule. UC has all three of its all-conference selections back in dual-threat Ryan Watson (.341, 26 RBI, 1-1, 3.03 ERA, 29.2 IP), top starting pitcher Joshua Webb (2-2, 3.29 ERA, 4 CG, 38.1 IP, 48 K) and catcher Thomas Dineen (.299, 29 H, 15 CSB). While the Pioneers may not contend for a league championship, the program seems to be headed in the right direction.
This spring, Houghton will have the chance to compete for the conference championship. While the Highlanders are still a provisional Division III member, the Empire 8 has voted to allow Houghton the chance to play for league championships in sports across the board which means contests involving Houghton will now count in the league standings. The Highlanders won 12 games in 2014 with a roster consisting of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Hougton played games against several conference schools in 2014 and earned two wins apiece over Utica and nationally-ranked St. John Fisher. Infielder Michael Knapp (.337, 34 H, 20 R) is a two-time selection to the all-conference team.
Liberty League: Of the three upstate New York conferences last spring, the Liberty League was the most hotly contested. Seven teams finished conference play with a winning record in the league (and overall) though three of those teams missed the conference tournament. With nine total teams, the Liberty League employs a 24-game league schedule where a team will play six of its eight conference opponents four times apiece. Oftentimes, even before the nine-team format, the weather would wreak havoc on the 24-game schedule. The majority of league teams have started to schedule conference games for Florida spring trips.
| 2015 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Evan Janifer's 2014 season was the best season a Rochester pitcher has ever had. Rochester athletics photo |
Rochester was one win away from its first Liberty League championship last spring. The Yellowjackets had the most league wins (16) of any team and completed the regular season with 25 overall triumphs. Rochester’s pitching staff should be the best in the conference. Everyone returns for the Yellowjackets led by D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Evan Janifer (2-0, 0.45 ERA, 9 SV, 20.0 IP, 16 K). Relief pitchers Andrew Crean (2-2, 2.41 ERA, 33.2 IP, 21 K) and Ethan McGowan (3-1, 2.60 ERA, 34.2 IP) combine with Janifer to give Rochester a solid back end. Six different pitchers started at least five games for Rochester in 2014. Staff ace Dan Warren (4-2, 1.05 ERA, 3 CG, 51.1 IP, 39 K) tops the starting staff and he’ll be joined by Michael Mondon (3-2, 2.79 ERA, 42.0 IP) and David Strandberg (3-2, 3.24 ERA, 33.1 IP). Rochester does have some questions in field as four starters are lost from last year’s team.
UR’s best bats are in the outfield with Lance Hamilton (.379, 39 H, 20 RBI), Matt Todd (.299, 29 H, 28 R) and Josh Ludwig (.265, 27 RBI, 10 SB). Ludwig paced the Jackets in RBI as a junior though if he returns to his freshman and sophomore form as a two-time all-conference selection that hit over .330 each season, the Rochester offense could be even more lethal than last year. Catcher Nolan Schultz (.346, 37 H, 18 RBI, 10 CSB) was a D3baseball.com All-New York Region choice in 2014. The biggest change comes in the middle infield where Rochester must replace both second baseman and shortstop. Freshman Tyler Schultz and junior Steve Eychner are expected to fill those spots when the season opens.
| Jake Fishman (pictured) and Kent Curran are super sophomores for the Dutchmen on the mound and at the plate. Union athletics photo |
Don’t count out defending conference tournament champion Union. Head coach Paul Mound has built a winner in the Electric City of Schenectady over the last two seasons. The Dutchmen have won the last two conference regular season tournament championships and before a conference tournament championship in 2014, Union was two wins away from going to the NCAA tournament in 2013. Moving forward, Union still very much has the pieces to content at the top of the Liberty League. Sophomore Jake Fishman (.400, 24 RBI, 42 H, 26 R; 7-0, 2.29 ERA, 63.0 IP, 49 K), the 2014 Liberty League Rookie of the Year and a 2014 D3baseball.com All-New York selection, should be one of the top candidates to be the Liberty League Player of the Year. Fishman’s sophomore classmate, third baseman Kent Curran (.326, 28 RBI, 42 H, 11 DBL; 2-1, 3.64 ERA, 29.2 IP) gives the Dutchmen a second dual threat as a hitter and pitcher. Fishman and Curran head up the pitching staff which will get a boost from the return of Jamie Faber (5-2, 3.47 ERA, 49.1 IP, 35 K, 2013) who did not appear at all in 2014. Faber was part of Union’s starting rotation in 2013. One new face that should also impact the starting staff is Division I transfer Adam Ashenfarb (Lafayette). Union’s offense may suffer somewhat with the graduation of four regular starters. As many as three freshmen are projected to be part of Union’s opening day starting line-up. If these freshmen can develop like Fishman and Curran did in 2014, the Dutchmen may be looking to make it a three-peat.
Rensselaer (RPI) engineered a winning conference record (11-9) in 2014 however the weather and several key late season defeats kept the Cherry and White from defending their conference tournament championship. RPI won the Liberty League conference tournament in 2013 and finished a few wins shy of making its third World Series appearance. The Engineers boast a veteran bunch with 16 juniors and seniors. Most of RPI’s position players return to a team that hit .307 overall last season. Tim LeSuer (.435, 29 RBI, 50 H, 13 SB), Nick Palmiero (.319, 19 RBI, 30 H, 25 RBI) and Tyler Listing (.314, 13 RBI) make up an upperclassmen dominated infield though the first base and catching positions remain up in the air in the preseason. Playing time in the RPI outfield could be tough where utility player Jared Jensen (.310, 16 RBI, 1-3, 5.40 ERA, 38.1 IP, 27 K) will be in the mix along with Matt Lawrence (.303, 12 RBI), Nick Annunziata (.299, 30 RBI) and Shane Matthews (.275, 17 H, 32 R). Matthews drove in 36 runs and finished second among all RPI hitters with a .338 batting average during RPI’s run to the NCAA tournament in 2013. The return of graduate student Sean Conroy (5-2, 1.29 ERA, 4 CG, 55.2 IP, 57 K), a 2014 D3baseball.com All-New York region pitcher, gives RPI a strong number one conference starter. The majority of RPI’s conference rotation is back though the pitching staff overall must lower a 4.08 team ERA if the Engineers want to return to the regionals. Greg Echevarria (3-0, 2.83 ERA, 3 SV, 41.1 IP, 44 K), who was primarily a reliever last spring, will move into the starting rotation leaving a void at the end of the bullpen. Freshman Aaron Kalish may be an impact arm as a first year; he was an all-state pitcher at Class AA New York power Shenendehowa.
| Brooks English earned ECAC Upstate Second Team All-Star accolades at designated hitter in 2014. Vassar athletics photo |
Very quietly, Vassar has become a consistent playoff contender in the conference. The Brewers strung together 19 wins in 2014, set a school record for winning percentage and finished third in the conference tournament with a victory over Clarkson. Four seniors graduated from last year’s club but much like the trio of teams at the top of the table, Vassar brings back key elements for head coach Jon Martin. Sophomores Adam Erksis (7-1, 1.96 ERA, 5 CG, 59.2 IP, 25 K) and Trent Berg (8-1, 1.95 ERA, 50.2 IP, 39 K) were tremendous as freshman; Erksis was the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year and a D3baseball.com All-New York region pitcher. With the losses on the offensive side of the plate, the Brewers may go as far as Erksis and Berg can take them. D3baseball.com All-New York region reliever Connor Cucalon (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 SV, 16.0 IP, 10 K) remains one of the top closers in the conference behind Rochester’s Evan Janifer. Seven of nine position players are back in Poughkeepsie for 2015 but the Brewers graduated their monster masher, D3baseball.com All-New-York selection Brett Zaziski. Nick Johnson (.336, 27 RBI, 16 DBL, 40 H), Kyle Casey (.331, 18 RBI, 40 H) and Jason Garfinkel (.321, 22 RBI, 36 H, 11 DBL) all give new meaning to the term West Coast swing, all three Californian’s are among Vassar’s top returning bats. Johnson led the Brewers in doubles and tied for the team lead in RBI while Garfinkel and Casey combined to drive in 40 runs. D3baseball.com All-New York region designated hitter Brooks English (.371, 25 RBI, 43 H) tied Brett Zaziski for the team lead in hits last year and he finished second to Zaziski in batting average.
The middle of the pack of the conference could be anyone’s guess. The most experienced team looking to break into the top of the standings will be former Empire 8 side Rochester Tech. The Tigers had their best season in 2014 since joining the Liberty League and finished the regular season with 19 victories, 12 in conference play. The R.I.T. roster featured only four seniors. Overall, R.I.T. has 21 returning players and the preseason roster includes 36 overall student athletes. The top of the pitching rotation remains intact with Ethan Humbert (2-2, 2.27 ERA, 31.2 IP, 29 K) and Brandon Cohall (4-3, 2.52 ERA, 50.2 IP, 37 K). Outfielders Will Gorman (.351, 14 RBI) and Chris Barr (.321, 26 R, 14 RBI), utility player Phil Sammon (.287, 13 RBI) are R.I.T.’s top three returning hitters and Skip Flanagan (.265, 29 RBI, 23 BB) is back to anchor first base after a stellar summer in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. With a roster comprised of mostly veterans, R.I.T. should be in the running for a spot in the conference tournament.
For both North Country schools, the theme is the same in that the St. Lawrence Saints and Clarkson Golden Knights are both looking to replace important senior classes from 2014. St. Lawrence graduated 11 seniors from last season; the SLU Class of 2014 was part of at least 19 wins each three years in a row. Pete Hoy’s Saints will be young in 2015 with seven freshmen and just five seniors. Chris Fernandez (.306, 17 RBI, 33 H) is the top returnee in Canton. Twenty minutes down the road in Potsdam, Clarkson is coming off a conference tournament appearance but the Golden Knights graduated six players from last year’s team. The Knights lost three of their top five hitters from last season and two of four pitchers that were part of a starting rotation that combined to throw over 200 innings. Clarkson’s best weapon is utility player Greg Jasek (.310, 14 RBI, 10 DBL; 5-3, 2.68 ERA, 57.0 IP, 53 K). He was first among all Clarkson players in batting average, doubles, pitching strikeouts and complete games. As a sophomore, he tied for the team lead in victories and was second in innings pitched. The Golden Knights will also benefit from the return of senior John Coleman (.292, 16 RBI, 35 H; 1-0, 1.80 ERA) and starting pitcher Eddie Miller (4-1, 2.53 ERA, 32.0 IP, 21 K).
| Senior starting pitcher Nick Petrella is looking for a bounce back year in 2015. Skidmore athletics photo by Bob Ewell |
Skidmore won 30 games in 2012 and captured the Liberty League championship en route to the program’s third NCAA tournament appearance. The Thoroughbreds had a rocky 2014 though they’ll look to bounce back in 2015. Pitchers Nick Petrella (2-6, 4.38 ERA, 49.1 IP) and Andrew Bannon (0-3, 8.81 ERA, 30.2 IP) are both back as seniors. Both made key contributions to Skidmore’s conference title team and both will look to bounce back after a down 2014. Mat Marino (.347, 35 H, 18 R, 10 SB) paced the Thoroughbreds in batting average, hits, runs scored and stolen bases as a freshman. He again will top the Skidmore offense but the Saratoga Springs nine will have to improve upon a .255 team batting average to compete for a conference playoff spot.
Baseball returned to Bard in 2013 the first time in 76 years. The Raptors, after playing an independent schedule in 2013, moved up to the Liberty League in 2014. A very young Bard team had predictable growing pains though the Raptors were competitive against more seasoned conference competition. Eight of Bard’s league losses were by two runs or less and the Bardians earned a rare tie against eventual NCAA tournament participant Union. Bard will open 2015 with 21 roster players and a brand new on-campus facility in Honey Field. The new field turf facility opened this past fall and it will now serve as the home of the Raptors after the team spent all of last season playing “home” games away from their Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., campus.
Skyline: While SUNY Cortland has been a powerhouse in upstate New York baseball circles, Farmingdale State has established a strong program in downstate New York. Keith Osik’s Rams have won seven Skyline Conference titles in a row and have not missed the NCAA tournament since 2007. Farmingdale is the only team from the Skyline to advance to the World Series; the Rams did so in 2009. The big question in the conference is can Farmingdale make it eight titles in a row? Last spring, Farmingdale finished in third place in the conference and then had to go to Old Westbury to capture the league tournament title and the automatic bid. It was the fifth time in the last five years that the Rams and Panthers played for the NCAA tournament invitation.
Overall in 2015, the Skyline drops to eight baseball playing members with the merger between the athletic departments of New York University and NYU Poly. The league will return to nine teams in 2016 when St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) joins the Skyline as an all-sports member.
| Tom Rydzewski will be depended on for his bat if the Farmingdale State Rams are to top the Skyline standings in 2015. Farmingdale State athletics photo |
Farmingdale has seven of nine position players back however the pitching staff will be largely different which may mean the Rams have to simply win high-scoring games. Matt Seelinger (3-1, 3.86 ERA, 30.1 IP) and Kevin Cashman (3-2, 4.68 ERA, 32.2 IP) are the top two returning pitchers. When Farmingdale opens the season, the starting rotation is projected to feature three new faces along with Seelinger, Division II transfer Ken Adair (New Haven), freshman David Otero and junior Kevin Martinez (11.2 IP). The pitching staff could also receive help from American International transfer Spencer Prusak. At the plate, the Rams should show no signs of slowing down after averaging over seven runs per game in 2014. D3baseball.com All-New York region selections Michael Marino (.343, 35 RBI, 48 H, 32 R) and Anthony Alvino (.333, 29 RBI, 21 R) along with Tom Rydzewski (.310, 22 RBI, 45 H, 33 R) should power the Farmingdale offense. The Rams were among the top 10 nationally last year with 130 stolen bases. While there is a core group of veterans returning, as many as three freshmen could crack the Farmingdale starting line-up on opening day.
Old Westbury averaged six runs per game last year and the Panthers tied with Saint Scholastica for first in the nation with 137 stolen bases in 42 games played. Old Westbury has back its’ entire outfield – Jacob Coners (.353, 55 H, 27 RBI, 19 SB), Jonathan Pagan (.336, 50 H, 33 R, 29 SB) and D3baseball.com All-New York region choice Nick Yip (.324, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 45 H) – as well as middle infielders Tommy Ziegan (.218, 24 SB, 24 R) and Jesse Matos (.294, 15 H, 15 R). Utility player Jake Schwartz, a transfer from Division II Dowling may find a starting role for the Panthers either at first base or designated hitter. While Old Westbury was lethal on the bases, catcher Brandon Stein was rough on opposing runners as he threw out 15 men attempting to steal. Tim Ingram (6-3, 3.41, 60.2 IP, 73 K) will be called upon to lead Old Westbury on the mound. Ingram was the Pitcher of the Year last summer in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. However, he will need someone to share the workload with due to the graduation of ace Arismendy Nunez who threw over 70 innings in 2014.
| Teofilo Ramirez is part of the youth movement at SUNY Purchase. SUNY Purchase photo by Stephanie Janaseiwicz |
The Panthers of SUNY Purchase pounced into a second-place tie in the league standings with Farmingdale last spring. First year head coach Adam Taraska won the Skyline Coach of the Year award and Purchase qualified for the league tournament for the second year in a row. But also for the second-straight year, the Panthers graduated a highly successful senior class, one that included 10 seniors and the reigning conference Player of the Year. Purchase will much be younger this season with 14 sophomores and over 20 underclassmen. While Old Westbury was tied for first in the nation in overall steals in 2014, Purchase was first nationally with 3.86 stolen bases per game.
St. Joseph’s (Long Island) has been a consistent contender behind the top two of Farmingdale and Old Westbury. The Eagles won nine games in conference in 2014 under first year skipper Richard Garrett and have a majority of that team back in 2015. Overall though, SJC will be young with 20 combined freshman and sophomores. Anthony Bonilla (.298, 34 H, 21 R) is the leading returning hitter and the duo of Glenn Patriss (3-4, 2.83 ERA) and Steven Szobesky (3-4, 3.32 ERA, 1 SV, 43.1 IP, 36 K) will lead the pitching staff. Frank Trionfo (2.30 ERA, 4 SV, 15.2 IP, 18 K) might be the best closer in the league.
The most highly regarded incoming resume of any Skyline player or coach in 2015 belongs to SUNY Maritime assistant Frank Rodriguez. Rodriguez pitched for four different teams including the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds over a seven year Major League career. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was a second round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 1990 Major League Baseball amateur entry draft after playing collegiately at Howard Junior College. Rodriguez will assist first year Maritime head coach Charlie Barbieri.
City University of New York Athletic Conference: The City University of New York Athletic Conference returns to Pool B status after having a one-year exemption for an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Staten Island is a 16-time CUNYAC champion with its most recent title coming in 2013. The Dolphins won the CUNYAC regular season in 2014 only to fall short in the conference tournament as Stevens, as an affiliate member, won the postseason playoff and earned the CUNYAC automatic bid. The Dolphins again are the favorites to claim in the top spot in the league after winning 19 games with a roster that contained just one senior. On paper, CSI brings everyone back including CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year Chris Falcone (7-1, 2.03 ERA, 4 CG, 3 SHO, 75 K, 53.1 IP) and six other All-CUNYAC selections. CSI skipper Mike Mauro is a five-time CUNYAC Coach of the Year.
The biggest overall improvement in the conference last spring came at City College of New York. The Beavers were led by CUNYAC Player of the Year Gabriel Pena and his younger brother, Adrian Pena, the CUNYAC Rookie of the Year. CCNY posted an eight-win improvement from 2013 to 2014 under head coach Steve Macias. Gabriel Pena has graduated though Adrian Pena (.305, 29 H, 13 R, 11 SB), Jhosse Estrella (.304, 28 H, 14 SB) and pitching ace Jose Aquino (6-3, 2.94 ERA, 6 CG, 52.0 IP, 43 K) all are projected to return. The Beavers will also have a new addition in the dugout in assistant coach Scott Losche. Losche was most recently the head coach at St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) where he helmed the Bears to a 29-win campaign. Losche was the CUNYAC Coach of the Year in 2000 at Baruch and he has won two Co-Coach of the Year awards from the Association of Division III independents. City College should continue an improvement that began with last season.
| First baseman Jon Borchert's .405 batting average is the third-highest batting average in school history. Keuka athletics photo by Ed Webber |
North East Athletic Conference: The North East Athletic Conference spans several regions and includes three New York teams in Cazenovia, Keuka and SUNY Poly. Keuka finished tied for first in the NEAC last season with Gallaudet. Former longtime SUNY Oneonta head coach Rick Ferchen engineered a nine-win turnaround in Keuka Park and the Storm (now Wolfpack) set a school record with 22 victories. Keuka made the NEAC tournament for the first time since 2009 and Rick Ferchen was tapped as the NEAC Coach of the Year. In the three seasons prior to Ferchen’s arrival, Keuka won a total of 17 games. Now that the Wolfpack has achieved success, the bigger goal will be to keep that success going and to advance deeper in the conference tournament. Overall, 15 players return this season and those include all-conference selections Jon Borchert (.405, 39 RBI, 17 DBL, 51 H), Jake Burachalk (.375, 22 RBI, 33 R) and Billy McDermott (.363, 17 RBI, 45 H). As a team last season, Keuka hit a scorching .305 and averaged 6.8 runs per contest. On the mound, Zach Nobles (5-0, 2.86 ERA) and Keith Ryan (3-1, 4.47 ERA, 3 CG, 48.1 IP) each return to the starting rotation however Keuka’s top two starters have to be replaced. Last spring, reliever Kyle Michaud (4-1, 3.80 ERA, 21.1 IP, 31 K) averaged 13.08 strikeouts per nine innings. Keuka overall in 2014 recorded a 4.00 ERA which was down over 5.00 from the previous year’s 9.11 average. The Wolfpack open the spring with 17 total newcomers including 14 freshmen and three JUCO transfers.
Co-regular season champion Gallaudet won 27 games overall last season, the most of any league team. The Bison though were tripped up in the conference tournament. NEAC Player of the Year Casey Hicks will have to be replaced along with four other all-conference selections that were lost to graduation. The strength for head coach Curtis Pride’s team will be on the mound with returning NEAC Pitcher of the Year Brandon Holsworth (8-3, 2.18 ERA, 103.1 IP, 85 K) and all-conference arm Danny O’Donnell (5-4, 3.91 ERA, 92.0 IP, 76 K).
Penn State Berks, the third-place finisher in the NEAC standings, used a pair of come-from-behind wins over SUNY Poly in the championship round of the conference tournament to claim the NEAC automatic bid. Berks made its second NCAA tournament appearance last May and first since 2009. NEAC Tournament MVP Kyle Hartman (.328, 40 H, 22 RBI; 6-5, 2.97 ERA, 60.2 IP, 63 K) and all-conference third baseman Tom Grablewski (.354, 31 RBI, 45 H, 13 HBP) lead the returning cast for the Nittany Lions who graduated just five seniors.
| Catcher Tom Ditro started every game for the Penn State Abingdon Lions. Penn State Abingdon athletics photo |
The most experienced returning team in the league will be Penn State Abington. The school just outside of Philadelphia graduated three seniors from a team that ended up just two games back of co-league leaders SUNYIT and Gallaudet. The Nittany Lions have their top four hitters returning, one of which is all-conference catcher Tom Ditro (.328, 44 H, 10 DBL).
SUNYIT finished fourth in the NEAC last spring but the Wildcats caught fire in the postseason and knocked off top seeded Gallaudet in an extra-inning thriller en route to the NEAC Championship Series against Penn State Berks. The Wildcats will have a tough task ahead in 2015 having to replace two all-conference selections which include their top three hitters from 2014. The recently graduated senior class won 69 games over four years and helped the ‘Cats capture the 2011 NEAC regular season title. The top returnee is D3baseball.com All-New York region pitcher Joseph Redmond (6-1, 1.20 ERA, 75.0 IP, 5 CG, 66 K). Redmond was masterful as a junior and he pitched nine shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in SUNY Poly’s 11-inning upset win over Galladuet in the league tournament. What can Redmond do for an encore? Long and tall lefty Jeff Albright (5-4, 4.42 ERA, 55.0 IP, 38 K) will back up Redmond in the rotation though the two will need help to lower last year’s 5.15 team ERA. Joseph O’Rourke (.339, 20 RBI, 41 H) is SUNY Poly’s leading returner at the plate. While the Wildcats do have some solid pieces, they will need strong contributions from seven incoming freshmen as well as four JUCO transfers.
Lancaster Bible will be a young team in 2015 with 11 freshmen and nine sophomores. Reigning NEAC Rookie of the Year Justin Taylor (.380, 8 HR, 27 RBI, 17 DBL, .667 SLG) headlines the youth movement for the Chargers. Returning all-conference outfielder Nate Long (.343, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 49 H) is one of two LBC seniors. Taylor and Long were part of a Lancaster Bible offense that belted 30 home runs in 2014 and averaged 0.81 clouts per contest, the third-highest number in the nation.e
The third Empire State squad in the NEAC is Cazenovia. A youthful Wildcats team in 2014 with two seniors struggled to a five-win season. One of the bright spots for Cazenovia was the play of utility man Dan Crozier (.364, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 40 H, 8 DBL), a catcher and outfielder. Crozier led Caz in nearly every offensive category including batting average, at-bats (110), runs scored (19), hits, doubles, home runs, on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.518). If Crozier can replicate or even improve upon those numbers in 2015, he may be a solid candidate for NEAC Player of the Year.
Independents: Baseball returns to New York University after a 40-year absence. The Violets, not affiliated with any conference in the New York region, will play an independent schedule this spring. However, the team will compete in the University Athletic Association tournament in March which will be played in Sanford, Fla. NYU will play home games at MCU Park in Brooklyn which is the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, the short-season A affiliate of the New York Mets. Head coach Doug Kimbler will boast a young team that includes 25 freshmen.
| St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) will be going for a third consecutive 20 win season in 2015 in their last year as an independent. St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) athletics photo |
Interestingly, fellow Five Boroughs residents and New York Region independents NYU and St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) both call MCU Park in Brooklyn home. The St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) Bears are entering their final season as an independent before joining the Skyline Conference. Nationally speaking, St. Joseph’s will be eligible for a Pool B bid into the NCAA tournament. The Bears have produced back-to-back 20-win seasons and are coming off a school record 29 victories in 2014. Those 29 victories included a 12-game winning streak in April and winning two out of three games from CUNYAC regular season champion Staten Island. New head coach Jerry Sidman has a majority of last year’s team back including seven position players, four starting pitchers and the closer. Thomas McKenna (.367, 31 RBI, 51 H, 6 TRP) and Nicolas LoPrinzi (.357, 29 RBI, 46 H) are the top returning hitters though the offense must find a way to replace D3baseball.com All-Region first baseman Joseph Mendez. Utility man Chris Cutrone (.327, 24 RBI, 37 H; 8-2, 3.01 ERA, 6 CG, 53 K) will serve as the top starter for the Bears. Cutrone’s 71.1 innings pitched in 2014 were more than double any two other SJC pitchers. Home field bragging rights will be on the line when NYU and St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) meet on Coney Island for a three-game series April 10 and 11.
The third and final New York region independent is SUNY Canton. The Kangaroos are entering their third year as NCAA Division III provisional members. Playing a schedule entirely composed of Division III squads last year, Canton won 15 games.