New York Regional Preview


Cortland State has won eleven Regional titles since 1994. Cortland State athletics photo

By John McGraw for D3baseball.com

It is no secret that Cortland State has made the New York Region its stepping stone to the D-III World Series. They will be contenders once again with the likes of Farmingdale State, Ithaca, St. John Fisher, and St. Lawrence.

New Faces

Bard: The Bard College Raptors are one of the newest members of the Liberty League having joined for the 2011-2012 school year. The Raptors will play their first varsity season since 1937 this spring as an NCAA Division III member. The school has hired an eight-year veteran of the Liberty League in University of Rochester alum Ed Kahovec as its first Division III baseball coach. Kahovec spent four years at Rochester as an assistant coach after a four-year playing career with the Yellow Jackets during which he earned a pair of All-Liberty League honors as a shortstop.

Yeshiva: Albert Baez, two years removed from winning the 2011 Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year Award, has taken over as the head coach at Yeshiva University. Baez spent the 2012 season as the Macs’ pitching coach and was promoted to the head coaching position in June replacing Logan Mauzy. Baez is a 2011 Purchase graduate. He pitched professionally for the Frontier League’s Washington Wild Things.


Baruch head coach Jose Torres, the CUNYAC Coach of the Year, will pass the 100 win milestone in 2013. Baruch athletics photo

City University of New York Athletic Conference - Baruch claimed its second CUNYAC championship in four years and third overall last season. The Bearcats edged out perennial conference powerhouse Staten Island (15 CUNYAC crowns) to win the league regular season title and then downed the Dolphins in the conference tournament title game at Brooklyn’s MCU Park. The last time a team other than Staten Island or Baruch hoisted the CUNYAC trophy was John Jay in 2007. Despite heavy losses to graduation, it appears Baruch and Staten Island will again fight it out for league bragging rights in a conference that does not have an NCAA tournament automatic bid.

Baruch skipper Jose Torres, one win shy of 100 at the school, must replace a 2012 graduating class that included two-time CUNYAC Player of the Year Thomas Daly (.405, 52 RBI, 68 H, 40 R, 16 SB, 15 DBL), two-time CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year Jesus Izarra (8-1, 3.36 ERA, 6 CG, 69.2 IP, 47 K), CUNYAC Tournament MVP Alvin Mata (.338, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 46 H, 36 SB) and Steve Hession (.386, 66 H, 52 R, 33 SB, 21 RBI). In total, just nine players return from a 25-man roster which led Baruch to a school record 22 victories. However, Torres has what he believes is one of the best incoming classes in school history, a mix of freshmen as well as JUCO and NCAA Division II transfers. The starting line-up on opening day could include as many as five new faces. Yancey Taveras (.336, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 49 H, 33 R), John Yuksekol (.297, 22 RBI, 35 H, 22 R, 15 SB) are the Bearcats top returning hitters. Paul Perez (6-2, 3.13 ERA, 4 CG, 63.1 IP, 46 K) heads up a starting rotation that will also include Farmingdale State transfer Connor Henson (1-2, 3.95 ERA, 27.1 IP, 14 K).


Bryan Moreno led Staten Island in RBI, doubles and total bases in 2012. Staten Island athletics photo

Fifteen-time CUNYAC champ Staten Island won 21 games last year but stumbled to a 6-4 league mark with a largely young team that had just four seniors. Reigning CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Will Difede (.368, 39 H, 29 RBI, 25 SB), Bryan Moreno (.346, 29 RBI, 44 H, 10 DBL, 26 R, 15 SB) James Lewis (.430 OBP, .309 BA, 15 BB, 19 SB) and Dan Lynch (.374 OBP, 21 BB, 22 SB) all return to lead a CSI offense which stole 133 bases in 2012 and averaged over six runs per game. Six-foot-five senior Richard Anderson (4-2, 3.39 ERA, 3 CG, 61.0 IP, 50 K, 3 BB) and Mike Van Pelt (5-2, 3.51 ERA, 48.2 IP, 31 K) provide CSI with two solid starters at the top of their rotation.

Both John Jay and Lehman made the CUNYAC playoffs last season and won 10 games overall while CCNY just missed out on the conference postseason by virtue of a tiebreaker. One name to know for CUNYAC fans is Braylin Perez from John Jay. The junior from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic threw nine complete games for the Bloodhounds last season and went 7-5 with a 3.81 earned run average. Most impressive was that Perez struck out 81 batters in 85.2 innings. While the Bloodhounds did upset Staten Island in the opening round of the CUNYAC playoffs last season, the bottom of the CUNYAC still has a ways to go to catch the top.

Empire 8 - No other conference can claim that 50-percent of its members went to the NCAA tournament in 2012. The Empire 8 nearly had two teams in the World Series as both league champion Ithaca and runner-up St. John Fisher qualified for the regionals though each fell just two wins shy of Appleton. A four-team league in 2012, the Empire 8 grows to five in 2013 with the addition of Houghton College through conference expansion. The Highlanders, ineligible for postseason play until 2016, are in transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division III. With the league again at five teams, the conference schedule has reverted to a 16-game format featuring a four-game weekend series against each league opponent with a pair of seven-inning doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.


Ithaca athletics photo

Ithaca and St. John Fisher should continue to be the pace setters of the league. Ithaca rebounded from a less-than-stellar 2011 with a tremendous 2012 which saw the Bombers go 29-10-1 and win their 10th Empire 8 championship. Ithaca’s one-two punch of 2012 D3Baseball.com All-New York Region selections Pat Lemmo (10-1, 1.75 ERA, 5 CG, 92.2 IP, 74 K) and 2012 E8 Rookie of the Year John Prendergrast (8-1, 2.81 ERA, 3 CG, 93.0 IP, 76 K) is one of the top tandems in the region. Flamethrower Jimmy Wagner (5-2, 3.99 ERA, 56.1 IP, 43 K) and Andrew Sanders (2-0, 4.75 ERA) round out IC’s rotation though pitching depth and the lack of a proven closer could haunt the Bombers in close games. Ithaca has to replace four-year closer Tucker Healy (3-3, 3.15 ERA, 6 SV, 34.1), an Oakland Athletics draftee, who graduated with 16 career saves. Infielder Tim Locastro (.444, 52 H, 40 R, 3 HR, 17 RBI), an all-region selection, had a breakout sophomore season at the plate; he is one of four all-conference position players along with Corey Caswell (.366, 37 H, 10 DBL), Colby Gee (.339, 41 H, 20 R, 20 RBI) and Andrew Turner (.320, 31 H, 15 RBI).

While St. John Fisher returns a talented group from a 31-win side in 2012, head coach Brandon Potter will have his work cut out with graduation losses of four starting position players including two-time Empire 8 Player of the Year Steve Karnyski (.427, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 76 H, 56 R, 25 SB) and two starting pitchers. Junior Justin D’Amato (11-0, 2.14 ERA, 75.2 IP, 97 K), a D3Baseball.com Preseason All-American, may be one of the top arms in all Division III. Over the last two years, D’Amato has amassed 20 victories, a 20-2 record and 180 strikeouts in 145.0 innings. The southpaw is poised this season to break school career records for wins, innings pitched and strikeouts though he’ll need help from the rest of the starting rotation. However, he is Fisher’s only proven starter. Junior college transfer Sean Badger (Mohawk Valley C.C.) will join D’Amato in the starting rotation along with a large group of returning underclassmen with limited experience. Closer Tom Dybas (2-1, 2.43 ERA, 4 SV, 29.2 IP, 20 K) may also see some spot starts in seven-inning games.

Last year’s St. John Fisher offense was one of the most potent in all of Division III finishing in the top five nationally in seven major offensive categories. The Cardinals averaged 8.5 scores per game but four of the team’s top six hitters from last season graduated. Four-year starter Ben Bostick (.381, 4 HR, 45 RBI, 67 H, 44 R, 7 TRP, 30 SB) and Sean Osterman (.394, 3 HR, 45 RBI, 61 H, 49 R, 9 TRP, 26 SB), a pair of all-region choices, provide both run-producing power and the ability to generate runs with speed on the base paths. Designated hitter Brad Rush (.293, 6 HR, 32 RBI) also returns. Fisher will count on transfers Mike Fahy (Mohawk Valley C.C.), Matt Creenan (Erie C.C.) and Bryant Moore (Onondaga C.C.) for additional offense to replace graduation losses, all three hit .300 in the junior college ranks last spring.


Tyler Courter (pictured) and Kevin Matthews had fourteen of Steven's 24 win in 2012. Stevens athletics photo

There is excitement brewing at both Stevens and Utica as both programs look to continue an upward trend that begun last year. In his inaugural season at Stevens, Kristaps Aldins helmed a veteran Ducks team to 24 overall victories, a 10-win improvement from 2011. The Ducks must replace four starters including top hitter Matt Glassman (.398, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 53 H, 43 R) and speedster Tom Phillips (.420 OBP, 33 SB, 40 R). Brian Hennelly (.379), Dan Allen (.364, 5 HR, 29 RBI), Michael Donovan (.325) and Tyler Courter (.305) all hit over .300 for the Ducks last season helping the team raise its batting average from .275 in 2011 to .303 in 2012. The pitching staff will be headed up Tyler Courter (7-2, 3.89 ERA, 3 SV, 3 CG, 78.2 IP, 54 K) and Kevin Matthews (7-1, 3.40 ERA, 1 SV, 55.2 IP, 31 K); those two accounted for over half of Stevens’ wins last year. The wild card for Stevens could be how well its freshmen play; the team enters the season with 18 newcomers including 6-foot-4 hurler Robert Robbins, an all-state selection from Florida who went 11-1 with a 1.25 ERA as a high school senior.

Meanwhile in Utica, the Pioneers are coming off their first double-digit win season in six years. Nine of UC’s 10 victories came during the final month of the season and 16 players return led by all-conference selections Chris Podlucky (.250, 12 HBP, 10 BB, 31 H, 20 R) and Alec Choleva (.272, 37 H, 26 R, 22 RBI/2-5 ERA, 3.68 ERA, 4 CG, 58.2 IP, 43 K) as well as first baseman Nick Dunbar (.356, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 48 H, 24 R, 11 SB). The biggest key to the season for Utica will be its’ pitching; the Pioneers had a team ERA over 7.00 last season. Head coach Andrew Weimer has won 25 games over the last three years and the Pioneers have increased their win total in each year Weimer has been at the helm.

Empire 8 newcomer Houghton is entering just its second season of baseball. The program was re-started in the fall of 2010 after a 25-year absence. Members of the American Mideast Conference in the NAIA last season, the Highlanders went 7-25 overall. Houghton head coach Brian Reitnour is a Messiah College graduate with Division III assistant coaching experience at both Messiah and Allegheny.


Led by 2012 Coach of the Year Pete Hoy, St. Lawrence returns all but one of their six all-league selections from last season. St. Lawrence athletics photo

Liberty League: While the other New York Region leagues have consistent favorites at the top of the table year in and year out, the Liberty League can be best described as a horse race with any number of teams in the running for the conference crown. The Liberty League regular season champion has not won the conference tournament championship since 2005 meaning that seven times in the last seven years, a lower-seeded team has gone on to represent the league as the conference automatic qualifier in the NCAA tournament. Last spring, upstart St. Lawrence surged to the top of the topsy-turvy Liberty League table but it was Skidmore that captured its fourth conference tournament title in eight years.

The Thoroughbreds certainly have the horses to make a run for a repeat. Skidmore returns all but two players from last year’s title team; though those losses are big ones – two-way threat Zach Rudman (.371, 25 RBI, 52 H, 15 DBL; 6-3, 4.01 ERA, 49.1 IP, 36 K) and four-year outfield starter Brian Lowry (.360, 30 RBI, 40 H, 21 R, 10 DBL); both were 2012 all-conference performers. Seven of nine offensive starters are back on head coach Ron Plourde’s line-up card and nearly the entire pitching staff returns intact. Offensively, Erik Watkins (.385, 65 H, 39 R, 39 RBI, 17 DBL) was one of the top hitters in the Liberty League. He’ll look to drive in speedsters Matty Tatkow (.337, 56 H, 27 R, 28 RBI, 11 DBL, 24 SB) and Leejay Pollacchi (.317, 53 H, 38 R, 34 RBI, 25 SB, 13 SH). Six of seven returning offensive starters drove in at least 20 runs in 2012 and five hit .300 or higher. On the mound, the threesome of Max Martins (5-0, 2.77 ERA, 55.1 IP, 35 K), Isaac Forman (6-4, 3.61 ERA, 3 SV, 67.1 IP, 53 K) and Jordan Keysor (6-5, 4.76 ERA, 2 SV, 75.2 IP, 63 K) should form the nucleus of the conference rotation. Closer Andrew Bannon (1-2, 5.04 ERA, 5 SV, 30.1 IP, 27 K) will be a Skidmore relief specialist; the Thoroughbreds used all four conference starters in relief last season and should again have a short list in the bullpen. No returning relief had an ERA under 5.00 last season.

Staying at the top of the heap, the list of the favorites for the title has to include 2012 regular season champion St. Lawrence and RPI. The Saints marched up to first place in the conference last spring under the leadership of second-year head coach Pete Hoy and nearly returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006. Hoy is a former professional pitcher and Division I pitching coach though his 2013 team’s strength will be in its bats. The Saints swung the sticks to the tune of a .330 batting average last spring and nearly every offensive starter returns. Carter Franz (.429, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 70 H, 53 R, 16 DBL), Khifer O’Connor (.390, 3 HR, 44 RBI, 64 H, 36 R, 16 DBL), Paul Piatelli (.374, 3 HR, 39 RBI, 55 H, 27 R, 20 DBL), Bryan Palermo (.362, 64 H, 57 R, 20 RBI, 14 SB) and Jeff Kott (.354, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 56 H, 32 R) all hit over .350 last season and drove in at least 20 runs. The question is, how can St. Lawrence improve upon an offense that hit .330, bashed 26 home runs and swatted 95 doubles? However, the Saints may need all the offense they can muster with the graduation of powerhouse pitchers Kyle Donaldson (3-2, 2.86 ERA, 4 SV, 28.1 IP, 24 K), Jason Conde (5-4, 2.87 ERA, 62.2 IP, 37 K, 11 GS) and Matt Skelly (6-0, 4.39 ERA, 65.2 IP, 40 K). Andrew Schreyack (5-2, 3.38 ERA, 58.2 IP) and Joe Riley (5-3, 3.92 ERA, 62.0 IP, 45 K) combined for 17 starts last season; they should shoulder the load this spring. The Saints staff should have help from an incoming class of four, three long and tall freshmen at 6-foot-4 or taller and transfer Kevin Prindle, a former starter and football player at Hamilton.


Jonny Rio batted .390 with 13 doubles in 2012 for RPI. RPI athletics photo

RPI won 19 league games last season and qualified for its ninth Liberty League tournament in the last 10 years. The 12-time Liberty League regular season champions ultimately fell short in the conference postseason tournament to Skidmore. While the Engineers cannot match the number of returnees at St. Lawrence and Skidmore, head coach Karl Steffen (700+ career wins) has the pieces to return his team to the top of the conference standings. The strength will be on offense with top returning hitter Jonny Rio (.390, 67 H, 39 R, 13 DBL, 10 SB), infielder Andrew Kalish (.340, 27 RBI, 49 H, 25 RBI), catcher Eric Kozak (.319, 37 H, 21 R, 9 DBL) and first baseman Chuck Erickson (.292, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 42 H). Marist transfer Shane Matthews, a two-time All-New York selection out of Spa Catholic and Rochester transfer Tim LeSuer should make an immediate starting impact. The biggest hole for RPI will be on the mound with half of the starting rotation lost to graduation; starters Jared Jensen (3-2, 3.49 ERA, 49.0 IP) and Mike Campisi (3-2, 4.43 ERA, 65.0 IP, 56 K) both return. The bullpen will also be in flux as no reliever other than Sean Conroy (2-2, 3.89 ERA, 41.2 IP, 2 SV) and Tim Gallagher (2-0, 9.00 ERA, 14.0 IP) pitched in more than 12.0 innings last spring.

After the top three, the peloton is crowded with potential suitors. Clarkson made a wild run to the NCAA regionals just two years ago. The Golden Knights return a good number of players from last year’s team but the biggest shoes to fill will be those of 2012 D3Baseball.com All-American David Kinney (.467, 63 H, 32 R, 30 RBI, 18 DBL; 4-4, 4.72 ERA, 55.1 IP, 35 K). Fireballer Bryan Chudy (4-5, 3.93 ERA, 55.0 IP, 38 K), who starred in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League last summer, will be one of the conference’s top arms. However, Clarkson’s pitching will need to be better and improve upon a 5.53 team ERA if it wants to contend for a return trip to the conference tournament. The Knights hit .300 as a team last season however David Wixted (.341, 42 H, 26 R, 23 RBI, 19 SB) and John Coleman (.324, 44 H, 28 R, 22 RBI) are the only proven returning run producers.


Tyler Heck is one of four team captains for the Dutchmen in 2013. Union athletics photo

The darkhorse in the running for the final tournament slot could be Union. The squad from Schenectady has a bulk of returning players and an emerging offense that may be enough to carry the team to the postseason for the first time since 2004. Tyler Heck (.379, 53 H, 41 SB, 34 R, 31 RBI, 13 HBP, .474) may be the best player in the conference that you haven’t heard about. Heck was an all-conference selection last spring and then he went on to produce all-league level numbers in the summer collegiate Perfect Game league with the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. Heck is just one of several offensive weapons at the disposal of the Dutch; Union will also look to Dylan Katz-Wicks (.370, 51 H, 22 R), Vince Esposito (.319, 36 H, 32 R, 20 SB) and David Peretti (.302, 40 RBI, 38 H, 17 R) for offense. Union was the most aggressive on the base paths last year with 80 stolen bases in 28 league tilts. Overall, Union’s line-up boasts upperclass starters at almost every position; the upperclassmen will have to focus on defense – the Dutch committed 77 errors in 2012. Veteran pitchers also lead the Union pitching staff as starters Dane O’Neill (2-4, 3.86 ERA, 49.0 IP), Phil Kemp (6-4, 3.86 ERA, 49.0 IP), Seth Roberts (4-3, 4.93 ERA, 49.1 IP) and Andrew Beaule (1-6, 6.87 ERA, 36.2 IP) return. Closer Quinn Rhoda (0-1, 2.01 ERA, 5 SV, 16.0 IP, 22.1 IP, 22 K) should be one of the top relievers in the conference. Union’s 18 overall victories last year were the most for a team from the Electric City since the Dutch won 20 times in 2001.

Rochester earned the fourth and final slot in the Liberty League tournament in 2012. The Yellow Jackets have their top four 2012 hitters back and the returning conference Pitcher of the Year in Jon Menke (5-2, 3.18 ERA, 62.1 IP, 49 K). However, the biggest improvement for the Jackets from last year to this year has come at Towers Field where the grass has been replaced by synthetic turf and lights have been added. On the field, the U of R offense will look to raise what was a .255 team batting average from last spring. Josh Ludwig (.330), Ethan Sander (.317), Nick Carlson (.313) and Sam Slutsky (.306) all hit over .300 for Rochester last spring, Carlson is the lone returning masher with three 2012 clouts and a team-high 23 RBI. If the Jackets want to run, they’ll need to replace 28 stolen bases from last year, 20 of which were recorded by Alex Caghan. Jon Menke and Corey King (2-4, 2.47 ERA, 43.2 IP) combined to start 19 games last season; they’ll again gobble up innings on the Rochester mound while closer Adam Sullivan (1-0, 1.62 ERA, 5 SV, 16.2 IP, 19 K) will hold down the bullpen.


Walt Roman lead the Tigers in batting (.377), slugging (.557) and on-base percentage (.521) in 2012. RIT athletics photo

The maiden voyage for RIT in the Liberty League was a rocky one. A young Tiger team won just seven league tilts and 12 overall. The growing pains from 2012 have given way to a team with youthful experience in 2013; a squad with six juniors and eight sophomores to go along with an 11-man freshmen class. The Tigers open the season with just two seniors. While the Tigers may still be a year or two away from serious title contention, the building blocks are present in western New York. Top returning swingers for the Orange and Black include Walt Roman (.377, 28 RBI, 46 H, 24 R, 11 DBL), Brian Brazee (.346, 24 RBI, 46 H) and Jaren Bell (.305, 32 H, 16 R, 12 RBI). The pitching mound will be RIT’s greatest concern, lowering an ERA that was nearly 7.00 in 2012. Southpaw Ethan Humbert (2-8, 6.12 ERA, 57.1 IP, 47 K) was RIT’s most-used pitcher as a freshman; he’ll lead the starting rotation along with Ronnie Canestro (3-4, 4.39 ERA, 41.0 IP, 38 K). Tyler Leichtenberger (0-3, 3.54 ERA, 5 SV, 17 APP, 21.0 IP) topped the Tigers last season in appearances, ERA, saves and opponents’ batting average (.218).

Vassar has come close on several occasions to making the conference tournament and the Brewers have greatly improved overall through the last few years. Vassar can hit the ball well and score runs as well as anyone else in the league. A veteran Vassar squad returns nearly intact (in the field) from last year’s outfit that won 10 league games. Nine position players with starting experience return paced by big swingers Michael Perrone (.351, 40 H, 26 R, 15 RBI, 15 SB), Sean Morash (.343, 36 H, 23 R, 22 RBI), Brett Zaziski (.331, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 42 H, 32 R, 11 DBL), Jason Garfinkel (.300, 39 H, 24 R, 22 RBI) and Dave Robbins (.295, 44 H, 32 RBI). While the hot sticks of Vassar will give opposing teams fits in the second leg of the Liberty League weekend doubleheaders, the Brewers will have to improve on the mound to make a run for the league postseason. Vassar has to replace its two top starting pitchers from last season. Long reliever and spot starter Zander Mrlik (3-2, 2.73 ERA, 2 SV, 26.1 IP, 20 K) is Vassar’s best arm back from 2012.


Mike Dolce (pictured) and Anthony Eilers will be called upon to fill some holes with the graduation of the Ram's top two pitchers. Farmingdale State athletics photo

Skyline Conference: For the last five years, the Farmingdale State Rams have ridden in the catbirds’ seat of the Skyline Conference. The Rams have captured five straight conference championships and have not missed the NCAA tournament since 2007. Keith Osik’s squad made it to the World Series in 2009 and just missed a return trip to Appleton by two wins last spring. Farmingdale State appears again to the class of the conference though if there were a year to knock the Rams off of the top of the mountain, this may be it.

The Rams lost three of their top arms from last year in Skyline Pitcher of the Year Chris Phelan (9-1, 2.01 ERA, 76.0 IP, 79 K, 13 APP), number two starter C.J. Bula (8-3, 4.35 ERA, 62.0 IP, 56 K, 15 APP) and closer Mike Santagata (1-0, 2.66 ERA, 5 SV, 23.2 IP, 25 APP, 19 K). The top of the rotation will be left up to senior Anthony Eilers (3-0, 2.40 ERA, 45.0 IP, 36 K) and junior Mike Dolce (2-2, 4.10 ERA, 1 SV, 37.2 IP, 22 K). Overall, the Rams return just four pitchers with significant Division III mound experience. The 2013 pitching staff will include eight freshmen and a handful of junior college transfers.

To win on a consistent basis, the Rams may simply need to outslug opponents. Farmingdale batsmen recorded a .327 batting average last spring and scored 324 runs in 44 games. The good news for Keith Osik is that just about all of his offense is back on the line-up card including Tom Rydzewski (.394, 54 H, 36 R, 22 RBI, 13 SB), Ron Remi (.345, 50 H, 26 R, 27 RBI), Anthony Alvino (.341, 45 H, 35 R, 14 SB), David Zilnicki (.326, 44 H, 35 R, 20 RBI, 9 TRP, 14 SB) and Terrence Bohanon (.313, 47 H, 25 R, 25 RBI, 6 DBL). Five of six returning Farmingdale starters hit over .300 last season. The catching position will prove to be an interesting hole with the graduation of starting backstop Frank Scarlato (.372, 33 RBI, 45 H, 10 DBL). Briarcliffe transfer Eric Weiner (.447, 17 H, 10 RBI) played well in limited action. He’ll compete for playing two with a pair of transfers as well as possibly Anthony Alvino who is also listed as a catcher. The most intriguing newcomer is Division-I transfer Dalton McCarthy. The 6-foot-6 infielder and pitcher is a switch hitter that began his collegiate career at Delaware.


Old Westbury led D-III in stolen bases with Paul Valerio guilty of 58 thefts alone. Old Westbury athletics photo

Should Farmingdale falter at the top, Old Westbury seems the most logical to sprint its way to the top of the table. The Panthers stole an NCAA Division III-leading 243 bases last season en route to a 30-12 mark. It was one of the most successful seasons for Old Westbury in recent memory. Like Farmingdale, Old Westbury can hit as it posted a .362 team batting average last season and 415 runs scored in 42 games. Fourteen of 16 Westbury batters last season hit at least .300. Top theft artist Paul Valerio (.392, 58 SB, 62 H, 55 R, 37 RBI) leads a cast of returning base swipers that includes Brian Walsh (.376, 20 SB, 59 H, 42 R, 35 RBI), John Angelino (.362, 19 SB, 50 H, 42 R, 27 RBI) and Steve Mare (.325, 17 SB, 40 H, 26 R, 26 BB, 19 RBI). Head coach Rod Stephen does have several starters to replace and he went the junior college route as the Westbury roster features just four freshmen. Among the newcomers are infielder Jeremy Delgado (Indian Hills C.C.), Robert Crocitto (Merrimack) and Kevin Licul (Briarcliffe). On the mound, Westbury’s top two starters are back in Frank DeMaria (5-0, 2.96 ERA, 48.2 IP, 47 K) and Tim Walsh (6-3, 4.88 ERA, 66.1 IP, 38 K). Reliever Stephen Chapter (3-3, 2.08 ERA, 1 SV, 17.1 IP, 24 K) should anchor the bullpen. Overall however, Westbury will need to lower a 5.00 team ERA from last season.

Outside of the Rams and the Panthers, it’s a muddled situation in the middle of the pack with St. Joseph’s (L.I.), Mount St. Mary and Mt. St. Vincent all jockeying for position. St. Joseph’s tied Old Westbury for second in the conference last season. However, the Golden Eagles need to replace six graduated position players with the most important being Rich Pecoraro (.421, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 53 H, 31 R, 26 BB) and Dennis Novar (.340, 49 H, 44 R, 40 SB, 26 HBP). Brian Hannigan (.308, 35 RBI, 49 H, 28 R, 4 TRP) is the top returning hitter and the lone St. Joseph’s swinger with a 2012 batting average over .300. Overall, it may be a transition season for the Golden Eagles with a 14-man freshman class. Mount St. Mary’s Michael Morelli (.333, 6 HR, 39 RBI) is one of the top mashers in the Skyline and he’ll be complimented by Vinnie Carminati (.431, 56 H, 40 R, 32 RBI, 24 BB). Another solid offensive combination to watch will be Mount St. Vincent’s Josh Sharpe (.356, 33 RBI, 42 H, 40 R, 18 SB) and Jason Rivera (.287, 46 RBI, 33 H, 28 R).

State University of New York Athletic Conference: For the last 20 or so years, the State University of New York Athletic Conference has been under the reign of the Cortland State Red Dragons. The two-time national finalists have captured 19 of the last 22 SUNYAC championships. Current head coach Joe Brown has guided the Red Dragons to 11 conference titles and Cortland returned to the World Series last season after being dethroned in the 2011 regionals by Mid-Atlantic interloper Keystone.


Shortstop John Adornetto earned a spot on the first team D3baseball.com preseason All-American team. Cortland State athletics photo

Heading into 2012, the Dragons needed to replace just about their entire starting line-up. Fast forward one year and Cortland has a strong core of returning starters led by D3baseball.com All-American shortstop John Adornetto (.374, 58 H, 44 R, 33 BB, 31 RBI, .495 OBP), outfielder Brian Barry (.310, 45 H, 32 R, 27 RBI), third baseman Bryan Mistretta (.310, 36 H, 25 RBI, 24 R, 16 HBP) and catcher Tim Panetta (.327, 34 H, 20 RBI, 12 CSB). Outfielder P.J. Rinaldi (.405, 30 H, 19 RBI) led the team in batting average a season ago in limited action; he’ll take on a larger role this season. Over the years, the Dragons seemingly reload as opposed to rebuild. While Cortland lost a trio of .300 hitters in Andrew Pezzuto (.367, 47 H, 46 R), Matt June (.352, 68 H, 48 R, 34 RBI, 13 SB) and Michael LaTempa (.350, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 55 H, 41 R), there are more than a few underclassmen and transfers ready to take over. Infielder Mike DeCarr (.295, 44 H, 21 RBI – 2011), a transfer from Oneonta State, should move into an infield starting role after sitting out all of last season. Another impact transfer should be former St. John’s infielder Anthony Iacomini. Returnees Chris Jackson (.328, 2 HR, 12 RBI), Kyle Barkley (.328, 3 HR, 19 RBI) and Zack Graczyk (.240, 30 H, 24 R, 21 RBI) will also help an offense that scored nearly eight runs per game last year.

The mound may be a trouble spot for the Red Dragons with the loss of D3Baseball.com All-Americans Ray Angelucci (12-1, 1.50 ERA, 84.0 IP, 69 K) and Aaron Schuldt (8-2, 1.80 ERA, 90. IP, 94 K). The pair combined for 20 of Cortland’s 41 victories and 26 starts last spring. Mike Hughes (9-2, 2.76 ERA, 78.1 IP, 74 K) will move into the top starting slot where he’ll presumably be joined in the conference rotation by John Molloy (4-1, 2.27 ERA, 43.2 IP) and Zachary Badanes (0-0, 2.48 ERA, 29.0 IP). Six-foot-four flamethrower Matt Holling, a transfer from Hofstra, may also pitch in a starting role. The bullpen, like the starting rotation, was a strength last season. And like the rotation, the bullpen will begin the year without a returning closer because the graduation of co-closers Tom Nagy (2-1, 2.25 ERA, 4 SV) and Brendan Hourihan (2-0, 2.73 ERA, 3 SV). Tyler Scott (1-0, 2.55 ERA, 12 APP) and Ryan McAlary (1-0, 2.70 ERA, 10 APP) are the most-used relievers from 2012 back this season. Having a shortage of arms won’t be an issue; Cortland opens the season with at least 17 pitchers on the roster.


Brockport State photo by Peggy Smith

While the flag currently flying over the SUNYAC is red, the upper portion of the flag pole may be turning green and gold. Brockport, a recent two-time SUNYAC champion and World Series participant should challenge Cortland for conference supremacy while team overall stocks are on the rise in New Paltz and Oswego.

Brockport’s biggest strength is on the mound with returning ace James Bardenett (9-2, 2.54 ERA, 78.0 IP, 69 K) and D3Baseball.com All-American closer Justin McCarthy (2-2, 1.20 ERA, 9 SV, 30. IP, 18 APP). Six-foot-seven southpaw Travis Renwick (3-2, 2.93 ERA, 40.0 IP) should pair up with Bardenett atop the Brockport pitching rotation. The Brockport pitching staff overall could feature as many as seven freshmen with only a handful of returnees back from the 2012 group of hurlers. Saint Rose transfer Matthew Coleman may provide a spark as could possible dual threat Jake Coleman (.274, 37 H, 27 R, 18 RBI); the latter of the two Colemans (not related) tossed a three-hit shutout against Fredonia last spring in his lone pitching appearance. The Golden Eagles also have back almost all of their starting position players with five of the top six hitters returning topped by Pete Wilson (.323, 50 H, 35 R, 17 RBI), Mike Weakley (.304, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 49 H, 26 R) and Nick Bunce (.295, 3 HR, 22 RBI). While Brockport hit .283 as a team, the Golden Eagles managed just 212 runs in 43 games. Unless the pitching staff as a whole can shut down opposing offenses, the Eagles will need to score more runs.

New Paltz should have the best one-two combination in the conference in starters Chris Chismar (1-4, 1.84 ERA, 53.2 IP, 63 K) and Andrew Grann (6-3, 2.97 ERA, 63.2 IP, 47 K). The duo started 18 games for the Hawks last spring and combined to strike out over 100 batters. However, the Hawks, touted as a contender coming into 2012, were more like the “Not Ready For Primetime Players” last spring struggling to a 5-13 league mark and just 18 wins overall. The good news is that Chismar and Grann should give them a chance to win each time they take the mound. That said, the bullpen will need to do its part; Anthony Repetto (2-0, 1.74 ERA, 10.1 IP) is the lone returning reliever with a sub 3.75 ERA. The team will also benefit from a healthy backstop in Matt Kaldon (.339, 19 H) who was limited to just 18 games last year due to injury. Other returning offensive threats are Matt Carr (.349, 52 H, 31 R, 28 RBI, 22 SB), Matt Prescia (.349, 45 H, 20 R) and Anthony Repetto (.337, 28 H, 15 R).


Oswego State outfielder Scott Buniak scored 27 runs in 2012. Oswego State athletics photo

The biggest surprise of the season may be in Oswego where the Lakers are more known for their national championship contending men’s ice hockey team than their baseball team. That could change under the current regime which piloted the team to 19 victories last season and eight in the SUNYAC. Ace Jon Stevens (5-3, 1.95 ERA, 60.0 IP) heads up the list of mound returnees for the Lakers along with starters Thor Miller (4-2, 4.23 ERA, 44.2 IP), Adam Bishop (3-4, 3.55 ERA, 33.0 IP, 26 K) Dan Erne (1-3, 3.96 ERA, 52.1 IP). New Paltz transfer James McKenna (2-3, 5.20 ERA, 45.0 IP) could also join the starting mix for the Lakers. If Oswego is to contend, the bullpen has to improve, just one returning regular, Dylan Kohlman, has an ERA under 4.00. On offense, the Lakers are buoyed by backstop Alex Jurczynski (.350, 35 H, 18 RBI), outfielder John Rauseo (.330, 32 H, 26 R, 20 RBI) and outfielder Scott Buniak (.315, 41 H, 27 R). Transfers Mike McMullen (Onondaga C.C. – .393, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 2012), Dan Karleski (Onondaga C.C. - .352, 69 H, 27 RBI, 20 SB) and Mike Mascari (Oneonta State - .243, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 2011) all should fight for starting spots in the field; the three were high school teammates at New York State powerhouse Westhill. Another impact transfer should be former Binghamton University receiver Kyle Liner. Much like Brockport, the Lakers will need to improve their overall team offense after plating less than 200 runs in 2012.


Righty Alex Mastrianni was 3-3 for Oneonta State in 2012 on the mound. Oneonta State athletics photo

Right on the borderline for conference tournament contention will be Oneonta, Plattsburgh and Fredonia. Both the Red Dragons (Oneonta) and Cardinals made the conference tournament in 2012 after finishing behind Cortland and Brockport. Second-year Oneonta head coach Ben Grimm will have a line-up card with many unfamiliar faces in new places as the Dragons lost almost half of their starting position players. Chris Massaroni (.350, 42 H, 24 RBI) is the top returning batsmen; other returning regular starters include Ivan Plata (.305, 39 H, 28 R), Rob Peluso (.294, 30 H, 22 R), Dean Haussel (.283, 13 RBI) and Matt Salvatore (.262, 20 RBI). Transfer Christopher Orlando batted .388 and scored 42 runs last spring for Westchester Comm. College; he’ll provide added offense. On the mound, the threesome of starters Steve Ascher (2-2, 3.27 ERA, 44.0 IP, 32 K) and Alex Mastrianni (3-3, 4.81 ERA, 48.2 IP) and reliever Jim Hegmann (3-2, 2.56 ERA, 3 SV, 19 APP) should top the pitching staff. A trio of promising frosh pitchers may help in 6-foot-5 southpaw Noah Raspler, 6-foot-2 lefty Benji Parkes and 6-foot-3 righty John Sica.

Plattsburgh returned to the conference postseason after missing out in 2011. Plattsburgh won 22 games last year, the most since a 30-win 2010 in which the Cards just missed making the NCAA tournament as an at-large selection. The Cardinals have several strong puzzle pieces returning led by staff ace Kyle Kelly (5-3, 3.51 ERA, 48.2 IP), reliever Mike Doughtie (2-2, 1.80 ERA, 1 SV, 25.0 IP) and outfielder Mike Mulvihill (.327, 37 H, 25 RBI, 10 DBL) however 2013 may be a rebuilding year with just four returning offensive starters. Coach Doorey will look to several newcomers for contributions including transfers Shane Houppert (Jefferson C.C.) and John Casten (Mercy). A potential trouble-maker for some could be Fredonia. A young and inexperienced Fredonia squad struggled overall last year but brings back almost everyone; Matt Palisin’s current roster features just three freshmen. Offensive standouts Dillon Lowe (.358, 39 H, 26 R, 19 RBI, 13 SB) and Dan Fetes (.339, 38 H, 19 R, 19 RBI, 16 SB) should anchor the team along with top starting pitcher Sean Larson (3-4, 2.96 ERA, 45.2 IP, 36 K).