by Brianna Pace
Coming off a .500 season, Coach Kevin Leighton and the Fordham Rams are focused on having a big season. Returning seniors are trying for a fourth consecutive playoff berth and they have a lot of pieces in place to make it happen.
Despite the loss of Greg Weissert–who was drafted by the New York Yankees–the pitching staff has a high-ceiling. Lined up to start this weekend the coach has Mike Cowell, David Wright, and Jimmy Murphy. Cowell and Wright are both coming off of injuries but Murphy was the team captain last year and finished with a 4.50 ERA. With a solid mix of young players and veterans ready to take the mound it is safe to say the loss of Weissert won’t be a huge hit to the team’s pitching.
Mark Donadio, a senior outfielder, is expected to have a big year. He led the team with a .306 batting average and .381 on-base percentage. He was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team in his freshman year and last year he was named to the Second Team All-Atlantic. Leighton expects a lot from him offensively and hopes that he can be a run producer and run scorer for the team. His twin brother is also a highly-touted player at St. John’s.
As for younger returners on the team, Reiss Knehr and Justin Bardwell played a large role is last year’s success. Coach said that they had a very productive off-season, mentioning how they’ve developed into stronger players over the fall and winter. Both made it to the Atlantic-10 All-Rookie Team last year. Knehr is already on the radar of all the local scouts after touching 96 in the Hamptons League All-Star Game with his low 3/4 delivery. He finished 2016 with a 2.25 ERA while Bardwell finished the year with a .266 batting average and 26 RBI. Leighton expects them to play a big part in the team this spring.
The Rams finished with a 29-29 record last season and the coach as well as the players are looking to improve on that. Leighton said that his seniors want another crack at the playoffs and they’re focused on building on their success from last year. The seniors are instilling this in the rest of the team but it’s not just experience that gets it done out on the field.
“I wouldn’t say a guy’s experience is a factor into his role” Leighton said, “but I think it’s easier as a returner to know what to expect how we run things.” So, while the coach trusts his young guys to know their place and get the job done, he’s also putting faith in his older players to fall back into rhythm.
They also have a handful of freshmen that could play impact roles. Long Island natives Kyle Martin, Alvin Melendez, Brian Weissert and Nico Doria are all coming off stellar 2016 seasons and have promising futures ahead of them in the maroon and white.
Coach Leighton knows the guys aren’t where they want to be but he has his sights set on being number one.
“At the end of the year, no one remembers who was picked where in the preseason polls.”
They will kick off the season today at Houston Baptist at 3 pm.
