Our Fall Ball Series continues at SUNY Maritime–the reigning Skyline Conference champs pic.twitter.com/p2cXZNgebb
— Axcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) October 17, 2017
Coming off the best season in program history, the Maritime Privateers have a right to be confident and playing loose as they attempt to defend their Skyline Conference title. They held a 3-2 lead into the fifth inning of the NCAA Regionals against powerhouse Shenandoah, who spent eight consecutive weeks as the No. 1 ranked Div-III team in the country. They ultimately had their season cut short but they are in great position for another successful season.
In addition to returning seven of their nine starters, they are also returning their entire starting rotation led by Rookie of the Year Travis Bruinsma and Anthony D’Ancona–who won the clinching game of the Conference Championship.
Head Coach Charlie Barbieri is very excited for this year’s squad, which he stated is even more athletic and has the most pitching depth he’s ever had.
Their incoming crop of freshman is pretty strong as well, led by LHP Dylan Clausen, SS Shane Sullivan, OF Travis Zurita, IF Adam Mosca and 3B Nick McTighe.
Clausen, coming off an undefeated season for Class C Long Island Champion Southold, is a lefty that looked very good in his inning of work in tonight’s intrasquad game. He has a funky delivery and hides the ball extremely well from the batters. He touches 84 MPH to go along with a sweeping slurve and a changeup that has plus potential. Barbieri stated that he will be in the mix to be a weekend starter.
All of the freshmen position players are athletic and versatile with the ability to play multiple positions and could step in when the incumbent starters graduate.
Barbieri is pleased that Clausen and Mosca are coming off Long Island Championships, which bodes well for their ability to play in pressure situations as freshmen.
As for the returning position players, they are loaded through out the lineup.
Designated hitter Stephen Semler (.402), 2B Chris Deddo (.397), SS Matt Costleigh (.375), RF Phil Russo (.359), CF Connor Alwan (.357), C Aaron Schiavoni (.295) and 3B Antonio Diaz (.280) are all highly-capable bats that will make it extremely difficult on opposing pitchers to navigate through the lineup.
Barbieri and opposing coaches speak glowingly of Russo who has made a habit of making solid contact even on his outs.
They will be tasked with replacing the offensive production of Skyline Conference MVP Brian McLaughlin who re-wrote the program record books last season. He compiled a monster season with a triple slash line of .450/.494/.757 with 9 HR and 51 RBI which earned him All-American honors.
It will be no easy task but it is the nature of college baseball, fortunately for them their stable of returning bats will soften the blow.
Additionally, coming off a successful season puts the target on their back–unchartered territory for the program.
They will have stiff competition from the usual suspects of St. Joseph’s, Farmingdale and Old Westbury along with the up-and-coming Mount St. Mary’s and Merchant Marines Academy.
It will make for great baseball in the upcoming season and I am excited to see how it plays out.
