DJ Masuck came in for the save on one day rest to send NYIT to the Super Regional pic.twitter.com/tgESBqyvYg
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 18, 2019
A lot of media publications have hopped aboard the NYIT bandwagon the past few weeks–and rightfully so. They’ve gone from 13 wins to the College World Series in one year.
I just ask you this: who was there with them last season in Cary, NC on Opening Day against Franklin Pierce and St. Augustine’s when Joseph Kelly threw out all five attempted base runners? Who covered the ECC Tournament? Who had Coach Catalanotto on a podcast back in September? That is correct, Axcess Baseball.
Sorry, rant over.
Anyway, let’s take a look at their roster.
Where did they find these players that have turned into a top-8 team in the nation?
Catchers:
Ryan Kuskowski (Junior, Smithtown East)
Note: Like many of the Bears’ returning players, he has improved significantly each season. He hit .208 over 24 at bats during the Division-I season in 2017, he improved to .298 over 114 at bats as a sophomore during the first Division-II season (you may remember we covered his walk-off HR on April 1, 2018) and now he’s their best run producer (49 RBI) and is batting .326 with 6 HR.
Matt Malone (Freshman, St. Dominic)
Infielders:
Jake Lebel (Senior, Marshwood)
Note: Jake is a Maine-native that has endured it all, beginning with a .144 AVG during his freshman season, the 5-win season in 2017 and now has blossomed into a complete hitter. His senior leadership has been had a huge impact on the team and he has turned into a .365 hitter with 7 HR, 34 RBI and 642 SLG.
Matt Deangelis (Senior, Robbinsville)
Timmy Cassese (Junior, Carey)
Chris Campbell (Junior, Benjamin N. Cardozo)
Note: The Sunnyside-native is on his third college in three seasons–beginning with Monroe College before transferring to Grambling State and now NYIT. He has made steady contributions all season. His range at second base has saved several runs this season and he has lengthened the lineup tremendously, with a .390 OBP from the ninth-slot in the order. He has stabilized the infield defense are Florides went down.
Andrew Florides (Junior, Holy Cross)
Note: He made headlines when he transferred to NYIT after playing four seasons of minor league ball with the Toronto Blue Jays and two games with the Long Island Ducks in 2017. Many people thought his success would have a direct correlation with how far the Bears went. Instead he played in only 4 games before he injured his back. He plans on coming back next season. The combination of him and Ben McNeill could certainly be special.
Mike Rodriguez (Freshman, Clarke)
Ryan Murphy (Freshman, Wantagh)
Nick Tedesco (Junior, Sachem East)
Ben McNeill (Junior, Commack)
Note: He was considered the top defensive SS on Long Island when he graduated from Commack in 2016. I remember talking with Coach Malvagna that winter and he noted how excited he was to have him at SS every game as a freshman. What we didn’t know was how much he would improve with the bat. From .213 as a freshman to .321 last season and now he is leading the team in ABs with 210 entering the World Series and he’s holding a .310 AVG, scored 52 runs and drawn more walks (26) than strikeouts (20). He’s driven in 33 runs. Additionally, he continues to be among the slickest fielding SS in the region.
Zach Kleinwaks (Junior, Portledge)
Kieran Dowd (Freshman, East Islip)
Note: He has been outstanding with the bat. He has been incredibly clutch, and he’s crushed 6 HR and driven in 26 runs with a .356 OBP. He has started 49 games. He has committed 17 errors at third base, but it has not effected his hitting.
Trey Moran (Freshman, La Salle)
Outfielders:
E.J. Cumbo (R-Freshman, Clarke)
Note: The number one reason for the Bears’ turnaround. He has flirted with the highest batting average in the nation all season. Coming out of Clarke, where he batted .537 for his career, we all knew he could hit. Had he been healthy last season, they probably win a bunch more games. He shook off an early-season hamstring injury and he has been a man-among-boys this season. He is batting .453 (school record is .463) with 7 HR and 44 RBI. He has a .525 OBP, .692 SLG and 43 runs scored. He has also stolen 22 bases. Cumbo won ECC Player of the Year, and is undoubtedly an All-American. His presence has been a huge reason the team is hitting .317 as a team.
John LaRocca (Junior, St. Dominic)
Note: The St. Dom grad transferred from Monmouth University following his sophomore year, and that was a big moment for the program. Getting Division-I caliber players provides a significant boost. He’s hitting .362 with a .447 OBP and 40 RBI. He displayed his defensive prowess in the ECC Tournament with a robbed HR that landed him on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays. Getting LaRocca was a tipping point for the program.
Joseph Pesce (Sophomore, Lake Mary)
Brendan Dowd (Junior, East Islip)
Nic Lombardi (Senior, Hills West)
Pitchers:
D.J. Masuck (Junior, Gaither)
Note: Masuck is probably the second biggest reason for the Bears’ turnaround this season behind the incredible season of Cumbo. The Tampa native has been with the Bears since 2017 and went from being a seldom-used reliever with a 5.40 ERA in 2017 to a starter in the 2018 that compiled a 6.09 ERA to an All-American with 12 wins and wins in the ECC Tournament, Regional and Super Regional. His story is symbolic of the Bears’ rapid ascension.
Joseph Murphy (Junior, Wantagh)
Note: As a freshman in 2017, he compiled a 10.80 ERA as a reliever. In 2018, he lowered that to 10.13 over 13.1 IP. During their miraculous turnaround, he has been their second-best starter and has a record of 9-3 with an ERA of 2.84. Opposing batters are hitting only .209 against him.
Chris Mott (Junior, Sachem East)
Note: Was originally supposed to attend Dowling College before the college folded. Played at Suffolk CC in 2017 and went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He struggled during his 2018 season with the Bears, but completely turned it around and wound up pitching a terrific game against Wilmington in the Regionals at Adelphi.
Ryan Mueller (Freshman, Lynbrook)
Dean Fazah (Freshman, Francis Lewis)
Ariel Taveras (Senior, Lindenhurst)
Note: Another story that is symbolic of their turnaround. Taveras is a senior that did not play college baseball as a freshman or sophomore. He wound up breaking the program-record for saves in a single-season. Recently, they have been using some other arms late in the game as his KK:BB ratio is 17:15, but he does have 12 saves and they would not be where they are without him.
Joe Keller (Freshman, MacArthur)
Note: Keller has the big-game acumen and he will be a major contributor to the team for the next three seasons. He showed his mettle in the Super Regional with 4.1 shutout innings to record the win against Southern New Hampshire. For MacArthur last season, he struck out 20 batters over 11.2 postseason innings. He was fourth-team All-State.
Matt Carey (Freshman, Oceanside)
Alex Doskoez (Freshman, Eastport-South Manor)
Note: Transferred from Kean University. He was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA and 3 saves last season for Eastport-South Manor. Several programs were vying for him, but he chose NYIT.
Chris Keenan (Sophomore, Massapequa)
Note: Transferred from Stony Brook after his freshman year.
Billy McQuillan (Freshman, East Meadow)
Zach White (Sophomore, Shoreham-Wading River)
Matt Mione (Freshman, St. Dominic)
Moises Robles (Junior, Walton)
Mike Ruffini (Freshman, Carey)
Elvin Ramos Jr (Graduate, Chris the King)
Matt Boyko (R-Freshman, Clarke)
Note: Had Tommy John Surgery during the summer of 2017. He was their Opening Day starter this season, but suffered another injury during the season which limited his innings.
Matt Bartnik (Senior, Sachem East)
Brandon Alberto (Senior, NYIT)
Note: Rehabbing from Tommy John last summer but is a captain and the heartbeat of the dugout. He plans on coming back last season.
