(Editor’s Note: Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some of the top performing travels teams from 2021. All information is provided by the organization. The following words are by ECL founder Ryan Pembroke.)
The East Coast Lumberjacks 2022 grad team had a tremendous season going 48-14-3 overall while playing a highly-competitive national schedule going to Georgia twice, Florida twice, Alabama, Ohio, then some tough regional events.
Which earned them the #18 ranked team in the country, #1 Ranked Team in the Mid-Atlantic Region (NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE and ON) by Perfect Game and #1 Ranked Team in New York.
What made us proud most about this team was how they absolutely bought in to be a team and not worry about the commitments. They knew if we just did what we expected from them that everything else would fall into place. As a coach, yes we want to win, but seeing how this team had such a strong bond for each other was the most gratifying thing as a coach! This was an extremely special group from the players and the parents standpoint where you might never have that perfect dynamic again. So I just want to say congratulations to all our 2022s on their college careers!!
We won the Perfect Game BCS National Championship in Florida (160 Teams) beat some Tremendous Teams highlighted by beating a top 10 team in the country, CBU Scout, a roster full of Power 5 Commits!
Made it to the semi-finals at the Tournament of Champions in Cincinnati, Ohio (130 Teams).
We also made the semi-finals in two other Perfect Game events and also the prestigious Antonia Agostinelli Memorial Tournament.
College Commitment List
Jack Quinlan – Army
Connor McCreery – University of South Carolina
Billy Steele – Army
Christian Rice – Wofford
Robert Evans – NC State
Evan Blanco – University of Virginia
Michael Lombardi – Tulane University
Matthew Carrera – Sacred Heart
Liam Bowes – Fordham
Brandon Peterson – NJIT
Tucker Genovesi – High Point
Colin Ruddy – George Washington
Jude Abbadessa – UCONN
Nic Benhardt – Central Connecticut State
Marcus Smith – University of Cincinnati
Ryan Cook – Central Connecticut
Colin Dowlen – Seton Hall
Justin King – Harvard University
Triston Horst – University of Cincinnati
Matthew Martinez – High Point
Matthew McGurk – LIU
Bobby Loper – Merrimack College
Michael McKinney – NC State
Brian Zbytnieski – Mercy College
Evan Virno – Muhlenberg College
Brendan Duffy – SUNY Oneonta
30 games vs nationally ranked teams with a record of 18-10-2.
Top Performers:
Pitchers:
Colin Ruddy – George Washington signee – MVPitcher at the PG BCS National Championship in Fort Myers, Florida and 5 PG All-Tournaments
8-1 record, 65 Ks/16 BBs, 1.60 ERA, .220 AVG
Matthew Martinez – High Point University signee – 2 PG All-Tournaments
.574 SLG, .310 AVG, 8 HRs, 42 RBI
Brandon Peterson – NJIT signee – 1 Elite Team Batting at BCS National Championship, 7 All-Tournaments
.385 AVG, .575 SLG, 18 XBH, 33 RBI
Michael Lombardi – Tulane University signee – 5 PG All-Tournaments
.386 AVG, 42 RBI, 12 doubles
Michael McKinney – NC State signee, 2 PG All-Tournaments
.405 AVG, .531 OBP
Jack Quinlan – Army signee – 2 PG All-Tournaments
11 XBH, 20 RBIs, 1.000 Fielding %
Matt Carrera – Sacred Heart University signee – 1 PG All-Tournament
.330 AVG, 26 RBI, 34 runs
Billy Steele – Army signee – 3 PG All-Tournaments
45 Ks, 39 IP, .209 AVG
Jude Abbadessa – UCONN signee – 5 All-Tournaments
5-1 record, 1.23 ERA, 61 Ks, .168 AVG
Colin Dowlen – Seton Hall signee – 1 Elite Team Pitching at BCS National Championship, 3 All-Tournaments
3-0 record, 0.73 ERA, .164 AVG, 35 Ks
Connor McCreery – University of South Carolina signee
3-0 record, 3 saves, .167 AVG
Tucker Genovesi – High Point University signee – 2 PG All-Tournaments
.444 OBP, 34 runs, 30 walks
Nic Benhardt – Central Connecticut State University signee – 4 PG All-Tournaments
4-1 record, 38 Ks, 0.97 ERA, .222 AVG
Liam Bowes – Fordham University signee – 1 PG All-Tournament
.325 AVG, 34 RBI, 45 hits
Bobby Loper – Merrimack College signee – 2 PG All-Tournaments
3-0 record, 1 save, 37 Ks, 2.56 ERA, .232 AVG
LJ Bohne – Uncommitted – 2 PG All-Tournaments
.450 OBP, .315 AVG, 33 runs, 24 walks
Matt McGurk – LIU signee – 1 PG All-Tournament
.315 AVG, .400 OBP, 1 HR
Evan Virno – Muhlenberg College commit – 1 PG All-Tournament
1 HR, 13 RBI, .397 OBP
Bobby Fin – uncommitted – 3 PG All-Tournaments
3-1 record, 2.65 ERA, .188 AVG
