Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Tucker Terranova
NEC Preseason favorites
#SharkBall pic.twitter.com/u8emUVBIKU
— LIU Baseball (@LIU_Baseball) February 4, 2025
The LIU Sharks enter the 2025 season with high expectations, looking to build on their 2024 success, which included a statement 4-2 win over Miami and a dramatic NEC Tournament run.
After falling to Sacred Heart 8-6 in the quarterfinals, LIU faced an uphill battle, needing to win out to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2022. In the semifinals against No. 3 seed Merrimack, the Sharks trailed 6-2 in the seventh before erupting for nine runs over the next two innings, rallying for an 11-9 victory and setting up a championship rematch with Sacred Heart.
With Sacred Heart needing just one win and LIU needing two, the Sharks delivered under pressure. A five-run seventh inning in Game 1 forced a decisive winner-take-all showdown, where LIU sealed the title with a dominant seven-run ninth, clinching its second NEC championship in three seasons.
Now ranked No. 1 in the NEC Preseason Poll, the Sharks aim to stay atop the conference, leaning on a strong core of experienced veterans and 14 newcomers to fuel another postseason push.
The Sharks return most of their starters, including All-NEC selections SS Ben Fierenzi, C Jack Power, and RHP Garrett Yawn. Ninth-year Head Coach Dan Pirillo will rely on their experience, believing it is crucial for championship success.
“We have returning starters in the lineup that played very important roles for us in conference championships and regionals. We also have guys on the mound who have logged important innings for us as well,” Pirillo told Axcess Baseball. “I like to think that will go a long way in terms of experience and confidence. These guys know what it takes to win. They have set a standard and know what to expect.”
Fierenzi anchored the top of the Sharks’ lineup in 2024, hitting .324 with 4 homers, 42 RBIs, and a .429 OBP. A member of Australia’s 2024 U-23 World Cup team, he enters his senior year with high expectations.
“Fierenzi returning as a true, on-field leader is a huge asset for this club,” Pirillo said. “He was an important part of our championship run and will be looked upon to expand his leadership role on the field this year.”
Veterans Power and Yawn have spent four seasons in blue and yellow, helping deliver two NEC titles to Brookville. In 43 games, Power hit .250 with 11 homers, 28 RBIs, and a .407 OBP. Yawn led the Sharks in key pitching stats, posting a 4.30 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 96.0 IP, and 111 strikeouts over 17 appearances.
Pirillo knows the value the senior duo brings to the clubhouse, stating, “Jack and Garrett have been here for 4 years. They have won 2 championships and have grown into big-time contributors for us last year. They have both had huge moments in this program. Experience can play a big role in leading a team and those two have it.”
Other notable returners Pirillo mentioned were RHP Justin DeCastro, 2B Noah Sorensen, and OF Jacob Pipercic.
DeCastro, expected to join the rotation, made 15 appearances (six starts) last season, posting a 4.36 ERA, a 4-3 record, and 34 strikeouts over 43.1 innings.
First collegiate hit? How about a game-deciding ninth-inning homer at Miami? @NoahSorensen13 pic.twitter.com/b921ncfHxq
— LIU Baseball (@LIU_Baseball) February 25, 2024
Sorensen’s first collegiate hit—a clutch ninth-inning three-run homer—sealed the Sharks’ win over Miami. He went on to bat .282 over 58 games, adding 4 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .401 OBP.
Pipercic, a graduate student, hit .239 with 3 home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .338 OPS while providing strong defense in center field.
Among the 14 newcomers, Pirillo highlighted pitchers Nic Benhardt, Nick Finarelli, Owen Luchies, and Mason Breton as key additions to replace the veteran-heavy 2024 staff.
Benhardt, familiar with the NEC, joins from Central Connecticut State after 27.1 innings over two years. Finarelli, a junior, arrives after stints at Lackawanna College and Virginia Tech. Luchies comes to Division 1 from Lower Columbia College, where he posted a standout 1.51 ERA in 14 starts last season. Breton, a true freshman from Manchester, CT, was ranked the 57th player in the state by Perfect Game.
On the offensive side of the ball, LF Cord Dobrinski, C Joe Durso, and 3B Ryan Rivera were tagged as transfers to watch.
Dobrinski, a JUCO product from Oklahoma, had a strong 2024 season at Fort Scott CC, batting .296 with 16 home runs and 31 RBIs. Durso, known to Long Island NSCHSAA Baseball followers, returns after two seasons at St. John’s and one at Harford CC. Rivera, a junior transfer from Palomar College in California, hit .317 with 6 home runs, 12 doubles, and 37 RBIs last season.
LIU’s challenging non-conference slate begins with two games each against Marist and No. 14 Wake Forest in North Carolina this weekend. They then head to UTSA for a four-game series, followed by road matchups against regional powerhouses Hofstra and UConn, before hosting Lehigh for their home opener on March 1.
