The
Manhattan baseball team's accomplishments over the past seven years have put
the Jaspers in elite company when it comes to Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference baseball success. The Jaspers have won three of the last seven MAAC
Championships, four of five Regular-Season crowns and this senior class has accumulated
a 44-2 home record during their careers. The Jaspers have built what many would
consider a dynasty in Riverdale. Now with the 2013 campaign on the horizon,
Manhattan has the opportunity accomplish a feat only two other programs have
done in league history, win its third straight MAAC title.
The
two-time defending conference champions return eight of nine starters from last
year's club that won 33 games and was the only team in the nation to go
undefeated at home with an unblemished 18-0 record at Van Cortlandt Park. With
four All-MAAC First Team honorees from last season returning to a roster that
has a plethora of postseason experience under their belts, Manhattan's lofty
goals have grown larger than ever before.
"I
don't think anyone from our team is going to be content just having another
solid season. The consensus with this team is that we need to raise the bar,"
said second year head coach Jim Duffy.
"I want to make sure we don't get too far ahead of ourselves, so our initial
expectations are simple, get off to a better start than last year. Our ultimate
goals for this year are to win the regular-season, go to the MAAC Tournament
and take home the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. That would get us back
to a NCAA Regional, where we will need to figure out a way to win it."
The
Jaspers will rally behind senior co-captains Nick Camastro, Kyle Murphy,
Ramon Ortega, John Soldinger and Matt
Troisi, who held the same roles last season leading the team to prominence.
The five captains laid the ground work for Manhattan's historic 2012 MAAC
Championship run, as the Jaspers became the first team in league history to
rally for the title after losing the first game of the double elimination
tournament. The Jaspers won four games in three days to engrave their name in
the record book.
"They
each bring a different type of leadership to the table, but have the same goals
and expectations," said Duffy. "They are part of a very special senior class
here at Manhattan that deserves to finish their careers on a high note. The
most impressive thing about that group is they know how to win and they respect
what it takes to win. These captains work really hard and all lead by example."
Manhattan's
roster features 23 returnees from last year's championship roster. The Jaspers
also welcome a blend talent in its six freshmen who are expected to bolster the
lineup.
Infield
Manhattan
has one of the premier middle infields in the region in returning 2012 All-MAAC
First Team selections Nick Camastro
and Yoandry Galan. Kyle Murphy and Joe McClennan are expected to hold down the corners again, while Matt Troisi, Vin Teixeira and newcomer Christian
Santisteban are also expected to be in the mix adding power to the lineup.
"In
the middle infield I am pretty blessed, so I don't have to give that a lot of
thought on game days. We do have some guys who are going to provide depth
there," Duffy explained.
Camastro
is a two-time All-MAAC selection who has been a mainstay in the Jasper lineup
since his arrival in Riverdale. He has started all 163 career appearances and
enters his final season with 166 hits. The senior from Lagrangeville, N.Y., is
a game-changer who started all 59 games last season and was named to the MAAC
All-Tournament Team after batting .476 to help lead Manhattan to the
championship. The defensively sound infielder committed only three errors,
starting in all 24 conference games last year. Camastro finished in the top-5
of the MAAC last season in hits (66), on-base percentage (.435), doubles (16)
and plate appearances (267).
Galan
was one of two Jaspers to start all 60 games last season. The 6'1", 180-pound
sophomore shortstop from Miami has established himself as an elite defensive
shortstops in the Northeast. Galan is coming off his top offensive season
hitting .305 during the regular-season, posting 53 hits, 22 RBI, 32 runs and
stealing eight bases. Galan committed only five errors in 24 conference starts
last year. He brings veteran postseason experience to the club, starting all
four NCAA Tournament games for the Jaspers in his first two years with the
program.
"We can have a combination of players on the corners, but the situation will be
led by Kyle Murphy at first base and Joe McClennan at third. The guys behind
them have big bats. I have done it before and will play the hot bat in those
situations," said Duffy.
Murphy,
a 6'3", 210-pound senior from Waterbury, Conn., also brings a knack for winning
to the roster. His clutch single in the top of the 11th inning in
the 2012 MAAC Championship Game sent Manhattan off with a 3-2 victory. Murphy
is a superb athlete who started 40 of his 58 appearances at first base last
season. He finished the year ranked in the top-5 of the team for hits (47), RBI
(26), total bases (69) and sacrifice bunts (5). In addition, his 14 doubles
were the fifth most in the MAAC last season.
McClennan
earned the everyday role at third base last season after the rookie displayed
his defensive consistency and ability at the plate. The 6'2" product of
Highland Mills, N.Y. did not have an error in the last 23 games of the season, and
made only five all year, helping Manhattan mount its title run. Offensively, he
finished with 41 hits, including six doubles, and drove in 16 runs.
Troisi
and Teixeira are expected to contribute either in the infield or in designated
hitter role. Troisi is a 6'5", 235-pound lefty from Brooklyn who hit .311
during the regular-season in 2012, finishing with two home runs and 15 RBI
while starting 31 of 40 appearances.
Teixeira
brings a big bat from the right side as he is also expected to drive in runs
for the Jaspers. The 6'4", 220-pound native of Hamden, Conn. started 22 of 28
appearances in 2012. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week after putting his
offensive skills on display in his Jasper debut going 4-for-4 from the plate
with three RBI and a home run to lead Manhattan past Florida Atlantic.
Santisteban
comes from perennial national high school baseball power Gulliver Prep in
Miami. He adds a solid lefty bat to the lineup, going along with good baseball
fundamentals. Santisteban was a three-time All Miami-Dade County honoree who
hit over .400 in his final two years at
Gulliver Prep.
Outfield
The
Jaspers outfield will feature veterans Chris
Kalousdian and Joe Rock, one of
whom will take over the role in center field in the absence of 2012 First Team
All-MAAC honoree Anthony Vega, who was selected in the 30th Round of
the Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Andrew Gorecki and Aidan John
O'Leary will also be competing for a starting job this season.
"The
outfield is the toughest position, because we have some guys out there
competing for starting spots, which is a good thing," said Duffy. "The most
important thing is these guys have good experience and can bring leadership to
the outfield.
Kalousdian
offers flexibility to the Manhattan lineup with his versatility to play any
position on the field. The junior from Kings Park, N.Y. emerged as one of the
top defensive outfielders in the MAAC last year. He started 38 of 50 appearances,
including all five games in the MAAC Tournament and in the NCAA Tournament
against South Carolina. Kalousidan finished with 13 RBI and scored 17 runs last
season.
Rock,
a senior from Carmel, N.Y., is coming off his top season since his arrival in
Riverdale. He started 31 of 42 appearances, hitting nearly .300 with 15 RBI and
scoring 13 runs. Rock proved his ability to step up in the clutch with his
season-saving solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Jaspers
were down to their final two outs in the MAAC Championship. He hit .341 in MAAC
contests.
Gorecki
will be in the mix in the outfield as he offers a good lefty bat with power to
the lineup. The 6'2", 205-pound junior from Smithtown, N.Y., started 39 of 45 appearances
last season, driving in 17 runs and posting six doubles.
The
Jaspers can call on O'Leary for a dynamic athletic talent in the lineup. The
sophomore from New Hampshire is one of the quickest players in the conference
who covers a lot of ground in the outfield. He started 25 of 36 appearances
last season, showing off his speed with two triples.
Catchers
Manhattan
has plenty of depth behind the plate returning two-time All-MAAC selection in
senior Ramon Ortega who garnered
First Team honors last year. Junior Brendan
Slattery, sophomore Mikey Miranda
and freshman Chris Reynolds will all
compete to contribute in 2013.
"Behind
the plate we have four quality catchers," said Duffy. "They will be led by
Ramon Ortega, because he has been there and done it for us before."
Ortega,
a 6'0", 200-pound native of Miami, led the MAAC with 51 RBIs last season to go
along with seven home runs that were the third most in the conference. With
Ortega's solid defensive skills he is arguably one of the top catchers in the
Northeast. He blocks the ball well and has a strong arm that threw out 23
runners caught stealing in 2012. Ortega brings veteran leadership and
postseason experience to the diamond. He was instrumental in guiding Manhattan
to the MAAC championship last year after posting six RBI in five starts in the
MAAC Championship to earn All-Tournament Team honors. Ortega has started 147 of
160 appearances at Manhattan, posting 158 hits and 103 RBI.
Slattery
returned to the lineup midway through the 2012 season after recovering from an
injury. He started 12 of 16 appearances and was a key contributor during
Manhattan's postseason run. Slattery hit .391, posted a .565 slugging
percentage and .440 on base percentage last season. He put his ability to hit
in the clutch on display in the MAAC Championship round with the game winning
RBI single to send the tournament to a decisive game seven. He adds power to
the line up from the right side.
Miranda
brings a lot of energy behind the plate with solid defensive skills. He
receives the ball well and possesses above-average arm strength. The Miami
native appeared in two games last year before suffering a season ending injury.
Miranda is healthy entering the 2013 campaign and has been pushing the group
swinging the bat as good as anyone on the roster in the preseason. Reynolds is
a very athletic player from Wall, N.J. who comes to Manhattan after a
successful career at St. Rose High School. He was a Shore Conference
All-Division First Team selection and All-Monmouth County honoree. Reynolds'
versatility will allow him to contribute on multiple positions on the field.
Pitchers
Manhattan's
staff features a blend of experienced pitchers and talented newcomers who will
compete for innings on the hill. Senior right-hander John Soldinger returns as the Jaspers' ace, and there will be a
competition to fill in behind him for the next two weekend starter positions. Upperclassmen
Matt Jordan and Scott McClennan bring experience to the mound, while sophomores Nick Girardi and Michael Scarinci are also expected to be in the mix. Junior Jacob Marchus will return to his role
as Manhattan's closer in 2013.
"Soldinger
is going to be pitching game one every weekend. That is what he wants and he
has the accolades in the past to do that," said Duffy. "I also like the
potential of our left-handed pitching, we don't have a lot of it, but the
ability is there."
Soldinger,
a 6'3" 225-pound product from Bay Shore, N.Y., is a three-time All-MAAC
selection who has earned MAAC Pitcher of the Year (2011) and MAAC Relief
Pitcher of the Year (2010) honors during his career. Soldinger is a tremendous
competitor who worked hard in the offseason to make his final campaign in
Riverdale a memorable one. He finished last season as the MAAC leader and 10th
nationally with six complete games. Soldinger was second in the league with six
wins, five of which were in MAAC games. He has appeared in 53 games over his
career maintaining a 3.35 ERA, and with 21 career wins, he is in striking
distance of setting the program record.
Jordan
is the most experienced of five lefties on the Jaspers' roster. He enters his
final season at Manhattan healthier than ever before as he has fully comeback
from an injury-plagued career. The 6'3", 220-pounder from Kingston, N.Y., has
split his time on the mound over his career as a starter or reliever. Jordan
has a sneaky fastball with good command.
The
Jaspers could also turn to McClennan, a 6'0" right-hander from Highland Mills,
N.Y., who locates the ball well and has pitched big innings for Manhattan in
his first two years. McClennan started 12 of 16 appearances in 2012, working 75
2/3 innings with 28 strikeouts. McClennan has postseason experience starting
Manhattan's win over Canisius in the MAAC Championship round, and then he
earned the start in the NCAA Tournament against Coastal Carolina.
Girardi
and Scarinci earned good experience in their rookie campaigns. Girardi is a
5'11" lefty who throws with good velocity and movement. He made 14 appearances
last season, starting three times. The Syosset, N.Y. native who attended St.
Dominic's High School registered 14 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.
Scarinci
was one of the most valuable pitchers for the Jaspers last season as he split
meaningful innings coming out of the bullpen or in a starting role. The
right-hander from Nanuet, N.Y., led Manhattan and was third in the MAAC with 24
appearances. His six wins were the second most in the conference as he logged
28 strikeouts and gave up only 15 walks in 59 innings. Scarinci stepped up to
the challenge against MAAC opponents, posting a 3-1 record and 3.68 ERA. He was
named to the Primetime Performer Honor Roll by CollegeBaseball360.com after
carrying a perfect game into the final inning in a regular-season win at
Canisius, finishing with a two-hit shutout. Scarinci pitched 7 2/3 scoreless
innings over two appearances at the MAAC Tournament, and then made his NCAA
Tournament debut out of the bullpen against Coastal Carolina.
Manhattan
has enjoyed consistent success when turning to Marchus to finish off games. The
junior right hander from Miami maintained a team best 1.27 ERA in 21
appearances out of the bullpen in 2012. He struck out 14 batters and yielded
only five walks in 21 1/3 innings of action, and did not give up an earned run
in 10 MAAC appearances. Marchus is a fierce competitor on the mound who thrives
on an excellent fastball. He finished the year second in the MAAC with eight
saves.
Michael Martin, Casey Meyers and Yony Fernandez are the Jaspers other left-handed pitching options.
Martin, a 6'1" sophomore from Massapequa, N.Y., can either come out of the
bullpen or hold a starting role. He enjoyed a successful summer ball season
with the New York Atlantics of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ABCL)
where he was named to the All-Star Team. He finished the campaign with a 2.83
ERA and a team-high 49 strikeouts pitching 35 innings in nine appearances.
Meyers
comes from Brookside, N.J. where he was a First Team All New Jersey Athletic
Conference selection at Mendham High School. He is a 6'2", 190-pound freshman
who is a tough competitor with great athleticism. Fernandez is a local product
from All Hallows High School in the Bronx. A deceptive lefty with a funky
delivery, Fernandez was a member of the 2011 All Hallows team that advanced to
the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) "AA" Championship game.
Kevin Bonanni and Jared Hirschberg are sophomore
right-handers who are coming off injury plagued 2012 campaigns. Bonanni is a
hard-throwing competitor on the mound who can be used as a starter or in
relief. In his last full season (2011), he posted a 2-1 record with 3.65 ERA,
striking out 17 batters in 24.2 innings of work. Hirschberg last pitched
meaningful innings for the Jaspers in 2011, starting five of 14 appearances.
The 6'3", 230-pounder from Katonah, N.Y., had 25 strikeouts in 35.0 innings.
Sean Abbate, a 6'0" right-handed
pitcher from Levittown, N.Y., adds depth to the pitching staff out of the
bullpen. He worked 16 innings over seven appearances last season as a freshman,
posting six strikeouts. Right-handed newcomers Chris Liquori and Tyler Mulvaney
will also compete for innings in relief. Liquori offers a good fastball and
slider with command on the mound. The Wyckoff, N.J. native lettered at Ramapo
High School where he was a two-time All-County honoree. Mulvaney is a third
generation Jasper who lettered at Santa Monica High School in California.
Mulvaney is a 6'3", 180-pound athlete who is expected to develop with the
program.
Schedule
Manhattan is slated for a challenging 53-game 2013 campaign, which
features season opening series at southern powers Florida International and
Florida Gulf Coast. The Jaspers will also take on members of the Big East in
2013, in addition to a matchup with 2012 College World Series participant Stony
Brook.
The Jaspers open the season at Florida International (Feb. 22-24),
the first of six opponents Manhattan will face that won more than 30 games in
2012. Manhattan will play a three-game series with the Golden Panthers in
Miami. Manhattan returns to the Sunshine State the following week for a
four-game set in Fort Myers at Florida Gulf Coast (March 1-3).
Manhattan travels to the Steel City from March 8-10 to participate
in the Panther Classic hosted by Pittsburgh. The Jaspers play Youngstown State
(March 8-9) twice before taking on Pittsburgh (March 9-10) in the final two
games of the weekend.
The Jaspers return to the metropolitan area for the next 10 road
games, beginning on March 13 when they visit NYIT in Old Westbury, N.Y.
Manhattan makes the short trip to South Orange, N.J., for four games as part of
the Strikeout Cancer Tournament hosted by Seton Hall. They will play the
Pirates and UMass twice each.
The MAAC schedule opens for Manhattan at Iona (March 23-24). The
Jaspers then have a midweek doubleheader at Columbia before packing their bags
for a longest conference road trip of the year to Western New York, where they
visit Niagara (March 29-30).
Manhattan finishes out its 25-game season-opening road stretch at
Hofstra (April 2). The Jaspers return to Van Cortlandt Park for the first time
on April 3 to defend the nation's longest active home win streak (19) taking on
Fordham. Manhattan was the only team in NCAA Division I to post an undefeated
mark at home (18-0) last season.
The Jaspers enjoy eight of their next nine games in Riverdale,
hosting Marist (April 6-7) for their first league home series. Manhattan's only
road game during the two week stretch is at Stony Brook (April 10), the
defending America East champions who won 52-games and advanced to the College
World Series in 2012.
Manhattan continues league play with Rider (April 13-14) at home,
and then hosts Hofstra (April 16). The Jaspers return to the road for a meeting
with 2012 NCAA Tournament participant Army (April 17).
A rematch of the 2012 MAAC Baseball Championship will take place
on April 20-21 when the league's runner-up Canisius visits Manhattan. NYIT
(April 23) and Albany (April 24) round out the five-game homestand.
The Jaspers stay local when they travel to Saint Peter's (April
27-28) and Fordham (April 30). Manhattan then has a home-and-home series with
Lafayette. The Leopards come to Van Cortlandt Park for a doubleheader on May 4.
The next day Manhattan travels to Lafayette (May 5) for the third game of the
series.
Manhattan takes on Fairfield (May 11-12) for its final home
weekend of the year. The Jaspers wrap up the regular-season at Siena (May
16-17).
The 2013 MAAC Championships are scheduled May 23-26 at Waterfront
Park in Trenton, N.J. The top four teams in the league qualify for the
tournament.
