It will be a season of change for Felician College. Gone are two devastating hitters in the middle of the lineup. Two
hitters who combined for 21 home runs and 98 RBI in 48 games a year
ago, two players who also combined for 30 steals in 38 attempts. Gone
is their freshman closer, moved to a new role, opening day starter.
Gone is the “plink” of the aluminum bat, as the Central Athletic
Collegiate Conference joins the rest of the Division II Northeast
Regional conferences in going to wood bats in league games.
Back is the conference’s three-game series, and automatic bid for the CACC champion to the NCAA Tournament.
The timing was favorable for Felician as the Hawks are without four of its top five hitters from last year, but returns its entire starting pitching rotation, fifth-year head coach Chris Langan is breathing a sigh of relief at the timing of the decision. Included in that exodus was seniors Ray Rose and Frank Quintana. Quintana was a Division II All America Honorable Mention a season ago.
“I’m definitely happier it happened this year and not last year,” Langan said. “Having said that, I think the wood bats make a statement that our region isn’t afraid of change. It helps (pro) scouts, and it gets the game back to what baseball was meant to be. Speed, defense, and coaching are important again – you have to play the complete game in order to win.”
“Team goals are the first thing we address at the first practice in the fall,” Langan said, “and the conference tournament is the first goal we talk about. We don’t necessarily discuss finishing first, but we at least want to be one of the four teams still standing in May – and after that, it’s a new season. Once again, the wood bats will be an equalizer. There’s no clear-cut favorite, and everyone will have a chance to make a run at the tournament.”
PITCHER: Felician relied on offense a year ago, but with an experienced staff, the emphasis will switch to pitching. Langan knows starters have experience, but after his #1 starter, the rest of the spots are up for grabs. Jeff Calabrese (pictured, above) , the All CACC closer as a freshman a season ago, will move to rotation and make the Opening Day start. Calabrese, who came out of nowhere as a freshman to post a 4-1 record with 4 saves and 3.41 ERA, hopes to be able to utilize all of his pitchers in making a successful transition to the bullpen. Returning seniors Scott VanEs (1-8, 1 SV, 7.06 ERA, 60 SO in 2006) and Nick Riker (4-2, 5.84, 29 SO), junior B.J. Senna (5-1, 7.41, 48 SO), and sophomore left-hander Danny Conti (1-2, 8.44, 21 SO) will battle for slots in the rotation. While the order of the starting rotation is still up for grabs, seniors all return and figure to re-claim their roles. Sophomore Kevin Ernst (1-2, 3.64, 50 SO), as he did a year ago, will be used both as a spot starter and “bridge” reliever. Langan, however, is holding the Opening Day start for sophomore Jeff Calabrese (23 G, 4-1, 4 SV, 3.41, 31 SO), the 2007 All-CACC closer, who he hopes can develop into a frontline starter by being allowed to use more of his arsenal of pitches.
With Calabrese no longer in the bullpen, Langan will return to his philosophy of closer-by-situation. Freshman Joe Brescia and sophomore Jon Del Franco are slated for short relief, and sidearming junior Anthony Spina (24 G, 3-2, 1 SV, 4.61, 21 SO) can be used in a variety of roles. VanEs has closed games between starts throughout his career, and sophomore John Calise (17 G, 1-1, 10.71, 11 SO) is an effective match-up lefty. Sophomore Al Jardine (4 GP, 0-2, 7.41, 16 SO) and freshman Rob Collazo bolster the left side of the bullpen, while freshman John Rose, Ernst, and position players Mike Libretta (5 G, 0-0, 4.76, 9 SO) and Albie Sanguiliano (3 G, 0-1, 10.38, 3 SO) shore up the right half.
Catcher: Sophomore Marcos Torres (.301, 2 HR, 23 RBI) is likely to see the bulk of the catching duties after finishing strong last season. Powerful lefty-swinging junior Jordan Noval (.278, 2 HR, 13 RBI) is the No. 2 man, and graduate student Chris Flynn (.368, 4 HR, 33 RBI), the 2007 second-team All-CACC designated hitter, can fill that role, catch, and play first base.
INFIELD: Junior Dave Schoer (.346, 3 HR, 26 RBI) moves from third base to first base, replacing Frank Quintana, and junior Mike Buckelew (.226, 1 HR, 6 RBI) shifts from second to third. A freshman double-play combination has won starting jobs – Mickey Zudonyi at second base and Hector Bello at shortstop. Sanguiliano can spell the starters on the left side, with senior Joe Algieri available up the middle. Spina (.250, 2 RBI) is a capable defensive replacement at any infield spot, and freshman Jeff Abreu provides depth.
OUTFIELD/DH: Third-year starter Vinnie DiBenedetti (.267, 6 HR, 23 RBI) provides pro-caliber speed in centerfield and a power bat in the leadoff spot. DiBenedetti stole 21 bases in 24 attempts in 2007, and provides the Falcons with solid defense up the middle. Libretta (.319, 12 RBI) has won the right-field job after two years as a back-up, appearing in 26 games, 10 starts a year ago. Left field is an open battle with Del Franco, freshman Anthony Balmos, or sophomore Mike Urciuoli (.333, 1 HR, 3 RBI) in the mix. Freshmen Marcus McCleod and James Reilly are the expected to be reserves.
Designated Hitter: Expect to see Flynn get the majority of the at bats here, with Del Franco and Reilly seeing some time here as well.
Outlook: The Falcons lost several top offensive threats a year ago, and will go as far as their pitching allows. The switch to the wooden bat should lower offensive output throughout the league, so do not expect to see the Falcons average 7.7 runs per game, nor allow 9.2 per game. If the latter repeats, it will be a VERY long season in Lodi. If the former holds form, the Falcons will be a mighty happy bunch, with a long season, for a good reason.
GBM College Previews are prepared with the
assistance of the school’s Baseball and Sports Information Offices.
It will be a season of change for Felician College. Gone are two devastating hitters in the middle of the lineup. Two
hitters who combined for 21 home runs and 98 RBI in 48 games a year
ago, two players who also combined for 30 steals in 38 attempts. Gone
is their freshman closer, moved to a new role, opening day starter.
Gone is the “plink” of the aluminum bat, as the Central Athletic
Collegiate Conference joins the rest of the Division II Northeast
Regional conferences in going to wood bats in league games.
