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The All-Gotham Team: The Freshmen |
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Written by Chip Armonaitis
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Monday, 11 August 2008 |
 One of the great things about college baseball is that youth is served
annually. Every year, talented freshmen come in and make an impact,
quickly becoming standouts. The past season was no different. However,
few programs were impacted more greatly than that of Army. The Black
Knights, whose prgram is gaining national prominence over the last few
years (not that anyone seems to notice), had 16 freshmen on their
roster, and several made an impact. Other schools, like St, John's and
Rutgers, who have had some of their best players drafted into the major
leagues, have seen some of their first-year players make some real
progress as well.
As we do each year, Gotham Baseball Magazine selects the players from the Gotham area that we think deserve recognition for their outstanding performances. This week, GBM selects the All Gotham Freshman Team:
 First Base: Kevin McKague (Army)
A towering first baseman (6-5, 230) McKague (left) is also a reliever in the Black Knights bullpen. By season’s end McKague had become one of the nation’s most productive cleanup hitters, driving in 50 runs while hitting .328, with 19 doubles and three home runs.
Second Base: Matt Connor (Rutgers-Newark)
Connor was the top freshman in the NJAC this season, and a key reason why Rutgers-Newark was able to stay in the NJAC race all season. Connors hit .382 while providing solid defense at second base for the Scarlet Knights, stealing 10 bases in 13 attempts, while scoring 45 runs in 38 games, leading the team.
Shortstop: Clint Moore (Army)
Moore might have been the best freshman in Gotham this season. Batting leadoff, Moore hit .350 with six home runs and 38 runs batted in, while playing a solid defensive shortstop for the Black Knights. Moore led the Black Knights in runs scored, and was one of two Black Knights to appear (and start) every game in 2008.
 Third Base: Ryan Terry (Monmouth)
The NEC Rookie of the Year, Terry (left) made 45 starts at third base, slugging eight home runs, with 34 RBI, while batting .326. Terry also stole 13 bases in 15 attempts.
Utility: Greg Hopkins (St. John’s)
Bouncing between shortstop and third base, Hopkins appeared in 52 games for the Red Storm, making 50 starts, hitting .304. Hopkins also provided the Johnnies with a power bat, slugging five home runs, and driving in 34, while drawing 24 walks, good for third on the team.
Outfield: Nick Pulsonetti (Monmouth)
Pulosnetti was the power source for the Hawks during the season, slugging 11 home runs and driving in 48 runs while appearing in the outfield and as the designated hitter. The lone freshman on the All Gotham team, Pulsonetti hit .323 while adding three stolen bases while helping anchor the middle of the Hawks lineup.
Outfield: Chad Salem (Manhattan) Starting the season on the bench, Salem burst into the Jaspers lineup with as a rightfielder, and finished the season at the hot corner. Also seeing time in the lineup as the designated hitter, Salem slugged 10 home runs and drove in 51 runs, while hitting .302 for the MAAC regular season champ.
Outfield: Effrey Valdez (NY Tech)
Valdez started the season in right field, before moving to third base. Wherever he played, he hit, as his .332 batting average, with 10 home runs and 44 RBI attest. The versatile Valdez finished the season having appeared in the lineup as the designated hitter, third baseman, shortstop and rightfielder.
 Designated Hitter: Jaren Matthews (Rutgers)
Bypassing professional baseball to take a shot at college, Matthews (left) stepped into the middle of the Rutgers lineup and was the Scarlet Knights most consistent hitter. Slugging 10 home runs, driving in 54 and batting a solid .294, Matthews held down the first base spot for most of the 2008 season, and looks to be a fixture in the Rutgers order the next two seasons, when the draft can be expected to come calling, again.
Catcher: Frank Esposito (Seton Hall)
Freshmen don’t usually see much time behind the plate, as coaches look for experienced catchers to lead their pitching staffs. Esposito appeared in 27 games for the Pirates, batting .281 with 10 RBI, making a solid contribution to Seton Hall’s surprising run to the Big East Tournament.
Starter: Ben Koenigsfeld (Army)
Koengisfeld’s numbers might not look great (6-4, 5.61 ERA) but the freshman finished strong as one of the few weekend frosh starters in Gotham. When he was good, he was very good, registering a complete game shutout, as well as being a part of three combined shutouts for the Black Knights.
Reliever – Joe Brescia (Felician)
With seven saves and 1-0 record, Brescia limited opposing hitters to a .180 batting average, in 16 appearances for the Golden Falcons.
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