Baseball
In 2006, the Le Moyne College baseball team closed out the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season with 14 consecutive wins. The Dolphins (38-14, 21-5 MAAC) cruised to the MAAC regular season title and on the way set a program record with 38 total wins, but the Le Moyne baseball season did not end on a positive note. Top-seeded Le Moyne was ousted from the MAAC tournament by second-seeded Manhattan. The Jaspers rallied to nip Le Moyne 3-2 in the second round of the tournament and finished off the Dolphins 7-3 in the conference championship game - leaving Le Moyne short of its yearly goal of a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2007 Le Moyne College baseball team embarks on its mission to land Le Moyne in its 16th NCAA baseball tournament appearance on February 23 at McNeese State. Le Moyne will play 14 non-conference road games before opening MAAC play at Rider on March 24 and 19 games away from home overall before hosting Fairfield on March 31. The top four teams in the MAAC will square off in the conference tournament May 24-26 at Dutchess County Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y.
PITCHERS
Four-year conference starter Bobby Blevins (Briarcliff, N.Y./Briarcliff) anchors the Le Moyne College pitching staff. Blevins, the program's all-time winningest pitcher at 23-10 overall, has made 41 starts in his career and posted a 3.18 ERA.
"Bobby's never missed a start. He's extremely durable, extremely competitive," Owens said of the pitcher who has fanned 215 in 274.1 career innings. "The only reason he's here right now is that he pitched through a leg injury last season. We fully expected him to get drafted because it was an injury he could recover from, but it had to be fixed. For us to have him back this year was a big-time bonus for our team."
Blevins is on the Wallace Award watch list for the nation's top pitcher, has been picked as a preseason All-America by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and is the conference's preseason pitcher of the year. He features a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a cutter, a changeup, slider and curveball.
"He gives us a chance to win every game early or late. Bobby has tremendous feel for the game of baseball - that's what separates him from the others. He's street smart when it comes to baseball," Owens said of the pitcher who was 10-2 with a 2.57 ERA last season. "Each year he has added more pitches, more command to his arsenal. He has four or five pitches that are all above average right now. There are so many different ways he can beat people."
The Le Moyne pitching staff was slated to feature one of the nation's top one-two punches in Blevins and senior southpaw T. J. Sheridan (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy). Sheridan, 14-3 with an ERA just above 2.50 over the past two seasons, will miss the season after undergoing surgery on his pitching arm performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. He is expected to make a full recovery in six to eight months and return to the rotation next season.
At the back end of games, the Dolphins will feature one of the nation's top returning closers. Senior Ryan Woods (Jacksonville, Fla./Englewood) completed his transformation from backup catcher to Tommy John arm surgery to closer last season. In a program-record 30 appearances last season, Woods went 2-2 with a 0.60 ERA and a program-record 11 saves. He has been named to the Stopper of the Year watch list by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
"He's proven that he's a bona fide quality pitcher. If he can repeat what he did last year, we'll be in good shape," Owens said. "He is a great story - a tremendous success. He has a great ability to expand down and in and out with a sinking fastball to get groundballs and play behind him."
After Blevins and Woods, Owens hopes the rest of the pitching staff will sort itself out over Le Moyne's first weeks of action. Freshman Michael Gedman (Framingham, Mass./Loomis Chaffee) and sophomore Eric Beaulac (Troy, N.Y./Troy) will get the first shot at claiming the second and third spots in the rotation. Junior Adam Leduc (Beaconsfield, Quebec/Loyola), sophomore Brandon Otto (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse), freshman Dan Tunison (Bath, N.Y./Bath-Haverling) and freshman Luke Nellis (Fonda, N.Y./Fonda-Fultonville) may see starts in the early going and compete for spots.
Those who do not get a starting nod will join Woods in the bullpen. Leduc (2-1, 3.92 in 2006) brings experience to the bullpen where made 12 appearances last season and 17 for his career. Sophomore Al Ondrako (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland), sophomore transfer Alex Demosthenous (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) and freshman Stephen Marks (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) are also expected to log some innings this season.
CATCHER
Returning starter Phil St. Amant (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) headlines the catching position for the Dolphins. Owens believes St. Amant's strong arm and ability to hit line drives to all fields give the junior the potential to play professional baseball. St. Amant hit .311 with three home runs and 20 RBI last season. In MAAC games, he hit .338.
"It's his turn to be the catcher," Owens said of St. Amant. "He should limit the running ability of other teams and hit in the middle of the lineup. We're challenging him to have a great year. With a group of young pitchers, a lot of our success will hinge on Phil doing a lot of the little things. He's a tremendous two-strike hitter and we're counting on his bat."
Sophomore Chris Haynes (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) had one hit in 13 at-bats last season. With the graduation of Brian Hansen, Haynes is expected to serve as the backup.
"We've challenged Chris to get physically stronger and he has done that," Owens said of the former all-CNY backstop. "If he's not catching, he also has a chance to be in the lineup as a DH or pinch hitting."
Owens believes freshman Rich Brown (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) quick release and agility behind the plate will serve him well with the Dolphins.
FIRST BASE
For the first time in four seasons, Le Moyne will have a new face at first base. Keith Connors, a .310 hitter with nine home runs out of the leadoff spot in 2006, graduated after four of the top defensive seasons at first base in program history.
Owens expects a pair of left-handed hitters to vie for the open position. Junior Corey O'Neill (Pittsford, N.Y./McQuaid) had seven hits in 36 at-bats last season and has emerged in team workouts as an offensive threat. Freshman Michael Gedman (Framingham, Mass./Loomis Chafee) is learning the position and will also see time on the mound.
"We are hoping for them to keep getting better defensively. We need consistency from that position," Owens said. "I think they'll both play there and both will likely be in the lineup against right-handed pitching."
SECOND BASE
Current junior Andy Parrino (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) was the everyday second baseman last season, but he has moved over to the shortstop position. Sophomore Matt Nandin (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) hit .291 with three home runs in 28 games (19 starts) last season. He enters the season as the front-runner at this position.
"Matt got his feet wet last year as a utility infielder. He's a good, solid defensive player with instincts," Owens said. "Matt gives us the ability to turn above-average double plays and offensively he has some power and is a good bunter."
Speedy freshman Chris Altieri (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit) was an all-Dade County third team selection as a senior in Miami, Fla. Owens praises Altieri's glove and believes he could see time at second base, third base or in the outfield.
SHORTSTOP
For the better part of his first two seasons, Parrino played second base for the Dolphins. With Mike Affronti playing minor league baseball in the Oakland A's organization, shortstop is now Parrino's position. The switch-hitter started all 52 games at second base and hit .363 with four home runs, 29 runs batted in, and scored 49 runs - mostly out of the No. 3 slot in the team's lineup.
"Andy will be a tremendous SS. He has good range, excellent at catching the ball, great footwork and has a great arm. He would have been the regular shortstop anywhere else, we just happened to have Mike Affronti," Owens said of the third-year player who slid over to shortstop for 21 games as a freshman. "He's one of our best hitters and consistent from both sides of the plate. He's improved right-handed so his numbers could go up even more this year. We could lose him after this year (to the MLB draft)."
Freshman Alex Del Valle (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus) opens the season as Parrino's backup at shortstop. Del Valle emerged as a solid hitter in the fall for the Dolphins and could serve as another option at second base.
THIRD BASE
In his inaugural season with the Dolphins after transferring from Finger Lakes CC, Stephen Crawford (Webster, N.Y./Eastridge) provided the Dolphins with a steady bat for the Dolphins in the No. 2 spot and a strong arm defensively in 2006. In 48 starts, Crawford hit .320, knocked in 29 runs and scored 29.
"He hit the best pitchers better on our team than anybody else did.He may hit leadoff for us. Stephen really handles the bat well," Owens said. "He has as strong of an arm as we have on the team and he's a solid player at third base. "
OUTFIELD
Senior tri-captain Ben Gaal (Manlius, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) hit a career-high 13 home runs and drove in 51 runs last season. For his career, Gaal has hit .290 with 19 home runs, 86 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 120 games. For the second straight season, Gaal will patrol the Dolphins' centerfield.
"Ben is a talented athlete who has taken it to another level. He's improved his swing mechanics and we're looking for him to anchor the middle of our lineup with strong power numbers," Owens said. "Offensively, he needs to be the guy that just doesn't get the hits, but gets the big hits in the big games - and he will."
A host of players are competing for time in the outfield. Junior Robby Perez (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit) leads the way in right field. He hit .295 last season and is coming off a summer in which he was the Most Valuable Player of the Florida Collegiate Summer League playoffs.
"He had a tremendous summer and he is a frontrunner to be a starting everyday outfielder," Owens said. "He has a good arm, good speed and good size. Robby's self-confidence is booming off a great summer and we need him to carry that into this season."
Freshman Chris Edmonson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) was a catcher for his high school team, but will transition to the outfield for the Dolphins. He is expected to start the season in left field.
"He's an above-average Division I hitter and I'm giving him those accolades based on his swing and what we've seen him do. He's not someone we're looking to develop. We're looking for him to come in here and start hitting," Owens said. "Chris needs to keep working really hard defensively because he'll be playing a position he hasn't played a whole lot."
Sophomore Mike Brown (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) made 12 starts and appeared in 24 games as a freshman. He hit .235 and is expected to be in the mix. Others who could see time in the outfield include junior Aaron DiFruscio (Nepean, Ontario/Merivale), junior Chris Murphy (Laurel Hollow, N.Y./St. Dominic's), sophomore Brett Joy (Milford, N.H./Milford) and freshman Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Ketcham). DiFruscio, who had two hits in 15 at-bats last season, could also see time as a left-handed designated hitter.
