HOBOKEN, N.J. (August 19, 2014) - This fall, Head Coach Kristaps Aldins and the rest of the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball coaching staff are excited to welcome seven newcomers to the baseball team. These freshmen will join a talented squad that tied a team record for wins (27) and won the first NCAA Tournament game in program history.

"We are thrilled to have these seven student-athletes join our program," Aldins said. "The primary goal in this year's recruiting class was to reload talent on the mound and also add some necessary depth at the catching and middle infield positions. We feel as if we were able to accomplish these goals and are excited to get out on the field in a few short weeks and begin to see what these young men can do."

This year's freshman class boasts players from three different states, including four from the state of Florida. It also includes four All-Conference/All Star players and four captains of their respective teams.

Aldins also feels as if the character level of this group is high. "It is always nice to get good ballplayers, but it is a bigger necessity for us to bring in quality individuals who have a passion for baseball, academics and life. Each of these student-athletes demonstrated to us that they have the potential to be excellent future teammates. Many of them come from strong high school baseball programs, which will help contribute to the baseball culture we are developing here at Stevens."


Below are the seven newcomers that will step onto Dobbelaar Field for the first time this upcoming fall.

Ray Apruzzese (RHP – Davie, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas School)
High School: was named to the National Honor Society, Honor Roll, and Principal's Honor Roll...played for coach Troy Cameron at St. Thomas Aquinas...helped team to a 2013 Regional Championship, 2013 State Semifinals appearance, and a 2014 Regional runner-up finish...played summer ball for coach Richie Palmer of South Florida Elite...was named 2014 Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention, 2013 Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention, as well as a Florida Top 25 Prospect by Prospect Select…attended the Headfirst Prospect camp in Florida…also played football for St. Thomas Aquinas.

Personal: son of Jim and Joanne Apruzzese...has a younger brother, Colin...planning on majoring in Business & Technology...picked Stevens because of its high academic standards and reputation as well its competitive baseball tradition...top MLB team is the Boston Red Sox...favorite book is Count of Monte Cristo...top movie is Field of Dreams...lists fishing and spearfishing as his favorite hobbies.

Thomas Baronner (MIF – Solana Beach, Calif./Torrey Pines H.S.)
High School: California Scholarship Federation member and Union Tribune All-Academic Team...played for coach Kirk McCaskill at Torrey Pines...Palomar League Honorable Mention and "Falcon Award" winner…batted .333 as team's leadoff hitter, collecting 32 hits…played summer ball for coach Jon Lukens of the Solana Beach Cardinals...attended the Headfirst Prospect camp in California as well as the Orange County Firecracker and Under Armour Southwest Tournaments.

Personal: son of Tom and Oliva Baronner...has a brother, Darren, and two sisters, Lauren and Megan...dad played basketball at Lockhaven University…planning on majoring in Mechanical Engineering...picked Stevens for its combination of academics and athletics, Hoboken's small-town feel, and the campus' proximity to New York City...favorite MLB player is Yasiel Puig...top book is Lone Survivor and top movie is Safety Not Guaranteed...favorite bands are Monsters and Men, Guster, Bon Iver, and The National…lists freediving, fishing, surfing, and stand-up paddle boarding as his hobbies.

Alex Detweiler (RHP/1B – Sarasota, Fla./Riverview H.S./Pine View School)
High School: academic accolades include being a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the Honor Roll, winning the Math Scholarship Award, AP Scholar with Honor, and the Scholar-Athlete Award...played for coach Chuck Antczak at Riverview...helped team to a Florida 8A District Championship, the school's first in eighteen years...was named captain senior year and had a 2.12 E.R.A., a 51/14 strikeout to walk ratio in 62.2 innings of work, and batted .330…named 1st Team All-Area…selected to the Sarasota Classic All-Tournament Team and awarded both Riverview Team MVP, and Pitcher of the Year…played summer ball for coach Mark Guthrie of the Florida Burn...attended several Perfect Game tournaments including the World Wood Bat Championships in Florida and in Georgia, the BCS Finals, and the World Series in Arizona…attended the Mercer, University of Florida, Florida Tech, and Brown University Prospect Camps.

Personal: son of Bob and Sharon Detweiler...has a sister, Brittany...planning on majoring in Chemical Engineering…picked Stevens because of the value of a Stevens degree, the chance to play college baseball, and the proximity to New York City...top MLB team and player are the Tampa Bay Rays and Evan Gattis...favorite book is the Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst...top movie is Warrior...lists fishing and going to the beach as his favorite hobbies.


Quinn DiPasquale (RHP/IF – Chelmsford, Mass./Bishop Guertin H.S. (N.H.)
High School: senior class officer, named to the Honor Roll all four years, "Love, Faith, & Hope" Scholarship recipient, Athletic Ambassador…played for coach Scott Painter at Bishop Guertin...2-0 record with 6 saves and a sub 1.00 E.R.A…also competed in basketball and captained the golf team at Bishop Guertin (golf team won a State Championship)…played summer ball for coach Matt Kruger of North East Baseball and coach Tim Lunn of Nashua Legion…attended the Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Fordham Prospect Camps as well as the Northeast Top Prospects Showcase…also participated in several Perfect Game and Northeast Baseball tournaments.

Personal: son of Tom and Ellen DiPasquale...has three brothers – Connor, Morgan, and Aidan – and one sister – Maeve…mom played softball in college...planning on majoring in Bio-Medical Engineering…picked Stevens because it is a top engineering school, which not only offers an excellent educational opportunity in his intended major, but also the chance to play college baseball in a fast-growing program…top MLB team and player are the Boston Red Sox and Curt Schilling...favorite book is Angels & Demons...top movie is Anchorman.

George Engroff (LHP/OF – West Palm Beach, Fla./Atlantic Community H.S.)
High School: Spanish Honor Society and Honor Roll recipient all four years...played for coach Steve Wilson at Atlantic High School...captained his team and lead them to two District Championships and one Regional Championship...2.50 career E.R.A, 1.10 WHIP, .311 batting average, and .422 on base percentage…1st Team All-District selection two seasons in a row and also selected as 2nd Team All-Region…also competed in soccer for Atlantic…played summer ball for coach Pedro Gavillan of the South Florida Clippers...attended several Time to Sign Showcases.

Personal: son of George Engroff and Lourdes Nichols...has two sisters, Kassandra and Hana...dad played college baseball at NJIT…planning on majoring in Quantitative Finance…picked Stevens because of the opportunity to receive a great education and play college baseball...top MLB team and player are the New York Yankees and Clayton Kershaw...favorite book is the The Luck Factor by Brian Tracy...top movie is Inception...lists video games and going to the beach as his favorite hobbies.
 
Andrew Hamel (LHP/1B – Methuen, Mass./Phillips Academy Andover/Central Catholic H.S.)
High School: played for coach Kevin Graber at Phillips Andover and coach Marc Pelletier at Central Catholic...was named captain senior year at Central Catholic...6-1 record in 47.0 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts and a 2.23 E.R.A his senior year at Central Catholic…2-1 record in 30.1 innings pitched with 32 strikeouts and a 0.69 E.R.A. his postgrad year at Phillips Andover…was named MVC All-Star, Harry Aggannis All-Star, and NEPSAC All-League during his high school career…also competed in football, track (shot put), and basketball in high school…played summer ball for coach Scott Patterson of North East Baseball…attended the Harvard Prospect Camp and the Perfect Game World Wood Championships.

Personal: son of Cathy and John Hamel...has a brother, Tom, who played four years of basketball for the Harvard Crimson...planning on majoring in Mechanical Engineering…picked Stevens because he wanted the combo of a great baseball team and a great engineering program…top MLB team and player are the Boston Red Sox and Randy Johnson...favorite book is the Harry Potter series...top movie is Talladega Nights.



Andrew Hanke (C – Pompano Beach, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons H.S.)
High School: National Honor Society, Class Treasurer, Spanish Honors Society, and Honor Roll all four years…played for coach Jason Hamilton at Cardinal Gibbons...named captain senior year and lead his team to the Regional Semifinals…also competed in freshman football and basketball in high school…played summer ball for coach Ben Bezier of the South Florida Breakers…attended the Perfect Game National Academic Showcase, Headfirst Honor Roll (Fla.) Camp, UPenn Prospect Camp, and The Complete Showcase.

Personal: son of Mark and Diane Hanke...has an older brother, Michael, who plays baseball for Flagler College...dad played football at LSU…planning on majoring in Engineering Management…picked Stevens because of the great academics and athletics…top MLB team and player are the Miami Marlins and Barry Bonds...favorite book is The Closer by Mariano Rivera...top movie is Lone Survivor…lists fishing, spearfishing, and diving as his favorite hobbies.