Baseball Up for the Challenge Entering the Empire 8 as 2008 Season Approaches

HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 12, 2008) – After achieving three consecutive seasons where it has posted 20-plus wins, the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team will enter 2008 looking to improve on last year’s 20-20 mark. Stevens will rely heavily on its pitching staff to carry most of the load this season as the Ducks are slotted to play seven nationally-ranked teams. Eight of their first nine opponents are 2007 NCAA tournament qualifiers.

Having lost its first five batters in the lineup and three-quarters of its infield from last season, Stevens is likely to see seven first-year starters making their collegiate debut in the competitive Empire 8. While Head Coach John Crane (Red Bank, N.J.) has been at the helm for the Ducks, they posted an 84-52 mark in the Skyline Conference. Stevens will now be up against three teams that ranked in the final New York Regional rankings last year, including the 10-time defending Empire 8 champions Ithaca College.

Starting Pitching
Entering his senior season, Scott Picerno (Bayonne, N.J.) will be the Ducks’ number one starter. Over the course of his career, he has already established himself as the all-time leader in wins (21) and winning percentage (0.700) at Stevens. Picerno, who is currently fifth all-time in strikeouts (132), struck out 50 batters last season in 73 innings pitched.

Junior Bill Jennings (Southampton, N.J.) earned first-team all-conference honors last season as he posted a 5-4 record with two shutouts. Jennings was recognized as a third-team selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association All-New York Region in 2007. He will sit second in the rotation as sophomore Joe Finora (Mattituck, N.Y.) will make his first appearance as a Duck as the third-man in the rotation.

Senior Chris Burgess (Palisades Park, N.J.) with sit in the fourth spot having notched 21 strikeouts in 15 appearances with two saves last year. Senior Armando Suarez (Long Vally, N.J.), junior Alex Sota (Lititz, Pa.), as well as freshmen Dan Anunziatta (Schenectady, N.Y)  and Kyle Hanas (Garland, Texas) all will be competing for the fifth slot of the starting rotation.

Bullpen
Anunziatta will join freshman Ken Meerendonk (Sussex, N.J.) as potential middle relievers. First-year throwers Craig Kinmon (Sussex, N.J.) and Jeff Hart (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.) along with Suarez and Hanas will log a lot of innings. Seniors Mike Ivey (Budd Lake, N.J.) and David Katusa (Franklin Township, N.J.) as well as sophomore Pedro Pimienta (Weehawken, N.J.) will be arms to go to in the bullpen. 

Catchers
Freshman Denis Ackermann (Rutherford, N.J.) is the favorite to be the starting catcher in the 2008 season. Expected to see time is freshman Kevin Flammia (Ringoes, N.J.) and Katusa, who had 25 starts last season.

Infield
Senior John Frustaci (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) will maintain his starting duties at first base entering the season. Frustaci batted .232 and recorded 20 RBI last season. He also led defensively with 303 putouts and produced a .982 fielding percentage. Junior Dan Silva (Boonton Township, N.J) has moved from catcher to a backup role at first base.

Freshman Brian Skocypec (Asbury, N.J.) will see time first as the starting second basemen for the Ducks. Freshmen Mark Caruso (Orefield, Pa.) and Mike Pagliaro (Duncannon, Pa.) will compete for time. Junior Matt Girnys (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and sophomore Shawn Dorman (Weehawken, N.J.) will return as solid contributors as well.

With the graduation of all-star Adam Sandt, the Ducks will turn to sophomore Eddie Daniele (Colts Neck, N.J.) to fill some big shoes at shortstop. Daniele posted a .879 fielding percentage with 47 putouts and 69 assists as he batted .262 with 30 RBI. Meerendonk and Dorman are also expected to share time.

At third base, Meerendonk is the favorite to see most of the action for the Ducks. Freshman Matt Glassman (Basking Ridge, N.J.) will share a backup role with sophomore Zac Zatorski (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Outfield
Sophomore Anthony Andrews (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) will serve as the Ducks’ starting left-fielder. In 2007, Andrews saw action in 14 games having posted three RBI and four walks. Freshman Matt Roman (Galloway, N.J.) and Glassman will push for playing time as well.

In center field, Stevens will turn to sophomore Mark Rasulo (Irvington, N.J.) as a go-to-guy for the Ducks. Last season, Rasulo started 11 games and recorded seven hits including one home run. He registered a fielding percentage of 1.000 on 15 putouts, one assists and no errors.

The starting role in right field is still undecided heading into the season. Roman, Katusa and Glassman are all in the mix to earn the starting role.

Designated Hitters
Stevens will see a number of solid contributors making their way into the lineup as the Ducks’ designated hitter. Silva, Katusa, Ackermann, Flammia, Glassman and Caruso are expected to see time in this role come the start of the season. In 2007, Silva batted .279 with 19 hits and 12 RBI.

Outlook
Heading into the 2008 season, Stevens will face five nationally-ranked teams in its first nine games. This includes No. 3 Kean University, which enters the 2008 campaign as the defending NCAA Division III national champions. The Ducks will also battle No. 1 College of Wooster in their first game of the Port Charlotte Invitational on March 16. Stevens will have its hands full when they enter Empire 8 play against No. 23 Ithaca College, St. John Fisher College and Rochester Institute of Technology - three teams that ended the 2007 season ranked in the final American Baseball Coaches Association New York Regional rankings.

“We take pride in scheduling competitive non-conference opponents as this will be the most challenging schedule we have faced during my eight seasons coaching at Stevens,” said Crane. “We feel that playing better competition will improve our play as the season progresses, which will help prepare us for conference play later in the season. It will be a little different for us this year regarding the quality of the teams within the Empire 8 as Ithaca and St. John Fisher finished its 2007 season regionally-ranked,” added Crane.

The Ducks’ season-opener will be a doubleheader against No. 26 Salisbury University on February 17. The first game is scheduled for a noon start in Salisbury, Md.