BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The College at Brockport Baseball team has many reasons to be optimistic in the upcoming 2016 season after finishing third overall in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) standings and playoffs last season. The Green and Gold return 20 Golden Eagles from last season's team that picked up 20 wins for the 13th straight season.
"The expectation for the 2016 baseball team is high as we look to continue the rich tradition of deep playoff runs," said Brockport Baseball Head Coach Justin Beach as he noted the Golden Eagles have made the playoffs in 14 of the past 15 seasons. "We have a large senior class with good leadership, a nice group of transfers and freshman make up a strong group of new players. Although we did lose a lot from our team last year, we will still expect to be there at the end, playing for a SUNYAC title."
Despite losing many key players from last season's roster, the 2016 team returns infielders Chris Davis, Wesley Burghardt, Greg Ruddy and Brett Sanders. The Golden Eagles led the SUNYAC last season in double plays turned with 41 in total, many of which were turned by the previously mentioned infielders.
"Although we have a similar core of infielders returning I believe these players have improved," said assistant coach Steven Morse. One of coach Morse's primary tasks is developing the infield defense after a strong career within the conference as a shortstop at SUNY New Paltz. "The work they have put in over the past few weeks is going to pay dividends."
Coach Morse is also heavily involved in the offense as well. Brockport's offense has many key players returning from 2015 with some exciting additions. The Golden Eagle outfield has several players that played a significant number of innings including Eli Carrera, Luke Gilbert and Josh Martin. Martin led the team with a .342 batting average last season totaling 31 bases.
The team leader in total bases was Burghardt with 49. He also led the team with 26 runs batted in while Sanders narrowly outpaced Burghardt and Davis with a team-leading 35 hits. Sanders was named second team All-SUNYAC after hitting .297, scoring 20 runs, knocking in 20 more while posting a .962 fielding percentage on 131 attempts. Sophomore Jack Wallwork demonstrated a powerful swing last season collecting three doubles on his seven total hits. Coach Morse says that Wallwork and Gilbert stick out as sophomores that have taken a big step forward in their games.
Gilbert was a strong contributor in his freshman season as a Golden Eagle reaching base 20 times in 28 games played (17 started) swiping seven bases in eight attempts. Cuban native and Rochester, N.Y. raised Carrera had some big moments for the Green and Gold last season including a game-winning walk off hit in extra innings against SUNY New Paltz.
Sophomore Drew DeBlasiis also returns after picking up five hits in just 12 at bats. The outfield perhaps has the most depth of any position on the team with multiple transfers adding their own intangibles to the group of returners.
"We will look at match-ups and find a way to put each guy in the best position to be successful," explained coach Beach about his outfield depth. "We will get the hot bats in the game and expect them all to play solid defense. We have added two junior college outfielders that will give us more depth and experience in the outfield."
Only Timothy Segrue remains from the collective catchers group that excelled both behind and at the plate. Segrue will step into a more prominent role after appearing in 13 games last year. Clarkson University transfer Paul Ludden is expected to play a large role on the team.
"Three players who have impressed me so far are Luke Gilbert, Joe Bender, and Paul Ludden," responded coach Morse when asked about who has impressed him the most with the season right around the corner. "Luke is a much improved returner who we believe can serve as the backbone of our outfield. Transfer Joe Bender we believe can add a great punch to the middle of our lineup, and Paul Ludden is a versatile player who we believe can get the job done for us in whatever the situation may call for."
The final and biggest piece of the puzzle to success will be the 2016 pitchers. Although many of Brockport's hurlers graduated from last season's roster, the coaching staff has brought in a versatile group of arms. Tyler Clifford and Derick Fera are the only two pitchers on the roster who made any starts for the team last year. Coach Beach noted that Clifford is a fourth year guy and is expected to continue to be a major part of the pitching staff.
"Commitment to being focused each practice is what it will take for the pitchers to shine in 2016," added pitching coach James Williamson. "Our guys have a unique skill set that has allowed them to compete at The College at Brockport's high caliber program. We have to be tougher than everyone we compete against."
Josh Appel was credited by coach Williamson as the returning pitcher who looks to have gained the most in the offseason. Williamson also says that freshmen Matt Hogg and Jason Hellwig have great potential to develop their roles in the future. Junior college transfers Sam McCumiskey and Austin Spindler will likely play important roles.
Coach Williamson will not be alone in coaching of pitchers as former Golden Eagles Nick Pontari and Justin McCarthy were also added to the staff to help craft the current group. The baseball coaching staff is always looking for ways to better improve its roster and this season they reached out to Dr. Stephen Gonzalez for help on the mental side of training.
Coach Beach credits former assistant coach Ory Mee as his mentor and thanks him for mentoring several of the new coaching additions including recent graduates Pontari, Sean Geisel, McCarthy and Mike Gianni. Anthony Spataro will also be a solid addition to the staff. He's also excited to have Shaun Cavney back as he will also assist with the pitching staff.
"Coach Cavney was our pitching coach during our back-to-back NCAA runs," said coach Beach. "One other big addition was Jon Schwind, who brings a wealth of knowledge to our program as a current AA player in the Pirates organization."
The Golden Eagles have many returning faces with a culmination of new ones to give the 2016 season an optimistic outlook.
"We must pitch well with men on base, manufacture runs on offense, put pressure on the opponent and play high level defense," concluded coach Beach. "In order to achieve that goal as SUNYAC champs, we must believe and trust in the process. If we do this, we will excel in the end."
Brockport begins its season this Sunday as it travels to Union, N.J. facing Stevens Institute of Technology at 10 a.m. before playing Kean University at 1 p.m. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.
