2009 BRIARCLIFFE BASEBALL OUTLOOK

   PITCHING AND DEFENSE WILL HOLD KEY TO 4TH STRAIGHT BID

     The 2009 Seahawk baseball season is now around the corner, and the team hopes to receive an unprecendented 4th straight bid to the USCAA National Championships in Virginia Beach this May.  The Seahawks return a very experienced squad, especially on the mound.  Those arms and the defense played behind them are considered the vital ingredient to another playoff appearance.

     The pitching staff shows signs of coming into its own this season.  Anchored by ALL-AMERICAN LEE RANTA, winner of 16 of 18 decisions in his Briarcliffe career, the staff has a lot of experience.  MATT GELORMINO, who last year won 4 games vs. Division II schools despite being a freshman, has truly blossomed into a very solid starter. Another Matt, MATT ANTONACCI, is healthy again and is expected to pick right up where he left off at the end of last season, winning his last three starts. RICK DOHT, also healthy again, expects to return to his winning ways. Before being injured, Doht had won two of his first three starts as a freshman, including a complete game victory over Mercy in South Carolina.  Freshman VIN APRANO opened up many eyes this fall, and is expected to be the fifth starter and long man as needed.  The bullpen, a major strength for the Seahawks the past three years, has some new faces and some old faces in new roles.  JEFF DELUCA, a freshman from Clarke High School, will be given the shot at the 7th inning role.  JASON CASTILLO, the senior captain, will man the 8th inning, while newcomer GABE ERMMARINO will handle the closer's role.  RAFAEL PEREZ will be the lefty out of the pen and will also see time at first base.  Freshman DAVE DARCY and JULIO RODRIGUEZ are also expected to see time on the hill.  The team also hopes to pick up a big gun during the season, when ALL AMERICAN DREW RASCHEN plans to resume his pitching career. The catching duties also are in good hands, with senior SCOTT RADER, one of the best throwing arms behind the plate handling the majority of the time.  Freshman STEVE SHEA , a graduate of East Islip High School, and transfer ANTHONY MEGIAS give the Seahawks much needed depth behind the dish.

     The infield returns three of four starters, and should be even stronger now that DP tandem REGGIE SMITH and MIKE ROCCO are sophomores.  Both youngsters had outstanding freshman seasons, and even more is expected this year.  ALL AMERICAN DAN RODRIGUEZ, clearly the Seahawks best player last year when he hit over .340 and drove in 37 runs, returns at first base.  D-ROD will also see time in the outfield this season. DREW RASCHEN, the above mentioned senior, will also see time at both first base and DH.   The third base job is still up for grabs, with 2 freshman battling for the position.  DAVE DARCY and GABE ERMMARINO should share most of the time there, though catcher SCOTT RADER played seven games there in 2008.  Either way, the Seahawk infield should play very solid baseball this spring.

     The big question mark for the Seahawks comes in the outfield, where three newcomers will make their debuts.  All three are transfers from junior colleges.  TIM COGLIETTA will take over the duties in centerfield.  Coglietta is from Suffolk Selden, as is teammate TOM LOCROTONDO.  Locrotondo gives the Seahawks a lot of flexibility, as Tom has played middle infield, outfield and catcher in the past. The final outfield spot belongs to SEAN O'MALLEY, the centerfielder for Nassau CC. All three players have a lot of speed, and should be running down a lot of balls that start out looking like hits and end up in one of the three talented outfielder's gloves.

     The coaching staff returns in tact. In addition,  former Briarcliffe captain and member of the 2006 USCAA National Championship team Justin McKay joins the staff.  Matt Rocchio will once again handle the bullpen duties.  Coach John "MO" Mehling will handle the first base coaching box as well as the catchers.  Enver Lopez, the senior member of the coaching staff, is back coaching third and handling the outfielders. 

     Finally, head coach Gary Puccio returns for his 15th season as a head coach, and his fourth at Briarcliffe.  The Seahawks have gotten a bid in each of Puccio's first three seasons despite taking over a team that finished 13-29 in 2005.  When asked about this year's outlook, the skipper summed it up this way: "I really like this team.  I have a good feeling about them.  The work hard as a group, and have terrific chemistry and leadership. I fully expect them to continue to improve as the year goes on. I certainly hope that we will be playing baseball in mid-May this year."

      So what about a second national championship? Puccio chuckles.  "No one expected us to win the first one! I have to admit, it does intrigue me. In the almost ten year history of the USCAA, no team has won the title twice. I would love us to be the first. I have to say, every year so far we have been right there with a shot at the title. It certainly gives you hope." 

      Mid-May baseball?  The safe bet is that you will find the Seahawks in Virginia for a fourth straight time in quest of their second national title in four years.