Behind the leadership of 2009 MAAC Coach of the Year Kevin Leighton the Manhattan baseball team is expected to make another strong run at the conference title. In four short years Leighton has lifted the storied Jaspers baseball program to unprecedented heights. Manhattan is riding high on its 2010 ball club which returns seven All-MAAC selections who helped earn the program's second consecutive MAAC Regular-Season Championship and set a school record with 35 wins.
"I think that this team's talent is as deep as we have had in my five years here," Leighton emphasized. " We have a lot of key returners who we are expecting to have big seasons, along with some talented young guys."
Already tabbed the team to beat according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Jaspers enter the campaign with two of the top seniors in the conference, both of whom are expected to bring leadership to the diamond. Kevin Nieto, the 2010 Preseason MAAC Player of the Year, will again anchor one of the premier outfields in the league. Nieto was a key figure in the 2009 Jaspers high-octane offense, which was one of the best in NCAA Division I and rewrote the MAAC's record book. Reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Year Mike Gazzola will help lead the Jasper staff which features a talented mix of both veteran and young arms.
Manhattan returns seven starters from last year's team which posted an 18-6 conference record. The Jaspers welcome 12 newcomers to the roster.
Infield
Corners
The Jaspers bring back a plethora of power to go along with solid defensive skills at both corners in juniors Chad Salem and Austin Sheffield.
"Chad and Austin have played since their freshman years and I expect them to lead our infield," explained Leighton. " I feel that both will have good seasons for us and be key parts of our success."
Salem returns to the hot corner after enjoying another solid campaign in which he earned All-MAAC Second Team honors for the second straight season. The power hitting third baseman logged a .380 batting average and drove in 45 RBI in 52 starts last season. A local product from Rye, N.Y., Salem blasted eight home runs and 13 doubles. One of the most consistent offensive players on the roster, Salem logged the fifth best on-base percentage (.471) and recorded 25 multi-hit games in 2009. Salem is a multi-purpose player who can be used in several roles in the infield.
Sheffield, a 6'4" 208 lb. product of Augusta, Ga., will return to his starting role at first base. Sheffield is coming off a career-season, which culminated being named to the All-MAAC Second Team. The iron man started all 53 of Manhattan's games at first base hitting .349 on the year and improved his average in MAAC games going .382 from the plate. One of the Jaspers most consistent defenders, Sheffield posted a team-high .987 fielding percentage. He displayed his ability to come through in the clutch when he launched his seventh home run of the season to help the Jaspers earn a 2-1 MAAC Tournament victory over Rider. Sheffield completed his stellar sophomore campaign with 13 doubles, two triples and 47 RBI. He had 24 multi-hit games and 13 multi-RBI contests.
Middle Infield
It may be the only loss the Jaspers have to deal with, but certainly the biggest as Manhattan looks to replace shortstop Ryan Masters and second baseman Ruben Perez, both of whom graduated as members of the winningest class in program history. The duo contributed to 135 victories over their careers and a 75-25 MAAC record. Manhattan will look to its freshmen Kyle Murphy, Nick Camastro and Brian Simmons, along with second year player Will DeRuve to fill the gaps.
"Our middle infield is very young, but I am confident that they will do well," said Leighton. "They will make rookie mistakes, but I believe they will develop quickly."
DeRuve is the most experienced middle infielder who spent most of his time playing second base last season. The sophomore from Delmar, N.Y. started 27 of 37 games last year adding a good lefty bat to the line up. DeRuve recorded 20 RBI and scored 23 runs.
Murphy will also challenge for a spot at second base. The 6'3" 200 lb infielder from Waterbury, Conn. is a tough competitor who has excellent speed to go along with a solid right handed bat. A four year starter at Holy Cross High School, Murphy was named All-State as a senior after batting .478 with 26 RBI and three home runs as he helped the Crusaders to an 18-5 record.
Camastro will see time at shortstop this season. The product of Lagrangeville, N.Y. was a three year starter at Arlington High School and helped the Admirals to two league championships and advanced to the Section I Finals in 2009. An All-New York State selection as a senior, Camastro is a solid option in the middle infield as he has good speed and a strong arm.
Simmons offers a defensive presence to the Jaspers infield and can be used in special situations. The native of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. was named All-Section I League II North as a senior at Lakeland High School after batting .379, with 14 runs and 10 RBI.
Freshman Julian De La Rosa will add depth to the infield as the multi-purpose prospect who can earn time at either second or third base. The product from Staten Island played three years at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn hitting above .370 in each of his years. De La Rosa played his final season at the Lawrenceville School helping the team to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJISAA) Division A State Championship, and was named to the NJISAA Second Team All-Prep.
Outfield
Manhattan's outfield is arguably the class of the conference. The unit features three All-MAAC performers in senior Kevin Nieto, along with juniors Mike McCann and Mark Onorati. The Jaspers' outfield is expected to provide much of the offensive firepower, along with defensive stability.
"In my opinion our outfield is the best in the MAAC, and possibly the best in the region," admitted Leighton. "The starters all have speed, and they all can hit. Kevin, Mark and Mike will likely hit 1-2-3 in our order, and they will be the engine of our offense."
Nieto has received preseason hype as a top player in the nation after being named to the All-MAAC First Team in 2009 for the second straight season. It marked his third straight year as an All-Conference performer. Nieto is one of 30 finalists in the NCAA for the prestigious 2010 Lowe's Baseball Senior CLASS Award, which honors a graduating senior for notable achievements in four areas - classroom, character, community and competition. The Miami native who has great speed and can hit for power and average, led all of Division I logging a 1.57 runs per game and set a MAAC record with 72 runs last season. Nieto finished in the top-5 of the MAAC for slugging percentage (.754), batting average (.396), stolen bases (25), home runs (13), triples (6) and on-base percentage (.480) in 46 appearances. He was selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-America Third Team for his dominant performance on the diamond.
McCann is coming off a break out sophomore campaign where he set the program's single season hits record notching 85. The speedy right fielder from Belle Harbor, N.Y. was a 2009 All-MAAC First Team selection and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Northeast Region First Team honoree after batting .388, scoring 65 runs, launching 13 home runs and posting 59 RBI starting all 53 of the Jaspers' contests. An extremely consistent hitter, he brings power to the batting order. McCann is a Preseason All-MAAC Selection.
Onorati returns to left field where he has found his niche starting all 103 appearances during his career. The junior from Williston Park, N.Y. provides the Jaspers with good speed on the base path and can also hit for power. Onorati has a knack for scoring runs and touching lots of bases as he has finished in the top-5 of the MAAC in his first two seasons in these categories. The 2009 All-MAAC Second Team selection is a career .345 hitter and has driven in 85 RBI in his two short years in Riverdale. Onorati covers a lot of ground defensively and holds a .975 career fielding percentage.
Freshmen Anthony Vega and Joe Rock will provide a solid foundation in the outfield for years to come. The two are coming off decorated high school careers and will compete for time this season.
Vega is a 6'0" 190 lb product from Patchogue-Medford in Long Island. A speedy player who brings a lefty bat to the line up, hit .348, posted a .488 on-base percentage and stole 12 bases as a high school senior.
Rock also has the potential to develop into a top outfielder for the Jaspers. The local product from Carmel, N.Y. has good speed, has shown he can hit for power and has a strong arm. Rock joins the Jaspers from a very successful high school career at Kennedy Catholic where he helped the program to a 49-5 overall record and a New York State Class B Championship (2008) in his last two seasons. He hit a whopping .408 and blasted five home runs as a senior.
Freshmen Eddie Spitaletta, Giancarlo Santillo and Alvin Mata will add depth to the outfield. Spitaletta, a 6'0" 180 lb, product from Hackensack, N.J., was a two-time All-Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) honoree at Paramus Catholic. Santillo who played locally at Holy Cross High School in Queens adds good speed to the outfield. Mata is a sophomore from Tuckahoe, N.Y. who played at George Washington High School. He is quick with some power and lots of raw talent.
Catchers
Manhattan will rely on red-shirt freshman Ramon Ortega to handle the majority of responsibility behind the plate this season. Ortega saw limited time in 2009 after suffering a season-ending injury just six games into the season. Senior Anthony Armenio can provide assistance at the catcher position, but will see most of his time as the Jaspers' designated hitter.
"Ray is a solid defensive catcher who can switch hit," Leighton noted. "Anthony has worked hard in the off season and has shown much improvement defensively."
Ortega, who is from Miami, has a good defensive skill set and a strong arm. He appeared in six of the Jaspers' first eight games of 2009, including five starts, before going down. During his brief stint, Ortega hit .333 and recorded a .412 on-base percentage. A product from Christopher Columbus High School, Ortega was a three-time All-Dade County selection.
Armenio, a power hitter from Dix Hills, N.Y., is coming off a career year being named to the All-MAAC First Team. He helped shatter several single season program records, which included an all-time best 61 home runs. Armenio blasted nine of those out of the ball park. The explosive lefty led the conference with 22 doubles and was fifth in the MAAC with a team-high 61 RBI. In 2009, Armenio hit .308, posted a .433 on-base percentage and scored 49 runs.
Pitchers
Manhattan returns one of the most experienced pitching cores in the MAAC, which is anchored by seniors Mike Gazzola, Tom Costigan and Tom Moran.
"I think the seniors will step up for us," said Leighton. "Mike and Tom [Costigan] will likely be our #1 and #2 weekend starters. I think our bullpen is much stronger too. Our newcomers give us a few more options to work with in relief."
Gazzola, a fifth year player from White Plains, N.Y., became just the third Jasper all-time to earn MAAC Pitcher of the Year honors in 2009. The crafty left-hander posted a 7-1 overall record, including four complete games, which complement a team-best 4.15 ERA. He elevated his performances in MAAC contests going a perfect 5-0 with a 3.75 ERA. Stepping up for the big show, Gazzola pitched a complete game en route to a 2-1 victory over Rider in the MAAC Tournament. Gazzola is expected to lead the Jaspers' weekend rotation again in 2010.
Costigan is a hard throwing right-hander who will see the majority of his time in the starting rotation. The product of Cold Spring, N.Y. is coming off a season where he found success both as a starter and out of the bullpen. Costigan's seven wins and 73 strikeouts ranked third in the league last season. He logged a .284 batting average against and allowed just 48 earned runs over 80 innings. Costigan is a crafty pitcher with a good mix of pitches as displayed by his 29 strikeouts looking, which ranked second in the league last year. Costigan went 5-1 and tallied a 4.10 ERA in MAAC contests. He was tabbed as one of the conference's top prospects in 2010 by Baseball America.
The Jaspers will look to Moran as the primary closer. One of the program's top relievers all-time, Moran is expected to break Manhattan's career saves record currently standing just one save behind former standout Pat Widgren '00. In 2009, the native of Farmington, Conn. appeared 24 times, posted a 5-2 record and was second in the MAAC with six saves. A deceptive sidewinder, Moran bounces back on short rest and will eat up several innings out of the bullpen. He led all Jasper relievers with 45 innings of work last season.
Sophomores Mike Giordano and Matt Jordan will compete again for a position in the Jaspers weekend rotation. Giordano made a splash to start his collegiate career last season winning his first six career starts. A Bedford, N.Y. native, Giordano ranked second on the team with a 4.43 ERA and struck out 32 batters in 61.0 innings of action.
Jordan split the 2009 season between the starting rotation and coming out of the bullpen. A hardnosed southpaw, Jordan recorded four wins, 47 strikeouts and one save in 55.0 innings of work. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on May 16 after striking out six batters and allowing just one earned run in a win at Iona.
Senior fireballer Zac Goyer gives the Jaspers another option either out of the bullpen or as a starter. Goyer struck out 41 batters in 40.0 innings, while posting four non-conference wins. He led the team last season with a .226 batting average against. A power strikeout pitcher, Goyer notched a career-high 11 Ks in a victory over BYU.
Manhattan will have sophomores Matt Troisi, Taylor Sewitt and junior Rob Ardino coming out of the bullpen. Troisi is a lefty from Brooklyn who found most of his success last season in four relief appearances over a 10 day span in March where he did not allow an earned run. Sewitt made 10 appearances in 2009 serving the Jaspers as a utility infielder and out of the bullpen. He adds depth to Manhattan in both these areas. Ardino appeared in eight games as a freshman and notched six strikeouts over 11.2 innings.
Freshmen Eric Luksis, Mike Gonzalez and John Soldinger will compete for time on the mound. Luksis is a lefty from Wappingers Falls, N.Y. who can have an immediate impact. A deceptive pitcher with good velocity and control, Luksis has the potential to service Manhattan in a starting role. The All-County selection at John Jay East Fishkill, Luksis has the ability to dominate a game as he did when he tossed a no hitter versus Carmel on April 17, 2009.
Gonzalez has the potential to contribute out of the bullpen this year. A right-hander from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, which has produced several Jasper standouts in the past, Gonzalez complements a good fast ball with good out pitches.
Soldinger is a 6'3" 205 pitcher who is also expected to be used as a reliever this season. He is a two-time All-Long Island selection locally at Bay Shore High School. Soldinger can locate his fastball and has an above average breaking ball. He will compete for innings.
Schedule
The 2010 slate features contests with powers from the ACC, BIG EAST, Conference USA and Colonial Athletic Association, in addition to the always challenging MAAC lineup. The Jaspers open the season Feb. 26-28 at the University of Miami, a 2009 NCAA Tournament participant.
"We are excited about our schedule," explained Leighton. "The first four weeks of the season will certainly be the most challenging that we have had in my time with the program."
The Jaspers travel south to begin the campaign with a three game series against the Hurricanes marking the first time the programs have met since the 2006 NCAA Regional Finals. Manhattan returns to the Bronx for its annual meeting at cross-town rival Fordham (March 3), before traveling to Delaware (March 5-7).
"Miami is going to be tough. It is never an easy weekend when you play a perennial power in their home park. We expect this experience will prepare us for the other challenging games on the schedule."
Manhattan visits Morgantown, W. Va. to square off with West Virginia from March 12-14. The Mountaineers went 37-18 last year and finished third in the BIG EAST. The Jaspers will also make non-conference stops at Long Island (March 9), Seton Hall (March 17), Liberty (March 19-21), and Hofstra (March 24), before opening the MAAC schedule at Marist (March 27-28).
The Jaspers will also visit non-conference opponents Fairleigh Dickinson (March 30), Sacred Heart (April 13), Alabama Birmingham (April 24-25) and Albany (April 28).
Manhattan plays ball at Van Cortlandt Park for the first time on April 3-4 when the Jaspers host league member Saint Peter's. Albany (April 7), Columbia (April 21) and NYIT (May 4) will also come to Riverdale this season.
The Jaspers conference home games resume May 1-2 versus Niagara. Manhattan travels to Canisius (May 8-9) for a weekend series, before returning to Riverdale for consecutive MAAC series with Iona (May 15-16) and Siena (May 20-21).
The 2010 MAAC Championships will return to Fishkill, N.Y. at Dutchess Stadium from May 27-30, the site of the Jaspers last MAAC Championship.