The defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Manhattan Jaspers have their sights locked on one thing in 2012: the program's third conference title. The Jaspers will vie for the MAAC crown with a roster that has helped establish Manhattan as one of the premier programs in the Northeast over the last decade.
Manhattan is coming off its sixth consecutive 30+ win season with the Jaspers posting a program record 20-2 (.909) MAAC mark, which tied for the second highest win percentage in the league dating back to 1989. Most notably, the Jaspers are coming off their third MAAC Regular-Season Championship in the last four years.
In 2012, the Jaspers will rally behind new leadership with first year head coach Jim Duffy at the helm. Duffy, an established collegiate coach who has enjoyed a plethora of success during his career, comes to Riverdale after seven seasons as an assistant in the Big East at his alma mater Seton Hall. In his final season in South Orange, N.J., Duffy helped lead the Pirates to the 2011 Big East Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Coming from success Duffy's standards remain high as he takes on this new chapter of his coaching career. "The goals this year are very simple, we want to win another MAAC Championship and advance through an NCAA Tournament Regional," stated the focused first year head coach.
Duffy inherits a roster filled with marquee talent in all areas of the roster with players who know what it takes to make a run for the hardware. Reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Year John Soldinger is back for his junior campaign as he joins forces again with senior Mike Giordano, the 2011 MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. The pitching duo is arguable the best one-two combo in the conference. Soldinger and Giordano combined for 18 of the Jaspers 34 victories and 144 strikeouts last season.
"I really like this team and I feel very fortunate of the situation I was able to step into," explained Duffy. "Some of the players we have will make coaching easier. Their expectations are high and they know what we need to do to win."
Despite graduating the most prolific offensive class in program history in Chad Salem, Mark Onorati, Mike McCann and Austin Sheffield, Manhattan's strength in 2012 will be up the middle of the field with Preseason All-MAAC catcher Ramon Ortega and shortstop Nick Camastro. Ortega was the Jaspers top offensive producer in MAAC contests last season with a .371 batting average in 22 starts, while Camastro was a mainstay in the line up batting over .300 in 53 starts.
Manhattan will rely on co-captains Camastro, Ortega, Soldinger, along with junior infielder Kyle Murphy and senior Matt Troisi to provide the veteran leadership this season. This crop of talent was an integral part in producing 65 wins and a dominant 26-2 (.929) home record at Van Cortlandt Park the last two years.
"These five guys were almost unanimously selected by their teammates, so we are expecting them to set the standard for our club through their hard work and dedication. Our captains will lead us both on and off the field."
In addition to the 23 letterwinners returning from last year's championship roster, Manhattan welcomes a new blend of skill players with its highly touted seven member freshman class.
Infield
The Jaspers return one of the top middle infield tandems in the MAAC with Camastro and sophomore second baseman Yoandry Galan. Sophomore Chris Kalousdian offers Manhattan a ton of flexibility with his ability to play any position on the field, while Murphy and Troisi, along with freshmen Vin Teixeira and Joe McClennan are expected to add power to the line up at the corners.
Camastro will return to his starting shortstop role where he earned Second Team All-MAAC honors last season. The speedy 6'0" 180-pound product of Lagrangeville, N.Y. possesses good fundamentals and sets the tone with his work ethic. He hit .304 with a .417 on-base percentage and drove in 23 runs in 2012. An efficient player on both sides of the ball, Camastro held a season-high 26-game reached base streak, he led the MAAC with 15 sacrifice bunts and he also generated 32 runs. The defensively sound infielder committed only three errors in 22 conference starts. Camastro was a clutch performer who turned up his game in the postseason hitting .625 with two RBI in NCAA Tournament games against Florida and Jacksonville.
Galan established himself as one of the premier defensive infielders in the MAAC last season, starting 50 of 52 appearances for the Jaspers. The silky smooth second baseman made only four errors and posted a team-best .982 fielding percentage. The 6'0" crafty defender from Miami ranked second in the league behind Camastro with 14 sacrifice bunts, going along with 11 RBI.
The Jaspers will enjoy the versatility that Kalousdian brings to the diamond. A superb defender in all positions on the field, Kalousdian put his offensive ability on display in a limited 23 appearances last season when he hit .318 and posted a .409 slugging percentage. Kalousdian has good speed and instincts on the base path.
Murphy is a superb athlete who can help Manhattan at first or third, but more importantly his solid bat will be needed to produce in the line up. The 6'3" 215-pound product of Waterbury, Conn. has started 81 of 91 appearances and knocked in 39 runs with six homers during his first two seasons in Riverdale. In MAAC contests last season, Murphy hit .326 and posted a .465 slugging percentage and .418 on-base mark. His nine stolen bases we the second highest from a Jasper.
Troisi offers a big lefty bat in the line up and he can also contribute on the mound. The 6'5" 245-pounder from Brooklyn has experience at first base, as well as serving as the Jaspers designated hitter. Troisi made 15 appearances in the field last season posting a .389 on-base percentage. As a freshman, he came out of the bullpen in 11 of the 13 games played logging 23 innings on the hill.
Teixeira and McClennan enjoyed decorated high school careers and are expected to contribute immediately. Teixeira, a 6'4" 220-pound power hitter from Hamden Hall High School in Connecticut, was a four year starter for head coach Joe Fontana. He graduated as the program's home run and RBI leader. Teixeira earned All New Haven County honors as a senior batting .450 with seven home runs and 30 RBI.
McClennan started all four years at Cornwall High School for head coach Tom Fanning. He helped guide the Dragons to three New York State Section IX championships. McClennan earned First Team All New York State honors as a senior playing shortstop and hitting .430 with over 30 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He also garnered First Team All New York State as a junior playing third base with a .462 batting average with 25 RBI and 23 stolen bases.
Juniors Brian Simmons and Julian De La Rosa add depth to the Manhattan infield. Simmons has come off the bench in 17 games over his first two seasons with the program and gives the Jaspers a speedy option on the base path. The native of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., was named All-Section I League II North at Lakeland High School.
De La Rosa is a multi-purpose infielder who has battled through injuries over his collegiate career. In nine games off the bench last season, De La Rosa posted a .375 batting average, .500 slugging percentage and .444 on-base mark. De La Rosa played three years at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn before spending his final season at the Lawrenceville School where he helped 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 features explosive speed and is expected to be one of the top defensive units in the MAAC. Jasper juniors Anthony Vega and Joe Rock will be complemented by the addition of freshman Aidan O'Leary. Sophomore Andrew Gorecki and freshman Nick Girardi offer the Jaspers left handed options off the bench.
Vega has emerged as on of the top defensive outfielders in the conference. With his fine tuned offensive skills Vega will serve as the Jaspers everyday center fielder. The 6'1" 190-pound gifted athlete from Long Island is arguably the fastest player in the MAAC. He is a multi-sport athlete at Manhattan who was a key sprinter on the Jaspers two-time reigning MAAC champion indoor track & field team. Last season, Vega started 44 of 51 appearances registering 27 runs, 21 RBI and nine stolen bases. He saved his best baseball for the postseason batting .500 during the Jaspers 2011 MAAC Tournament Championship run, scoring three times with three RBI and a home run over three starts.
Rock also brings above average speed and a strong arm to the outfield. He is expected to be the Jaspers right fielder opening day. The Carmel, N.Y. native started 12 games in 46 appearances during his first two seasons at Manhattan. In limited action, he has produced 10 RBI along with a .342 on-base percentage. Rock enjoyed a successful high school career at Kennedy Catholic where he helped the program to a 49-5 record in his final two years earning the New York State Class B Championship in 2008.
O'Leary gives Manhattan another dynamic athletic talent in the outfield. He comes to Manhattan from Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire where he was a two-time First Team All-State honoree for head coach Tim Hopley. During his career, he helped Portsmouth win three straight New Hampshire Division II championships and contributed to setting the national high school baseball consecutive wins record as the Clippers posted 83 straight from 2007-11. O'Leary hit over .400 as a senior and was a standout wide receiver on the football team earning All-State honors after leading New Hampshire in receiving yards with over 1,000.
Gorecki offers Manhattan a superb lefty bat off the bench and provides depth in the outfield. The 6'1" 200-pound power hitter appeared in 14 games last season and recorded a .231 batting average along with a .375 on-base percentage. He came to Manhattan after lettering four years at St. Anthony's High School where he was a three-time team MVP and hit .343 with a .565 on-base percentage as a senior.
Girardi also gives the Jaspers depth in the outfield, and he will be a key lefty out of the bullpen. He earned All-Nassau County honors as a senior batting .405 with a .470 on-base percentage at St. Dominic's High School playing for head coach Richard Garrett.
Catchers
Manhattan will rely on Ortega to handle the bulk of the catching responsibility as he is coming off a career season when he earned Second Team All-MAAC honors. However, the Jaspers possess good depth at the position with sophomore Mikey Miranda, junior Brendan Slattery and freshman Connor Bacalles.
Ortega ranks among the top catchers in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with his excellent defensive skills, a strong arm and one of the top bats in the league. The 5'10" 210-pound native of Miami was one of the Jaspers top performances in the 2011 postseason as he was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team after driving in three runs and recording two doubles in Manhattan's championship run. He continued his hot play in the NCAA Tournament against Florida and Jacksonville leading the team with a .714 batting average, .857 slugging percentage and .750 on-base percentage. In 2011, He recorded 53 hits with 25 RBI and 11 doubles starting 46 of 50 appearances.
Miranda, a product of nationally-ranked Florida Christian High School in Miami, started 21 of 28 appearances last season. He gives Manhattan a solid defensive option behind the plate as he threw out seven base runners attempting to steal. Miranda was an All-Dade County selection in his final two years at Florida Christian.
Slattery is a 6'2" 205-pound native of Danbury, Conn. who hit .231 with three doubles in 22 appearances in 2011. He is a quality catcher who has power at the plate and adds experience to the line up.
The Jaspers welcome Bacalles who is a utility player out of New City, N.Y. He played all four years at Clarkstown South High School and was named All-Section I Honorable mention as a senior. Bacalles graduated as the Clarkstown South program career home runs leader.
Pitchers
The Jaspers pitching staff is deep and features some of the top talents in the MAAC in Soldinger and Giordano. The third weekend starter position is up for grabs, as well as the midweek starts that can be filled by sophomores Kevin Bonanni, Jared Hirschberg or Scott McClennan. Jacob Marchus is expected to return as a late inning reliever, alongside senior sidewinder Taylor Sewitt. Senior Dan Feinberg is an experienced right-handed option in relief, while hard-throwing freshmen Joe Mortillaro and Sean Abbate can be serviceable either as starters or out of the bullpen.
Soldinger is one of the most reliable options on the staff who made the move last season from being one of the top closers in the nation to a premier starting pitcher in the Northeast. The 6'3" 230-pound right-hander from Bay Shore, N.Y. was named the 2010 MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year after posting seven saves with 48 strikeouts as a freshman. Last season, he garnered First Team All-MAAC honors and was named to the Northeast Region First Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association after leading the conference with 10 victories and he had six complete games. Soldinger has developed a reputation of stepping up in big games for the Jaspers as he has won his MAAC Tournament game one starts the last two years, including a six strikeout complete game victory over Canisius in the Jaspers 2011 championship run.
Giordano has been a superb performer in his first three seasons in Riverdale logging 20 wins which has him nationally ranked in NCAA Division I among the active career wins leaders. Giordano, a 5'11" hard-throwing right-hander from Bedford, N.Y., put his big game abilities on display in the MAAC title contest last season delivering one of the top performances ever by a Manhattan pitcher. Giordano was named 2011 MAAC Tournament MVP after striking out 13 batters, yielding only one walk, three hits and he did not allow an earned run in a 5-1 victory over Siena to clinch the championship. Last season, Giordano ranked second in the MAAC holding opponents to a .226 batting average, he was third with 78 strikeouts and he posted eight wins in 13 starts. In MAAC games he registered a perfect 5-0 record and logged a conference best 0.92 ERA during the regular-season.
Bonanni is hard-nosed right-hander with a year of experience under his belt. The 6'2" 195 product of Plainview, N.Y. is a pure competitor who throws with good velocity. Bonanni started four of 10 appearances last season and posted a 2-1 record with a 3.65 ERA. He struck out 17 batters in 24.2 innings and allowed just a .261 batting average against.
Hirschberg is another second year player who can have a major impact in the starting rotation. He proved his ability in 14 appearances, including five starts last season by posting three wins and striking out 25 batters in 35 innings of action. Hirschberg, a 6'2" 225-pound freshman from Katonah, N.Y., was a First Team All-New York State selection at John Jay Cross River High School.
The Jaspers will also look to McClennan to pitch meaningful innings and to build on his solid rookie campaign. He made 12 appearances with three starts in 2011 registering a 3.49 ERA with two wins and one save. McClennan is a right-hander from Highland Mills, N.Y., who graduated from Cornwall High School with a Section IX record with 27 victories.
Marchus and Sewitt are expected to be key contributors in late inning relief. Marchus led the Jaspers finishing 11 games last season and he ranked fifth in the conference with four saves. The hard-throwing right-hander from Miami is a true competitor on the mound. Sewitt is a 6'3" 195-pound right-handed, side arm specialist who has good command and the ability to keep hitters off balance. He appeared in 13 games out of the bullpen last season, recording 16 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings. Sewitt peaked at the NCAA Tournament pitching five lockdown innings against Florida, yielding one run and striking out three Gators.
Feinberg came out of the bullpen in 12 games last season as he maintained a 3.38 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 16 innings. He also limited opponents to a .196 batting average and held a 2.25 ERA in MAAC appearances. The right-hander from Goshen, N.Y. locates the ball well and can provide veteran leadership to the staff.
Mortillaro and Abbate are highly touted newcomers who can have an impact immediately. Mortillaro is a local product from Queens, N.Y., whose fastball consistently hits the low 90s. He lettered at Christ the King High School earning Catholic High School Athletic Association First Team honors playing for head coach Billy Oettinger and assistant coach Greg Modica. Mortillaro posted a 2.76 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 42 innings as a senior, which included a no-hitter in a one run victory over Holy Cross.
Abbate comes to Manhattan from Division Avenue High School in Long Island where he earned Second Team All State honors as a senior. He registered a 10-1 record and 1.71 ERA to help Division Avenue to the Class A Long Island Championship.
Matt Jordan and Michael Martin are also expected to have an impact in 2012 as they bolster the staff with left-handed options. Both players had abbreviated 2011 seasons that were cut short due to injuries. Jordan, a 6'3" 220-pound senior, has experienced success as both a starter and reliever during his career at Manhattan. He pitched in four games maintaining a 3.38 ERA and .143 batting average against last season. Martin is a crafty pitcher from Massapequa, N.Y., who had a successful high school career at Chaminade.
Freshman Michael Scarinci brings a quality right-handed arm to the roster and is expected to be in the mix. He comes to Manhattan after a decorated career at Pearl River High School where he earned New York State Section I Pitcher of the Year honors as a senior registering a 6-0 record with a 1.20 ERA.
Schedule
Manhattan's 2012 schedule features out-of-conference matchups with powerhouse teams from the Big East, ACC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and Big South, in addition to the always challenging MAAC slate.
The pursuit of back-to-back conference titles will begin in Boca Raton, Fla. as Sun Belt contender Florida Atlantic hosts the Jaspers (Feb. 24-26). It marks the start of 16 straight road games to open up the season.
Manhattan will then travel to College Park, Md., to meet with perennial ACC power Maryland (March 2-4) before a weekday matinee with Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J. (March 7). From there, the Jaspers travel back south to play the High Point Panthers of the Big South Conference (March 9-11) in North Carolina before concluding their long road stretch in Morgantown, W. Va. with Big East power West Virginia (March 16-18).
The home slate begins on March 21 when the Jaspers play Hofstra at Van Cortlandt Park. It is the second straight year Manhattan opens at home with the Pride and will be the last game before entering conference play at Marist (March 24-25).
The Jaspers will then travel to Teaneck, N.J., to face Fairleigh Dickinson (March 27) before a returning the game at Hofstra (March 28). Manhattan welcomes MAAC rival Iona (March 31-April 1) to Riverdale, and then visits West Point, N.Y., to square off with Army (April 4) in a mid-week game. The Jaspers return to Van Cortlandt Park to square off with Niagara (April 6-7), Sacred Heart (April 10) and the annual meeting with cross-Bronx rival Fordham on April 11.
Manhattan travels to two 2011 MAAC Tournament qualifiers when they visit Rider (April 14-15) along with Canisius (April 21-22) as they play two series sandwiched around a home doubleheader with Columbia (April 18).
The month of April concludes with trips to Albany (April 25), and a four game series in Fort Worth, Texas against TCU (April 27-29). Manhattan visits Fordham at Houlihan Park on May 1. The final road trip of the regular season is against MAAC opponent Fairfield (May 5-6) prior to a six game home series to conclude the season.
Van Cortlandt Park will host Saint Peter's (May 12-13) and conference tournament runner-up Siena (May 17-18) to finish out the regular-season.
The 2012 MAAC Baseball Championships will be held at Tri-City's Joseph Bruno Stadium in Troy, N.Y. from May 24-27. The top four teams in the league will qualify to compete for the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.