DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 14, 2020) – The Mercy College baseball team looks to continue its success over the last two years under Head Coach Chris Schoen with the return of several key contributors from a team that won over 20 games for the second straight year. The Mavericks also bring in a strong 15-member recruiting class that looks to help get Mercy back to the ECC Tournament.
The Mavericks will look to surpass the 20-win mark for the third straight season for the first time in program history. Mercy will look to qualify for a spot in the ECC Tournament for the first time since 2010. The Mavericks, picked sixth in the ECC Preseason Coaches' Poll, will look to prove the conference coaches wrong as they open up the 2020 season in North Carolina against Barton College on Saturday, February 15th.
"The 2020 season is going to be a very challenging schedule but also at the same time a very exciting time for Mercy Baseball. The Baseball program has been getting better each year and we are looking forward to being better this year and making the conference playoffs," stated Schoen.
Infield
Leading the returners in the infield is senior shortstop John Mooradian. Mooradian was named NCBWA Preseason Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region after being named NCBWA All-American Honorable Mention, NCBWA First Team All-Region, ABCA Second Team All-Region, D2CCA First Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC. The senior appeared in 48 games making 47 starts, hitting .397 with 75 hits, 50 RBI, 38 runs, nine doubles, seven triples and 22 stolen bases. The one-time NCBWA East Region Hitter of the Week in 2019 set a single-season school record in hits and RBI last season and led the ECC in RBI and hits. The four-time ECC Honor Roll recipient and one-time ECC Player of the Week also was second in the ECC in average and tied for the ECC lead in triples.
Also returning in the infield is graduate student Miguel Ortiz Sanchez who returns to play second base. Ortiz Sanchez appeared in and started in 48 games last season, hitting .283 with 49 hits, 23 runs, 12 doubles and 20 RBI. The graduate student led the team in doubles and has 96 career hits as a Maverick. Graduate student Anthony Murphy returns at first base after appearing in 49 games last season. The first baseman hit .328 with 59 hits, 31 runs, 42 RBI and five home runs. He led the team in home runs and was second in hits, average, RBI and triples.
At third base, Schoen will rely on the duo of junior Paul Cozzolino and freshman Nolan Giblin to help replace All-ECC performer Joseph Sadallah. Cozzolino appeared in 22 games making 15 starts last season and had four RBI. Giblin was a First Team All-League selection at Jamesville DeWitt and will look to contribute immediately.
Four Mavericks look to compete for time at catcher. Juniors Nicholas Pellegrino, Francisco Paulino and Brandon Maravi and freshman Justin Glennerster all look to play a significant role behind the dish. Pellegrino appeared in 16 games last season and recorded seven RBI. Paulino is a transfer from Monroe College and Maravi is a transfer from Sullivan Community College. Glennerster was a three-year varsity starter at St. Joseph by the Sea.
Looking to compete for time in the infield will be junior Corey Tingo and sophomore James Mattutat.
Outfield
The starting outfield looks to consist of sophomore Ryan Saltzman, junior Kuzari Jocelyn and sophomore Nikko Liguori. Saltzman had a strong freshman season for the Mavericks, starting 41 games with a .276 average, 37 hits, 12 RBI and 21 runs scored. Jocelyn returns for his third season as a Maverick after playing in 17 games last year with seven hits and two RBI. Liguori is a transfer from Franklin Pierce University and was a four-year varsity starter at Branford High School, batting .411 during his senior year.
Sophomore James Dieguez and senior Rafael Perez also return to the outfield after seeing significant action a year ago. Dieguez appeared in 26 games making 22 starts last season and had 17 hits, 11 RBI, 16 runs and nine stolen bases. Perez played in 20 games making ten starts, recording 11 hits, ten runs and seven RBI in 47 at bats.
Looking to contribute in the outfield in their first year as a Maverick are junior Robert Wootten and freshman Isaiah Ortiz. Wootten is a transfer from Westchester Community College, hitting .295 with 31 RBI and eight doubles during his sophomore season.
Pitchers
Leading the pitching staff are junior Jack Kelly, senior James Jakuba, freshman Anthony Burgio and junior Erick Miranda. Kelly was named to the ECC Honor Roll once last season after appearing in 13 games with 11 starts, a 5-5 record, 4.87 ERA, 61.0 innings pitched and 37 strikeouts. Kelly led the team in wins last season and will look to improve upon those numbers in 2020. Jakuba was named to the ECC Honor Roll once last year and appeared in 13 games making 11 starts with three wins and a team-high 59 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. Burgio joins the staff after an outstanding high school career that saw him named Pitcher of the Year and finish with a 6-2 record, 0.73 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 48 innings. Miranda transfers in from ASA College for his first season as a Maverick.
Also looking to see some starts are junior Manuel Sanchez and freshman Kevin Seckler. Sanchez made 11 appearances last season and had a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 innings with nine strikeouts. Seckler joins the Mavericks from Our Lady of Lourdes where he was named All-League, All-County and All-Section during his senior year.
Leading the bullpen will be senior Andrew Hernandez who was named First Team All-ECC last season after going 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA and nine saves in 31.1 innings. Hernandez had 32 strikeouts and set a single-season and career record for saves. Looking to compete for time in the bullpen will be Ryan Dieguez, JJ Lantigua, John Gillespie, Osvaldo Encarnacion, Kevin Garcia and Mattutat.
