Lehigh University Athletics
Season Preview: Mountain Hawks ready to make another title run in 2016
2/17/2016 9:45:00 AM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team begins its quest to defend its Patriot League title this weekend when the Mountain Hawks kick off the 2016 season with a three-game series at Norfolk State. The Mountain Hawks, who have made back-to-back Patriot League Championship appearances including the program's second-ever league crown and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015, return an experienced group of upperclassmen and welcome a talented bunch of newcomers for the 2016 campaign.
"This group has worked extremely hard and they're ready to go," said head coach Sean Leary, who enters his 21st season at the helm. "They're very proud of what the 2015 team accomplished, yet they're not dwelling on past success. They feel the 2016 team has to prove themselves. They need to earn their way back to where they were last year. They're just as motivated, if not more motivated, this year."
Lehigh returns two of last season's four All-Patriot League selections. The Mountain Hawks enter the season with the Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year in senior second baseman Mike Garzillo and fellow preseason All-League member junior Jacen Nalesnik.
Garzillo will return as one of two starters from last year's infield. The Wind Gap, Pa. native earned All-America laurels after his record-setting junior campaign that culminated in being drafted by the New York Yankees in the 38th round of the 2015 MLB draft. Garzillo, a two-time first team All-Patriot League selection, hit .359 with a league-best 54 RBI a season ago and was named the MVP of the Patriot League Tournament after leading Lehigh to the league crown. Fellow senior captain Mackey Price will complete the middle infield by stepping into the starting shortstop role. Price has started in 25 games while making 55 appearances throughout his career in the Brown and White as one of Lehigh's most consistent defensive performers.
Returning first team All-League junior Patrick Donnelly will once again hold down third base. Donnelly wrapped up his sophomore season with a .267 batting average, .449 slugging percentage, 50 hits, six home runs and 32 RBI. He knocked in a team-best 14 runs in regular-season Patriot League play. Junior David Young will hold down the other corner of the infield at first base. Young, who has also spent time as a reliever out of Lehigh's bullpen, hit .223 with 10 RBI as a sophomore. Junior Connor Donovan is also expected to see time at first base in addition to action as Lehigh's designated hitter and the team's closer. Donovan posted a .273 batting average and .418 slugging percentage as a sophomore.
"We have a very strong infield," said Leary. "They're all veterans despite there being a couple new starters. Maybe they're everyday starters for the first time, but they've all played a lot in their careers and we bring back two All-League guys. That group is going to add stability to our team both offensively and defensively."
The outfield will be anchored by Nalesnik in right field. The Lehighton, Pa. native tallied a .303 batting average a season ago and ranked second on the team in RBI (35), doubles (14), sacrifice bunts (7) and at bats (201). Senior Anthony Rinaldi will handle left field after making 29 starts last season and finishing his junior campaign with 14 RBI and 12 runs scored. Sophomore James Bleming will take over in center field following a strong rookie season in which he saw action in 42 games and made 29 starts at several different positions. Bleming finished the season with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored and hit .300 in Lehigh's six Patriot League Tournament games to help the Mountain Hawks earn the league title.
Projected starting catcher junior John Scarr will focus on rehabbing in injury during the early-season contests. Scarr will provide a strong left-handed hitting threat to the Lehigh lineup upon his return. Sophomore Ryan Bonshak and freshman Jeff Shanfeldt will step in behind the plate for the start of the season. Bonshak saw action in 10 games last season and Shanfeldt is a three-time All-County selection out of Garnet Valley High School.
Senior Kevin Long will head the rotation for the Mountain Hawks after tallying a team-best five wins on the mound during Lehigh's 2015 championship run. Long finished his junior season with 47 strikeouts in 44.0 innings.
Senior Kevin Boswick will slot into the No. 2 role in the rotation after serving as Lehigh's closer last year. He earned a spot on the All-Patriot League Tournament team after securing two postseason saves to help Lehigh to the league crown. Boswick went 2-0 with two saves in regular-season Patriot League play and finished the season with 43 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 47.0 innings thrown.
Junior Matt Kozemchak is Lehigh's projected third starter. The southpaw made two appearances and threw 5.1 innings before suffering a season-ending injury as a sophomore. He recorded a 2-0 record and 2.53 ERA in 21.1 innings as a freshman.
"Last year's injuries led to a lot of guys getting really good experience in terms of weekend pitching," said Leary. "Sometimes that's not the case when you have a championship team, but the tougher stretches we experienced last year should benefit us this year. People may look at our team and think we're replacing a lot of last year's guys, but we have guys who have a lot of experience that just haven't had the chance to play every single day."
Several pitchers are in the mix for the fourth starting spot come Patriot League play. Senior Brandon Kulp, sophomores Peter Moore and Mark Washington and freshmen Ethan Frohman and Cole McManimon are all expected to see plenty of relief action early on in the season as the group makes a push for a starting spot.
"We have a lot of middle relievers that we can start slow at the beginning of the year and then build them up," said Leary. "Our top ten arms are certainly as competitive as any group we've ever had. It's not going to be a situation of who can pitch in the fourth spot, because we believe they all can, it's just going to be a matter of who goes out there and wins that spot in their first few outings."
Kulp finished last season with 28 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched and a strong 3.47 ERA as a key late-inning hurler. Moore and Washington return for their sophomore campaigns after combining to start 12 games and throw over 60 innings as freshmen. Frohman and McManimon have impressed the coaching staff and come to Lehigh following accomplished high school careers.
"Their performances in their relief appearances early on in the season will go a long way in terms of who gets the fourth starting spot," explained Leary. "By the time we leave Florida on Spring Break, we think they'll all have enough appearances that it'll work itself out at that point."
Donovan is projected to be Lehigh's closer after making 14 appearances and securing a win and two saves as a sophomore. Sophomore Sam Ashey is also expected to see relief work. Ashey, a transfer from Air Force, sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Leary was impressed with the growth a number of younger players made during the fall and winter seasons and expects his underclassmen to keep progressing as the season goes along.
"Sophomores Frank Rosetti and Sam Ashey had strong falls and should be in the mix on the mound," said Leary. "The freshmen are really pushing. Ryan Malloy and Thomas Schumacher have already shown their bats will be valuable assets and they're pushing the guys ahead of them. Chris Butera made a huge jump forward offensively in the fall and will also throw short relief for us.
"There are a bunch of other guys right on the cusp and a lot of freshmen will be competing for innings," continued Leary. "We'll need them to be ready to step in throughout the season."
In order to build on last season's success, the Mountain Hawks will be focusing on short term goals to effectively mesh together as a team.
"This year more than most, we want to focus on the short term and get ourselves in a rhythm with our new infield and leadoff hitter and get ourselves a feel with some of our new roles," said Leary. "There are new parts so it's a matter of getting a feel for how they fit together best."
Lehigh kicks off the season Saturday and Sunday with a three-game series at Norfolk State. The Mountain Hawks will make their home debut at Legacy Park on March 13 at Fairleigh Dickinson and open Patriot League play April 2-3 at Bucknell.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
"This group has worked extremely hard and they're ready to go," said head coach Sean Leary, who enters his 21st season at the helm. "They're very proud of what the 2015 team accomplished, yet they're not dwelling on past success. They feel the 2016 team has to prove themselves. They need to earn their way back to where they were last year. They're just as motivated, if not more motivated, this year."
Lehigh returns two of last season's four All-Patriot League selections. The Mountain Hawks enter the season with the Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year in senior second baseman Mike Garzillo and fellow preseason All-League member junior Jacen Nalesnik.
Garzillo will return as one of two starters from last year's infield. The Wind Gap, Pa. native earned All-America laurels after his record-setting junior campaign that culminated in being drafted by the New York Yankees in the 38th round of the 2015 MLB draft. Garzillo, a two-time first team All-Patriot League selection, hit .359 with a league-best 54 RBI a season ago and was named the MVP of the Patriot League Tournament after leading Lehigh to the league crown. Fellow senior captain Mackey Price will complete the middle infield by stepping into the starting shortstop role. Price has started in 25 games while making 55 appearances throughout his career in the Brown and White as one of Lehigh's most consistent defensive performers.
Returning first team All-League junior Patrick Donnelly will once again hold down third base. Donnelly wrapped up his sophomore season with a .267 batting average, .449 slugging percentage, 50 hits, six home runs and 32 RBI. He knocked in a team-best 14 runs in regular-season Patriot League play. Junior David Young will hold down the other corner of the infield at first base. Young, who has also spent time as a reliever out of Lehigh's bullpen, hit .223 with 10 RBI as a sophomore. Junior Connor Donovan is also expected to see time at first base in addition to action as Lehigh's designated hitter and the team's closer. Donovan posted a .273 batting average and .418 slugging percentage as a sophomore.
"We have a very strong infield," said Leary. "They're all veterans despite there being a couple new starters. Maybe they're everyday starters for the first time, but they've all played a lot in their careers and we bring back two All-League guys. That group is going to add stability to our team both offensively and defensively."
The outfield will be anchored by Nalesnik in right field. The Lehighton, Pa. native tallied a .303 batting average a season ago and ranked second on the team in RBI (35), doubles (14), sacrifice bunts (7) and at bats (201). Senior Anthony Rinaldi will handle left field after making 29 starts last season and finishing his junior campaign with 14 RBI and 12 runs scored. Sophomore James Bleming will take over in center field following a strong rookie season in which he saw action in 42 games and made 29 starts at several different positions. Bleming finished the season with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored and hit .300 in Lehigh's six Patriot League Tournament games to help the Mountain Hawks earn the league title.
Projected starting catcher junior John Scarr will focus on rehabbing in injury during the early-season contests. Scarr will provide a strong left-handed hitting threat to the Lehigh lineup upon his return. Sophomore Ryan Bonshak and freshman Jeff Shanfeldt will step in behind the plate for the start of the season. Bonshak saw action in 10 games last season and Shanfeldt is a three-time All-County selection out of Garnet Valley High School.
Senior Kevin Long will head the rotation for the Mountain Hawks after tallying a team-best five wins on the mound during Lehigh's 2015 championship run. Long finished his junior season with 47 strikeouts in 44.0 innings.
Senior Kevin Boswick will slot into the No. 2 role in the rotation after serving as Lehigh's closer last year. He earned a spot on the All-Patriot League Tournament team after securing two postseason saves to help Lehigh to the league crown. Boswick went 2-0 with two saves in regular-season Patriot League play and finished the season with 43 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 47.0 innings thrown.
Junior Matt Kozemchak is Lehigh's projected third starter. The southpaw made two appearances and threw 5.1 innings before suffering a season-ending injury as a sophomore. He recorded a 2-0 record and 2.53 ERA in 21.1 innings as a freshman.
"Last year's injuries led to a lot of guys getting really good experience in terms of weekend pitching," said Leary. "Sometimes that's not the case when you have a championship team, but the tougher stretches we experienced last year should benefit us this year. People may look at our team and think we're replacing a lot of last year's guys, but we have guys who have a lot of experience that just haven't had the chance to play every single day."
Several pitchers are in the mix for the fourth starting spot come Patriot League play. Senior Brandon Kulp, sophomores Peter Moore and Mark Washington and freshmen Ethan Frohman and Cole McManimon are all expected to see plenty of relief action early on in the season as the group makes a push for a starting spot.
"We have a lot of middle relievers that we can start slow at the beginning of the year and then build them up," said Leary. "Our top ten arms are certainly as competitive as any group we've ever had. It's not going to be a situation of who can pitch in the fourth spot, because we believe they all can, it's just going to be a matter of who goes out there and wins that spot in their first few outings."
Kulp finished last season with 28 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched and a strong 3.47 ERA as a key late-inning hurler. Moore and Washington return for their sophomore campaigns after combining to start 12 games and throw over 60 innings as freshmen. Frohman and McManimon have impressed the coaching staff and come to Lehigh following accomplished high school careers.
"Their performances in their relief appearances early on in the season will go a long way in terms of who gets the fourth starting spot," explained Leary. "By the time we leave Florida on Spring Break, we think they'll all have enough appearances that it'll work itself out at that point."
Donovan is projected to be Lehigh's closer after making 14 appearances and securing a win and two saves as a sophomore. Sophomore Sam Ashey is also expected to see relief work. Ashey, a transfer from Air Force, sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Leary was impressed with the growth a number of younger players made during the fall and winter seasons and expects his underclassmen to keep progressing as the season goes along.
"Sophomores Frank Rosetti and Sam Ashey had strong falls and should be in the mix on the mound," said Leary. "The freshmen are really pushing. Ryan Malloy and Thomas Schumacher have already shown their bats will be valuable assets and they're pushing the guys ahead of them. Chris Butera made a huge jump forward offensively in the fall and will also throw short relief for us.
"There are a bunch of other guys right on the cusp and a lot of freshmen will be competing for innings," continued Leary. "We'll need them to be ready to step in throughout the season."
In order to build on last season's success, the Mountain Hawks will be focusing on short term goals to effectively mesh together as a team.
"This year more than most, we want to focus on the short term and get ourselves in a rhythm with our new infield and leadoff hitter and get ourselves a feel with some of our new roles," said Leary. "There are new parts so it's a matter of getting a feel for how they fit together best."
Lehigh kicks off the season Saturday and Sunday with a three-game series at Norfolk State. The Mountain Hawks will make their home debut at Legacy Park on March 13 at Fairleigh Dickinson and open Patriot League play April 2-3 at Bucknell.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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