PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – After winning a share of its fourth Southwest Division Title in the past five years, the Pace University baseball team brings a level of consistency into 2017, and hopes that it, combined with experience, can help the team reach new heights in the new season.
The Setters got over a couple humps in 2016. While the Setters had earned at least a share of the Division Title in 4-of-5 years, the Northeast-10 Conference Championship First Round, single-elimination matchup had always been a thorn in the Setters' side. Last season, they hosted Le Moyne College in the First Round at Peter X. Finnerty Field, where a one-out RBI double by
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) in the bottom of the eighth proved to be in the difference in a 4-3 victory. The win advanced the Setters to the double-elimination NE10 Championship Weekend, which was hosted by top-seed Franklin Pierce University.
"It doesn't get old winning a regular season title," said Head Coach
Henry Manning. "The kids played well and we were able to get over the hump, so to speak, winning that first playoff game against Le Moyne to get us to the double-elimination round, we haven't been able to do that."
Pace then drew Franklin Pierce in its first matchup of the weekend, playing the then-No. 1 nationally-ranked Ravens for the fourth time that season.
Josh Garran (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) pitched the game of his life, and the Setters rallied late to upset their hosts with a 2-1 victory. Unfortunately, the Setters' biggest win of the season was ultimately their last, as they fell to eventual champion Southern New Hampshire University and Southwest-Division foe College of Saint Rose in consecutive games to end their run.
"As great a victory as it was, I think it took the air out of us a little bit," said Manning. "But I think overall it was a good thing for, not only for last year's club, but for the returning players for this year to get that taste in their mouth."
With six of the starters that defeated Franklin Pierce returning for 2017, the Setters bring back a core that knows it has the capability of winning the big game. These six also happen to be the top six hitters from last year's squad, meaning the Setters will field an established and experienced offense.
Starting right at the top, the Setters return senior
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) and junior
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) to this year's lineup. After heavily decorated seasons for the veteran hitters, Kukura and Gulino were both named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-East Region Team. Kukura led the team with a .341 batting average and set a new program single-season record with eight triples. Gulino knocked in 36 runs and batted .306, tying for the team-high with five home runs. Kukura will keep his spot in center field, while Gulino, who earned most of his awards as a utility player, will mostly occupy left field, while filling in at catcher as well.
Joining Kukura and Gulino as NE10 All-Conference players in 2016 is graduate student catcher
Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley). Mayo led the NE10 with a .530 runners-caught-stealing percentage after throwing out 35 potential base stealers last year. He also showed marked improvement at the dish, hitting .285 with eight doubles and three home runs, while knocking in 21 runs and scoring 26.
"[Frank's] biggest asset is throwing guys out, and that stops a lot of running games," said Manning. "It's a great equalizer to have."
Senior
Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) shores up the outfield by returning to play right field. Capaldi matched Gulino with five home runs last year, and knocked in a team-best 41 RBIs. Senior
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) will continue as the team's everyday first baseman after batting .296 with 30 RBIs and three homers in 2016. Senior
James Wynne (North Salem, NY/North Salem) was the Setters' primary designated hitter in 2016, also spending time around the outfield. He hit .271 with 10 extra-base hits and 21 runs scored.
That leaves second base, third base and shortstop open for new guys to step up and take them. Manning mentioned junior
Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) as the student-athlete ready to take over in the hot corner for the Setters. In 16 games last season, Kurdewan hit three doubles and added six RBIs.
Junior
Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) is set to start at short stop after playing 26 games last year as a utility player and pitcher. Sophomore
Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) made six starts at second base last year and played in 15 games, hitting .300 on the year. He and sophomore
Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) are both battling for the second-base job, a competition that will likely continue into the first few weeks of the season.
The pitching staff faces a tall task in 2017, as the Setters graduated five seniors that totaled more than 300 innings in 2016. It sounds like a daunting task, and one that may set the Setters back this year, but Manning feels the pitching staff might be in even better shape than last season.
"We lost a lot of innings in the pitching department due to graduation, but it's not to say we don't have people that are capable of doing it," said Manning. "You can never have enough pitching, and I think we're pretty deeper, maybe a little bit deeper than last year, we just have to fit the right people in the right spots."
Junior
Ryan Aquino (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) looks primed to stand atop the rotation as the returner with the most innings pitched last season. He tossed 42.1 innings and made five starts, going 3-2 with a 4.04 ERA and a 28/3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Aquino also earned a start during NE10 Championship Weekend. Senior
Anthony Rocco (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) had a 3.07 ERA last season, and is ready to get the starts and innings he has been working to earn for three years.
Graduate student
Ryan Mihalkovitz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) is also back for another season after limited exposure so far in his career. After returning from a career-threatening injury a couple years ago, Mihalkovitz finished 2016 with a 1.65 ERA and a 2-0 record in a relief role. Junior
Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville), after being converted to pitcher last season, is also ready to take on a bigger role in the pitching staff after hurling five innings without allowing an earned run last year.
In a highly-competitive conference like the NE10, with an especially competitive Southwest Division, it is never an easy task to win a regular season title like the Setters have four times in five seasons. Manning calls it a fun conference to coach in because anybody can beat anybody and it takes a complete game of baseball to win. Manning believes it will take more than just being good to win this season.
"Even good teams need some luck, they need to stay healthy and need things to bounce their way from time to time," said Manning. "I'm cautiously optimistic. I always say 'ask me in May and I'll let you know how we're going to fare. I'm confident each and every day that we put team out there that we're going to compete for a win."
Pace opens 2017 against Bloomfield College on Wednesday, March 1, at Peter X. Finnerty Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. The Setters and Bears will square off again in Pleasantville on Thursday, March 2, at 3 p.m.
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