2010 Baseball Preview
The Mitchell College baseball season gets underway today, and the
Mariners have high expectations for the 2010 campaign. With a mix
of talented newcomers and experienced veterans, the Mariners are
poised to make a run at the NECC title.
The Mariners return 12 letterwinners from a young team that went
12-23 last season. Included in the mix are the top four hitters
from a year ago, a group that should power the offense again this
year. The key to a successful season will be pitching and
defense.
Pitching
The Mariners will have a big hole to fill in the rotation with the
loss of Adam Deltgen, who accounted for half of the team’s
wins last year. However, Mitchell will benefit from returning four
experienced starters in seniors Andrew
Langlais and Jeremy Chapman and juniors Paul
Martinez and Cody Faddis. The group will be counted on to go
deep into games and log important innings during conference
play.
Two freshmen who will be looking to make an impact are
right-handers Garrett Cornwell and Kevin
Carbon. Sophomore Ethan
Graynor and newcomers Jason
Dezotell and Taylor Grabill will also be available out of the
bullpen for relief work.
Infield
Leading the way for Mitchell at the plate will be junior Jeff
Perillo, who paced the team in virtually every offensive
category last season. Perillo has been a hitting machine in his two
seasons with the Mariners, batting .387 with 53 RBI and 41
extra-base hits. After filling in at shortstop last season, he will
slide back to his natural position at third base in 2010.
Across the diamond, Langlais and senior Jared
Bishop will continue to platoon at first base. Bishop, who
batted .298 with three homers and 27 RBI last season, has more
power between the two and will also see time as the designated
hitter. Langlais, a solid hitter who batted .297 last year with 10
RBI, has the better glove and may be used in late innings for
defensive purposes.
The middle of the infield will be made up of Grabill and junior John
McGarry. Grabill will take over duties at short while McGarry
returns to his spot at second. Last season McGarry batted .278 and
drove in 19 runs while hitting in the cleanup spot, numbers that
should increase after he dedicated himself in the weight room this
past year.
The Mariners have several options behind the plate. Senior Matthew
Radke made 25 starts at the position last season but will face
serious competition from freshmen Justin
Szela and Eric Pesino.
Of all the infield reserves, junior J.D.
Ramon saw the most playing time last season, batting .222 in 23
games. Sophomore Joseph
Patikowski and freshman Michael Berthiaume also give Mitchell depth in the
infield.
Outfield
Martinez and Graynor return to starting roles at the corner spots
in the outfield. Martinez ranked second on the team in hitting last
season with a .302 average and made 18 starts in left. Batting out
of the leadoff spot for most of the year, he also led the Mariners
in runs scored (30), triples (4) and stolen bases (5). Graynor hit
.286 with 11 RBI in 18 games last year and should see his
production improve with increased playing time.
The starting job in center field is open for the taking, with
newcomers Connor Rochefort and Dezotell first in line to
see time at the position. Other options for the outfield include
Pesino and sophomore Tommy
Derosier, a speedster on the bases who will see action as a
pinch runner.
Schedule
Mitchell opens a 30-game slate with a spring trip to Florida on
March 11-15 that includes eight games against the likes of La Roche
College, Ursinus College, Westminster College (Pa.) and
Manhattanville College. The Mariners return to Connecticut for
their home opener against Lyndon State College on March 27, the
first of eight home dates on the schedule.
Conference play begins on April 1 at Elms College. The Mariners
will play a three-game series against each NECC opponent, and four
of the six schools will qualify for the 2010 NECC Championship on
May 7-9. The double elimination tournament will be held at the site
of the highest seeded team.
