Baseball Ready To Challenge In NEWMAC
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 10, 2003 - After finishing with an uncharacteristic 16-20 record in 2002, which included a 6-6 mark in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), head coach Mark Simeone is eager to get started with a new season in 2003.
“We are determined to improve after an underachieving season last spring,” said Simeone. “I am very confident in our ability to rebound this season.”
The Pride returns most of its top players including all-conference junior
Toby Cole (Blue Hill, Maine) and NEWMAC rookie of the year
Brian Royal (Orange, Mass.).
SC’s strong infield is anchored by a group of juniors. Cole, the team leader in batting average (.338) and home runs (three) a season ago, will reclaim his starting spot at shortstop with
Dan Samia (North Adams, Mass.) at second and
Dan Burton (Camdem, N.Y.) and
Mark Farrell (Rockville, Conn.) splitting time at third. Senior power-hitter
Brian Puchalski (S. Deerfield, Mass.), who was second on the team in RBI with 21, will start at first base and see some time on the mound.
Despite the graduation of his top reliever
Nathan Jyringi, who led the team in ERA (3.38) last season, Coach Simeone still figures to have a couple aces up his sleeve. Royal, the team leader in wins in 2002 (four), Puchalski, seniors
Rick Armstrong (W. Hartford, Conn.),
Aaron Linder (Oneida, N.Y), juniors
Todd Royce (Chester, N.H.), and
Kevin Ludwig (Walpole, Mass.) all figure in the starting rotation.
In the outfield, senior center fielder
Dan Abrahamson (S. Deerfield, Mass.), a second-team all-region player in 2001, drove in a team-high 28 runs while batting over .300 for most of the season and finishing at .292. Junior right fielder
Marc Perecolosi (Granby, Conn.) earned his way into the starting lineup by being the Pride’s second leading hitter with a .300 average.
Two UMass transfers, catcher
Anthony Gorneult (Springfield, Mass.) and outfielder
John Beattie (Longmeadow, Mass.), should have an immediate impact on the team.
Team Links
Head Coach Mark Simeone
Former Springfield College standout
Mark Simeone will enter his 17th season as the head baseball coach at his alma mater in 2013 . The reigning NEWMAC Coach of the year is coming off a successful 2012 campaign in which the Pride went 20-15.
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Contact Head Coach Mark Simeone
E-Mail | Phone: 413.748.3274
