Feb. 22, 2012

2012 Virtual Guide

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Coming off a school record 42 wins and the program's first America East regular season title, the Stony Brook University baseball team and head coach Matt Senk have high expectations heading into the 2012 season. The Seawolves return 20 letterwinners from that squad as they go for their second NCAA Regional appearance in three seasons.

Below is a position by position break down of the 2012 Seawolves

Catcher
Senior Pat Cantwell will once again anchor the Stony Brook defense behind the plate. Cantwell started 52 games at catcher last season, throwing out 16 of 26 would be base stealers.

The 2011 first team all-conference selection and 38th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles hit .308 in the leadoff spot and will once again hit near the top of the Stony Brook lineup.

Backing up Cantwell will be freshman Kevin Krause and sophomore transfer Anthony Italiano. A two-time all-state selection at Tottenville High School in Staten Island, Krause will also see time at DH.

Italiano was a Suffolk County All-Star at St. Anthony's High School and then played in 14 games as a freshman at Boston College.

Infield
The Seawolves will have big shoes to fill on the left side of the infield following the graduation of shortstop Chad Marshall, Stony Brook's all-time hits leader and third basemen Stephen Marino, both who were all-conference performers last season.

The 2011 America East Player of the Year, William Carmona will start the season a third after filling the DH role most of last season. A first team All-American, Carmona will once again hit in the middle of the Stony Brook order after hitting .357 with 80 hits and 27 doubles last season.

Freshman Cole Peragine will began the season at shortstop. Hailing from Ontario, Pergaine comes to Stony Brook from Belle Ewart High School and was named team MVP for his Tri-County Terriers AAU team.

Junior preseason All-American Maxx Tissenbaum returns at second base after starting all 54 games there last season. Tissenbaum will once again fill the middle of the Seawolves order in 2012 after a spectacular 2011 season in which he led the America East in runs scored and was second in RBI and on-base percentage.

Sophomore Gabriel Pena is expected to see time as a backup at both middle infield positions after appearing in 18 games in a reserve role last season. Also competing for time as a backup infielder will be freshman Luke Alba.

At first base, sophomore Kevin Courtney returns after earning All-Rookie honors last season. Courtney hit .306 with 12 doubles in 35 starts before missing the last quarter of the season due to injury.

Freshman Michael Roehrig will see time as Courtney's backup as well as DH. A strong left-handed hitter, Roehrig led Lindenhurst to a state title and was a three-time all-league selection.

Outfield
The Seawolves return an experienced outfield led by junior centerfielder Travis Jankowski. A preseason All-American and MVP of the Cape Cod Summer League, Jankowski exploded onto the scene last season, hitting .355 with a school record 30 steals for the Seawolves. Jankowski also played a flawless centerfield as he did not make an error in 54 games.

Jankowski will be flanked by junior Tanner Nivins, who makes the move to right field after starting all 54 games in left field last season. A second team All-Conference selection, Nivins hit .315 with 13 doubles and 35 doubles last season including a scorching .365 during conference play.

Competing for time in left field will be senior Sal Intagliata, sophomores Josh Mason and Michael Hubbard as well as freshman Steven Goldstein. Intagliata made 28 appearances last season and finished the season with a flourish, recording eight hits and six RBI over the final six games of the season. Mason made 48 starts in the outfield in his first year at Stony Brook.

Starting Rotation
Senior right-hander Tyler Johnson and sophomore right-hander Brandon McNitt will anchor Stony Brook's starting rotation. A two-time first team All-Conference selection, Johnson enters the season fourth in the nation in wins among active pitchers (24) and is coming off another stellar year as he went 9-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 13 starts last season.

The 2011 America East Rookie of the Year, McNitt had a superb first season at Stony Brook as he went 7-3 with a 2.03 ERA in 16 appearances including 10 starts last season. McNitt walked 18 batters in 79.2 innings and his ERA ranked third in the America East and 37th in the nation.

Fifth-year senior Evan Stecko-Haley is coming off a strong junior campaign and will see time in the weekend rotation this season. The 6-5 right-hander went 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA in 32.1 innings in 2011 after missing all of 2010 due to injury.

Starting the season in the weekend rotation will be junior right-hander James Campbell, who worked mostly as a reliever last season. Campbell made 10 of his 12 appearances out of the bullpen and tied for America East lead with four saves as he pitched to a 3.04 ERA in 26.2 innings of work.

Bullpen
Carmona will once again serve as the Seawolves primary closer this season after going 1-0 with four saves and a team best 1.76 ERA in 11 appearances last season.

Sophomore right-handers Frankie Vanderka, Mason and Bryan Tatelman will help to bridge the gap to Carmona along with junior right-hander Jasvir Rakkar. Vanderka went 2-2 with 4.38 a year ago including the first no-hitter in program history.

Tatelman will be looked to in a larger role this season after seeing limited time in relief in 2011. He finished last year strong as he did not allow a run in four of his last six appearances. Rakkar will once again be counted on in the late innings after going 2-0 with a 3.70 in 16 appearances last season.

Senk also has four southpaws to turn to on his staff in junior G.C. Yerry and sophomores Josh Barry, Zachary Uher and Courtney.

Yerry went 3-0 in 11 relief appearances last season and did not allow a run in six of his first seven outings.

Barry, who could also see innings as a starter, was an All-State selection at MacArthur High School and saw limited time out of the bullpen last season but will be looked to in a larger role in 2012. Uher will also compete for innings in the bullpen after making two relief appearances as a freshman.

Freshmen right-handers Nick Brass and Matt Gallup will also help bolster the Seawolves bullpen. Brass comes to Stony Brook from William Floyd High School while Gallup was an All-Area selection at Christian Brother Academy.