Baseball Season Recap
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The men's baseball team
captured their first-ever Skyline Conference Baseball Championship
with an 8-4 victory over third seeded Mount Saint Vincent and
finished the season with a 26-18 record. With the win, Farmingdale
received an automatic bid to the Division III NCAA Baseball
Championships. The Rams were seeded 6th in the New York Region, and
faced Renselaar in the first game of the double-elimination
Tournament. After falling to 3rd seeded Renselaar in the bottom of
the ninth, 7-6, in game one; Farmingdale went on to face #2 Ithaca
in the second game going six scoreless innings, but a 4-0 loss
would end their record-breaking season.
Offensively the team was led by sophomore Mike Labrozzi (.393) and
junior Brian Benvenuto (.390). Benvenuto was named the Skyline
Tournament MVP after hitting .563 in the four playoff games and
playing great defense from his shortstop position. He led the team
in hits (53) and RBI's (32). Labrozzi led the team in doubles (11),
triples (4) and homeruns (2). Regulars Steve Campbell (.367), Frank
Ennis (.365), Luis Feliciano (.347), Don Moscatelli (.338), Kevin
Curtis (.330), Zak Nersesian (.317), and Anthony Mazilli (.308)
each contributed to Farmingdale’s outstanding .326 team
batting average.
Senior Rob Savarese and junior Tom Heeman led the pitching staff
with six wins each. Heeman, who changed his role to a starting
pitcher this season, finished with a 2.07 earned run average and
led the team with 59 strikeouts. Savarese, who lost only once this
season, held a 3.38 ERA. Starters Jesse Scott and Mike Gionesi each
had four wins. Farmingdale's solid bullpen was led by sophomore
closer Billy Garofalo who had a school-record seven saves with a
team-low 1.88 ERA for the year. Garofalo also led the team with 25
appearances. Freshman Kurt Grabher and Drew Dallanegra each had
solid rookie seasons for the Rams out of the bullpen.
For their efforts, First Team All-Skyline honors were recieved by
Heeman, Garofalo, Benvenuto, Mazzilli and Labrozzi, while Second
Team honors went to Nersesian and Feliciano. The Rams also had four
players receive All-Region honors, including Labrozzi, Benvenuto,
Heeman and Garofalo. Nersesian was awarded the Gold Glove Award for
the New York Region from his catching position.
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