- Farmingdale State is in search of their eighth straight conference title -
New York, N.Y. - Seven-time defending champion Farmingdale State has been selected to seize the 2015 Skyline Baseball Championship in voting conducted by the league's eight head coaches.
Four Skyline programs garnered first-place votes and the top four teams in the poll are separated by just eight total points. FSC earned six first-place votes and 48 overall points.
The Rams won a pair of games in the 2014 NCAA Tournament and return senior All-Conference selections Anthony Alvino (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), Michael Marino (Franklin Square, N.Y.) and Tom Rydzewski (Franklin Square, N.Y.). Alvino compiled six doubles and five triples a year ago, while Marino (.343 batting average) led FSC with 35 RBI and Rydzewski amassed 18 steals and scored 33 runs.
Junior first baseman/pitcher Dalton McCarthy (Manorville, N.Y.) returns this season after missing a majority of 2014 with an injury.
The Rams starting rotation is expected to feature sophomore Matt Seelinger (Levittown, N.Y.), freshman David Otero Jr. (Shelton, Conn.) and junior Kevin Martinez (Glen Cove, N.Y.).
Old Westbury finished second in the poll with 42 points and received a pair of first-place votes after earning a share of the Skyline regular season title with Purchase last season. The Panthers welcome back reigning Skyline Pitcher of the Year Tim Ingram (6-3, 73 strikeouts), as well as senior All-Conference outfielders Jacob Coners (.353 batting average) and Nick Yip (85 total bases).
St. Joseph's-L.I. placed third in the voting with 38 points and garnered two first-place votes. Sophomore outfielder Anthony Bonilla led the Golden Eagles in both runs (21) and doubles (nine) a year ago, while senior righthander Glenn Patriss compiled a 2.83 earned run average over 41.1 innings pitched.
With the return of junior third baseman Teofilo Ramirez (17 hits), Purchase earned a first-place vote and finished fourth in the poll with 36 overall points. The Panthers are 24-8 in conference play over the past two seasons. Mount Saint Mary placed fifth in the voting with 22 points, followed by Maritime (21), Mount Saint Vincent (14) and Yeshiva (7).
The four-team, double-elimination Skyline Baseball Championship will be held May 1-3. The champion will receive the league's automatic berth to the 2015 NCAA Baseball Championship.
2015 Preseason Coaches Poll - Points
1. Farmingdale State (3) - 44
2. Old Westbury (2) - 42
3. St. Joseph's-L.I. (2) - 38
4. Purchase (1) - 36
5. Mount Saint Mary - 22
6. Maritime - 21
7. Mount Saint Vincent - 14
8. Yeshiva - 7
(First-place votes in parentheses)
To view the complete Skyline Conference press release, click HERE.
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