Briarcliffe College Baseball
The Briarcliffe baseball program will shoot for their fifth straight USCAA National Tournament bid in 2010. The Seahawks, who won the USCAA National Title in 2006, will count on strong pitching and defense along with timely hitting. Captain and All-American Lee Ranta, who enters the season with a lifetime 18-5 mark, will anchor a pitching staff that head coach Gary Puccio calls, “one of the best I have ever had”.
Sophomore Vin Aprano had a sensational freshman campaign and figures to be even better in 2010. A healthy Rick Doht fills Briarcliffe’s 3rd spot in the rotation. Both Aprano and Doht pitched for North Babylon High School. The fourth starter will be Chris Brezinski, a freshman from Farmingdale High School. Brezinski had an outstanding fall, giving up just one run in eleven innings of work. The bullpen is much stronger than last year, with seventh inning man Jeff DeLuca the only holdover. Kurt Stettner, a freshman from Comsewogue has been named the closer. Dan Harty, Rich Ireland and Rafael Perez are battling for the eighth inning role as well as the fifth starter spot.
The infield returns Reggie Smith at second base, someone Puccio calls, “the best overall second baseman I have ever coached”. Third baseman Dave Darcy hit over .300 last year in his freshman campaign, and should be a major RBI guy for the Seahawks. Tom Locrotondo and Gabe Ermarrino are battling for the shortstop position. Freshman sensation Kevin Licul, the cleanup hitter for Levittown Division last year, will man first base. Kevin Burke will also see time at first while also securing the lefty-hitting designated hitter role.
In the outfield, the Seahawks defensive strength, captain Tim Coglietta will once again man centerfield. He will be flanked by Sean O’Malley in left (second on the team in on base percentage last year) and the return of Sam Braverman in right. Braverman, who was out all of last year after Tommy John surgery, hit 6 home runs and had 31 runs batted in his freshman campaign in 2008. Anthony Mele, an All County graduate of Island Trees High School, is expected to see a lot of outfield play as well.
Behind the plate is where the Seahawks lack experience, but if the fall was any indication, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Freshman Joe Solomeno of Sachem High School, Eric Weiner of Deer Park High School and Dave Haskin of Seaford High School all figure to get time. The catchers combined to throw out over 50% of potential base stealers in the fall.
The team plays its home games at PAL COMPLEX in Holbrook, NY. The road schedule this year includes a four game series at the University of Dallas as well as trips to Virginia, Massachusetts and Ohio
-
The Seahawks have games scheduled through May. Come on out and support your team!
Click here to learn more.
-
Check out the line-up for your 2010 Briarcliffe Seahawks.
Click here to learn more.
-
Meet the coaching staff that will lead a talented Seahawks team into the 2010 season.
Click here to learn more.
-
The Briarcliffe Seahawk Athletics blog is the best place to keep up with the team.
Click here to learn more.
-
Coach Gary Puccio looks forward to support from Briarcliffe fans, students and alumni.
Click here to email the coach.
-
The goal of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association is to provide opportunities for small colleges to compete on an equal level of competition with schools of like size and athletic programs.
Click here to learn more.