2001 Seton Hall Baseball Preview
2/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The pitching staff returns nearly intact, but veteran head coach Mike Sheppard must replace three players in the heart of the batting order. If the younger players are able to fill the holes in the lineup and the seniors produce as expected, then the Pirates should make another strong run at the BIG EAST Championship.
Pitchers
Pitching was a question mark entering the 2000 season, but it proved to be a strength of the Seton Hall team as the Pirates earned their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1987.
The Pirates lost just one key contributor from that pitching staff. Senior Damon Ponce de Leon led the team in wins in each of the last two seasons. After winning ten games and compiling a 3.45 earned run average, Ponce de Leon signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization following last season. His spot will have to be filled in the Pirates' starting rotation.
The team's top starter is without question senior right-hander B.J. Benik. A preseason All-BIG EAST selection, Benik was a 16th-round selection (485th overall) by the New York Mets in the 2000 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He compiled a 9-5 record while establishing Seton Hall single-season records for games started (16) and innings pitched (111.1) as a junior. Benik elected to return to school for his senior season. He needs just 73 strikeouts to surpass Jason Grilli's career mark of 256.
Senior right-hander Mike Wren was a solid third starter last season. A consistent winner, Wren has a 14-6 career record including a 4-3 mark in 2000. The Pirates are counting on him for increased innings this season.
Senior Shawn Tarkington has split time as a pitcher and catcher in his previous three years, but will focus solely on pitching this season. Tarkington made four starts, but was an asset in the bullpen last season. He compiled a 6-3 record with two saves and a solid 3.35 ERA.
Sophomore right-handers Brett Hoffmann and Chris Reilly could emerge as consistent starters as well. As rookies, both pitchers had 3-0 records. Hoffman had a 1.42 ERA in 38 innings while Reilly was equally as impressive with a 1.74 ERA.
The bullpen will be anchored by junior left-hander Isaac Pavlik who emerged as the Pirates' closer last season. Pavlik made 23 relief appearances as a sophomore, striking out 36 batters in 29.1 innings. He also had a team-leading six saves.
Junior Adam Artiano and sophomores Scott Zadina, Matt Skrypack, Buddy Hausmann and Elvys Quezada should also bolster the Seton Hall bullpen. Four freshman will also compete for time as the Pirates look for another strong season from their pitching staff.
Catchers
The Pirates are deep at catcher as two seniors are expected to share the position this season. Senior Adam Arslanian took over behind the plate last season after classmate Kevin Leighton suffered a hairline fracture of his left wrist at the beginning of the BIG EAST season. Arslanian proved to be a solid player both offensively and defensively. A Second Team All-New Jersey selection by the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association, he batted .297 and drove in 23 runs as a junior.
Leighton was having a strong season at the plate before suffering a broken wrist when he was hit by a pitch against Connecticut. He batted .360 with four home runs in his first 20 games. Leighton has battled injuries for much of his career, but he could be in for a big senior season if he remains healthy.
Sophomore Kyle Williams and freshmen Brian Hilt and Nate Meyl will continue to develop as they provide depth behind the plate.
Infielders
The Seton Hall infield will have several new faces this season as the Pirates lost three starters from last year. Third baseman Ray Navarrete was the team's top hitter with a .393 average. He signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. First baseman Alfie Critelli earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors after leading the team with 14 home runs and 62 runs batted in. Shortstop Tony Calabrese elected to forego his senior season after being chosen by the New York Yankees in the 21st round of the Major League Draft. Those three players filled the 3-4-5 slots in the batting order, leaving a void in the middle of the lineup.
Senior second baseman Joe Cuervo is the lone returning starter in the infield. A preseason All-BIG EAST selection as a utility player, the versatile Cuervo is also expected to see time in right field. He batted .358 as a junior while leading the Pirates with 37 stolen bases. When Cuervo moves to the outfield, junior Josh Schuck is expected to step in at second base. The top infield reserve last season, the sure-handed Schuck was flawless in the field, committing no errors in 70 chances. He often stepped in as a late inning defensive replacement.
Senior Brian Leighton, who split time between designated hitter and first base last season, will step in as the Pirates' everyday first baseman. Leighton should be one of the team's top run-producers after driving in 39 runs last season.
The left side of the infield will have a pair of new starters this season. Junior Chris Carter saw action in 27 games at shortstop behind Calabrese last season. He is expected to earn the starting nod, but freshman Santiago Chi will also push for playing time in the middle infield.
Junior Todd Crawford and sophomore Joe Scott will battle for the starting third base job. Scott saw action in 30 games as a rookie, batting .273 in a reserve role. Crawford, who may also see time at first base, is a career .380 hitter.
Outfielders
The Seton Hall outfield should be strong with the return of three experienced players. If he isn't starting at second base, Joe Cuervo will likely get the nod in right field. His speed will enable him to track down fly balls in the gap and near the line.
Junior Mike Bascom was the only player to start all 58 games for the Pirates last season. The steady centerfielder did not commit an error in 142 chances. As the leadoff hitter, Bascom batted .293 while scoring a team-leading 54 runs. He also used his speed to steal 27 bases.
Sophomore Casey Grimm returns in left field after a productive freshman season in which he batted .350 with 36 runs batted in. A contact hitter, Grimm provides the Pirates with a solid bat in the middle of the batting order. He could also see time in right field when Cuervo starts at second base.
Three freshman should also challenge for playing time in the outfield. Chris Talar will back up Grimm in left, Garrett Weir will see time in center and Matt Cuttruff will add depth in right.
