Baseball Looks to Bring Pieces of Puzzle Together in 2007
2/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
The 2007 Seton Hall baseball team has high hopes for a successful season. Graduating just two players in 2006, the Pirates return a solid, experienced group of players and brings in a talented freshmen class. For the first time in three years, the team has a balanced mix of classes: eight seniors, eight juniors, 10 sophomores and seven freshmen.
“We’re excited because this is the first year we have good balance,” Sheppard said. “This year we have some balance that will add to the depth of the team and also to the talent of the team.”
With head coach Rob Sheppard entering his fourth year at the helm of the Pirate program, and with seasoned assistant coaches Phil Cundari and Jim Duffy, the coaching staff will help to bring the Pirates back to the elite of BIG EAST Baseball. Sheppard, Cundari and Duffy all played under the legendary head coach Mike Sheppard, Sr., and are familiar with the Seton Hall tradition. In addition, Rob Sheppard served as the assistant coach for nine seasons under his father. Sheppard also adds the experience of Zach Porcello to the staff, as he will serve as an assistant to the program.
Although the Pirates struggled in 2006, the year still included several noteworthy accomplishments. The team upset No. 11 Notre Dame on May 13 and 14, winning two of the three game series. Dan McDonald was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team, and several Pirates were named to the All-NJCBA team. In addition to McDonald, Dan Merklinger and Luis Fernandez earned First Team honors; Brandon Cohen, Robbie Hine, Dan Lopez and Corey Young were named to the Second Team, and Keith Cantwell and Matt Smedberg were named to the All-Rookie Team. Merklinger also received a slew of awards during the season including two BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors and two nods to the College Baseball Foundation honor roll. Young also received the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors.
The 2007 squad will be led by McDonald and senior Mike Morano, both captains from the 2006 season.
“I think we have a lot more leadership than we’ve had in the past years, being that we have a larger senior class,” Sheppard said. “Leadership is a big part of our team, not only for the senior class, but for the junior class, we have a number of players returning that have a lot of experience.”
The team possesses talent through all the classes, and the freshman class will certainly add to the Pirates goal of qualifying for the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2001. The Pirates biggest focus will be on consistency.
“We look forward to having more consistent play in everything, from our pitching and defense to our offensive execution,” Sheppard said. “Our goal is to always contend for the BIG EAST Championship.”
INFIELD
The Pirates return a strong infield in the 2007 season. With experience at all positions, the team has a slew of available options.
“We have a number of guys who have the potential to play a number of different positions,” Sheppard said. “We have a lot of baseball athletes that are capable of moving to different positions in the infield and doing a good job in all of them.”
Senior Robbie Hine returns for the Pirates at shortstop, having started all 51 games and was third on the team in RBI with 40 in the 2006 season.
At first base, senior John Walsh returns for the Pirates. Walsh started 40 games for the Hall at first base last season and is a power hitter. Junior Mark Pappas could also fill in for Walsh.
Second base has promise for the Pirates as three returnees will battle it out to earn the starting nod. Seniors Casey Hines, Mike Young and sophomore Tim McCann all have gained valuable experience at the position. All three are solid options for the Pirates. In 2006, Hines started 20 games, Young started 20 and McCann started 11. Young will also help the pitching staff, as he made nine appearances from the pen in 2006.
Like second, third base is a competitive position. Senior Mike Morano and sophomore Greg Miller will be the top-runners for the starting nod. After being hampered by an injury in the beginning of the 2006 season, Morano rebounded and started 16 games. A versatile player, Morano could also see time at second base or at catcher. Miller started 32 games last season at third. A tall force down the line with a rocket arm, Miller gained valuable experience his rookie season and could also see time on the mound or in the outfield.
OUTFIELD
The outfield will be led by juniors Dan Lopez and Matt Smedberg. Smedberg started 43 games in left field while Lopez started 39 in center. Lopez was first on the team in stolen bases with 19 while Smedberg was second with 10. Lopez posted a 1.000 fielding percentage, and was first on team in runs with 35. Both not only are solid in the outfield, but will help the Pirates offensively.
“Both are guys that will potentially be at the top of the line-up,” Sheppard said. “We feel they give us a great chance in creating some offensive opportunities early on in the lineup. Both run the bases very well and play good defense.”
Pappas is the likely candidate to fill the void in right field, as he was limited in the outfield in 2006 due to injury, but started almost every game his freshman year. Freshman Bobby Abreu, Michael Boggi and Michael Rogers will also add options in the outfield.
PITCHING
The Seton Hall pitching staff will be the team’s greatest strength entering the 2007 season. The team returns a core group of starters with McDonald, Merklinger and Corey Young, and has experienced relief pitchers with Fernandez, Cantwell, and senior Tim Dexter. With the addition of freshman standout Sean Black, who was the 59th overall draft pick in 2006, the staff looks to be the strongest it’s been in recent years.
“Our staff can be the strongest part of our team,” Sheppard said. “With our quality returners and the addition of our strong freshman class, we have some depth on the mound. These are guys that can compete in the conference.”
Merklinger is one of the top returnees for the Pirates. He led the team in strikeouts with 83 and gave up just 41 earned runs in 80.2 innings pitched. Young enjoyed a phenomenal freshman year, having been named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week in his win against No. 11 Notre Dame. He was third on the team in strikeouts with 59 and held a 4.21 ERA. McDonald held the lowest ERA of the starters with 4.11 and gave up just 37 earned runs in 81.0 innings pitched.
Merklinger, Young and Black will anchor the starting rotation for the Pirates, and McDonald will come in as the relief ace, as he is the Pirates top offensive threat.
“Danny is a consummate team player,” Sheppard said. “He’s the guy that will hit in the middle of the lineup, one of our better hitters, and at the same time he’s one of our best pitchers. He’s the guy we want to give the ball to as often as possible. When the game’s on the line, he’s the guy we want up at the plate, the guy you want on the mound. He’s a tough competitor, I think that’s why he’s so successful at what he does.”
Cantwell, Fernandez, and Mike Young will provide middle relief for the Hall. Cantwell had a solid freshman year, while Fernandez led the team with a 3.06 ERA. Young added clutch relief appearances in 2006 and will be expected to contribute in 2007.
Dexter led the team in saves with three in 2006, and will add depth to the relief staff of the Pirates. Chris Basso, DJ Cunningham, Scott Fisher and Marc Nigro will add valuable options to the staff. Freshman Jesse Gwaltney and Chris McGlynn will also compete for time on the mound.
CATCHING
The Pirates return a trio of starters behind the plate for the 2007 season. Chris Affinito, Bobby Dombrowski and Matt Skopak all started games during the 2006 season. Affinito started 22 games, Skopak started 16 while Dombrowski started 12. The starting position will be competitive throughout the season, as all three gained experience last year.
“I think the catchers have improved immensely, and they learned a lot from their experience last year,” Sheppard said. “You can have a good pitching staff, but a good core of catchers makes a good pitching staff even better. I think they’re going to do a good job.”
In addition to the returnees, freshman Frank Esposito will compete for time behind the plate.
The 2007 Pirate squad has every reason to anticipate a successful season. The team’s cohesiveness and desire to succeed should bring Seton Hall baseball back to the winning side of the table.
“As a team, we’re going to work really hard to compete within the league,” Sheppard said. “It’s a very tough and competitive league, our expectations are to play at a very high level, in and out of the conference. I really feel that we will be in conference tournament at the end of the year, and challenge for the title.”
With experienced leadership, hard work and talent, the 2007 season looks to bring the pieces of the puzzle together for a successful season.
