Pirates Finish Play in Summer Baseball Leagues

Shortly following the conclusion of the 2016 baseball season, the Pirates scattered across the Northeast and Midwest to continue working on their skills in summer leagues. With the start of the 2016-17 academic year approaching and the summer competition going into hiatus, let's take a look at how the Pirates did.

New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Mike Alescio, C – Winnipesaukee Muskrats
Andrew Politi, RHP – Winnipesaukee Muskrats
Matt Ardente, RHP – Mystic Schooners
Ryan Ramiz, OF – Mystic Schooners
Billy Layne, Jr., RHP – Upper Valley Night Hawks
Dylan Verdonk, RHP – Upper Valley Night Hawks
Sebastiano Santorelli, INF – Danbury Westerners
Ryan Testani, RHP – Danbury Westerners
Matt Leon, RHP – New Bedford Bay Sox
Mikael-Ali Mogues, 1B – Vermont Mountaineers

By far, the summer league that boasted the largest number of active Seton Hall Pirates was the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). The NECBL had a total of 10 Pirates spread out over six teams. The Mystic Schooners, led by Ardente and Ramiz, won the NECBL title. Ardente appeared in 17 games, going 2-2 and struck out 31 batters in 32.2 innings pitched. Ramiz was a regular in the Schooner lineup and batted .264 with three home runs and 23 RBIs in 110 at bats. His 12 stolen bases ranked second on the team and 10^th in the NECBL and he ranked fourth in the league in walks.

Politi had a breakout summer with the Winnipesaukee Muskrats. The right-hander was named to the All-Star Team and made a team-high seven starts, going 4-3 with a 2.85 earned run average. His 47 strikeouts ranked third in the NECBL. Alescio had 10 hits and drove in eight runs for the Muskrats.

Layne and Verdonk helped anchor the Upper Valley Night Hawks' pitching staff and led the team to the playoffs. Layne appeared in 10 games and struck out 13 batters in 17.1 innings pitched. Verdonk made five starts, and pitched to a 1-3 record with a 3.97 earned run average. He struck out 18 batters in 34.0 innings pitched.

Santorelli and Testani also led their team to the playoffs. Santorelli had 12 hits, 11 walks and a home run for the Danbury Westerners over the summer. Meanwhile, teammate Ryan Testani had arguably the best individual performance of any Pirate over the break. The right-handed pitcher was named an All-Star while appearing in 17 games. Testani went 6-2 with a microscopic 1.60 earned run average. His six wins were second-best in the NECBL and his ERA led the league. Testani also struck out a team-best 42 batters in 45 innings, while walking only seven.

Leon was one of the best pitchers for the New Bedford Bay Sox and was once named NECBL Pitcher of the Week. He too, led his team to the playoffs and appeared in 15 games with a 2-3 record and an impressive 1.47 earned run average. Leon struck out 20 batters in 18.1 innings pitched.

Mogues was an All-Star Game starter at first base for the Vermont Mountaineers. In addition to coming in second place in the annual home run derby, he batted .313 and led the team with four home runs and 25 RBIs. After the season, Mogues was named to the All-NECBL First Team.

Cape Cod League
Shane McCarthy, RHP – Harwich Mariners
Zach Schellenger, RHP – Harwich Mariners

Seton Hall had two pitchers throw in the Cape Cod League this summer, arguably the premiere summer league in the Northeast, and both were dominant from the start. McCarthy and Schellenger helped lead the Harwich Mariners to a 27-15-2 record and the East Division title, and both were named to the All-Star Team. McCarthy made seven starts and pitched to a 1-2 record with a 2.75 earned run average with 25 strikeouts. Schellenger, pitching for the Mariners for a second straight summer, served as the team's closer and tied for third in the league with six saves. He went 1-2 with a 1.33 earned run average and 32 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched over 17 appearances.

Coastal Plain League
Tim Edwards, RHP – Peninsula Pilots
Joe Poduslenko, INF – Peninsula Pilots

Edwards and Poduslenko helped lead the Peninsula Pilots to a 38-17 regular season record and a berth in the Coastal Plain League Championship Series. Edwards had a terrific summer, pitching to a 2-0 record with a 1.25 earned run average in 14 appearances. He struck out 31 batters and walked 10 in 21.2 innings pitched. Poduslenko batted .316 with two home runs and 23 RBIs in 133 at bats. He also walked 22 times and stole 14 bases.

Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL)
Rob Dadona, INF – Staten Island Tide
Jackson Martin, OF – Trenton Generals

Dadona helped lead the Staten Island Tide to the ABCL playoffs and the Kaiser Division title in 2016. The rising junior batted .293 with 10 walks and seven RBIs in 92 at bats. Dadona also ranked ninth in the league with a team-best 10 stolen bases.

Martin had six hits, nine walks and one stolen base for the Trenton Generals.

Cal Ripken Collegiate League
Liam McArthur, OF – Alexandria Aces
Matt Ponsiglione, LHP – Alexandria Aces
Nelson Valerio, C – Baltimore Dodgers

McArthur and Ponsiglione helped lead the Alexandria Aces to a 23-17 record and a playoff berth in 2016. McArthur posted the highest batting average of any Pirate this summer, posting a .331 clip with nine RBIs and a team-best 27 walks in 136 at bats. McArthur also stole six bases. Ponsiglione appeared in 11 games and struck out 14 batters with only four walks in 15.1 innings pitched.

Valerio had 10 hits, five walks, three RBIs and two stolen bases for the Baltimore Dodgers.

Futures Collegiate League
Chris Villa, C – Wachusett Dirt Dawgs/Bristol Blues

Villa split his time between two teams, the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs and the Bristol Blues of the Futures Collegiate League this summer. He combined to drive in eight runs with 13 walks and three stolen bases.

Prospect League
Matt Fortin, C – Danville Dans

Fortin helped lead the Danville Dans to a 35-25 record and a playoff berth this summer. Named to the All-Star Team, he batted .250 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. Fortin also drew 15 walks and stole four bases.

Perfect Game Collegiate League
Chris Talbott, INF - Adirondack Trailblazers

Talbott had seven hits, seven walks and seven stolen bases for the Adirondack Trailblazers. He also drove in three runs.