Baseball Begins 2020 at No. 14 UMass Boston Monday
For the first time since 2016, Suffolk baseball will throw the first pitch of its campaign in New England as the Rams head across town to take on Beantown rival No. 14 UMass Boston Monday, March 2. First pitch at Monan Park is set for 2:30 p.m.
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EYES ON THE GAME |
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BOSTON – For the first time since 2016, Suffolk baseball will throw the first pitch of its campaign in New England as the Rams head across town to take on Beantown rival No. 14 UMass Boston Monday, March 2. First pitch at Monan Park is set for 2:30 p.m.
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RAPID REWIND
Suffolk strung together its second GNAC regular-season title for the second time in as many years, a first in the Rams' record books, after going 14-2 in league play. The regular-season success was not carried into the tournament, however, as Suffolk was eliminated in the semifinals by Johnson & Wales, 2-0, and would not compete in the championship contest for the first time in 12 campaigns.
The blue-and-gold went 23-18-1 overall a year ago with 10 of those victories coming at the friendly confines of East Boston Memorial Park.
BACK IN ACTION
Six every day starters are back in Suffolk's lineup that hit just under .300 as a team.
The Rams biggest bat of Tim Brigham, who had a breakout campaign a year ago, returns. He is coming off a .390/.428/.597, first-team all-conference season with 60 hits, 45 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Blase Cormier and Rich Gilbride will also be counted on at the plate. The infielders were consistent contributors a year ago. Cormier chipped in 48 hits and 30 RBI on a .336/.447/.448 slash line, while Gilbride added 42 hits, 36 runs scored, 24 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Other returns back in the mix looking to contribute right away are outfielders Zack Aresty and Logan Heckman, infielders Ben Isaak, Joe Rufo and Nik San Antonio and catcher Steven Shamnoski.
MOUND MENTIONABLES
Three crucial arms were lost to graduation from last year's rotation. Steven Rossi is back as a starting arm for Suffolk after a freshman campaign in which he compiled a 6-1 record in eight starts. Over 44.1 innings pitching, he fanned 30 hitters and assembled a 3.25 ERA.
Parker Browne brings back experience on the bump. The righty has helped any way necessary on the rubber over the last two seasons. A year ago, he commanded 28.2 innings over 13 appearances for a 3-1 record and a pair of saves. Browne built a staff-best 2.51 ERA with 25 Ks.
The staff also welcomes back the experience of right-handed pitchers CJ Barrett, EJ Birch, George Breslin, Ryan Garton and Michael Muscarella and southpaws Robert Shaw and Casey Sullivan.
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
Head coach Anthony Del Prete has brought in seven student-athletes to compliment his experienced returns.
The group is made up of four true freshmen – Marc Birbiglia, Corey Frassica, Luke Harder and Caleb Piwnick. A pair of sophomore transfers Michael James Jr. and Gino Desimone and sophomore Jake Washock.
MORE READING: Seven Rookies Add Depth to 2020 Baseball Roster
GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's geographical makeup spreads eight states. The bulk of the Rams are Bay State locals with a dozen Massachusetts natives, while the Empire State is represented by Seven New Yorkers. A quartet has come down from New Hampshire with a pair traveling up from New Jersey. Maine, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are represented by one student-athlete each.
CLASS CATEGORIES
The Rams 29-player roster represents every class with the bulk make up of sophomore sand juniors, which accounts for 21 student-athletes. There are 12 sophomores, nine juniors with four freshmen, three seniors and one graduate student.
POSTION POINTS
When broken down by position, Suffolk has a 13-member staff with eight RHP, a pair of southpaws and three positional pitchers. Defensively, there are six infielders and outfielders, respectively, and a foursome behind the plate.
RAMS RINGLEADERS
Suffolk baseball will be led by a trio of captains with Tim Brigham, Blase Cormier and Rich Gilbride sharing leadership responsibilities in 2020.
MORE READING: Baseball Tabs Trio Captains
SKIPPER'S SECTION
Anthony Del Prete, three-time GNAC Coach of the Year, is back on Suffolk's bench for his sixth season.
Under his tenure, the Rams have won the GNAC Tournament title in four consecutive campaigns from 2015-18, the regular-season crown twice, including each of the last two seasons.
Del Prete's coaching staff features long-time assistant John O'Brien and Mac Jacobson.
OPENING ACT
- Suffolk begins its campaign in New England for the first time since 2016 and second time in the Anthony Del Prete era.
- The Rams look to capture their first opening day win since taking down Albion, 7-3, to begin the 2018 campaign.
- Suffolk meets a ranked foe on day one for the first time since 2017 when the Rams downed then-No. 9 St. John Fisher, 11-3, in Florida.
- Under Del Prete's guidance, the Rams are 3-2 in the first outing of the season.
- Since 2000, Suffolk is 12-8 in its first outing of the year.
- The Rams will compete against UMass Boston in its first game of the year for the first time since 2003, when Suffolk downed the beacons, 4-3, in Florida.
WATCH AND SEE
Head coach Anthony Del Prete caught up with GoSuffolkRams.com to preview the Rams' 2020 campaign. To hear what Del Prete had to say and to get a glimpse inside the Rams' training session, click on the video below.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
For the fourth consecutive campaign, Suffolk baseball is expected to capture the conference crown as the Rams topped the 2020 GNAC Preseason Poll with 76 points and six of the nine first-place votes.
| 2020 GNAC BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL | ||||||
| SCHOOL 1. Suffolk 2. St. Joseph's (Maine) 3. Johnson & Wales 4. Anna Maria 5. Lasell 6. Albertus Magnus 7. Colby Sawyer 8. Norwich 9. Rivier |
POINTS (FPV) 76 (6) 71 (2) 67 (1) 48 46 41 24 22 10 |
2019 OVERALL 23-17-1 33-12 27-15 17-24 23-17 20-14 7-28 6-23 7-33 |
2019 GNAC RECORD 14-2 13-3 12-4 6-10 9-7 9-7 4-12 4-12 1-15 |
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MORE READING: Women's Basketball Projected Third in GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
BEACONS BITS
UMass Boston lifted the lid on its season in walk-off fashion as Ryan Leung's two-out infield single in the bottom of the 10th inning pushed the No. 14 Beacons past Steven Institution of Technology, 6-5, Feb. 29.
Leung's game-winning single was his lone hit on the afternoon, while Ryan McCormick and Gianna Zarilli, Jr. powered UMass at the plate with the pair recording two hits apiece.
Tylor Arruda started on the hill for the Beacons. He allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in the first 5.0 innings with eight strikeouts. Joey Rogers came in for the second 5.0 frames in which he limited the ducks to one run on three hits and six punchouts. UMass still has a number of arms in its pen for Monday's matchup including Ben Gottesman (1.95 ERA, 60.0 IP) and Dylan Fashempour (64.2 IP, 54Ks, 2.78 ERA), who led the Beacons' staff a year ago.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Suffolk and UMass Boston are no strangers to one another as the two Bay State foes have faced off 28 times.
- The Rams lead the series 24-13.
- The Beacons have owned the series as of late with a 4-2 record against the Rams since 2017. That stretch includes the last meeting, a 14-4 victory April 18, 2019 for UMass.
- With Anthony Del Prete as skipper, Suffolk sits 3-4 against the Beacons.
EYES ON THE GAME
WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk travels to the Sunshine State for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational where the Rams will compete in five doubleheaders over seven days.
