By PJ Potter – ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Hofstra baseball team has a lot to look forward to this season. Many new faces will fill the dugout and the starting lineup as a new chapter commences for this program.
Missing out on the CAA tournament since 2012, head coach John Russo wanted change in his coaching staff. The additions of former MLB pitcher John Habyan and Marist hitting coach Tyler Kavanaugh have set a high goal for Russo and his team, which is to punch a ticket to the 2016 conference tournament.
Habyan, who logged 348 appearances as a relief pitcher for six teams in the major leagues, brings even more to the table with 17 years of coaching experience under his belt at St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip.
“Everyone’s appreciative of having John [Habyan] here knowing the opportunity they have to work with arguably one of the best pitching coaches in the country. He’s been a home run since day one,” Coach Russo said.
Kavanaugh carries plentiful experience with him on top of coaching at Marist, his most recent stop. A four-year starting catcher at Kenyon College in Ohio with coaching stints at Sacred Heart, DeSales and Purchase, Kavanaugh has clicked well with his players at Hofstra.
“He’s a great coach and person,” said Mat Annunziata, a sophomore outfielder. “He works extremely hard at what he does, which includes the mental aspects of hitting, not just the physical part. His coaching approach is simple, which leads to us feeling comfortable being ourselves on and off the field.”
Coach Russo and his new staff have much to work with, including 11 freshmen and two transfer students.
The transfers, senior Ryan Karl and sophomore Teddy Cillis, are expected to contribute to the team from the get-go.
Karl will likely be the opening day starter at first base to add to the team’s power. Karl smashed 11 home runs for Cornell over the past two seasons, including leading the team in batting average, runs batted in and slugging percentage in 2014 and home runs and runs scored in 2015.
The senior from Montville, New Jersey is excited to start fresh and be a part of the Hofstra program.
“I love the culture we have here. It’s a great place to be. I have some awesome teammates,” Karl said.
Cillis, who is coming out of UNCW, will get a lot of time in one of the corner outfield positions. He amassed six extra base hits and knocked in 10 runs during his freshman season in 2014.
The freshmen that are projected to make a big impact are Tommy Archer, Vito Friscia and Nick Bottari.
Archer was given the nod to be Hofstra’s starting second baseman to begin the season.
“Tommy was known as the best infielder coming out of high school,” Coach Russo said.
Friscia and Bottari are both listed as catchers, but Coach Russo says both of them will find their way into the lineup, either as a catcher, designated hitter or will rotate in at first base.
Friscia, standing at 6-foot-3-inches and 225 pounds, was crowned the Power Showcase World Champion last year at Marlins Park in Miami, where he launched a 471-foot home run.
Bottari, who is a two-time All-New York State selection and 2012 Perfect Game All-American, transferred to Hofstra from Miami after his first semester. Bottari was not eligible to play in 2015, but was granted four years of eligibility beginning this season.
The returning position players that will start are outfielders Steven Foster and Mat Annunziata and infielders David Leiderman and Brad Witkowski.
Foster placed second last season for CAA Rookie of the Year and was named to the Preseason All-CAA team. Foster, the team’s centerfielder, batted .351 last season with 52 hits and finished second in the country among all freshmen with 19 stolen bases.
“For him to do what he did was incredible. He was as good of a hitter as anyone in the CAA last year,” Russo said. “There wasn’t much he couldn’t do.”
Annunziata totaled five home runs, 28 runs batted in and 11 doubles in 2015, all ranked second on the team for Hofstra.
“This season I want to do everything in my power to help the team make the conference tournament, which not just includes improving on my stats, but also to lead by example and have a good attitude,” Annunziata said.
With Dalton Rouleau graduating, the starter on the left side of the middle infield looked to be the biggest question mark heading into the season. But, Coach Russo figured the best answer was to move Witkowski over from second base.
“Brad’s been super solid. He hits well over .300, but what gets under looked is his defense,” Coach Russo said.
Leiderman is once again the third baseman for the Hofstra Pride. He had a team high 29 RBI last year.
“He’s so important to this lineup. He’s not fearful of any pitcher,” Russo added.
Hofstra’s main struggle last season was their pitching staff, averaging a 6.93 ERA overall. However, with John Habyan coming in and another year of experience from each pitcher, there are plenty of opportunities for improvement.
The Pride’s biggest blow was Dave Jesch missing all of 2015 due to Tommy John surgery. In 2014, he posted a 3.77 ERA in 43 innings. Coach Russo, along with the rest of the team, hope Jesch will pick up right where he left off.
“Dave hit 88 [MPH] on the [radar] gun on the first pitch he threw coming back off of Tommy John,” Coach Russo noted. “I don’t think his endurance is there yet to be a starter. He’s starting to change his work ethic and he’s working really hard. I think he wants to start but knows that if you pitch for John Habyan, you have to be really conditioned.”
Brendan Mulligan is returning for a fifth year and will be a major leader for the team.
“Brendan has been with me every day of my coaching career. I really rely on him for a lot,” Russo said.
Mulligan tossed 30.2 innings in 2015 in 22 appearances out of the bullpen.
“He was as good as any reliever in the league,” Russo said.
However, if the team is in need of a spot start, the coaches will look to Mulligan to eat up innings.
“He’s good for any role. He will come in relief on the weekend and start on Tuesday if we ask him. That’s the type of person he is,” Coach Russo added.
The starting rotation will consist of Chris Weiss, Alec Eisenberg and Bowie Matteson.
Weiss, the Friday game starter, came on towards the end of the season for the Pride staff and finished with the best ERA on the team at 3.57.
“He’s got toughness. I love his demeanor,” Russo said.
Weiss was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks this past summer, a team in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England, where he dominated with a 5-0 record and 1.08 ERA in 41.1 innings.
Eisenberg, the likely Saturday starter, led the Pride with five wins last season and tied for first with 31 strikeouts.
Eisenberg played in the famous Cape Cod Baseball League as a member of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, where he fanned 35 batter in 29.1 innings.
Matteson rounds out the weekend starting rotation for Hofstra. Matteson, like Eisenberg, collected 31 strikeouts.
Despite being ranked eighth in the Preseason CAA poll, Coach Russo and his team come into the season with confidence and a chip on their shoulder.
“We have the makings of a pretty special team. I think everyone’s excited to just see what we can do,” Russo finished.
Hofstra opens their season Feb. 19 at Texas A&M for a three game series.
