Men's Baseball

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2010-11 News:
Panthers Shine on Summer Circuit

2010 Season in Review

Offense Shows Promise of Bright Future
Grad Big Senior Class, Welcome Stroud, Rooks in ’10

Purchase, NY (Apr. 28, 2010) – Purchase’s offense carried them to the final weekend of the season, knocking on the proverbial Skyline Conference Tournament door.

Unfortunately, the Panthers couldn’t get by surging Mount Saint Mary in a disappointing final conference doubleheader. Purchase narrowly missed the postseason a spring after clinching the first playoff berth in program history. Following a 9-4 start, a midseason swoon pushed the Panthers to the brink, despite an impressive beginning and a tremendously talented roster. Injuries and some uncharacteristic performances left the Panthers (11-20, 5-11 Skyline) outside the field of six.

Thankfully, the third-leading offensive team in the conference welcomes back a potent lineup for 2011. The Panthers batted .323 as a team – second only to league leader Farmingdale (.335) and Old Westbury (.334) – and blasted the most home runs of any club in the Skyline (23). Backed by slugger Dan Stroud and standouts Austin Groves and Josh Spielberg, as well as up-and-coming underclassmen Alex Sobiecki and Sean Lafaye, the Panthers offense should continue to shine next spring.

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[Pictured above: HEAD COACH BILL GUERRERO HAS TURNED PURCHASE INTO A PERENNIAL CONTENDER. -Photo by Oren Vourman]

The Panthers graduate nine seniors this May, including some of the best to ever wear the blue and white. Captain Jared Issacson finished his Panther career on a high note. The 2B/DH hit a team-leading five home runs – all from the leadoff spot – including three long balls in conference. He also tripled three times and batted .375 both in league and overall. In total, he collected 28 RBI, slugged .583 and boasted a .444 OB% in Skyline play. He ranked among the Skyline league leaders in several categories, including slugging percentage (3rd), hits (4th), home runs (2nd) and total bases (2nd).

Purchase also says goodbye to closer and team leader Francis Delgado, who pitched well out of the bullpen in 2010. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 15 in 19 innings. Also set to graduate are seniors Joshua Mensche, Gil Garcia, Mike Sands, Josh Leon, Greg Martin, Jack Lappin and George Kennedy. The Panthers will sorely miss Lappin and Kennedy, two key components to their potent lineup. Despite battling some injuries, Kennedy batted .330 overall and drove home 27 RBI in 28 games. Lappin, the team’s speedy center fielder, batted .353 overall and .342 in conference, enjoying a fine senior season that included 22 RBI, three triples and two home runs, as well as eight stolen bases in 11 attempts.

[Pictured above: AUSTIN GROVES' SWEET SWING CONTINUES TO PRODUCE YEAR AFTER YEAR. -Photo by Oren Vourman]

The Panthers had their share of struggles on the mound and in the field, where they committed the second most errors (79) of any team in conference. However, their offense certainly kept them in the hunt until the very end. Purchase got a big lift from star transfer Stroud. He terrorized Skyline pitching to the tune of a .448 BA and a whooping .851 slugging percentage. Stroud was among the country’s DIII leaders in slugging (.754 overall) and showed his versatility at the plate, smacking four home runs, eight triples and 16 doubles. He also drove in 30 RBI and swiped 13 stolen bases, including a 9-for-9 showing in Skyline play. Stroud finished first in doubles, triples and slugging in conference, and was later named to the All-Skyline 2nd Team.

Like Stroud and Isaacson, Groves also did some damage at the plate in 2010. He batted .327 overall with three home runs and 27 RBI in 28 games. Another key offensive contributor was Spielberg, who hit .418 against Skyline Conference competition, collecting 20 RBI in 16 games. He also homered twice and sported a .476 on-base percentage, ranking among the league leaders offensively at his position.

[Pictured above: STANDOUT TRANSFER DAN STROUD ENJOYED A TERRIFIC SPRING SEASON. -Photo by Oren Vourman]

Although the Panthers didn’t receive as much support on the mound as they did in 2009, Purchase welcomed transfer Chris Carboni, who was named Skyline Pitcher of the Week once during the season. The sophomore won a team-high four games during the spring and paced a young roster of up-and-comers that included relievers Miller Lulow, Matt Paz and Phillip Georges. Also among the arms returning for next spring will be Brian Thompson, CJ Bula and Albert Baez.

-Bobby Ciafardini, SID