2011 Season Preview

Fueled by Lost Season, Panthers Look to Rebound in '11

Purchase, NY (Mar. 8, 2011) – A sub .500 campaign last spring has the Purchase College men’s baseball team hungrier than ever.

After coming off a disappointing 2010 campaign, where the Panthers finished 11-18 overall, and 5-11 in the Skyline Conference – after starting off 9-3 – the revamped team will look to return to their 2009 form, where the team captured its first playoff berth.

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

This year’s team will be lead by outfielder Austin Groves (SR/Stratford, CT), first baseman Phil Sanford (SR/Afton, NY), catcher Casey Calautti (SR/West Islip, NY) and pitcher Brian Angelone (SR/ Howard Beach, NY).  Groves looks to become the program’s all-time hit leader with 132 career hits, one behind last year’s captain, Jared Isaacson. Sanford finally gets his opportunity to get quality time after sitting behind All-Region first baseman and program home run leader, George Kennedy. Calautti, also a career backup, looks to get his opportunity catching and as the designated hitter. Angelone will be one of the key starters in the rotation.

These four seniors are seasoned veterans. Although some of them do not have the playing experience yet, they have the leadership qualities that have shaped what head coach Bill Guerrero calls “the most cohesive unit I have coached yet.”

Adding to the mix of the core four seniors, is a strong group of key returners, transfers, and freshmen.

Now a three-year veteran of the program, shortstop Josh Spielberg (JR/Oceanside, NY) will look to have a breakout season after posting strong numbers in each of the previous two campaigns. Former 1st Team All-Skyline pitcher Albert Baez (SR/New York, NY) will look to build on his strong summer and lead the pitching staff.  

Pitcher Matthew Paz (SO/ Bridgeport, CT) took great strides in the off season and should slide in nicely to the top of the Panther rotation, providing the Panthers a strong one two punch. Other returners looking to help the lead the season will be pitcher Brian Thompson (SR/Queens, NY), outfielder Sean Lafaye (SO/Dobbs Ferry, NY), infielder Irving Guzman (SO/Bronx, NY), infielder Phil Georges (SO/Brooklyn, NY), pitcher Chris Carboni (JR/Stratford, CT), infielder Michael Marrone (SO/Pleasantville, NY), pitcher Miller Lulow (SO/New York, NY) and catcher Will Bernstein (JR/Staten Island, NY).

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

A strong group of transfers has also joined the team to help bolster the Panthers this season. A pair of outfielders Collin Morris (SO/ Bridgeport, CT) and Mark Donohue (SO/ Brookhaven, NY) should figure into the Panthers’ starting lineup. Pitchers Eric Cuadrado (JR/Yonkers, NY) and Charles Salino (FR/Brooklyn, NY) should add depth to the starting rotation, something Guerrero has been in search of.

Key returners who missed last season due to injuries include third baseman and pitcher Kevin McQuade (SO/Mamaroneck, NY), catcher Dominick Simone (SR/Shirley, NY) and catcher Frank Fiumara (JR/Port Chester, NY).

Other newcomers include freshmen infielder John Duffy (FR/Staten Island, NY), first baseman Leandro Francisco (FR/Bedford Hills, NY) and infielder Chris Marasco (FR/Bronxville, NY), who all have the potential to be immediate impact players as well. 

-Steve Miraglia

2011 Recaps:
OW Tops Purchase in ECACs
Season Ends in League Quarterfinals
Power Bats Rally, Paz Seals Win at Lehman
Comeback Falls Short at Vassar
Purchase Caps Playoff-Bound Weekend with Win
With Split at MSMC, Panthers Inch Closer to Postseason
Armed and Dangerous Panthers Pound NYU-POLY
Duo Lift WestConn Past Panthers
Panthers Halt Skid, Sweep YU
CMSV Rallies Twice, Steals Twin Bill
Purchase Splits with CSI
Panthers Drop Pair in North Carolina
Paz Comes Up Big as Panthers Split at FSC
SJC Rallies, Takes Two from Panthers
Paz, Panthers Shutdown PBU
Conference Action Opens with Split
Carboni's Gem Paves Way for 6-3 Win
Pitching Gems Highlight Sunday Sweep
Panthers Dominate Opener. Sweep CCNY

2010-11 News:
Groves Adds ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Honor
Panthers Tabbed for ECACs
Baseball Scores Impressive Five All-Skyline Honorees
Groves Finishes Season on Honor Roll
Hot-Hitting Groves Back on HR
Baez Also Named ECAC Pitcher of the Week
Baez Earns Second Pitcher of the Week; Spielberg HR
Paz, Donahue Garner Honor Roll Mentions
Baez Named Pitcher of the Week
Groves Also Grabs NCBWA Honorable Mention
Groves Slugs His Way to ECAC Player of the Week
Hit King Groves Named PofW; Francisco RofW
Baseball Hosts Base Running and Fielding Clinic
Baseball to Host Under Armour National Tryouts
U.S. Baseball Academy Comes to Purchase
Fall Ball Concludes
Panthers Sweep Sacred Heart in Non-Trad Action
Past Meets Present: Current Panthers Hold Off Alum
Alumni Game Set for Sept. 12
Panthers Shine on Summer Circuit

2010 Recaps:
Blue Knights Outlast Panthers
Bats Lift Purchase at Vassar
Losses to SJC-LI Put Panthers on Playoff Bubble
Panthers Overwhelm Yeshiva
Errors Costly in Losses to Old Westbury
WestConn Outlasts Purchase
Purchase Falls at Albertus Magnus
Panthers Hold On, Compete on Spring Break Trip
Nationally Ranked FSC Stays Unbeaten
Panthers Crush NYU-POLY, Total 43 Runs in Sweep
Panthers Win Back-to-Back
CMSV Escapes with Twin Bill Sweep
Furious Rally Falls Short, Bats Rebound Big at Maritime
Bats, Arms Cruise to 4th Straight, Rout Albertus Magnus
Hot Bats Reel Off Third Straight Win
Panthers Rout PBU, Dominate Home Opener
Panthers Hit Three Homers at Centenary; Split DH

2009-10 News:
Stroud, Isaacson Named ABCA All-Region
Under Armour Showcase Returns Aug. 21
Stroud Named to All-Skyline 2nd Team
Isaacson's Bat Earns Honor Roll Spot
Stroud Slugs Way to 3rd Honor Roll Mention
Back-to-Back HR Nods for Stroud
Baseball's Growing 100-hit Club Welcomes New Trio
Stroud Named to League Honor Roll
Duo Grabs Skyline's Top Player, Pitcher of Week
Groves Kick Starts Season on Honor Roll
Baez to Join Prestigious Summer Team
Baseball Legend Thanks PC for Black History Celebration
Panthers Raise Money for LLS
Panthers to Face ABCA's Best
PC Baseball Sets Date for Winter Clinic
Future Stars, PC Baseball Reunite for Holiday Camps
Alumni Game Bridges Past, Future
Alumni Game Set for Sept. 19
Registration Open for 3rd Annual Baseball Clinic
Movin' On Up: Gottschalk Suits Up for Texas Pro League
Panther Inks Pro Contract
Under Armour Showcase Set for Aug. 22