Eckerd College Baseball looks to improve in 2007

by user Tylersarticles

2006: 14-35 (5-19) SSC

Coach: Bill Matthews 79’ (350-458-2, 17 th season)

Key losses: Patrick Bordieri, CF; Tim Couet, C; Pat Feehan, RHP; Mike Ferraina, OF

Key returners: Jeff Bromley, Jr. INF (.289, 21 RBIs); Alfredo Cabale, Sr. OF (.305, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs); Grant Massie, Sr. OF (.296, 9 HRs, 33 RBIs); Jason Recore Sr. INF (8 2B, 18 RBIs); Joe Sinicola, Sr. RHP; Josh Stroup, Jr., RHP (6-5, 3.23 ERA); Phil Weylie, So., RHP

The baseball season is finally here and the 2007 version of the Eckerd Triton baseball team is working hard to improve upon their 14-35 record from a year ago. Bill Matthews, who has won 350 games during his seventeen year career at Eckerd, hopes to guide Eckerd to its first .500 season in several years. The Tritons were recently picked to finish last in the Sunshine State Conference pre season poll, but can only go up from there.

Matthews will turn to a veteran rotation in order to achieve success. The number of games the Tritons win in 2007 will almost certainly come down to pitching. Junior Josh Stroup returns as the ace of the staff after a breakout season in 2006 where he went 6-5 with a team leading 3.23 ERA in twelve starts. Stroup kept Eckerd in nearly every game that he started last year and is a legitimate candidate to be selected to the All Sunshine State Conference team. Senior Joe Sinicola should have a huge spring on the mound for the Tritons and returns to the rotation for the third consecutive season. Sinicola can be dominant at times when he hits his spots and should improve upon his 2-7 record and 7.97 ERA from last season. Senior left hander Mike Fallin will also be an integral part of the pitching staff that had a 7.25 ERA in 2006. Fallin started five games and made twelve total appearances in his first season as a Triton in 2006 after transferring from Southern Polytechnic Institute in Georgia. Sophomore Phil Weylie made some impressive starts for Eckerd during his freshman campaign and should fit nicely at the end of the rotation. The former Florida All State selection should give Eckerd a chance to win every time he pitches. Newcomer Tim Karkatselos, a talented junior from Tampa, should also see a number of innings for Eckerd.

Brendon Elliot is projected to be the team’s closer in his first full season at the varsity level at Eckerd. Elliot missed the entire 2006 season due to Tommy John surgery, but appears to be healthy for the start of 2007. Juniors Bobby Gibbons and Tony Capoverdi and seniors Jon Chapman, Ryan Nalls Brian Pawlowski, and Alejandro Torrez also need to be effective out of the bullpen to preserve leads and keep the Tritons in close games that they are trailing.

Almost as equal to the importance of the success of the pitching staff is the ability for Eckerd infielders to make the routine play. Eckerd’s starting infield in 2007 rivals any infield Eckerd has had in the past five years. There is a great deal of youth, depth, and talent at all infield positions in the program and 2007 will showcase these strengths to every team in the conference. Senior first baseman Steve Skrinar is the leader of the infield after switching positions during the fall season. Skrinar, who hit .229 with 2 homeruns and 17 RBIS as junior, will be a force for Eckerd somewhere in the middle of the lineup. Smooth fielding sophomore Matt Abraham will start the season as the everyday second baseman if he is healthy enough for opening day. Talented red shirt freshman Matt Heller should see a number of innings at shortstop and will be competing with returning starter Jeff Bromley for the position. Bromley was one of the most consistent offensive players for Eckerd in 2006 hitting .286 with six doubles and 22 RBIS, but Heller has a great deal of natural ability. The former All State selection for Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton will certainly be a mainstay in the infield in the very near future. Sophomore third baseman Mike Sinicola had an outstanding fall and could be one of the offensive leaders for the team this season. Senior Jason Recore, who has a great passion and enthusiasm for the game, will also see some time at all infield positions and should start a number of games for Eckerd in his final year. Recore has one of the strongest work ethics on the team and will also provide leadership to the younger infielders. Freshmen Matt Romary and Dillon Garback will not be on the varsity roster this year, but could be the key to the team’s future success.

The outfield will look completely different than it did last season. One of last year’s top hitters Grant Massie (.296 9 HR 33 RBI) will switch positions from third base to left field. Massie was a solid defensive player in the infield, but has made the adjustment to the outfield nicely in the fall season. Massie should hit somewhere in the middle of the lineup for the Tritons. Sophomores Mike Alvarez, Tyler Howard, Daniel Kelly, and University of Virginia transfer Wes Williams will all play pivotal roles in the outfield this season. Junior centerfielder Derek Makowski is an outstanding defensive player and should also contribute a great deal. Senior Alfredo Cabale (.305 7 HR 41 RBI) will be one of the offensive leaders for the Tritons again in 2007 either as the starting designated hitter or somewhere in the outfield.

Junior Cory Sylvester and sophomore Tom Gay will handle the majority of the catching duties. Both catchers red shirted last year, but they should both have productive seasons for Eckerd in 2007. Junior Danny Hartpence will round out the catchers after making the switch from third base.

Overall, the Tritons look destined for a strong year if the pitching staff can remain healthy. As always, Matthews and Eckerd will field a competitive schedule in the Sunshine State Conference and will play nationally ranked opponents nearly every weekend. As well as conference opponents, Eckerd will also face Division I Harvard University, and Division III schools Bowdoin College and Elms College.