Feb. 7, 2008

Since 1970, Tony Rossi has overseen Siena's baseball program. Many milestones have been reached and championships won under his direction.

The 2007 season produced no such memories.

The Saints began the year with a school-record 21-game losing streak that normally wouldn't be cause for concern, as Rossi always challenges his program against the country's best. But the last six losses were the most damaging. Conference foes Iona and Manhattan swept Siena in three-game league series that all but ended the team's title hopes before the month of April even begun.

"We really dug ourselves a big hole last season and spent the whole year trying to climb out," Rossi said. "It was a combination of factors, but mainly, the key players we counted on to produce didn't have the kind of seasons we were hoping for."

Just three times in Rossi's 38-year tenure have his teams posted a lower winning percentage than the Saints did last season - a perplexing outcome considering the 2007 Saints entered the year with seemingly realistic high expectations.

The good news is last year is, well, last year. And aside from clichés there's plenty of other good news.

Rossi returns an experienced team - make that an extremely experienced team. The entire infield has played together for four years, reaching the conference Tournament as the #2 seed as freshmen and etching their names in the school's record books throughout their career.

The pitching staff is improved. Most important, it appears the Saints have three legitimate, proven conference starters as preseason works conclude and plenty of options in the bullpen.

Rossi's stable presence is another important factor. The last time his teams posted fewer than 26 wins combined in consecutive seasons, they followed it up with three straight MAAC titles in the mid-90's.

Could this season be the start of another memorable run? A look at the roster yields plenty of reason for optimism.

Infield

Senior Jake Willis is one of the top offensive players to come through the program. He is on pace to finish his career second all-time on the school's hitting charts, and will again find his name penciled into the middle of Rossi's everyday lineup.

Willis led the team with a .339 batting average last season, pushing his career average over .330. He batted .376 in Siena's 23 MAAC games.

Last year, Willis also showed his versatility defensively, seeing playing time in left field in addition to his traditional duties at third base. In addition to playing those two positions, the staff may ask him to break out a new dimension of his game this spring. Rossi has indicated that Willis' strong arm could be taken advantage of in late inning situations on the mound.

For the second year in a row, Willis will serve as a team captain. He enters his final semester with a 3.5 grade point average in finance.

"Jake will carry us as far as we go this year," Rossi said. "He has already shown he is one of the league's top hitters, and we need him to take his game to even a higher level this year. If he does, he could be in the MAAC Player of the Year discussion in May."

Willis shares the left side of the infield with classmate Chris Klepps - a four-year starter who has improved each season. As a junior, Klepps was second on the team with a .331 batting average, 47 hits and seven stolen bases. He is a tremendous athlete with great lower body strength. Rossi will count on Klepps as a key run producer.

Defensively, Klepps is a capable shortstop with soft hands and an accurate arm. His consistency helps stave off the big inning and his improving range could save even more runs this spring.

Michael Ambury battled through an early season injury to see action in 30 games last season. The four-year starter at second base has quick hands and adds a different dimension to the lineup. He can hit for power, but the 5-9 middle infielder is at his best when working the count and using the entire field. He can provide a much-needed spark at either the top or bottom of the order and will be called upon to get on base with more frequency in his final season.

Ambury and Klepps have combined to form one of the most potent double-play tandems in school history. They will be assisted by versatile senior Moises Riviera whose bat will be difficult to keep out of the lineup. The Maine transfer is a leader in the clubhouse and on the diamond. He appeared in 42 of the team's 45 games last year splitting time between third base, second base and shortstop.

Power-hitting first baseman Rick Seltzer completes the most experienced infield in the MAAC. Seltzer had a team-high seven homeruns and 30 RBI last season. Rossi feels the 6-6 left handed slugger could be poised for a breakthrough year - one that could catch the eyes of professional scouts. Seltzer is a very reliable option in the field as well. His length provides great range and he has a very accurate arm when throwing across the diamond.

Building for the future, Rossi and staff welcome 6-2, 235-pound first baseman Kevin Quaranto. Quaranto has great power, a feature which could help him earn action as a designated hitter when not spelling Seltzer in the field.

Classmate Don DiPetta makes the journey to Loudonville all the way from Kennesaw, Georgia where he enjoyed a successful scholastic career as a middle infielder. He figures to gain plenty of experience shadowing Siena's experienced unit this spring and will have the opportunity to compete for meaningful playing time depending on how quickly he adjusts to the Division I game.

"Our infield has four years of experience playing across the diamond," Rossi said. "They are the strength of our team, and we will need them perform at a high level on both sides of the field."

Outfield

Three returnees also have the edge at holding down starting jobs in the outfield. Junior Jason DeFilippo started 44 of the team's 45 games in centerfield a year ago, but he is coming off an injury which could limit his production. If healthy, DeFilippo will likely retain his starting position and could find his name near the top of the lineup. He led the team with 29 runs and stole 13 bases as a sophomore.

Sophomore Anthony Giansanti started 34 games last season and his strong arm and consistent bat will likely land him in right field as the season begins. Giansanti is an athletic talent who seamlessly made the transition to outfield a year ago after playing exclusively in the infield throughout his high school days. Rossi is high on his potential, both in the field and at the plate.

Classmate Eric Mruczek impressed this fall - so much so that Rossi indicated he could be the starting left fielder on opening day. The offensive-minded talent saw time in 32 games last season, starting 24 times. As long as he's swinging a hot bat, he will remain in the lineup.

There is plenty of depth backing up the talented trio.

Freshman Juan Amador could be the choice in center if DeFilippo is not at 100%. Amador equips an intriguing blend of speed and finesse. He has the talent to develop into an all-league player, and is an explosive threat on offense.

Junior Nick Messinger is a versatile athlete who played 33 games last season and demonstrated his offensive capabilities on the team's annual Southern swing against some of the country's top programs. Messinger has experience at several positions, but could settle into one of the outfield spots if he can consistently produce at the plate.

Sophomore Al Williams is the other returnee in the outfield. Williams played in 22 games and worked hard in the off-season at improving his offense. He will see increased innings as he progresses.

Two freshmen from the South round out the Saints' outfield. Maryland native Kyle Hudson was a two-time All-Conference selection and possesses great speed, while Georgia's Dan Lazzaroni is a versatile speedster with a solid bat and a strong arm. Lazzaroni could also see action out of the Saints' bullpen.

If all else fails, Rossi experimented with Seltzer in the outfield in the fall and was excited with the results. That move could help the Saints get an additional left handed bat into the lineup in platoon situations.

"We feel our outfield is solid, but we will look for more offensive production from the group this spring," Rossi said. "I'm pleased with what I've seen so far from the players coming back and excited about the different skill sets the new guys bring to our program. We will experiment with some different rotations down South and see which players emerge."

Catchers

Sophomore Gary DerHagopian and junior Phil Cahill split time last season behind the dish with the other seeing plenty of time at designated hitter on off days. Both will again be asked to shoulder the load and handle the Saints' diverse pitching corps.

"Gary and Phil are both solid catchers who give us added punch on offense," Rossi said. "We will count on them to manage the pitching staff and produce at the plate with an extra year of experience."

DerHagopian finished third on the team with a .330 average as a rookie belting three home runs in 36 games played and driving in 17 runs. His defense improved as the season advanced and his arm is strong and accurate.

Cahill entered the system as a highly touted offensive catcher, but he played top notch defense as an underclassmen. He has shown signs of his offensive ability, but will be called upon to be a key contributor at the plate in his third year with the program.

Sophomore Ryan Burke batted .326 in 23 games played last year, meaning Rossi may have to find room for his bat in the lineup. He may see some time apprenticing DerHagopian and Cahill as the Saints will need plenty of depth behind the plate as they play out their NCAA maximum 56-game schedule.

Pitchers

Rossi and first year pitching coach Clint McAuley welcome a 12-member staff that has plenty of experience up front.

Fourth year junior Craig Chaput saw the bulk of the work at the head of the weekend rotation last year, though he finished the year with a 5.75 ERA. He enters the season this year in much better shape and expectations are high that he will regain the form he showed late in his freshman season.

The Canadian fire-baller has a devastating change up and an above-average slider. He has great composure on the mound, and, when at the top of his game, he can dominate the opposition.

Classmate Matt Moberg has been in the conference rotation since early in his freshman season. He posted a team-best 3.51 ERA last season and a 3-3 record with a 2.76 ERA in MAAC games. Add those three wins to the four he earned as a freshman, and Moberg is on pace to ascend the schools all-time win charts as soon as this season. He is also the perfect change of pace to follow Chaput. The fiery southpaw throws deceptively hard, but his strength is location and his ability to mix pitches and hit spots.

Last year, Craig Marcellus was the third league starter and although he finished the year with a 0-5 record, he pitched much better than the results. In 55 innings, Marcellus walked just 14 batters and ended the season with a respectable 5.37 ERA. He adds another left handed arm to Rossi's arsenal, and with a year of experience, it is hoped he will learn how to win the tight games and get some more help from his teammates at the plate. Marcellus is coming back from an injury in the summer, so his playing time will initially be dictated by the quickness of his recovery.

Late in games, the staff has a pair of experienced relievers to turn to. Side-winder Maikel Hurtado improved late in his junior campaign, and when he keeps the ball down in the zone, he can be devastating. His unique delivery and sinking action make him a difficult read the first time through the lineup.

Classmate Ryan King is one of the hardest throwers in the pen, and although he struggled last season he has proven he can get MAAC hitters out. He will be asked to step up his game in his final year with the Green and Gold.

Senior Tom Hopkins has battled through an injury-plagued career, but appears near full heath entering his final year with the program. Another left-handed arm who has worked hard in the weight room, Hopkins will be given the chance to show he can contribute early in the year.

Junior Will Hassett was second on the team with 15 appearances last season and could again be the first man Rossi turns to for relief. Hassett is an imposing presence on the mound who locates pitches well and seems to get better each year. He could also see time as a spot starter this year.

Sophomores Dan Miklas and Frank Cebek each saw limited action last year. Both improved as the season went on after shaky starts to their careers. Each has great size and potential. Velocity is not a concern for either as they embark on their sophomore campaign.

The freshman class consists of three pitchers who enjoyed fine scholastic careers and could be called on to contribute from the start. Kyle Sumple has already mastered two pitches and had a very effective fall. He could be the most ready to go at the onset. Local product Zach Hartman had a highly decorated career at Ballston Spa High School where he was named section II Class AA Pitcher of the Year. Chris Cirlincione also had a good fall and will add depth in long relief.

"The pitching staff should be much improved," Rossi said. "We have experienced weekend starters, and a talented mix of guys ready to step in to provide quality relief and give us productive starts in mid-week non-league games."

Schedule

This season's southern swing includes trips to Florida, Virginia and Arkansas where the Saints play...well, Florida, Virginia and Arkansas of course. Since Rossi and the Saints took on Division I status, they have annually pledged to play anybody and everybody in preparation for the critical conference schedule. This year is no different.

The season begins with a three-game series in Gainesville with the Gators February 22-24. The following week, Siena and Cornell join host UVA in the Cavaliers' Tournament, and the next weekend the Saints continue their assault of the SEC at Arkansas. The cherry on top is a three-game set at perennial national power Central Florida March 15-16.

"This has been our formula for years," Rossi said. "Our players get excited to test themselves against the best in the country and recruits are always impressed by the strength of our schedule."

The revised conference schedule has Siena hosting its first two league weekends - series with Niagara (3/21-22) and Saint Peter's (3/29-30) that highlights an 11-game homestand scheduled to begin March 19 against Holy Cross. Non-league tilts with Hofstra (3/25 -doubleheader), Quinnipiac (4/1) and Dartmouth (4/2) round out the blitz of home games that start the Northeastern portion of the schedule.

After a weekend MAAC series at favorite Manhattan (4/5-6), the Saints return home to host Vermont (4/8) in a doubleheader before traveling to Kingston, Rhode Island for a mid-week affair with the Rams (4/10).

The rest of the nine-team MAAC schedule features home series with Fairfield (4/12-13) and Iona (5/10-11) and road series at Canisius (4/19-20) and Marist (5/15-16). Other non-league games include: Binghamton (4/15), New York Tech (4/16 - doubleheader), NJIT (4/23) and Maine (5/14) at home, and Cornell (4/22 doubleheader), Massachusetts (4/29) and Maine (4/30) on the road.

The Saints figure to be aptly prepared for the MAAC Tournament, which this year moves to Sam Plumeri Sr. Field at Mercer County Waterfront in Trenton, New Jersey May 22-24.