Stockton University Athletics

Osprey Outlook: Baseball Preview

Baseball | 3/24/2021 11:56:00 AM

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The Stockton University baseball team will be looking to build on a strong start from last season, when the Ospreys jumped out to an 8-3 record before being shut down. Head coach Rich Gawlak came on the job shortly before the 2020 games began but has now settled in as he enters his second season leading Stockton.
 
Gawlak will helm a senior-laden team that has 25 returning letter winners, including nine field players who had at least 22 at-bats during the abbreviated 11-game slate. The Ospreys also return seven pitchers who tossed at least seven innings apiece last spring.
 
The infield will be a strength for Stockton with senior first baseman John Perrino leading the way. Last season, Perrino batted .465, leading the team with 20 hits and adding nine RBI and four stolen bases. Senior Evan Geisler will provide a left-handed bat at first base or designated hitter. Geisler batted .400 with 14 runs and nine RBI last year in his first season at Stockton.
 
Seniors Garrett DeMarrais (.313), Ryan O'Sullivan (10 runs) and Ryan Swift (14 hits, 9 runs, 9 RBI) plus sophomore Frank Bellezza (.250) will vie for time in the infield. Swift started all 11 games while O'Sullivan made 10 starts last year.
 
Sophomores Mike Costanzo and Jahi Williams, a transfer from St. Elizabeth, along with rookie Matt Storch will add to the depth in the infield. Williams is a two-way player who also adds an arm on the mound.
 
Senior Rico Viani will be a dual threat for Stockton. Viani batted .500 with 15 RBI and a huge .633 slugging percentage last season. He also led the pitching staff in strikeouts (17) and innings pitched (12.2) to go along with a sparkling 2.13 ERA while limiting opponents to a paltry .133 batting average. Viani will split time between the outfield and pitching.
 
Senior outfielder Marco Meleo should be a key cog in the offense. After transferring to Stockton last year, Meleo batted .429 with team highs of 16 runs and eight doubles. Senior Nick Trifiletti is a big bat who blasted the team's only two home runs and produced 13 RBI in just 22 at-bats a year ago.
 
Junior Ryan Mihlebach (.333, 8 RBI) returns after making seven starts in 2020. Junior transfer Dominic Meleo and frosh Thomas Talbot will add depth to the outfield. Senior Derek Sarapuchiello is an outfielder who can also pitch.
 
The Ospreys will have experienced senior Jay Marchese behind the dish this season. Marchese batted .375 with 10 RBI and made just one error in 37 chances for a sterling .973 fielding percentage last year. Sophomore Luke Fabrizzi and freshman Sam Nieves give the Ospreys a trio of catchers on the roster.
 
The pitching staff will be very deep led by Viani and sophomore Aaron Winsker who went 2-0, with a 2.00 ERA and was named NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week twice as a freshman. Sophomore lefty Phil DeMarco made a pair of starts last season for Stockton, with junior Will Kramer also starting once among four appearances last year.
 
Sophomore Brandon Drapeau was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three appearances during his rookie campaign. Sophomores Trey Fracassini and Evan Okamoto, along with juniors James Wynne (4 games, 8.1 IP) and Billy Meyer (3.38 ERA) will give Stockton some quality arms on the hill, with senior closer Tyler Apt (5 career saves) returning on the back end.
 
Sophomores Jeremy Ruka (3 IP, 0.00 ERA) and Mike Schiattarella (2 games) and junior Andrew Luongo also are back. Juniors Michael Wynne (Brookdale CC transfer) and Jason Horowitz (coming back from injury) and frosh Benjamin Masuzzo are newcomers who will add to the much-needed depth on the mound.