Feb. 18, 2010
Bronx, N.Y. -
Opening Series: The Rams look to repeat their last trip to Old Dominion back in 2005, when Fordham posted a series sweep by scores of 14-8, 12-8, and 4-3.
Probable Starters & GameTracker Links:
Friday: John Flanagan (RHP, 0-0) vs. Kyle Hand (LHP, 0-0) - 
Saturday: Max Krakowiak (RHP, 0-0) vs. Ben Thomchick (RHP, 0-0) -
Sunday: Brian Pendergast (RHP, 0-0) vs. TBA -
Links To Atlantic 10 Preview:
College Baseball Today
Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
Fordham Season Preview: After celebrating its 150th anniversary season a year ago and earning its fourth Atlantic 10 Championship berth in six seasons, the 2010 Fordham baseball team has plenty of young veterans to make another strong run in the Atlantic 10, challenging Charlotte, Xavier, and Dayton for the league crown.
The Rams, who finished with a record of 22-32 overall last season, 16-11 in the conference, are led by sixth year head coach Nick Restaino, who has put together a nice mix of young arms with experienced fielders and hitters.
Among the returnees, four fifth-year seniors, J.P. Mack, P.J. Como, Angelo Ponte, and Ryan McCrann, are back for their final swan song at Rose Hill, and are the players that Fordham will count on heavily for leadership throughout the season.
Despite losing two All-Atlantic 10 caliber players in utility player Danny Leach (.332, 52 runs, 29 RBI, 29 SB) and first baseman Bobby DiNardo (.317, 13 2B, 15 HR, 49 RBI), the Rams still return seven starters, including all three outfielders and middle infielders.
Here's a positional breakdown of the 2010 Rams:
PITCHING
The pitching staff will welcome back senior captain J.P. Mack for a fifth season into the rotation for 2010. Mack, a 6-3 left hander, led the Rams' starters in innings pitched (97.0) and strikeouts (48), while earning Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week once during the season. The Rams were 7-2 in Atlantic 10 play in games Mack started.
Other returning pitchers that will have an impact are senior Brando Casalicchio, juniors John Flanagan and Max Krakowiak, and sophomores Jordan Grangard and Daniel Munday.
Flanagan established himself in the starting rotation by midseason in 2009, posting a 6-3 record, while Krakowiak has had an impressive offseason, looking to improve on his 2009 numbers, where he suffered through an injury plagued season.
Casalicchio, Grangard, and Munday will head up the bullpen. Grangard was the team leader in ERA at 4.47, appearing in 21 games and registering two saves, while Munday made 20 appearances out of the pen, recording 39 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings and three saves. After battling through elbow problems, Casalicchio is relishing his new role that will move him to the bullpen with a slightly altered delivery, which was very effective in the fall.
The pitching staff will also get a boost from the additions of junior transfer Brian Prendergast (6-4, RHP) and freshmen left-handers Rich Anastasi and Ryan DeMartino. Pendergast, a transfer from Manhattan, brings an imposing frame to the hill and was a freshman All-American at Manhattan, while the addition of Anastasi and DeMartino gives the Rams depth in their ability to match-up with left-handed hitters, while bringing good velocity to the hill.
The Rams will also get production on the mound from juniors James Stone and Brian Thompson and freshmen Jeremy Adel, Joseph Charest, and Ryan Fedak.
DESIGNATED HITTER
At designated hitter,
Ryan McCrann is back and will see time at both first base and designated hitter this season. The left-handed hitting senior hit .318 last year in 39 starts, registering a team-high 15 doubles to go with four home runs and 23 RBI.
Fordham will also have senior Michael Taddei splitting time between designated hitter and first as another big lefty bat in the line-up.
CATCHER
Behind the dish, the Rams have multiple catchers on the roster, but mainly either senior Angelo Ponte or junior Chris Walker will handle most of catching duties. Walker had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2009, leading the Atlantic 10 with eight pickoffs and rating seventh in base runners caught stealing. Ponte brings a pretty good bat, when he is behind the plate, hitting .264 with three home runs and 21 RBI in 2009.
Also seeing duty at catcher will be juniors Ryan David and Shane Fox, as well as sophomore Dan Camano.
INFIELD
The Rams' received a pretty good glimpse of their starting middle infielders for the next few seasons, as sophomores Nick Martinez and Brian Kownacki both return after starting most of their freshmen season. Second baseman Martinez started 40 games in 2009, batting .281 with eight doubles and 23 RBI, which included a .356 batting average in conference play. Kownacki was a staple at shortstop from day one, starting 47 of 51 games and batting .284 with 29 RBI.
The Rams' biggest question marks come at first and third base, where Fordham has to replace Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selection Danny Leach, and Second Team ECAC All-Star Bobby DiNardo.
Fordham will most likely have either McCrann or Taddei as the starter at first, but don't be surprised to see David also get a shot at first.
At third base, it will be a battle between junior Joe Russo and sophomore Ryan Maghini for the starting job at the hot corner. Maghini started 24 of the 34 games he appeared in, collecting 21 hits, five doubles, and six RBI, while Russo hit .308 with three RBI as a reserve at second or third base. McCrann has also played third the past two seasons and could be called upon again this year.
Other infielders that could be in the infield mix, include freshmen Mike Mauri and Matt DeSilva.
OUTFIELD
In the outfield, the Rams' have a solid four-man rotation, which accounted for most of the starts last season in seniors P.J. Como and Mike Mobbs, junior Alex Kenny, and sophomore Stephen McSherry.
The biggest key to the Rams' success will be the return of Como to the heart of Fordham's line-up. Como played in just three games last season before going down with a season-ending knee injury. In his lone series, Como was a big offensive contributor, collecting six hits and five runs scored at Florida Atlantic.
Stepping into the line-up for Como was Mobbs, who had a very good 2009 campaign. He batted .289 with seven doubles, three home runs and 20 RBI, and ranked second on the team with 12 stolen bases.
Along with Como and Mobbs, Kenny and McSherry both started over 30 games in the outfield last season. Kenny drove in 20 runs with go with a .254 batting average, while McSherry had over 20 runs scored and 20 RBI in his first season at Fordham.
Added to the mix for 2010, Fordham will also have a pair of freshmen outfielders in Ryan Lee and Dan Sorine.
