Herkimer Baseball 2010 Season Preview; Ranked #4 In NJCAA Pre-Season Poll
Herkimer Baseball begins the 2010 season ranked #4 in the NJCAA preseason baseball poll. Herkimer just missed a third trip to the NJCAA DIII World Series in 2009, losing in the championship round of the Regional Final Four. Herkimer is determined to finish the run this year and return 10 key players from a team that finished 33-10.
Herkimer will feature a batting lineup that will be very tough to work through in 2010. It returns several key players that helped contribute to a team batting average of .363 that ranked 5th in the country last season. The lineup is built around right fielder Amar Lewis (LaSalle '08) who hit .463 with 20 doubles, 3 homeruns, and 49 runs batted in as a freshman. The top of the lineup will feature second baseman Lee Foxton (Clinton '08) who hit .365 last year followed by his double play partner at shortstop Al Ferenti (Whitesboro '08) who posted a .358 average in 2009. Lane Potter (Oneonta '08) and Joe Perrotta (Proctor '08) will provide stability and depth to the middle infield. After Foxton and Ferenti set the table for Lewis in the lineup, two other imposing hitters are featured in Kris Barone (Gloversville '08) and Brett Hauber (Deposit '08). Barone hit .425 and added 30 runs batted in as a freshman and 6' 5 leftfielder Brett Hauber added a .333 average. "I think Brett and Kris have really improved at the plate and will be a strong source of power for us. They are both physically strong athletes that are ready to really break out this year," added Head Coach Jason Rathbun. The rest of the lineup will hold year long battles for playing time as several key positions still need to be figured out. Eric Verbickas (New Hartford '09) and Mike Scotellaro (Proctor '09) will split duties as both display some great potential as freshman. Catching duties will be a battle between returning sophomore Jeff Sergott (Oriskany '08) and freshman Luke Branch (Coconut Creek '09) who will also be backed up by CSC Player of the Year Patrick Shepardson (Little Falls '09). Speed will really be displayed at the bottom of the lineup as third baseman Brandon Jones (Martin County '07) and two centerfielders battle for playing time in sophomore George Hajjar (Whitesboro '08) and freshman Devin Warmack (Proctor '09). Vinny Gaetano (Proctor '09) also adds some depth to the corner outfield spots and will be a power threat off the bench as well. "Every hitter on our team can contribute and we look forward to getting a chance to see them develop as a group. I think we will provide a few different ways to put runs on the scoreboard," commented Rathbun.
On the pitching mound Herkimer returns 4 starters in Andy Eggleston (Johnson City ‘07), Kris Barone, Al Ferenti, and TJ Abounader (Whitesboro '08) who went a combined 19-3 last season. Eggleston broke the school's single season win record when he went 8-1 as a freshman. Ferenti will move into the closer's role this season as the pitching staff has added some key arms for depth in the rotation. Eggleston, Barone, and Abounader will be joined by freshman Clancy Hall (Woodstock '08) from Georgia. Herkimer figures to have a six man rotation with the new scheduling format and will have a battle between sophomore's Brendan Tyrrell (LaSalle '07) and Joe Perrotta (Proctor '08), and freshman Justin Payne (Lansing '09) and Andrew Wixon (West Valet '09) for the final rotation spots. Sophomore's Brett Hauber and Kevin Hedge (Xaverian '08) will set up Ferenti out of the bullpen.
Herkimer has reached the Regional Final Four all five years under Head Coach Jason Rathbun. The Final Four will be hosted by Herkimer again this season and held at Veteran's Park in Little Falls. Herkimer has made the DIII JUCO World Series in 2006 and 2007. Herkimer begins the season with their annual spring trip to Maryland March 15th. The Generals first home game will be April 1st against Fulton Montgomery Community College.
