May 26, 2009
Baseball Season Ending Summary
The 2009 Spartans began their season with high hopes and expectations. Having won the East Coast Conference Regular Season in 2008 and with many of the core players returning, there was reason for optimism.

May 9, 2009
Spartan's Baseball Season Comes to an End
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team dropped today's opening game 3-2 against Adelphi. STAC played their second game against Dowling falling 4-2, and ending their season. The Spartans finished the year with an overall record of 25-23 and an ECC record of 15-9. After getting off to a slow start, STAC won seventeen of their last twenty-two games and earned a #3 seed in the ECC playoffs.

May 8, 2009
Spartans Take on Molloy in ECC Playoffs at Noon
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team is traveling to Molloy College for a 12:00 game. The Spartans are the number three seed in the East Coast Conference Playoffs and Molloy is the number two. This is a three day double elimination tournament and all games will be played at Molloy. Read more for live stats and audio...

May 8, 2009
Connors, McDermott, Smith, LaMarr and Barbalato Recieve All-Conference Honors
St. Thomas Aquinas College senior Kevin Connors was named to the East Coast Conference First Team as a designated hitter. Third baseman Dan McDermott was named to the Second Team along with fellow classmate Matt Smith. Starting Pitcher Brian LaMarr was a Third Team selection as was freshman Nick Barbalato.

May 8, 2009
Spartans Keep Rolling, Down Molloy 10-3
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team continues to play strong as they beat Molloy, 10-3 in today's ECC playoff match up. The Spartans fell behind 1-0 in the opening inning but a five run fourth inning gave STAC a lead they would not relinquish. The Spartans scored one run in the fifth before Vin Malzahn hit a three run homer to right field in the sixth. Malzahn was 2-for-5 for the game as he added a single in the eighth as well.

May 6, 2009
Spartans Edge Bridgeport, Advance to ECC Championship
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat visiting Bridgeport 2-1 to advance to the next round of the East Coast Conference playoffs. With the score tied 1-1 in the ninth inning, Chris Zapata hit a one out single and then stole second and third giving STAC a chance to win the game. Matt Marotta hit a fly ball to shallow centerfield scoring Zapata and winning the game for the Spartans. Starting pitcher Brian LaMarr went eight innings as he scattered five hits, gave up one run and struck out three.

May 5, 2009
Sadowski & Ryan Shutout Concordia, Spartans Win Two
Starting pitchers Scott Sadowski and Kevin Ryan combined for fourteen scoreless innings to lead St. Thomas Aquinas to a pair of ECC victories over Concordia 2-1, 3-0. The two wins propelled STAC into the #3 seed for the post season with a 15-9 record. STAC finished their conference schedule going 13-1. The Spartan starting pitchers have not allowed a run in the last four ECC games for a streak of twenty-seven scoreless innings.

May 4, 2009
Barbalato Selected ECC Rookie of the Week
St. Thomas Aquinas baseball player Nick Barbalato was named East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for the third consecutive week. Barbalato continued his hot hitting as he hit safely in all four Spartan games and drove in a run in each of the four games. For the week he went 7-for-18, had 4 RBIs, slugged at .700, and hit a double and a triple while scoring two runs and stealing a base.

May 4, 2009
Spartans to Play at Concordia Tuesday
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team is schedule to play their final regular season game against Concordia tomorrow at 2:00 PM. The double header was previously scheduled for Sunday and has been changed due to rain.

May 1, 2009
STAC Seniors Finish in Style, Defeat Concordia 12-1
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat Concordia College 12-1 in today's ECC contest. The Spartans got on the board behind a Matt Smith single followed by a 2-RBI double by senior Joe Guistino. Fellow seniors Kevin Connors and Chris Zapata each added a RBI off a single and double respectively. Matt Marotta hit a RBI single as STAC took a 6-0 first inning lead.

April 30, 2009
Spartans Fall Short Against Chargers
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team added three runs in the final inning however it was not enough, falling 9-4 to Dominican College. After falling behind 3-0 senior Jon Garvey hit a RBI single to score Matt Marotta and put the Spartans on the board. Marotta had reached on a single, stole second and advance to third on a wild pitch.

April 29, 2009
Spartans Blast Pioneers, 7-2
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat CW Post 7-2 in yesterday's ECC matchup. Two time Rookie of the Week, Nick Barbalato kept his hot streak going hitting 3-for-5 including a triple in the five run second inning. Dan McDermott, Dan Stroud and Joe Guistino each added two nhits for the Spartans.

April 29, 2009
Spartans Stay Strong Against Dominican
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team continued its strong play with a 2-0 victory against cross town rival Dominican College. The Spartans scored both of their runs in the third inning. The first run came off the hot bat of freshman Nick Barbalato who singled to score Matt Marotta. Marotta lead off the inning with a single going 1-for-3 for the game. Barbalato was 1-for-4 and George Wargo was 2-for-4 for the Spartans.

April 27, 2009
Barbalato Earns ECC Rookie of the Week
St. Thomas Aquinas baseball player Nick Barbalato was named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the week. Barbalato tallied hits in all five ECC contests this week, including three multi-hit games. The #2 hitter went 8-for-18 (.444) and had a OB% of .500. He nailed an RBI triple in the Spartans comeback victory against Dowling while adding a walks and a stolen base. On the week he finished with three runs and two stolen bases.

April 26, 2009
Spartans Fall to Lions 3-2 in Thriller
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team dropped a fifteen inning 3-2 game at Dowling. The Spartans scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie the game 2-2. However, despite solid pitching and defense by both team Dowling was able to capitalize in the fifteenth inning as they scored off a bases loaded RBI single up the middle.

April 25, 2009
Spartans Top Mercy 4-2 Winning Fifth Straight Game
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat Mercy College 4-2 on Friday afternoon winning their fifth straight game and eight of their last nine games. Nick Barbalato went 2-for-5 with a run and Matt Smith went 2-for-4 with a run as they continue to play well for the Spartans. Senior Scott Sadowski picked up the win going five innings; giving up six hits, two runs and striking out two. Joe Antenucci, Matt Marotta, Vin Malzahn and Dan Stroud each had a RBI for STAC.

April 25, 2009
Spartans Keep Hot Streak Alive
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team continued it's winning streak beating Dowling, 7-5 and 4-1 in Saturday's doubleheader. In the opening game the Spartans took the lead on a five run eighth inning giving them a two run advantage. In game two STAC scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings as Brian LaMarr and the Spartan defense held Dowling to one run and four hits in seven innings.

April 23, 2009
Spartans Shutout Pioneers, 2-0
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team scored two runs in the fifth inning to beat CW Post. Pitcher Tyler Savin pitched all but the final out striking out four batters and scattering six hits. Joe Antenucci singled to left field to score the first run for the Spartans. Matt Marotta also singled and later scored on an error.

April 20, 2009
Smith Earns ECC Player of the Week, Barbalato Named Rookie of the Week
St. Thomas Aquinas baseball player Matt Smith was named this weeks East Coast Conference Player of the Week. Smith hit .429 on the week connecting for hits in all eight of the games he played in. He drove in eight runs off his fifteen hits and crossed the plate nine times. He nailed the game tying homerun against Bridgeport and scored the game winning run against CW Post. Freshman Nick Barbalato was named this weeks ECC Rookie of the Week. Barbalato went 10-for-25 with five walks on the week. He scored seven runs and drove in five from the #2 spot, and stole three bases. Barbalato compiled a .533 OB % and hit a two run triple to put the game away in the last inning against Bridgeport.

April 19, 2009
Spartans Take Two from Queens
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat visiting Queens 11-1 and 5-3 in today's double header. Sophomore Mike Aviles struck out nine batters, allowing only three hits in seven innings. Sophomore Joe Antenucci was 3-for-5 with three RBI along with junior Vincent Malzahn who also had three RBI going 2-for-4. In the second game of the day Malzahn picked up three more RBI starting with a bases loaded walk in the first inning.

April 18, 2009
Matkovich Throws Complete Game, Spartans Down Queens 3-1
Matt Matkovich threw a one run complete game and the Spartans got all the runs needed in a three run 5th inning to defeat Queens College 3-1. With the three runs in the 5th the Spartans snapped an 18 inning scoreless streak for Queens pitcher Brian Friedman. Matt Smith continued to spark the Spartan Offense reaching base on all of his five at-bats, collecting two hits, an RBI, and a run.

April 16, 2009
Spartans Fall to Regionally Ranked Domincian College
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team lost a hard fought battle to cross town rival Dominican College falling 8-7. The Spartans got on the board early taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind a RBI double by Matt Smith. Smith scored Joe Antenucci and Nick Barbalato who lead off the inning with back to back walks. Kevin Connors added an RBI single to left to score Smith. Smith went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Connors was 3-for-4 with a RBI.

April 15, 2009
Spartans Edge Post, 3-2
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat C.W. Post 3-2 in ten innings. The Spartans were up 2-0 after seven innings before the Pioneers rallied back to tie the game and force the extra inning. Matt Smith hit a single to right field to lead off the tenth and advanced to second off a wild pitch putting him in scoring position. Smith advanced to third off a ground out by Vincent Malzahn and two batters latter scored the game winning run off a sacrifice bunt by Chris Zapata. Smith went 4-for-5 with an RBI.

April 14, 2009
Malzhan & Connors Lead STAC to 16-2 Win Over Briarcliffe
The St. Thomas Aquinas men's baseball team beat visiting Briarcliffe College 16-2 in this afternoons contest. Junior Vin Malzahn had two hits and drove in four runs for the Spartans. Kevin Connors belted a three run homer to pace a 16-hit Spartan offensive attack in which twelve different STAC hitters collected at least one hit. The Briarcliffe bats were kept silent by starting pitcher Scott Sadowksi who threw six scoreless innings.

April 13, 2009
Smith Homerun Secures Split with Bridgeport
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team split today's double header with the University of Bridgeport. STAC dropped the first game,8-3 before topping Bridgeport 5-2 with a strong seventh inning finish. In the second game of the day, Matt Smith hit a solo homerun to lead off the seventh, tying the game at two. Joe Antenucci's sacrifice fly to right field with bases loaded scored the game winning run. Freshman Nick Barbalato hit a triple, scoring two more runs and securing the win for the Spartans. The Bridgeport bats were held in check by starting pitcher Brian LaMarr who went the distance (7 innings), scattered six hits, had four Ks, issued one walk and yielded an earned run.

April 9, 2009
Spartans Comeback Falls Short
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team lost to the visiting University of Bridgeport 4-3, in this afternoon's contest. The Spartans were down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th when Kevin Connors and Joe Guistino each had a hit to score Matt Smith and Vin Malzahn putting the Spartans on the board and bringing them within one.

April 7, 2009
Spartans Outlast Mercy After Thirteen Innings
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat Mercy College 6-5 in extra innings. The Spartans outlasted their cross-river rival in a 13-inning ECC marathon game 6-5 tonight at Veterans Memorial Field. STAC took a 4-0 lead on a Mercy error, an RBI single from Joe Antenucci and 2-RBI single from Dan McDermott. After Mercy scored three in the 4th and two in the 5th to take a 5-4 lead, the Spartan's Vin Malzahn knotted the score at 5-5. It would remain at 5-5 until the bottom of 13th when Matt Smith lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center to score Kevin Connors.

April 5, 2009
Spartans Split with Lions
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team split with Molloy College dropping the first game, 8-0 before coming back with a 3-1 victory. In the second game of the day the Spartans had a three run second inning putting them on top of the Lions. Strong pitching by Mike Aviles and Matt Marrotta held off Molloy for the remainder of the game.

March 31, 2009
Mercy Edges Spartans 1-0
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team dropped a 1-0 game to visiting Mercy College. The Spartans had seven hits for the game and left ten runners stranded. Dan McDermott was 3-4 at the plate including a lead off single in the ninth. Tyler Savin pitched seven innings for STAC giving up the lone run of the game and striking out four batters.

March 30, 2009
Spartans Struggle Against Panthers
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team dropped two games on Saturday to Adelphi University. In the opening game the Spartans used a strong defensive attack to hold Aledphi to one run but were unable to get on the scoreboard, falling 1-0. The Spartans offense struggled again in game two as Adelphi held them scoreless for a 3-0 win. STAC traveled back to Adelphi on Monday to play Sunday's makeup game where they put up a tougher fight before losing 3-2.

March 25, 2009
Spartans Win Fourth Straight in 13-7 Victory over Briarcliffe
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team used a sixteen hit offensive attack and a porous Briarcliffe defense to pick up their 4th consecutive victory with a 13-7 win in Long Island on Tuesday. STAC was led by last week's ECC Player of the Week Vin Malzahn (Port Jervis, NY) who doubled and smashed a two-run homer. The Spartans used an eight-run second inning to put the game out of reach early.

March 24, 2009
Malzahn Earns Player of the Week; Fochesato Named Co-Pitcher of the Week
St. Thomas Aquinas baseball player Vincent Malzahn was named the East Coast Conference Player of the Week for the week ending on March 22nd. The Spartan clean-up hitter reached the base 14 out of 22 times, scored five runs, drove in three runs, walked five times and had the game winning RBI in the 12th inning in a 2-1 victory over Franklin Pierce. In that game Malzahn went 4-5, with a walk, while scoring the 1st run and drove in the 2nd. Spartan pitcher Mark Fochesato outduled Mike Adams, the pre-season DII Pitcher of the Year to help lead STAC to a 2-1 victory. Fochesato received a no-decision, but struke out eight, walked one, and allowed no earned runs in nine innings of work to receive co-pitcher of the week honors.

March 23, 2009
Spartans Sweep Rams in Double Header
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat Philadelphia University, 6-4 and 8-7 on Sunday afternoon. Matt Marotta (Suffern, NY) went 4-for-8 with two RBIs, two doubles, two runs, a stolen base and a save between the two games. Kevin Connors (W. Babylon, NY) went 3-for-4, scored two runs, and stole a base in game one and scored two more runs with another stolen base in game two. In the second game Joe Giustino (Old Bethpage, NY) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

March 20, 2009
Spartans Top Franklin Pierce, 2-1
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team beat nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University 2-1 in 12 innings in their final game in Palm Beach, FL. The Spartans won the game in the bottom of the 12th inning, when a single through the middle scored the winning run from second. More details to follow.

March 18, 2009
Merrimack Takes Three from the Spartans
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team lost to Merrimack College in their non-conference match up in Palm Beach, FL. The Spartans dropped an 8-7 decision in eleven innings on the first meeting between the two squads. Later in the week STAC lost 5-3 and 5-4 in a double header.

March 17, 2009
Spartans Fall to Cougars
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team dropped two games to Caldwell College on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans dropped a close game 4-3 before suffering an 11-0 shutout by the Cougars.

March 10, 2009
Spartans Split with New Haven
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team split with the University of New Haven on Sunday dropping the first game, 5-4 before coming back with a 5-1 victory. In game one, rookie Nick Barbalato had a strong offensive output going 4-5 in the loss. In game two, starting pitcher Mark Fochesato earned the victory for the Spartans allowing only one run in the sixth.

March 1, 2009
Spartans Prevail 3-2 in Final Game Against Pace
After a slow start the St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team earned their first victory of the year against Pace, 3-2 in Saturday afternoon's game. STAC opened their season on Thursday dropping a 6-3 decision followed by an 8-4 loss in Saturday's first game. The Spartans struggled in the first two games leaving too many runners stranded on base.

February 26, 2009
Baseball Preview
The 2009 Spartans will set their sights high as they build off a recording-breaking 2008 season in which they won the East Coast Conference Regular Season, notched 28 victories, had 7 Spartans selected to the All-ECC team, and finished # 9 in the final NCBWA N.E. Regional Poll. Statistically the Spartans led the ECC in stolen bases (111), homeruns (17) and finished 2nd in runs, doubles, and walks. The pitching staff finished 2nd in ERA at 3.79 and 2nd in saves (11). They also excelled in the class room, having 7 players selected to the President's Honor Roll (3.2 GPA over the previous three semesters). Gone from the 2008 team is 1st team All-ECC shortstop John Mazzello, who led the Spartans in almost every offensive category and arguably was the best all-around player in the conference. Also gone is Mike Triana, a career .300 hitter. Departed from the pitching staff is closer Jon Della Monica, and starters Anthony Russo and Joel Violette. Della Monica had a record 8 saves while Russo and Violette were huge contributors, combining for 100 innings, 20 starts, a 3.60 ERA, and 6 wins.

February 17, 2009
Spartans Picked Third in ECC Preseason Baseball Poll
The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team was picked to finish third in the East Coast Conference Preseason Poll. The poll was voted on by the coaches of each team. STAC finished with a record of (28-22, 17-10) sharing the 2008 regular season title with Dowling. Dowling was selected to finish in second place behind C.W. Post who advanced to the NCAA Northeast Regional tournament last season. The Spartans will start their season on February 28th against Pace.

July 31, 2008
STAC Baseball Alumni Update
The Peoria Chiefs in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs have announced that 2007 STAC graduate John Muller will join the Chiefs from Short-Season Boise before Friday’s game at Dayton.

July 24, 2008
St. Thomas Aquinas grad shining in the minor leagues
STAC graduate John Muller from Mahopac, NY is excelling on the mound in his second season with the Boise Hawks. Muller graduated from STAC in 2007 and signed a professional baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs organization. Muller currently hold the STAC record (NCAA Division II) in hits with 218 and is second in runs with 134.